Awake & Arise

Marxist-nationalist JVP calls for boycott of Indian goods and Look who is their friends in India

2008-03-07T15:16:00.001+05:30

The Marxist-nationalist Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) has threatened to call for a boycott of goods from India. They allege that India is interfering" in the internal affairs of Sri Lanka

If the JVP does call for a boycott of Indian goods, and enforces it, the loss to India will be tremendous. India exports goods worth $1.8 billion to Sri Lanka every year. The island is India's largest trading partner in the South Asian region. India is the fourth largest foreign investor in Sri Lanka, having pumped in $500 million. India had also given Sri Lanka credit to the tune of $281 million in the past four years.

No call by the JVP can be taken lightly in the current political context, because it has 38 members in the Sri Lankan Parliament and the Rajapaksa government is dependent on the JVP MPs for its survival.

It would be worth remembering that twenty years ago, in 1987-88, the JVP had tried to enforce a boycott of Indian goods in protest against the India-Sri Lanka Accord and the 13th amendment.

Now lets take a look at JVP's friends in India. Well no surprises there. Its the usual culprits CPM and CPI.

CPM has been inviting JVP for their party congress for last three decades. However, this year they didnot invite them due to their alliance with DMK in Tamilnadu. The JVP, which stands for a “unitary Sri Lanka”, wants the Tigers wiped out, whether through military combat or ideological means. While, CPM has identified Tamil Nadu as one of the “priority” states where it can improve its base, and is keen to avoid alienating the large sections of Tamils sympathetic to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam.

The CPI, however, has invited the Sri Lankan party to its party congress, to be held in Hyderabad from March 23 to 27. JVP parliamentarians Bimal Ratnayake and Ramalingam Chandrasekhar are expected at the conference.

Technorati Tags: Communists,CPM,JVP,Srilanka

Et Tu BBC?

2008-03-04T21:30:00.001+05:30

BBC is known for its objective reporting but I guess they threw all the cautions to wind while reporting on Sister Alphonsa’s sainthood.

Frances Kennedy of BBC News reports from Rome.

I am not sure why but she starts her report with a factually incorrect claim. she reports

She(Sister Alphonsa’s ) had burnt and disfigured herself to avoid a marriage, having chosen to dedicate her life to Christ.

While on the same issue, Indian Express Reports

Alphonsa had become a nun in 1928, five years after she fell into a smouldering bonfire and badly burnt her feet, which reportedly tortured her all her remaining life.

Then she goes on to report that

The news that a date had been set for Sister Alphonsa's canonisation was greeted with joy by her order - the Congregation of Poor Clares of the Third Order of St Francis, also known as Clarists. The order is known for working with poor, indigenous people of all classes and religions

I am not sure about other Keralites but this Dumbhead is hearing about this order for firth time in his life. Also, I think Ms. Frances Kennedy who is from New Zealand is unaware that unlike in United states, Australia or in New Zealand, India donot have "Non indigenous" People. All Indians are Indigenous irrespective of caste creed and colour!

Then I am not sure why she dragged the conversion issue in to this report on Sister Alphonsa’s sainthood. She endedup sounding more like a spokesperson of Evangelical Church than Journalist from a reputed Broadcasting company.

She also reports that

Marco Tosatti, Vatican correspondent for Italian daily La Stampa, said the canonisation would be offer support to Christians in India "who are often subject of persecution and violence by some Hindu groups, for political motives".

This is outrageous! Are they saying that one of the objective of canonisation is to offer support to Christians in India against alleged persecution?

If you are outraged make a complain to BBC from here

BBC Report

Technorati Tags: BBC,Sister Alphonsa,canonise

Indian Muslims in Malaysia want to be called Malays

2008-03-03T20:26:00.001+05:30

A section of the ethnic Indian Muslim community living in Malaysia want to be known as Malays rather than Indians and have petitioned the government to streamline the laws accordingly.

Members of the Malaysian Indian Muslim Youth Movement (Gepima) want to be known as Malays and not Indians since the the country's constitution states that an Indian is a Malay "if he professes the Muslim religion, habitually speaks Malay and conforms to Malay custom".

"I am a second generation Malaysian and I can safely say that from wedding rituals to the food we eat and the language we speak, we conform to Malay customs all the way," said Gepima president Mohamed Kader Ali.

Syed Osman Mohamed, Ali's 24-year-old son, said

we feel uncomfortable to be known as Indians, because people automatically think we are Hindus when we are actually Muslim.

Source

Technorati Tags: India,Malaysia,Muslims

NDF Freedom Parade 2007,Malappuram,Vadakara,Kottayam and Thiruvananthapuram

2008-03-03T14:28:00.001+05:30

Technorati Tags: NDF

LDF Supported MP Sebastian Paul Oppose Trivandrum High Court Bench as its aimed at appeasing Hindu vote bank

2008-02-29T11:43:00.001+05:30

Sebastian Paul, MP has opposed the demands to setup High Court Bench in Trivandrum as according to him

"a High Court Bench in the capital city as solely aimed at appeasing the vote bank."

Previously, Sebastian Paul, MP, has written to Union Minister of State for Commerce Jairam Ramesh opposing the move to shift the office of the Cashew Export Promotion Council (CEPC) in Kochi to Kollam.

Is Mr. Sebastian propagating division of Kerala on religious lines South for Hindus, Middle for Christians and North of Muslims!! If we take that justification to logical conclusion then I guess what "Vote Bank" is Govt. trying to please with the Prestigious Vallarpadam Terminal Project. (take a look at this website)

Or is he more worried about his votebank in Ernakulam Parliamentary Consistency? Is he worried that his "votebank" would not be happy that "the Kerala's only High Court Bench in Ernakulam" will lose its prominence if there is another bench in Trivandrum.

The Extend of Influence of Ernakulam Votebank can be seen from Last 07 Parliamentary Election Results of Ernakulam Parliamentary Constituency.

General Elections, 2004 (14th LOK SABHA): DR. SEBASTIAN PAUL(CPM Backed Independent)

General Elections, 1999 (13th LOK SABHA): ADV. GEORGE EDEN (Indian National Congress)

General Elections, 1998 (12th LOK SABHA): ADV. GEORGE EDEN (Indian National Congress)

General Elections, 1996 (11th LOK SABHA): XAVIER ARRAKKAL(CPM Backed Independent)

General Elections, 1991 (10th LOK SABHA): K.V. THOMAS(Indian National Congress)

General Elections, 1984 (8th LOK SABHA): K. V. THOMAS (Indian National Congress)

General Elections, 1980 (7th LOK SABHA): XAVIER VARGHESE ARAKAL(CPM Backed Independent)

This is Really outrageous!!

Technorati Tags: Appeasement,CPM,Kerala

LDF Supported MP Sebastian Paul Oppose Trivandrum High Court Bench as its aimed at appeasing Hindu vote bank

2008-02-29T09:39:00.000+05:30

Sebastian Paul, MP has opposed the demands to setup High Court Bench in Trivandrum as according to him

"a High Court Bench in the capital city as solely aimed at appeasing the vote bank."

This is Really outrageous!! Is he prpogating Division of Kerala on religious lines South for Hindus, Middle for Christians and North of Muslims!! If we take that justification to logical conclusion then I guess all the projects which are approved in Central Region should be to appease Christian Vote Bank especially the Vallarpadam Terminal Project. (take a look at this website)

Technorati Tags: Appeasement,CPM,Kerala

MES chairman Fazal Gafoor is Correct: Pinarayi Vijayan

2008-02-28T11:31:00.000+05:30

Now it seems CPM in kerala has given their stamp of approval to MES chairman Fazal Gafoor claims that P K Narayana Panikcer is a Street Rowdy.

Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) State secretary Pinarayi Vijayan has said

The opinion expressed by Muslim Education Society chairman Fazal Gafoor on the stance of Nair Service Society leaders on the Paloli committee report is right. The opinion of Mr. Gafoor should be considered a natural reaction.

I guess Pinnarai has got his maths right. Nairs account only for approx. 12% of Kerala population while Muslims account for almost double 24%!

Can someone please send some bangles to the NSS leadership

Source

Khilafat centenary to be celebrated

2008-02-25T08:29:00.000+05:30

It is shameful that certain groups in Kerala has decided to celebrate Khilafat Movement Centenary!

A reception committee under the aegis of the Ahmediyya Muslim Jamat is constituted was on Sunday to observe the centenary of the Khilafat movement. Jamat’s Chief Missionary Mouvali Mohammed Ayub is the coordinator and Kozhikode region Amir M.A. Mohammed, the chairman.

In Kerala, the Khilafat Movement culminated as Moopalah riots which claimed the lives of thousands of innocent Hindus at the hands of Muslim mobs. This is how Annie Beasent described riots in her book The Future Of Indian Politics: A Contribution To The Understanding Of Present-Day Problems P252. Annie Besant stated: "They Moplahs murdered and plundered abundantly, and killed or drove away all Hindus who would not apostatise. Somewhere about a lakh (100,000) of people were driven from their homes with nothing but their clothes they had on, stripped of everything...Malabar has taught us what Islamic rule still means, and we do not want to see another specimen of the Khilafat Raj in India."

One of lesser told story of Khilafat Movement was that in 1920, some 18,000 Muslims from Sindh and the Northwest Frontier Province emigrated to Afghanistan on the urging of Muslim religious leaders. They saw India as a Dar al-Harb, a non-Islamic land inhabited mainly by Hindus and controlled by the British; they sought to temporarily live in a Dar al-Islam, which signified a Muslim-majority and rule of Islam. However, the Afghan government forcibly deported the refugees back to British India, leaving them weak and vulnerable.

Also, some of prominent historians believe that Khilafat Movement was first step towards formation of Pakistan!

Do we really need to celebrate such a shameful episode in our History? do we have to reopen our wounds?

Mohammad Yahya Kammakutty Arrest “Sangh Parivar-Intelligence Bureau agenda”?

2008-02-25T06:11:00.001+05:30

Is the arrest of Mohammad Yahya Kammakutty Arrest “Sangh Parivar-Intelligence Bureau agenda”? it seems so if you believe Minority Rights Watch, a human rights organisation in kerala.

Minority Rights Watch, a human rights organisation has attributed an expansive “Sangh Parivar-Intelligence Bureau agenda” in the arrest of an IT professional, a Muslim youth from Kerala, on charges of terrorist links in Karnataka recently.

In a statement , the organisation’s chairman S. Shanavas and secretary M.K. Harikumar said that the same forces behind the denial of minority rights in the government job sector were now trying to prevent educated Muslim youth from gaining professional jobs in the private sector.

For the uninitiated, , Mohammed Yahya Kammakutty, A software engineer and native of Kerala was arrested on February 21, is considered to be among the key leaders of SIMI.

MY GOD!!!!

SNDP may forge alliance with PDP

2008-02-24T22:26:00.001+05:30

Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana (SNDP) Yogam general secretary Vellappally Natesan has hinted that the Yogam could soon join hands with the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) led by Abdul Nasir Maudany

“though I am personally inclined to have an alliance with Mr. Maudany, the issue will be discussed in all levels of the Yogam before a decision is taken.

“This is because several people have a negative impression of Mr. Maudany. But what I have understood is that he has changed a lot and now has plenty of ideas aimed at social justice,” Vellappally Natesan said.

SHOCKING!!! So much for the talks on Hindu unity!

LDF Claims to be sole supporter of Conversion!

2008-02-22T11:25:00.001+05:30

Lonappan Nambadan, MP, has said that the Left Democratic Front is the sole source of strength and support for minorities.

He was addressing a meeting at the Church-run St. Thomas College here on Thursday. “Congress and BJP-ruled States have passed anti-conversion laws. The Left-ruled States, Tripura, West Bengal and Kerala, have not rushed to do that,” he said. Quoting the Bible, he said faith without putting it into practice was meaningless.

is LDF Claiming that they are the only Group actively supporting conversion?

Another First in Kerala: Ministry for Minorities

2008-02-22T07:34:00.000+05:30

The Left Government in Kerala is likely to set up a full-fledged state department for the welfare of minorities along with a Minorities Development Corporation. This is based on the recommendations given by a Committee headed by CPI(M) leader and Local Administration Minister Paloli Mohammed Kutty who looked into the Rajinder Sachar Committee Report.

The committee has also asked the Govt. to sanction more schools and colleges for Muslims considering their educational backwardness, and to ensure a foolproof mechanism to ensure that Muslims get full reservation benefits. For the latter, the Paloli committee is learnt to have also suggested de-linking appointments based on merit from appointments under the reserved categories, by the state Public Service Commission. Some of other recommendations of committee:-

It has called for introducing job reservation in the private sector.
A Muslim community development corporation has been sought on the lines of the Backward Classes Development Corporation.
The Committee felt that the community has not got due representation in top posts in government service.

Now I am confused, is Mr. Paloli saying that the Lower Education Level in Muslim Society is Because Muslims Own Less No. of Schools? Is he saying Muslims donot(or will not) send their children to schools owned by other communities(even Govt)? Also, In that case Hindus who own the least No. of schools in Kerala should be most illiterate!!

Delinking Promoting from Performance is another Deplorable act!

News

Now its Good time as a Minority in India

2008-02-21T11:51:00.000+05:30

This should be read in continuation to my previous Blog Outrageous Minority Appeasement in Andhra Pradesh

Last week, I was reading a very interesting book "A Thousand Splendid Suns" by Afghan American author Khaled Hosseini. There is a very interesting passage in which the father of Laila (One of central cast) asks her to enjoy her life under USSR Backed Communist Rule. He says "This is the best time to be born as a Female in USSR"

Similarly, It seems this is the best time to born as a member of Minority in India. Lets take a hypothetical situation in which a Boy called "X" is born as a Minority.

X is the fourth son in his family. His farther is a Small Time Business Man and Mother is a Housewife.

His father send him to school when he was Five year old. He didnot have much difficulty getting into the school as it was a Private minority-run educational institution. As per the current laws, the government donot regulate Private minority-run higher education institutions fees and admission policy. He being from Minority community didnot have to face much competition. Once in the school, his fathers burden was much relieved as Government has just started Minority Only Scholarships, He was more than certain that he would be able to avail the scholarship.

Once he completed the studies, he didnot have to go thru the hassle of competing for Jobs as in most of the states Minorities enjoys Job reservation. In Fact, it is rumored that now this Job reservation would be extended even to Private sector.

Now Since X is well placed in a Good Government Job, he would like to get married. He has decided to Avail some funds from Rs 5 crore which AP Govt has set aside for mass marriages of Minorities. He is checking whether he can use this money for his honeymoon Trip also. Afterall, if govt. gets him married they have to take responsibility for After Marriage Expenses.

With all his Materialistic needs taken care, X has turned to religion for Spiritual Needs. Now he regularly goes to the Mosque which has just be refurbished with Rs 5 Crore funds which AP Govt has given for repairs and maintenance for mosque and church. He has plans to go for Haj next year, the travel for Haj is heavily subsidized by Indian Government.

Today, X is a contented man, he has pledge to continue to vote for the current government. He feels assured that the present Government will take care of all his Needs whether "Materialistic" or "Spiritual" Moreover the Prime Minister himself has assured that Minority has first right over natural resources. He was also heartened that PM lost his sleep due to some unpleasant Incidents in Australia. He is assured that his children will also get the good life he had and he would tell them "Now its Good time as a Minority in India"

Outrageous Minority Appeasement in Andhra Pradesh

2008-02-20T16:07:00.000+05:30

Any government looking at minority appeasement can take a leaf out of the Andhra Pradesh Budget.

The 'tax free' Budget tabled by Finance Minister K Rosaiah allocates Rs 2 crore for Christian pilgrims visiting the holy sites in Israel; Rs 5 crore for mass marriages of Christians, Muslims and other minorities and Rs 5 crore for mosque and church repairs and maintenance.

With all of this and the recently implemented 4 per cent quota for Muslims in government Andhra government certainly has gone overboard with its attempt to appease minorities.

This outrageous appeasement was justified by a Outrageous Justification Desh main agar kisi kaum ko chote nazar se dekhane lage, to desh ke liye bhi khatra ho sakta hai (If you look down upon a community within the country, that may invite trouble for the nation) Agar kisi ko insaf dilana ho, aur agar ye appeasement hai, to iska koi jawab nahi hai.", state Minorities Welfare Minister Shabbir Ali reasons.

Obviously Hindus donot come into picture when its it is matters of Justice and taking care of community

GOD SAVE THIS COUNTRY!!!

Supreme Court Outraged by Teesta Setalvad's attack on it!

2008-02-20T08:55:00.000+05:30

Supreme Court today expressed its outrage over recent articles written by Self Styled Social activist Teesta Setalvad.

Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan called the attack "shameful" and "not in good taste."

"Who is this Teesta Setalvad. Is she a spokesperson of these persons or petitioners. There is one article that appeared (written by her). If she is representing these persons (Godhra accused) we do not want to hear them," " it asked before starting the proceedings on the bail petitions filed by the Godhra accused.

"We see so many things in media. Sometimes it is educative for us and sometimes we simply ignore them but what is this (Setalvad's article) that the court is not posting their matters or doing something unfair," the Bench observed.

The Chief Justice,who said her article also appeared in a Malayalam weekly, was particularly perturbed over the allegations that hearing on post-Godhra cases were fixed in such a way that it gets adjourned.

"It is shameful," the CJI said.

At this point, Salve succeeded in pacifying the Bench by saying "You (Bench) should treat it (article) with contempt and ignore it".

It is outrageous the extend these "self Styled" Secularists would go to make themselves heard! One fails to understand why they were so silent at the Mayhem unleashed by CPM in Nandigram! or is it that "atrocities in Bengal" donot fall within the preview of their business plan?

51 crores not enough? Qureshi asks people to fix reward amount

2008-02-20T08:19:00.001+05:30

Mohammad Yaqoob Qureshi, who created a furore in 2006 by announcing a reward of Rs 51 crore to anyone who beheads a Danish cartoonist for drawing caricatures of Prophet Mohammed, is in the news again.

This time, however, he has asked the people of Meerut to fix the quantum of the bounty for the "avenger" after some Danish newspapers reprinted last week the controversial cartoon that depicted the Prophet wearing a turban which resembled a bomb.

Qureshi said

"This time the people of Meerut should decide what should be the amount of the reward," Qureshi also said "the Centre should demand an apology from Denmark and the Uttar Pradesh assembly should condemn the reprint of the controversial cartoon"

Will the UPA Govt send a démarche to Danish Government this time also?

WHITE PAPER: Mass Conversion a strategy not a Coincidence

2008-02-18T13:22:00.003+05:30

This paper was written after researching several online articles available in evangelical websites. The objective of the paper is to prove that Mass conversion is a well though out strategy and is not a coincidence as it is being thought today. Please note each and every piece of information is taken directly from Missionary literature and IS NOT MY CREATION.

Older Methodology: Mission Station Approach:

In this methodology, They acquired a piece of land, often with great difficulty. Then the missionary arrives. He and his family worship on Sunday. They are the first members of that congregation. He learns the language and preaches the gospel. Through the years a few individual converts are won from this group. Sometimes its a woman, a man, a boy, a girl who decide to follow Jesus. Very often, a few employees of the mission become Christian. These may be masons hired to erect the buildings, helpers in the home, rescued persons or orphans. In due time, a church building is erected.

But Missionaries now are not satisfied by the result from such a Approach. Some of the reasons are

1. Lower Returns: The expectations were often frustrated by meager response. In the light of the this Professor Latourette writes:

The advanced cultures and faiths of Asia and North Africa did not yield so readily as did those of the primitive folk, either to Western civilization or to Christianity. This was to be expected. It has usually been characteristic of advanced cultures and their religions that they have been much slower to disintegrate before an invading civilization.

2. Rising Nationalism: Missionaries feel that the days in which the mission stations can exert a major influence on the affairs of Eastern nations are drawing to a close. The temper of these days in the East is not that of humbly sitting at the feet of missionary tutors. They feel that sleeping nations are now awake. Mission schools & Hospitals in Asia and North Africa no longer have the influence which they once had. For example, Up till 1945 the Central Provinces of India had not produced a single qualified doctor. Its university had no standard medical school. The only fully qualified doctors were a few immigrants from other provinces and missionary doctors from abroad. But today there are four hundred students in the medical college of its university. As this flood of physicians flows out over the cities and towns and eventually the villages of this province, the present near monopoly of the Christian hospitals is likely to be destroyed.

3. Social Situation: The missionaries feel that Conversion is not a Accepted norm in society. Each convert, as he becomes a Christian, is seen by his kin as one who leaves “us” and joins “them.” He leaves our gods to worship their gods. Thus the Christian cause wins the individual but loses the family. As a result, conglomerate congregations, made up of converts won in this fashion, grow very slowly.

New Methodology: People Movements:

Now they have taken a new approach which they refer as Peoples movement. According to them, It is a God-designed pattern by which not ones but thousands will acknowledge Christ as Lord, and grow into full discipleship as people after people, clan after clan, tribe after tribe and community after community are claimed for and nurtured in the Christian faith. They claim several list of movements in India to back their claim some of them are Malas and Madigas, the Nagas and Garas, the Mahars and Bhils, and many others.

Some of the salient aspects of new methodology is as follows:-

1. Aim for a cluster of growing congregations: They now target a cluster of growing, indigenous congregations every member of which remains in close contact with his kindred. For example, if they were evangelizing the taxi drivers of Taipei, then their goal is to win some taxi drivers, some university professors, some farmers and some fishermen, but rather to establish churches made up largely of taxi drivers, their wives and children, and their assistants and mechanics.

2. Concentrate on one people: The principle is that the national leader or the missionary and his helpers, should concentrate on one people. If they are going to establish a cluster of growing congregations amongst, let us say, the Nair people of Kerala then they make all the missionaries and their helpers to focus their work among the Nairs. They will proclaim the gospel to Nairs, saying quite openly to them, “We are hoping that within your great caste there soon will be thousands of followers of Jesus Christ who also remain solidly in the Nair community.” They will, of course, not worship the old Nair gods, but then plenty of Nairs don’t worship their old gods. Plenty of Nairs are Communist and ridicule their old gods. Nairs whom God calls, who choose to believe in Christ, are going to love their neighbors more than they did before and walk in the light. They will be saved and beautiful people. They will remain Nairs, while at the same time they become Christians.

3. Donot Differentiate: They are now encouraging converts to remain with their people The principle is to encourage converts to remain thoroughly one with their own people in most matters.

Bishop J. W. Pickett, in his important study Christ’s Way to India’s Heart, says:

The process of extracting individuals from their setting in Hindu or Moslem communities does not build a Church. On the contrary it rouses antagonism against Christianity and builds barriers against the spread of the Gospel. Moreover, that process has produced many unfortunate, and not a few tragic results in the lives of those most deeply concerned. It has deprived the converts of the values represented by their families and friends and made them dependent for social support to the good life and restraint on evil impulses upon men and women, their colleagues in the Christian faith, with whom they have found it difficult to develop fellowship and a complete sense of community. It has sacrificed much of the convert’s evangelistic potentialities by separating him from his People. It has produced anaemic Churches that know no true leadership and are held together chiefly by common dependence on the mission or the missionary

Now according to them a mere change of name accomplishes nothing. Thus a Christward movement within a people can be defeated either by extracting the new Christians from their society (i.e. by allowing them to be squeezed out by their non-Christian relatives).

4. Convert in Groups: The principle is to try to get group decisions for Christ. If only one person decides to follow Jesus do not baptize him immediately. Say to him, “You and I will work together to lead another five, or ten, or God willing, fifty of your people to accept Jesus Christ as Saviour so that when you are baptized, you will be baptized with them.” Ostracism is very effective against one lone person. But ostracism is weak indeed when exercised against a group of a dozen.

5. Do not try to change society: Now its seems that Missionaries donot want to upset the applecart by taking own ageold institutions. According to them, let Paul did not attack all imperfect social institutions. For example, he did not do away with slavery. Paul said to the slave, “Be a better slave.” He said to the slave owner, “Be a kindlier master.”

Reference

1. http://www.uscwm.org/mobilization_division/resources/perspectives_reader_pdf's/B18_McGavran_TheBridges.pdf

2. http://www.uscwm.org/mobilization_division/resources/perspectives_reader_pdf's/D19_McGavran_AChurchin.pdf

AP to give Christians subsidy to visit Israel

2008-02-12T07:20:00.000+05:30

It's Raining Sops! Hallelujah!
It's Raining Sops! Every Specimen!

Always eager to offer sops to minorities, the Andhra Pradesh government of chief minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy on Monday decided to dole out subsidies, on the lines of the Haj scheme, for Christians who want to visit holy sites in Israel.
The sop to Christian pilgrims by the chief minister, himself a Christian, is seen as another move by the Congress government to woo minorities ahead of the general and assembly elections scheduled for early next year.
Christians comprise about 1.5% of AP's eight crore population.

Last year, the state government aggressively tried to woo Muslims in the state, who comprise about 8-9% of the population. An attempt to reserve 5% of jobs and seats in educational institutions in the state for Muslims was struck down by courts.

AP to give Christians subsidy to visit Israel-India-The Times of India

An Examples of Mass Conversion in India

2008-01-24T14:04:00.000+05:30

Before 1991 the gospel had managed to attract very few converts in a particular district in Central India. Seven years later hundreds of newly baptized believers from at least 24 different people groups are learning to follow Jesus.

Bhimrao was a local, third generation Christian who had been a social and political activist for impoverished farmers. He cooperated with an Indian mission organization to open avenues for the gospel among the Kowadi people. As an agrarian peasant group, the Kowadis have largely adapted their animistic traditions to the religious practices of the surrounding rural Hindu culture. They had resisted previous mission efforts, viewing Christianity as a religion for
peoples of lower social standing than themselves. To present the gospel to the Kowadis in a way that they could understand and value, Bhimrao first confronted the failure of the two sources of power in which they had placed their hopes for social and economic upliftment: the government and their traditional gods.

His message to them focused on Jesus: Since Jesus had created the Kowadis, Jesus has always been their rightful Lord and God. Yet they had never known his blessing because they had placed their hope in others. He had made the way for them to again come under his Lordship
and know his blessing, but only if they would put their hope in him. Bhimrao spent three months explaining this message in 150 Kowadi villages. At the end, 41 Kowadi affirmed Jesus as “Their Lord and Lord of the Kowadi” by taking baptism.

Opposition Tests Faith and Attests to Credibility
Hindu religious zealots immediately disrupted the intended plans for follow-up and establishment of churches. The Kowadi people, known for their timidity, appeared to
withdraw from further contact with the missionaries working with Bhimrao.

“Why Should We Follow Small Gods?”
With the intention of initiating a movement of self-reproducing churches filled with worshipers
of Jesus and not merely a scattering of baptized believers, a group of potential leaders were soon identified and gathered for a week of teaching. A visiting foreign Christian researcher conducted one of the sessions. He simply shared stories of people groups in other countries that were embracing Christ as well. At the end of the week, participants indicated that that session had been the most significant for them. “We can see now that this Jesus is greater than all other gods. All the gods we have ever known have been gods only of a village, a tribe, a region, or of the nation of India. But this Jesus, he has followers from all over the world. Why should we follow small gods, when we can follow the greatest God of all?”

God Sends “Angels”
One such team had located in a village populated entirely by Poharis. The Poharis are highly transient hunters who engage in animistic rituals while honoring Hindu brahminical priestcraft. They had asked for someone to come and teach them also about Christ. But the only ones available were a short-term team of young Scandinavian women.

While discussing Christ with these young women with pale skin, bright blond hair and blue eyes, the Poharis began telling about a particular priest in their village. Five years prior he had passed through a period when most of the people thought he was crazy. He often seemed tormented by spirits. They brought him repeatedly before various gods & goddesses for healing. All the while he kept saying, “People who look like angels will come from around the world to our village.
They will tell us about the real God. We should follow him.” So the team asked him what he saw in his vision. He said, “I saw people like you, white kind of people—they were angels. They will come and tell about God.” When they asked, “Do you think that we are those people?” he responded, “I don’t know yet.” But after four days of listening he trusted the Lord Jesus Christ and received him as his savior. In the end, most of those residing in that particular village were baptized.

http://www.uscwm.org/mobilization_division/resources/perspectives_reader_pdf's/D29-D40_CaseStudies.pdf

Secular Awards!

2008-01-23T07:43:00.000+05:30

CPM in Kerala gave Prestigious Raja Ravi Verma Award to Artist M. F Hussain. I guess this might be in recognition for his contribution in the field of Painting. I have attached a comparison of Raja Ravi Varma and M F Hussain Painting.

Last week our NDTV Nominated M. F Hussian for Bharath Ratna Awards.

However, Apprehensive of yet another bout of angry Muslim protests, the government has said a polite 'no' to French president Nicolas Sarkozy's proposal to confer the prestigious Simone de Beauvoir award on exiled Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasreen during his visit here. The Simone de Beauvoir award for Taslima was announced on January 9 for her writing to defend the "rights of women".

News

Conversion Tactics Captured from Various Sources! - 1

2008-01-22T13:33:00.000+05:30

Knowing a people means touching theheart of individuals. Laughing with those wholaugh. Weeping with those who weep. Playingmarbles with 2-year old Chimbo and checkerswith his grandpa (or whatever they play in thetown square). It may help if you let him beat you. This applies to arguing religion, too. It’s dangerous always to be “right” when you’rethe new kid on the block. Learn to appreciatethe people and their ways, even the toothlessold men. Listen and learn until you have discoveredthose things in their folk religion orculture that help communicate the gospel. Once you know your area and people, discernwhich segment among them is most receptiveto you and to Jesus Christ. To penetrate restricted, resistant fields, aim first at the working class or an oppressed minority.
To start a church that will multiply in thenormal way in a pioneer field with no experiencedpastors nor organized churches, takethe following steps (change them where local circumstances require it):

Witness first to male heads of households
Baptize all repentant believers withoutdelay (entire families when possible).
Provide a style of worship that new elders-in-training can lead and teach toothers. Don’t invite the public until local leaders can lead the services.

Link

PM Manmohan Singh to get more sleepless Nights

2008-01-21T08:49:00.000+05:30

The Spanish government said two Indians along with 12 Pakistanis had been arrested on suspicion of planning a terror attack in Barcelona.

India today said it was seeking details of the arrest of two of its nationals in Spain in connection with an alleged terror plot.

I guess like last time Our NDTV Leader of the Year, will be getting some sleepless nights now!! Sigh....

Hinduism under Attack!

2007-12-18T08:54:00.000+05:30

Is hindusim and its basis beliefs under attack? Before junking this as Alarmist blog by a Hindu Fundametalist, consider these facts which has been reported by all over media.

September, 2007: The Archaeological Survey of India on Wednesday filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court stating that there is no historical and scientific evidence to establish the existence of Lord Ram or the other characters of the Ramayana. Denying the Ram Setu or Adams Bridge is a man-made structure, it said Ramcharitmanas by Tulsidas cannot be taken as a historical record to “prove the existence of the characters or occurrence of events” depicted in it.

December 2007: West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee claimed Ram is the creation of poets who glorified him in their ballads.

December 2007: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK President M Karunanidhi claimed Ram was a drunkard in Ramayana and Ram was just a character in Ramayana and his existence cannot be accepted

December 2007: A portion from the Question paper for 9th standard Malayalam paper prepared by School Academic Council: “ Arya Putra, You may go now, Please get me membership in a Video Shop, I will pass my time by watching Video Cassettes for 14 years untill you come back”!

Our secular Leadership Led by allies in UPA consisting of Communists, Congress and DMK appears to be determined in junking basic beliefs of our culture and civilisational heritage. A hindu has Sri Ram in every segment of his life, he grows up hearing stories in Ramayana in the process learning how to be a better human being. He watches Ramlila every years and learns how Truth will ultimately defeat Untruth. He expresses his devotion of Sri Ram by saying "Ram Ram" as a way of greeting each other. Even in his death his deadbody is carried in midst of "Ram Nam Satya Hai" chants. Hope our secular leadership will realise that with their act they are destroying a 5000 year old way of life.

Does this remind you of anything?

2007-11-29T12:29:00.001+05:30

An Outrageous Video Insulting National Flag

2007-11-29T11:56:00.000+05:30

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wp44LRRXpeo

Please watch the above video. I am not sure what kind of function is it but definitely some sort of Xtian convention. Its in Malayalam. I have not seen a more outrageous insult of National Flag!!!

How the person is defining different colours of the flag. How he is Misleading people to concert using the white Colour in the flag!!!

I have translated the entire talk in English for the benefit of people who cannot understand Malayalam

Following is the translation:

Indians are people with Light inside. Now Tricolour Flag. Saffron Colour on Top, Green in Bottom, White in Middle

What is Saffron? It indicates Bravery and Dedication. The top indicates about people who are ready to Beat, Punch, Kill and Stab. The green at bottom is not that It indicates Self Sufficient India. That means people who have money. Understand? But we are the white in the Middle. halleluyah. Understand? People who understood are praising the lord. I call praise for the My Lord who brought White in Middle of the flag . Not Finished. Do you know Chakra, the symbol of Power, Ashok Chakra? That is in White. Lord didnot give it to either Saffron or to Green. GLORY! Do you want to hear more. It is Called Ashoka Chakra. Shoka Means Sadness. Ashoka mean will remove Sadness. That means if you want to remove sadness you have to come to white. Even if its Saffron or Green, it has to come to white to remove saddness. Halleluyah.. People who understood and Praising the lord. That means this night you have to come to white, that means you have to come to Jesus. Without coming to Jesus you will not get light. Praise the lord!!!!!