Category: News

MANASHI GAZUYA NAATAAL
DAAVRUYA SAMAJACHA KAMAAL

Time to make a Difference

Nice time of the year but we never expected a last minute announcement to create restrictions for the Christmas service. Many Churches cancelled the Christmas Service as it was difficult to arrange the logistics and only a few Churches were able to organize the Christmas Service. The Church in Maharashtra was informed about this decision at the very last minute and we saw disappointment in people’s faces as they were told to manage with an online Christmas Service. A large section of the Christian Community feels that they have been side lined and taken for granted. This is a ‘Wake-Up’ call for the Peace loving Christian Community which has now become ‘Voiceless’ too.

Awake everyone as Baby Jesus is born. ‘Awake’ has been redefined in our community as we have been sleeping and have been caught unaware of this sudden political decision. Do we have a political voice in Maharashtra and India? NO! A Community that has been lauded for its service to the Nation especially in the form of Schools and Hospitals has not managed to create Community leaders. Many of our current politicians have studied in our Catholic schools so why do we not have Christian Political Leaders? Do we not have the calibre for creating great Community Leaders who can be clean and committed to the Nation? It is time to rethink our strategy and create initiatives to take our community forward on the Political scenario.

Awareness is the key word. MGP team took a general census and the result was that more than 90% of our community feels that the Christmas restrictions were uncalled for and had a selective political agenda. A few wish to differ but it is about the majority in a democratic country. Creating awareness across the community is the need of the hour. The Christmas Midnight Service held across the world was suddenly stopped around a decade ago, and then we had restrictions of 250 people for religious services and then came the bigger blow, night curfew followed by only 50 people for the Services announced just a day before Christmas. Sad but true our Community has been taken for granted. Not a single Political Party spoke on our behalf and in support of the Christian Community.

Tradition plays an important role in each community and changing these traditions does not go well especially at a time when we are all in ‘Revival’ mode. The traditional midnight service was discontinued due to sound restrictions. Do other communities follow these rules? No, but our silent community obediently follow these rules being a good role model to other communities. This Christmas has proved us wrong. The communities that break
rules are given special SOPs for their festivals and those who follow rules are pressurized with more restrictions. Today, we find that injustice towards the Christian Community is at its peak and it is time to speak against the injustice as mentioned in the Holy Bible.

Act now or it will be too late. Get like-minded people to think aloud and give suggestions. Think out of the box, get a committed team and let us counter this with creative and effective solutions. Our future Christmases should be brighter and happening. We need to create a strong Christian identity so that no political party can take advantage of us and take us for granted. MGP is all set to team up with like-minded people who have this passion to take our Christian Community to greater heights. We need to work on numerous plans so that some can see the light of day by next year and all others within 5 to 10 years. Should the Church support these initiatives? Obviously yes, but we cannot be totally dependent.

Actually this is the ideal time for the happy go lucky community to get serious and what better way than by active participation in the upcoming BMC elections in February 2021. Our Voice needs to be heard across the political circles either by representation in political parties, a new community led party or independent candidature. Let us not look at immediate successes or personal agendas but at the future of our community. It is time to lay the foundation of a community that has been the change makers in the field of Education, Medicine, Social Service and now Politics. Politics is not a dirty word as considered by many, it is time to enter this field, clean it up and make a difference.

Love, Joy, Peace and Hope is the message we receive at Christmas. Let us love all communities but let us not be taken for granted by any. Let us spread joy on the face of all especially the needy. Let us continue to be Messengers of Peace but let us not encourage those who want to split us apart. Let us continue to Hope for a better future of the Community through active participation across all fields. With the birth of Baby Jesus time has come to give birth to a Christian Revolution. To speak against injustice and be the change makers that God wants us to be. Join this Revolution for change every hand counts and can make a big difference!

Gleason Barretto, Old Kurla

GAOTHAN NA GAOKARI
EICH MOBAICHI WALAKH KHARI

Children-of-the-soil look forward to a positive response

The recently concluded International East Indian Conclave 2020 on November 28th, 2020 delved on the Theme: ‘Post Pandemic – Creating Jobs, Professionals and Entrepreneurs’ which was a very relevant and need of the hour topic for highlighting the plight of our youth, especially the youth from the East Indian community.

As an educationist, I strongly believe in the idea that an economic holocaust is the catalyst for change. The recent pandemic crisis has created an avenue for opportunities and a chance to change provided one has a positive attitude and an open mind.

Listening to the ideas put forward by the participants attending the Conclave, what struck me most was the carefree attitude in the minds of our youth. Interacting with youth in the age group of 18 to 25 years, I am of the opinion that the most essential criteria is self-interest and motivation to achieve great heights. For this to be achieved, investment in the form of time, effort and responsibility is important.

Another idea that the youth of today have to focus on, is an introspection and discovery of oneself through the identification of soft skills that one is gifted with. To cite a case of an individual who can utilize their creativity and talent would be one who is computer savvy connecting with a chocolate maker and a florist to design chocolate boxes that can be created for every occasion – be it a birthday celebration, an anniversary and so on.

An entrepreneur is an ordinary individual who is constantly searching for a change in approach, responds to it and expounds on this concept for monetary benefits. Our youth of today need that perseverance and passion to discover a career that will support an opportunity for enhancing their talents.

In this endeavour, we as a community can be a mentor or a facilitator to enable our youth to recreate employment opportunities in their own way. Networking and upgrading of self-management skills do play a crucial role in unleashing the path to being a professional. One option currently in vogue is preparing dishes which showcase the East Indian confectionery and culinary heritage. Another avenue is in the field of supply chain management or in the case of blended learning…….. various alternative opportunities can be conceptualized if one has a creative mindset and the drive to take it forward.

Additional skills that will be most in demand would include:
Ø Strategic Leadership – ability to make connections, understand complexities and make brave decisions
Ø Innovation and Entrepreneurial Mindset – to provide solutions that are needed to solve problems
Ø Communication Skills – ability to find the right balance
Ø Languages – to enable connection and collaboration
Ø Carry out a Skills Audit – to highlight one’s unique and transferable skills

Gleason Barretto, Old Kurla

MILOON EAST INDIAN SAMAAJ SAARA
GAJVOOYA AGERA

A New Harvest! A New Prayer! A New Hope!

Around 8 Years ago Agera Celebrations were diminishing. Modernisation and lack of farming lands in most parts of the city was the cause. MGP Team took up the most challenging task of reviving Agera, something considered impossible by many. We started on a small note and gradually things picked up. Last year we painted the city, with a
majority of the East Indian Community dressed in Traditional Lugra. The Lugra fame, also remains one of MGP’s successful Revival stories.

Gaothans were the base of the entire Agera Celebrations with a majority of the processions starting from the Gaothan Holy Crosses or the fields. Over the years, people as well have Goathans participating in the Celebrations has increased considerably. Last year MGP had a target total of 100 Gaothans and succeeded in getting 106 Gaothans to participate in the Agera Celebrations. MGP was just a facilitator and the credit goes out to local parishes, associations and social workers.

Etched in memory are some Agera Celebrations which stand out with their cultural creativity along with the traditional touch. Kurla grows paddy in the Church compound while Marol has been having the traditonal procession for more than a decade. Dharavi Beth Island of Manori, Gorai and Uttan has all parishes starting the processions from the Village fields. Kurla also has a grand evening cultural Celebration with the food festival. Vakola has a Celebration near the village well and Malwani serves traditional sweet to all after the service.

Rekla, the traditonal mode of transport with horses or bullocks are now a must in the Agera procession. These Reklas are all decorated and have the priest seated during the procession. The Traditional East Indian brass band adds music and festivity to the procession. And soon after the holy mass, the bands play Celebration songs ensuring people dance to their festive tunes. After mass, tea is served with hot fugyas as peope greet each other on this Harvest festival and in some parishes even traditional sweets like Lapshi and Mugoori is served. Each family collects their sheaves of paddy to be kept at the alter or affixed on the entrance door.

Active Communities Never Let Their Traditions Fade. East Indian Community has seen a major revival since a decade, thanks to the many associations and individuals who have done their bit to take the Community to greater heights. This year, due to pandemic there won’t be any public celebrations but families can get-together for a meal on this
special day in Thanksgiving to God for blessing the family and Gaothan with a good harvest. MGP has released Guidelines this year keeping the pandemic in mind. Agera reminds us of giving Thanksgiving to God for the New Harvest. In the current scenario let’s say a New Prayer with a New Hope that things get better and this Pandemic is wiped out and
we see a New World of Peace and Good Health. Wishing you all a Happy Agera. May this harvest festival bless your homes with abundance of food and happiness

Gleason Barretto, Old Kurla

Mangna Mangatla Ghevoon Luzar
Maulini Aikatla Amcha Lazaar
Mother Mary was our Only Hope

Mother Mary showed us how if we pray with great faith we can expect the impossible. East Indian Community are no doubt the founders of the Bandra Fair however there is no Community Connect today. The Founders have been sidelined and ignored in this annual festival. For almost a decade we have been requesting that there should be an East Indian Connect to the Bandra Fair through Special mentions, East Indian Marathi masses, East Indian hymns, East Indian Speciality stalls and many others but we were never considered.
Many of our Annual rallies have either started or ended at Mount Mary’s Bandra but it seems to have not mattered to the concerned officials

Authorities, both religious and political who could have done their bit, chose not to do so for reasons best known to them. We reminded them year after year and we were given some irrelevant reasons and kept away. Bandra Fair may be the only such festival in the world that has no exhibit of Native Art and Specialty. The MGP team also met the political Representatives and Municipal authorities besides the church officials for some stalls
to promote local specialty but in vain.

United in prayer we decided to start with the Annual Procession to revive memories of the first such procession wherein the statue of Mount Mary was bought from Mahim Church to Mount Mary Bandra. The Procession started 3 years ago and then we started the Mot Mauli Yatra wherein the Statue of Mother Mary visits Gaothans, the vilage settlement of the East Indian Community. Infact we had a special visit to the Bandra Fair route to identify spots where we could have stalls but had no success. We then made a stop at Mount Carmels which has the famous September Garden. We were informed that the Parish Priest was not there, we then called a Priest and asked him if he could help. And he simply said that we should not expect much but just pray.

Last year the Mount Mary Visit was held at more than 50 Gaothans, an unexpected number for us all. This Year our Tag line says – Don’t Come to Venerate Me this Year, I will come to Visit Your Place. Our prayers seem to have been answered differently. The Pandemic has forced the cancellation of the Mount Mary Festival and Bandra Fair, something the authorities may have never dreamt of. Our devotion gets deeper this year with more Initiatives to promote our Native Devotions – Mount Mary and St.Gonsalo Garcia.

In this tough times, we pray to Mother Mary to wipe out this Pandemic from
this world. We the East Indian Community are fine if we don’t get stalls and
other basic rights as original inhabitants. No stalls has given birth to the
East Indian Baazaar with 4 versions and around 100 Baazaar’s expected within
a year and around more than a 100 Baazaar based businesses all set to join our
wide Network. The East Indian Community will never give up and do the
impossible to see our flag flying high always with the blessings of Mother Mary.
As they say Faith can move mountains and here the faith of our community has
surely moved the Mount Mary from its Religious walls to our Homes in the
Gaothans.

Gleason Barretto, Old Kurla