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
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
No comments:
Post a Comment