Family Corner

Deconstructing the trappings of power

Sanjose A Thomas World heard the most beautiful and meaningful quote on power when Pontius Pilate reminded Jesus that he has the power to punish him or to set him free. The reply came instantaneously and it is the most appropriate way to understand power in all contexts. “You would have no power over me […]

Freedom

Prema Jayakumar More than seven decades back, a well-known voice rang out from the ramparts of the Red Fort. It said, ‘Long years ago we made a tryst with destiny, and now the time comes when we shall redeem our pledge, not wholly or in full measure, but very substantially.’ Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru’s speech went […]

Stewardship for a sustainable future

Dr. Agnes S. Thomas This reflection focuses on an expanded view of ‘stewardship’ as a core value that is foundational to our everyday lives and relationships. What inspired me to choose this particular topic is a recent conversation I had with a young man who asked me why we should reuse items that are easily […]

Civic Sense or Common Sense? Tackling the Biggest Sense of All

Sanjose A Thomas At birth most of us are born with five senses, exceptional few with sixth sense but none is born with civic Sense. Though we have the ability to speak, words and languages are taught to us by the adults. Similarly civic sense too has to be taught and inculcated. With the exception […]

Rules and Borders

Prema Jayakumar ‘What I know most surely about morality and the duty of man, I owe to sport.’ Albert Camus was sure about the influence of sport on his life. The statement seemed an odd one from a philosopher who wrote so much on what morality meant and when lack of conflict became immoral. It […]

A gardener’s musing!

Dr. Agnes S. Thomas “Adopt the pace of nature, her secret is patience” (R.W. Emerson) As a hobby gardener, I dedicate most of my free time in the spring to my modest backyard garden. Since it is small, I know all the plants that return each year and approximately how long it takes for them […]

Revisiting the Unsung Legacy of a Great Son of Kerala

Sanjose A Thomas The decision by the Kerala government to include St.Kuriakose Elias of Chavara, popularly hailed as ‘Chavarayachan’, into the list of social reformers from Kerala in Std 7 textbook is a welcome one, but adding someone who laid foundations for social reform in Kerala to a list will become meaningful only of we […]

Puzzles and People

Prema Jayakumar A lot of people have a set routine to start a day. After a glance through the headlines of newspaper(s), they go to their favourite puzzle, be it a cross-word, a wordle, a sudoku or more complicated things. Once that is done, and they have solved it, they feel the day has started […]

Indian bishops slam terror attack on tourists in India’s Kashmir

No action taken against police who assaulted Catholic priests in India