Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SB)
Mangaluru, Nov 6: "We should expand our shoulders with love and service to our society. Our generation should learn the culture of humanity which is very rare in today's world. Communalism stands as a hurdle in achieving this goal. In India everything is looked at from the eyes of religion, caste and creed. Because of this, people who have power and money are becoming 'unquestionable'. The people who are suppressed and exploited are the helpless communities. But the life of Mother Teresa gives a solution to all of this - and that is, open up the universe with love and humanity," said Prof Purushotham Bilimale, HoD, Kannada department, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi.
He was speaking after inaugurating a district-level symposium on St Mother Teresa, organized by Mother Teresa Vichara Vedike, Mangaluru.
"Today our system is creating a new class of people, who are brainwashed by communal thoughts and policies. They do not have knowledge of history of our great ancestors who lived peacefully with each other. For them the word 'humanity' only limited to their own religion and community. They hate everything that does not belong to their
religion. We should try to put a break on this type of mentality. Terrorism, whether from majority or minority, is not acceptable. We the humanity lovers should raise voice against them," Prof Bilimale said.
"Poverty and hunger are the major issues of our country. But everyone is behind the issue of religion. Nobody thinks about the people who are suffering from poverty. In this time and age, Mother Teresa's life and her service should get importance as it would guide us on how we can serve the people who are neglected by the society. Her life is a universal message.
"She tried to keep the poor, the suppressed and the sick n her shoulders. She crossed the boundaries of nation, state and region for humanity. She never tired in rendering her service," he concluded.
Presenting her paper on Mother Teresa, K Neela, progressive thinker and litterateur said, "Mother Teresa opened a window of love which welcomes all without discrimination of religion. She came for India as a missionary but after seeing the situation of the streets of Calcutta (Kolkata) she felt that without helping the people in the streets, she could not find God in her life. With her service she gave a new meaning to motherhood. It is very difficult to give mother's love and consider others as one's own. But Teresa showed what real motherhood is. Today the world needs more Mother Teresas. Our children should know about her and her services."
Dr Alwyn D'Sa, vice-principal, St Aloysius College and Dr Ismail, principal, Badriya College were the moderators of the session and responded to the paper presentation by K Neela.
Roy Castelino, former preident, Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Academy presided over the programme.
Sunil Kumar Bajal, vice-president of Mother Teresa Vichara Vedike delivered the introductory speech.
Denis Moras Prabhu, vicar general of Mangaluru diocese, Joseph Crasta, director Snehalaya rehabilitation center, Corrine Rasquinha, director, White Doves, Muneer Katipalla, secretory, DYFI state committee, M Devadas, Susheel Noronha, Dolphy D'Souza and others were present.