Reflections from Africa-10

Reflections from Africa-10

Holocaust is a word which will make us shudder.  Brutality at its worst! How can some one command to kill millions of innocent people just like that? This is true even with a nuclear bomb.

When we visited the Holocaust Museum in Cape Town, we were going back to an age when human beings had no value at all. Millions of brothers and sisters just wiped out of this earth, in the guise of making somebody else's life more comfortable. That is the philosophy of all war mongers.

When future generations write a history of the world, it should not be about killings and wars. It should not be about apartheid and holocausts. It should be about a world where beauty and peace prevail. Peace lovers of the world unite. Yes we unite.

  

Abraham Karickam 

Students of KIPS at Republic day parade at Kottarakara

Reflections from Africa-9

Apartheid must be a universal phenomenon. But the worse form of it might have been in India and South Africa. Caste system was very strong in India at certain period. In Kerala, my State, there was a time when women of some castes were not allowed even to wear a blouse to cover their breasts. Women in the last century led a strike called "rouka strike" ( protest by wearing top), before they got freedom to do that.

When we visited the Apartheid Museum in Johannesburg, we could not but weep at the magnitude of segregation that existed in this land in the previous century. There is nothing like being treated as 'animals' in one's own native soil. Innumerable videos and pictures take us to a time of sheer atrocities and humiliation, beyond words.  We in India greet people  with the word ' namaste ', which means " I bow down before the God in you". If God is in us, how can we treat our brothers and sisters like beasts? This should never ever happen again in history at all.  Abraham Karickam

Reflections From Africa-8

 Karen asks me what is the highlight of my visit to South Africa? There cannot be one answer to this. There are so many highlights and on the whole it was just amazing- two CCs were born in this process, of course .
Karen, Tony and Berry were at it and I was so happy to see the birthing. I could meet some extraordinary people and the members of the new CCs will definitely bring revolutionary changes in the life of URI, I am sure, especially the two firebrand women who lead these astounding groups- Vivien Laverge and Nazely Mayet. 

We had a wonderful meeting with some great academicians from the University of Durban yesterday, before going to the Indian Consulate gathering at the Town Hall for the 67th Republic Day celebrations. Prof. Jeff and Prof. Sophy lead  the Department of Peace Building at Durban University. It was amazing to learn that Prof. Jeff is guiding 42 students for research related to non- violence and conflict resolution. This seventy year old gem of a man stunned me with his passion for peace building. We discussed a lot about TPA, Holy Books Conference, Peace Research Institute ( IPRI ) and so on. Africa is full of promises.

Reflections from Africa 7 --Meeting with Ela Gandhi in Durban

"Generations to come will scarcely believe that such a one as this ever in flesh and blood ever walked upon this earth." This is what Albert Einstein wrote about Gandhiji. And we could learn a great deal about this man today, through some unique meetings and visits.
 It was a most memorable day for us in Durban, as we were able to visit the Phoenix Settlement, where Mahatama Gandhi lived a greater portion of his 21 years in South Africa. It is a museum today and that gives us a clear picture of how Mohandas Gandhi became Mahatama Gandhi. It also sheds light into the formative years of the South African Freedom Srtuggle. So much to learn and so much to share.
But the culmination of my visit in South Africa was the meeting with Mrs. Ela Gandhi, grand daughter of Mahatma Gandhi. She was a member of the South African Parliament for nine years, the first term during the tenure of Nelson Mandela. Today she is in the fore front of so many interfaith movements. Karen and me could learn so much about the history of interfaith relations in South Africa during our parley with Ela, which lasted for about three hours in her residence.
This is where Mahatama Gandhi lived in Durban where he established the Phoenix Settlement in a hundred acre campus. It was later looted and burnt during the struggle and now rebuilt, but only a small campus today.
 We are very excited to be guests at the Indian Consulate in the evening for the Republic Day celebrations, as special invitees of Ela Gandhi. Both her daughter Ashish and herself are running several Gandhi Trusts today here in this country, which promote the vision and ideals of a Mahatma, who has no comparison.

Abraham Karickam

Reflections from Africa 6-- Painful story of the First Nation People

It is the same story everywhere-- the painful story of the First Nation People. We spent about three hours listening to the tales of our Gauteng Khoi San Council CC leaders yesterday in Johannesburg, after a beautiful. Sunday service at Pretoria Mar Thoma Church. Karen and myself spoke to the Mar Thoma Community and she has been invited to attend the next meeting of the Pretoria Malayalee Association.

 Khoi San people are the aborigines in South Africa and their struggle knows no end even after 20 years of freedom. They have to knock from door to door to protect their rights- rights to land , education, employment, civil rights and so on. Will there be any steps to preserve their language and culture? No book yet printed in their language and elderly people who know it become an extinct community. The word "coloured " has a different connotation. 

If you are nowhere in your own land, imagine the magnitude of pain. They feel they have still a long walk to real freedom.

Abraham Karickam

Reflections from South Africa 3-- Robben Island

Reflections from South Africa 3-- Robben Island

Karen and myself are in front of a jail cell in Robben Island, that changed the history of the world. This is  the cell where the legendary Nelson Mandela spent more than 17 years of his total imprisonment of 27 long years. There have been so many struggles for freedom, but only a few become epic stories, as in the case of Mandela. Walter Sisulu, Govan Mbeki, Mac Maharaj were all imprisoned in this island.

Prisoners have been housed in this island for centuries, but it was in the 1960s that a Maximum security prison was built. The island was used as a leper colony from 1846 to 1931. One of the former inmates greeted us yesterday when we visited the place. He showed us one  room where sixty political prisoners, including him,  spent about two decades of their valuable life together. 

 

Thousands of people from all parts of the world come to this island every day, just to see this prison.

It has become like a pilgrim centre.  

Reflections from South Africa-2

Reflections from South Africa-2

It was great to be with the leaders of CIIT CC in Cape Town. These members of the Cape Town Interfaith Initiative are amazing people from whom we can learn a lot. ( All members of the CC were not present). A few of them were present at the World Parliament last year.

Our story telling continued till late night yesterday. As we were from various religious traditions , topics were numerous. The role of women in Islam, Judaism, Christianity etc came for discussion again and again, as Mohammed brought out the argument, why God always spoke only to men like Abraham and Moses?

I shared my bitter experience in organising the first Jewish- Christian Dialogue in Asia for the World Council of Churches. My long-time friend Dr.  Hans Ucko had asked me to be the local organiser. We had to face three problems at Cochin. A sabbath service at the Mattanchery Jewish synagogue was part of the program. There were 15 Jews and fifteen Christians in the group, including the first two women Rabbis from Israel.

Problem 1- Jews could not travel much distance on Saturday. So we had to find accommodation for one day near the Synagogue

Problem 2. There should be ten Jewish men to conduct a service. We had only seven men in our group. But luckily we could find three more from the Jewish community in Cochin.

Problem 3. Women were not allowed inside the synagogue . The women Rabbis threatened a boycott. We pleaded with the leaders and at last they permitted women to sit at the back and watch the service.

I never thought interfaith dialogue was so difficult a task , when I jumped at the opportunity of a great conference like this. That is the pain and joy of learning.

Regards,
Abraham

Reflections from Southern Africa- 1

Reflections from Southern Africa- 1

Hai All,

I greet you all from the Southern tip of Africa- the Cape of Good
Hope. This is the beginning of an exciting RC exchange program. I
thank Victor, Liam, Sally and all who worked it out as a pioneering
event in the second phase of URI. Karen was in Kerala a few months
back and now I am reciprocating her visit.

Why I chose South Africa?

1. Moral Imagination program brought us to Uganda and Ethiopia, but SA
was not in our reach. I passed through Johannesburg in 1998, on my way
to Harare for the WCC General Assembly and there was no chance to
explore South Africa. Victoria Lake was the main attraction then and I
will never forget the boat trip through the lake. Africa hides many
wonders.

2. Mohan Das Karam Chand Gandhi was an ordinary human being when he
came to South africa, decades ago, but he became a Mahatma here in
this land. It is the circumstances that make an ordinary being a
"great soul" (mahat aatma). When he was thrown out of a first class
compartment as he was a black Indian, Gandhiji could not contain the
fury within. The rest is history, and I hope South Africa is not the
same at present.

3. The rhythm of Africa is different and I like it very much.
Yesterday I saw two girls at the airport dancing and laughing while
running with wheel chairs to help some elderly people. Where do they
get such energy and warmth?

4. URI is definitely making a difference in the psyche of Africa,
under our great leader Ambassador Mussie, my brother. He is directly
dealing with all Presidents,  Prime Ministers, UN Agencies and so on.
We have so much to learn.

5. I am on a leaning mission. As a professor, you have to be a student
always. How the Regional co-ordinator and her team work to foster
better interfaith relations in the southern part of Africa? So much to
explore.


Karen brought me to a wonderful family yesterday--Muhammad and Abida.
I enjoy the comfort in this beautiful house here as the sun rises in
the horn of Africa. The African Safari begins.

Warm regards,
Abraham Karickam

Winners of Sahodaya Arts competitions, 2016

                                 KIPS scholarship winners, 2016

Senior students of KIPS with staff and students of Nazareth College, New York

Nazareth College students (New York) at Malamel Rock Temple

KIPS PTA held on 09/01/2016

P.K Somadas lecturing during PTA meeting on Jan.9, 2016

US INTERFAITH TEAM VISTED KARICKAM INTERNATIONAL PUBLIC SCHOOL

U.S Interfaith team including 11 delegates from Nazerath College,America, visited  Karickam International Public School on 5^th and 6^th January, 2016. KIPS arranged an Interfaith meeting at 9 A.M at School open auditorium. School Chair Person Dr. Abraham Karickam welcomed delegates. The delegates delivered short messages. Prof. John Kurakar, U.R.I Global Council Trustee, Mr. Ramachandran Nair,  Mr. Jiji P. Mathew, Principal of the School, Mrs. Susan Abrahan and Mr. Aby  Abrham also attened the  meeting. Mr. Jiji P.Mathew expressed vote of thanks