Are we still a secular democracy?
While the people of the entire world are celebrating Christmas joyfully, irrespective of their caste, community, creed, country or religion, it is highly condemnable that radical elements belonging to the right wing Hindutva brigade comprising the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, the Bajrang Dal and Hindu Jagran Manch have vandalised Churches, tore all the Christmas decorations and threatened the people who had assembled to say prayers in the church with dire consequences.
This vandalism has happened in almost all the BJP-ruled States like Assam, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Delhi, Odisha and also in Kerala and Karnataka. Video clippings show disturbing scenes of hooliganism committed by the Hindu fanatics during the Christmas celebrations. Even a woman leader of the BJP in Jabalpur is seen pouncing on a hapless visually- impaired Christian woman and abusing and assaulting her right under the passive watch of a police officer. We find a man clad in yellow yelling at a group of Christians: ‘This is a Hindu Country and you cannot celebrate Christmas here!’ Even the fanatics have not spared the poor vendors who were selling Christmas decorations and Santa caps and chased them from the venue.
Despite attacks on the minority community in public by the fanatics, no action has yet been initiated against those bigots.
One really wonders whether we are living in a secular democracy or under the rule of the Hindu dictators!
It is painful that, till now none of the leaders of the ruling BJP dispensation, particularly our tallest leader, has expressed concern over the dastardly acts perpetrated by their sister- organisations, leave alone initiating action against them. Are we headed towards dictatorship in India?
Tharcius S Fernando, Chennai
The idea of India is dead
To know what Modi has done to our once great country, watch the vandalism and violence against Christians and opposition to Christmas celebrations in India by right wing thugs.
The tentacles of religious hate have spread far and deep. Christmas holidays have been cancelled in UP schools and students / teachers are being coerced to ‘celebrate’ good governance day. Makes you feel angry, sad and ashamed. (Not) Merry
Christmas.
Vinay Dwivedi, Benaulim
We should live the spirit of Christmas
Christmas is a festival that marks the birth of Jesus Christ, who lived and died in service of the poor and the marginalised. However, in contrast waste collection workers under the Margao Municipality have reportedly not been paid their wages ahead of the festival, leaving many families anxious and distressed at a time meant for peace, dignity, and joy.
Christmas in Goa is a deeply rooted cultural and spiritual occasion. Streets are cleaned and decorated. Ironically the waste collection workers, who keep the town clean, are being denied the most basic requirement of their rightful wages to celebrate the festival. These workers perform one of the most essential public services, often under difficult and unhealthy conditions. Delayed or unpaid wages are not just an administrative lapse, they represent a denial of dignity and respect. To withhold wages from workers during Christmas is to act against the very values the festival represents. For many of these families, wages are not about luxury or celebration. They are all about putting food on the table, paying school fees, and maintaining basic human dignity. Financial constraints or bureaucratic delays cannot be repeatedly used as excuses, especially when livelihoods are at stake.
Timely payment of wages is not charity; it is a legal and moral obligation. It is pertinent to note that staff of the State government is paid their wages well in advance of important festivals. If Christmas is to have any true meaning beyond lights and festivities, it must be reflected in our actions. Hopefully the authorities will take necessary action to see that these workers are paid their wages before New Year’s Day.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
The US & Israel are warmongering nations
The US and Israel are the two principal warmongering nations presently. They do not care for international laws. The manner of bullying unleashed by Donald Trump on Maduro’s regime in Venezuela is a shame. On trumped up charges the US president is threatening an independent, sovereign nation and there is nary a squeak from any other countries around the world nor a multilateral agency like the UN which makes it all the more surprising. And Trump wants the Nobel Peace Prize! It is not only Venezuela but also Syria which the US has launched air strikes because of the presumably killing of a US soldier. In tandem with its compatriot in war, Israel has bombed Hezbollah in Lebanon with an objective to get the terrorist outfit to lay down arms and conducted air strikes in Gaza for which Israel needs no real reason.
Israel continues to subvert the peace process in the Palestine problem for various reasons mostly tactical to seek advantage in the conflict, shore up their set military objectives and prevent a two-State solution. For the last issue Israel has lately passed into law the approval of some 19 settlements of Jewish people in the occupied West Bank to stop ceding that territory to Palestine which was to become part of the Palestine State. Thus on one hand the US is indulging in regime change activities in Venezuela and armed action in Syria while Israel pursues impossible targets like disarming Hezbollah in Lebanon and sabotaging the long term peace process in Palestine by expanding its territory in occupied land.
Srinivas Kamat, Mysore
Boxing Day
Boxing Day is celebrated on December 26, a day after Christmas. The festival is meant for giving gifts, money and donations to the people in need. The name ‘Boxing Day’ has been derived from the word ‘Christmas Box’. This is because on this day, the rich and well-to-do people gave Christmas box presents to their servants and the poor. This day is meant to be a holiday for the servants and they go to visit their families with the gifts and presents that they receive from their employers.
Another theory tells us that a box was used to collect money and gifts for the poor which was placed in the church. This box was opened and the contents of the box were distributed among the poor on December 26, hence the name.
Boxing Day helps us in understanding the benefits of sharing and caring. It helps us to spread joy and happiness to the homes of others and enjoy with everyone. Boxing Day also creates a sense of community and understanding. Festivals are more joyous when celebrated with everyone — Boxing Day helps us to share the cheer
and joy.
Jubel D’Cruz,
Mumbai
