Mangalore: John Monteiro’s Website 'Welcome to Reason' Launched
Daijiworld News Network – Mangalore (NR)
Report by Nina Rai
Pics Daijiworld team
Mangalore Jul 18: Daijiworld columnist and senior author-journalist John Monteiro’s new website welcometoreason.com under the auspices of JAYBEAM features, was launched here on Tuesday, July 17 at Johnlyn Cottage, Bondel.
The said website in essence provides an arena for intellectual exercises and deals with life and related matters and also gives a platform for readers to have their own say on topical themes.
The chief guest on the occasion was N K Thingalaya, former CMD of Syndicate Bank, Fr Anthony Serrao, Bondel parish priest, Dr V Ravichandran, founder and head of Diya Systems - IT and ITES Company based in Mangalore with offices in USA. The function was also graced by a distinguished gathering of editors and journalists as well as prominent people from all other walks of life. Prominent persons present, among others, included Kanara Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Capt John Prasad Menezes and former KMC dean Dr K R Shetty.
N K Thingalaya, after unveiling the website, in his opening speech, reminisced over the years 1956-58 when in Aloysius College they were together but much later met each other again due to Monteiro’s writing.
In his opinion, referring to the key point in the website ‘reason’, he stated that common sense today is indeed a rare commodity and if people start reasoning and questioning on things, then it is indeed a good quality worth emulating. He wanted the writers on this website to confine themselves to local issues first and not go searching for topics internationally. For instance he referred to the problem of throwing garbage on streets and not into dustbins.
This is mainly due to urbanization and to solve issues like this, it is important to bring reasoning into the minds of the local people, he added. He wished Monteiro all success in his new venture and wanted it to be financially viable and sustainable for a long time.
Fr Serrao offered a small prayer for the success of the website. According to Fr Serrao nowadays people are applying less of reason. When they see problems, there is no application of mind and reason. He stated Monteiro has now come forward to give people plenty of reason to be happy. He wished him all the best from his heart, so that by his work society will learn to use ‘reason’ which God has given everyone. If there is no reasoning then everything else is useless, he pointed out.
Ravichandran in his speech on the occasion recollected the beautiful article written and well presented by Monteiro on Sri Krishna and bhakti yoga and its teachings. And he did state that he has known Monteiro personally from the past two months only. But was very impressed by the man’s simplicity
He further stated that he was not sure of Monteiro’s age but when he requested him to grace the occasion, it was difficult for him to refuse a person of his calibre and age. He said he was amazed that this man with so much exposure and experience in journalism wanted to enter into cyberspace and internet at this age.
It is an eye-opener and he felt that what he has done in the IT industry is not much when he saw how enthusiastically he discussed all his ideas and had an explanation for everything. Ravichandran felt this was a definite success story and even assured him all help and agreed to extend all possible cooperation to him in terms of site space.
Moreover he stated that the website should concentrate on local problems and make Mangalore the next IT destination and urged him to give opportunity to locals to participate.
After the speeches by the chief guests, the website brochures were released by Fr Serrao and as a token present, copies of a book written by Monteiro was presented to Thingalaya, Fr Serrao and Ravichandran. Compere of the programme proposed the vote of thanks.