The 122nd Maramon Convention has honoured the Metropolitan Emeritus of the Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church, Philipose Mar Chrysostum, who will be celebrating his 100th birth anniversary on April 27, at a function held at the traditional convention venue on the sand bed of the river at Maramon near Kozhencherry on Saturday.
The supreme head of the Mar Thoma Church, Joseph Mar Thoma, felicitated Mar Chrysostum on behalf of the Church as well as the Maramon Convention which is billed as Asia’s largest week-long annual congregation on the occasion.
The Metropolitan further announced that the new mission project undertaken by the Mar Thoma Evangelistic Association in Andhra Pradesh would be named after the Metropolitan Emeritus as `Mar Chrysostum Birth Centenary Mission Project’.
Yuyakim Mar Coorilos Episcopa presided the meeting. Bishop Mar Aprem of the Chaldian Church, Cyril Mar Baselius of the Thozhiyur Syrian Christian Church, the Rajya Sabha Deputy Speaker P.J.Kurien, and Mathew T.Thomas, Water Resources Minister, were among those who attended the meeting, besides all bishops of the Mar Thoma Church.
Addressing the congregation, Mar Chrysostum said he firmly believed it as a great privilage and God’s blessings to be a part of the Mar Thoma Church at different stages. “It was nothing but sheer Blessings of the Lord Almighty that has made me what Iam,’’ he said.
Mar Chrysostum invited two children who were sitting in the front row to cut the birthday cake. The Metropolitan Emeritus and the Mar Thoma Metropolitan also shared sweets each other on the occasion.
The renowned evangelist, Lord Griffiths from United Kingdom, delivered the religious discourse on the occasion.
Yuyakim Mar Coorilos Episcopa del addressed the afternoon session of the Maramon Convention.
The century-old annual Christian retreat will come to a close on Sunday afternoon. The Mar Thoma Metropolitan will deliver the valedictory message.
EOM.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Kerala / by Special Correspondent / Pathanamthitta – February 18th, 2017
Saraswathy Kunjukrishnan, senior Congress leader and the first woman District Congress Committee (DCC) president in the State, passed away at her house here early Monday. She was 92.
She had been ailing owing to age-related problems. The body has been kept in the mortuary of a private hospital here and will be taken to the Kollam DCC office at 4 p.m. on Tuesday for the people to pay their last respects. The body will then be taken to her house where it will be kept till Wednesday. The funeral rites will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday at the Mulangadakam public crematorium.
Saraswathy Kunjukrishnan is the widow of the two-time MLA and former Kollam DCC president Kulangara Kunjukrishnan. She was elected KPCC general secretary in 1978 and served as Kollam DCC president from 1982 to 1986.
She is survived by a son and two daughters. Minister Kadannappally Ramachandran and Congress leaders A.K Antony, Vayalar Ravi, V.M. Sudheeran, Oommen Chandy, C.V. Padmarajan, Thennala Balakrishna Pillai, and Sooranad Rajashekaran condoled her death.
The president and members of the Travancore Devaswom Board too condoled the death of Saraswathy Kunjukrishnan. A holiday has been declared for all offices under the board on January 4. She had served as a member of the board for 10 years.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Kerala / by Special Correspondent / Kollam – January 02nd, 2017
Indian American Democrat Peter Jacob at the helm of a houseboat at Kumarakom during his visit to Kerala in 2015.
The sleepy, landlocked village of Vazhoor, about 20 km from here, has a special interest in the Congressional elections in the U.S. ‘Local lad’ Anu is taking on a veteran in the polls on November 8.
Indian American Democrat Peter Jacob, candidate for the 7th Congressional district of the State of New Jersey, is ‘Anu’ for the relatives and neighbours of Puthuparambil House here. They remember him as an affable young man who made annual trips to the village and ‘spoke Malayalam with an American accent’.
Mr. Jacob’s father, Jacob P. Peter, migrated to the U.S. in 1986 chasing the American dream, taking along with him his wife, Sheela, and six-month-old Peter, named after the patron saint of the home parish. The family now owns a successful security systems business in the U.S. Talking to The Hinduover phone, Mr. Peter said: “Right from a young age he has been very focussed and bent on community work. I had suggested a future in medical profession for him, but he said ‘no’ and I agreed,” he added. “After taking a Master’s in Social Work from a prestigious university here, he had many offers from corporates, but he chose to return to his hometown and work among the poorest of the poor,” Mr Peter added.
“Whenever Anu came here, he wanted to learn about Indian mythology, Ramayana, Bhagavad Gita, Sree Buddha, etc.,” said his uncle Elias P. Peter, a former PIB officer who leads a retired life at Vazhoor. “I had, in fact, introduced him to my friends from different faiths during such trips,” he said. “My only grouse is that he is 31 and still unmarried,” his uncle laments.
Mr. Jacob lives with his parents at Union, NJ. “Yes, the values taught by my parents have shaped my world view and influenced the political stance,” he said over telephone .
The Bernie Sanders’ endorsement has brightened his prospects against the veteran Republican opponent Leonard Lance. “After the latest endorsements, we have received over $1,15,000 in funding. And this is from common people like you and me. Not from corporates and interests groups,” he said pointing to the effectiveness of his grassroots level “People over Politics” campaign.
Democratic candidate hailing from Vazhoor Peter Jacob fights elections on ‘people above politics’ plank.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> National> Kerala / by George Jacob / Kottayam – November 09th, 2016
A March 2013 picture of Kesavananda Bharati. / The Hindu
The judgment in Kesavananda Bharati v State of Kerala, whose 40th anniversary falls today, was crucial in upholding the supremacy of the Constitution and preventing authoritarian rule by a single party
Exactly forty years ago, on April 24, 1973, Chief Justice Sikri and 12 judges of the Supreme Court assembled to deliver the most important judgment in its history. The case of Kesavananda Bharati v State of Kerala had been heard for 68 days, the arguments commencing on October 31, 1972, and ending on March 23, 1973. The hard work and scholarship that had gone into the preparation of this case was breathtaking. Literally hundreds of cases had been cited and the then Attorney-General had made a comparative chart analysing the provisions of the Constitutions of 71 different countries!
CORE QUESTION
All this effort was to answer just one main question: was the power of Parliament to amend the Constitution unlimited? In other words, could Parliament alter, amend, abrogate any part of the Constitution even to the extent of taking away all fundamental rights?
Article 368, on a plain reading, did not contain any limitation on the power of Parliament to amend any part of the Constitution. There was nothing that prevented Parliament from taking away a citizen’s right to freedom of speech or his religious freedom. But the repeated amendments made to the Constitution raised a doubt: was there any inherent or implied limitation on the amending power of Parliament?
The 703-page judgment revealed a sharply divided court and, by a wafer-thin majority of 7:6, it was held that Parliament could amend any part of the Constitution so long as it did not alter or amend “the basic structure or essential features of the Constitution.” This was the inherent and implied limitation on the amending power of Parliament. This basic structure doctrine, as future events showed, saved Indian democracy and Kesavananda Bharati will always occupy a hallowed place in our constitutional history.
CLEAR PATH: The hard work and scholarship that had gone into the preparation of this case was to answer just one main question – whether the power of Parliament to amend the Constitution was unlimited. / The Hindu
SUPREME COURT V INDIRA GANDHI
It is supremely ironical that the basic structure theory was first introduced by Justice Mudholkar eight years earlier by referring to a 1963 decision of the Supreme Court of Pakistan. Chief Justice Cornelius — yes, Pakistan had a Christian Chief Justice and, later, a Hindu justice as well — had held that the President of Pakistan could not alter the “fundamental features” of their Constitution.
The Kesavananda Bharati case was the culmination of a serious conflict between the judiciary and the government, then headed by Mrs Indira Gandhi. In 1967, the Supreme Court took an extreme view, in the Golak Nath case, that Parliament could not amend or alter any fundamental right. Two years later, Indira Gandhi nationalised 14 major banks and the paltry compensation was made payable in bonds that matured after 10 years! This was struck down by the Supreme Court, although it upheld the right of Parliament to nationalise banks and other industries. A year later, in 1970, Mrs Gandhi abolished the Privy Purses. This was a constitutional betrayal of the solemn assurance given by Sardar Patel to all the erstwhile rulers. This was also struck down by the Supreme Court. Ironically, the abolition of the Privy Purses was challenged by the late Madhavrao Scindia, who later joined the Congress Party.
Smarting under three successive adverse rulings, which had all been argued by N.A. Palkhivala, Indira Gandhi was determined to cut the Supreme Court and the High Courts to size and she introduced a series of constitutional amendments that nullified the Golak Nath, Bank Nationalisation and Privy Purses judgments. In a nutshell, these amendments gave Parliament uncontrolled power to alter or even abolish any fundamental right.
These drastic amendments were challenged by Kesavananda Bharati, the head of a math in Kerala, and several coal, sugar and running companies. On the other side, was not only the Union of India but almost all the States which had also intervened. This case had serious political overtones with several heated exchanges between N.A. Palkhivala for the petitioners and H.M. Seervai and Niren De, who appeared for the State of Kerala and the Union of India respectively.
The infamous Emergency was declared in 1975 and, by then, eight new judges had been appointed to the Supreme Court. A shocking attempt was made by Chief Justice Ray to review the Kesavananda Bharati decision by constituting another Bench of 13 judges. In what is regarded as the finest advocacy that was heard in the Supreme Court, Palkhivala made an impassioned plea for not disturbing the earlier view. In a major embarrassment to Ray, it was revealed that no one had filed a review petition. How was this Bench then constituted? The other judges strongly opposed this impropriety and the 13-judge Bench was dissolved after two days of arguments. The tragic review was over but it did irreversible damage to the reputation of Chief Justice A.N. Ray.
CLEAR PATH: The hard work and scholarship that had gone into the preparation of this case was to answer just one main question – whether the power of Parliament to amend the Constitution was unlimited. / The Hindu
CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS SAVED
If the majority of the Supreme Court had held (as six judges indeed did) that Parliament could alter any part of the Constitution, India would most certainly have degenerated into a totalitarian State or had one-party rule. At any rate, the Constitution would have lost its supremacy. Even Seervai later admitted that the basic structure theory preserved Indian democracy. One has to only examine the amendments that were made during the Emergency. The 39th Amendment prohibited any challenge to the election of the President, Vice-President, Speaker and Prime Minister, irrespective of the electoral malpractice. This was a clear attempt to nullify the adverse Allahabad High Court ruling against Indira Gandhi. The 41st Amendment prohibited any case, civil or criminal, being filed against the President, Vice-President, Prime Minister or the Governors, not only during their term of office but forever. Thus, if a person was a governor for just one day, he acquired immunity from any legal proceedings for life. If Parliament were indeed supreme, these shocking amendments would have become part of the Constitution.
Thanks to Kesavananda Bharati, Palkhivala and the seven judges who were in the majority, India continues to be the world’s largest democracy. The souls of Nehru, Patel, Ambedkar and all the founding fathers of our Constitution can really rest in peace.
(Arvind P. Datar is a senior advocate of the Madras High Court.)y
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Opinion> Comment / by Arvind P. Datar / April 24th, 2013
The life and struggles of veteran Communist leader K R Gowri will soon be captured in a 90-minute documentary.
The documentary, titled ‘Gowri, the iron lady’, directed by Rinish Thiruvallor, has been conceived as a tribute for her contribution in many ground-breaking and distinctive reforms that changed the social fabric of Kerala.
The documentary, produced by Benny Emmatty Films, will also include testimonies from veteran leaders like Pinarayi Vijayan.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Thiruvananthapuram / TNN / August 14th, 2016
Syro-Malabar Church head Mar George Cardinal Alencherry adorning episcopal insignia with Msgr Stephen Chirapanath who has been appointed Apostolic Visitator to Europe. Fr Joseph Srampickal (R) who has been appointed Bishop of the newly-formed Syro-Malabar Church diocese in Britain looks on, in Kochi on Thursday | Albin Mathew
Kochi :
Pope Francis has appointed two new bishops for expatriate Syro-Malabar Christians in Europe. Fr Joseph Srampickal of the Pala diocese has been appointed bishop of the newly-formed diocese in Britain, while Msgr Stephen Chirapanath of the Irinjalakkuda diocese has been appointed apostolic visitator to the whole Europe.
The announcement in this regard was made on Thursday simultaneously at Mount St Thomas, headquarters of the Church, and in Vatican.
Pala Bishop Mar Joseph Kallarangat, Irinjalakkuda Bishop Mar Pauly Kannookakadan and Ernakulam-Angamaly Archdiocese Auxiliary Bishop Mar Jose Puthenveetil were also present. After the announcement, Syro-Malabar Church head Mar George Cardinal Alencherry adorned the bishop-elects with episcopal insignia.
Born to Srampickal Mathew and Elikutty of Urulikunnam under the Pala diocese, Fr Srampickal had his seminary formation at the Good Shepherd Seminary, Pala, and pursued philosophical studies at St Thomas Apostolic Seminary, Vadavathoor. Fr Srampickal was ordained priest on August 12, 2000, by Bishop Joseph Pallikkaparampil.
He had his schooling at Valiyakottaram LP School, St George’s UP School and St Joseph’s High School Vilakumadam.
Later, he pursued Pre-degree and PG at Pala St Thomas College, and went on to pursue BEd and MEd. In addition, he secured Masters Degree in Oriental Theology from Oxford University. He had served as teacher at the Eparchial Minor Seminary, Pala; Mar Ephrem Formation Centre; and Pala St Thomas Training College.
He is the founder-director of Cherpunkal Mar Sleeva Nursing College and Mount Nebo Retreat Centre, Wagamon. He had also served as secretary of the Eparchial Medical Education Trust, Pala, and as secretary to Bishop Mar Joseph Kallarangatt. Later, he was appointed vice-rector of the Pontifical Urban College De Propaganda Fide, Rome.Fr Srampickal had pastoral ministry at St Alphonsa Parish, Kankanady, Karnataka, and in England during his studies.
Fr Stephen Chirapanath, who has been appointed the apostolic visitator for Europe, has been serving in Rome as the procurator of the Major Archbishop of the Syro-Malabar Church and coordinator for the Syro-Malabar faithful in Italy for the last five years. He is also a member of the Presbyteral Council of the diocese of Rome, representing priests serving migrant communities from different countries.
Msgr Chirapanath was born to Kavalakkattu Chirapanath Paul and Rosy on December 26, 1961, at Puthenchira under the Irinjalakkuda diocese. After schooling, he had his minor seminary formation at St Mary’s Minor Seminary, Thope.
He pursued philosophical and theological studies at St Thomas Apostolic Seminary, Vadavathoor. He was ordained priest on December 26, 1987, by Bishop Mar James Pazhayattil.
After ministry as assistant parish priest at St Mary’s Forane Church, Chalakudy, and St Joseph’s Church Aloor; and Father Prefect at St Paul’s Minor Seminary, Msgr Chirapanath was sent to Rome for higher studies. He secured Doctorate in Moral Theology from Alphonsian Academy under the Lateran University.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Kochi / by Express News Service / July 29th, 2016
Final journey:The body of former Irinjalakuda Bishop Mar James Pazhayattil being taken in a funeral procession through Irinjalakuda town on Wednesday.— Photo: K.K. Najeeb
Body of former Irinjalakuda Bishop Mar James Pazhayattil was laid to rest at Irinjalakuda Cathedral in the presence of thousands of devotees.
The fist bishop of the Irinjalakuda diocese died at 10.30 p.m. on Sunday following liver diseases.
Major Archbishop Cardinal Mar George Alencherry and Thrissur Archbishop Mar Andrews Thazhath led the funeral functions.
Special prayers were also held.
“Mar Pazhayattil led a simple life. His life was a role model for everybody,” said Cardinal Alencherry.
Bishops of various dioceses, hundreds of priests and sisters participated in the function along with thousands of devotees.
The body was taken in a funeral procession through Irinjalakuda town before it was laid to rest at the special tomb inside the cupola in Irinjalakuda Cathedral.
A remembrance meeting was held in the evening.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> National> Kerala / by Staff Reporter / Thrissur – July 14th, 2016
“India is rich in ancient wisdom, and there’s a lot to learn from our own country, before you look towards the West for knowledge.”
These words by medical scientist and former vice-chancellor of Manipal University Dr B M Hegde were not to create confusion in the minds of budding physicians and medical scientists, but to enlighten them on the ethics of modern medicine and to warn them about the ‘murky business behind western science’.
He was delivering a talk as the part of the lecture series organized by Santhigiri Research Foundation, Santhigiri ashram on Monday.
Always a strong critic of ‘monopoly of western medicine’ and a visiting faculty at many universities in the country and abroad, Dr Hegde was candid on how the governments jeopardized the health system to protect the interests of powerful corporations.
“We have all been brainwashed into following western science through false campaigns. Western medical science is all about making money. Now, the Indian wisdom, including the practice of yoga, is being commercialized by the west,” he said.
“Unfortunately, we are inclined to condemn anything that’s Indian, including Ayurveda, Siddha and Yunani. Instead of going for a morning walk in the nature barefoot, which can rejuvenate our body and mind and keep us healthy, we have fallen for jogging shoes being aggressively marketed by the corporate world,” Dr Hegde said, quoting from books from the western world, including ‘Science for Sale’ by David Lewis and ‘Blinded by Science’ by Mathew Silverstone.
“There’s no freedom of health in the US, where it’s mandatory for a child to have 56 vaccines in the first year, when we all know that breast milk is the best vaccine for a child,” he said.
A recipient of both Dr B C Roy award and Padma Bhushan, Dr Hegde was also critical about the ‘wrong priorities’ of various governments and universities while initiating scientific researches. “We come across many science research journals which are of no use to anyone, while there’s a dearth of studies which actually would be useful to mankind,” he added.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Thiruvananthapuram / TNN / July 05th, 2016
Former Kerala Assembly Speaker T S John passed away at a hospital at Chertalain Alapuzhathis morning.
John (74) passed away due to old age related ailments, family sources said.
His wife had predeceased him and he is survived by a son, they said.
John, who was a leader of a faction of the Kerala Congress(Secular), had also served as a minister in the A K Antony cabinet.
An active member of students movements while at SB College, Changanachery, he subsequently became a Member of Kaviyoor Panchayat.
A lawyer by profession, John, one of the founder members of Kerala Congress, was elected to the assembly from Kaloopparaconstituency four times. He became a Member of the Assembly for the first time as a Kerala Congress Member.
John, who was Speaker of the fourth Kerala Assembly for a short period from February 17, 1976 to March 25, 1977, had also served as the Minister for Food & Civil Supplies from October 19, 1978 to October 27, 1978 in the Antony Ministry .
In the reconstituted Ministry that followed under the leadership of P K Vasudevan Nair , he continued to be the Minister for Food & Civil Supplies, from October 29, 1978 to October 7 1979. UD APR DV
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Thiruvananthapuram / PTI / June 09th, 2016
The state government has chosen distinguished space scientist of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and former director of Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) Padma Shri M Chandra Dathan as the scientific advisor to the new Chief Minister Pinnarayi Vijayan.
It is perhaps for the first time in the history of state that a chief minister who is also in-charge of the science and technology portfolio appoints a space scientist as advisor on scientific matters.
When contacted, Chandra Dathan told TOI, “Had met the chief minister three days back as invited. When the chief minister of the state had sought the consent to appoint me as scientific advisor, I agreed. I am yet to receive a formal letter of appointment and am told that I will receive it by Monday”.
Further, Dathan said, “I might even take charge on Monday. Based on discussions with the chief minister and his guidance, priority areas for scientific development in the state will be looked into and will work on it accordingly”.
Dathan began his illustrious career in 1972 joining ISRO where he worked on the SLV-3 project during its design phase and later on moved to solid propellant formulations. In 2000, he became the head of the ablative nozzle production unit and went on to become the chief executive of the Solid Propellant Plant for PSLV and GSLV boosters where he supervised the establishment of a new Solid Propellant Plant commissioned in 2008. From there he took over as director of Satish Dhawan Space Centre in 2008.
During his tenure, Chandradathan contributed towards the improvement of production levels of solid boosters. In 2013 he was appointed director of the Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC). In July 2014, he was appointed as the director of VSSC and the same year, the nation had honoured him with Padma Shri for his outstanding contribution in the area of space research.
He has also been recognized with many accolades for his contribution by ISRO and many other organisations including the Management Leadership Award – 2014 by Trivandrum Management Association, an affiliate of All India Management Association.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Thiruvananthapuram / by Laxmi Prasanna / TNN / June 04th, 2016
