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Vol No CIX No: 339
To the Nations and Nation: Francis Xavier and Joseph Vaz
Goa, Saturday 5 December, 2009 TEOTONIO R DE SOUZA analyses the contributions of Francis Xavier and Joseph Vaz, each within his historical context
Voyage of courage I
n 1984 I was invited by the Goa Archidocese to when the disorientation was caused by the
deliver a talk to some pilgrims who had satyagrahis , regular pilgrimages organised by the
assembled at the tomb of St Francis Xavier. I colonial Church authorities to the tomb of St Francis
W
hen he was 16 years old, Salil Chaturvedi had a scooter chose to call it To the Nations and Nation: The Xavier sought the intercession of the saint could
accident in Allahabad, and suffered a serious spinal injury. Apostle of the Indies and the Apostle of Ceylon deliver them from the deliverance!
The accident may have broken his back, but it certainly (Renovaçäo, Bulletin of the Archdiocese of Goa, XV, Contrary to the grandiose missionary figure
did not break his spirit. Since then, this remarkable young man n.4, Feb. 1985, pp. 65-67). projected across Asia by the Portuguese empire,
went on to play wheelchair tennis, write award winning prose, The main argument of that talk remains relevant the post-colonial Church has returned to the Vatican
script and act in television serials, and live life to the fullest possible and open to reflection till date. Francis Xavier II-promoted concept of local church and the
in his circumstances. represented the powerful Iberian power of those communion of local churches, wherein Joseph Vaz
times and simultaneously the hierarchical authority appears to be a better model of a missionary for
On Wednesday, he became the first paraplegic (paralysis of the of the Tridentine Roman church, backed by the Asians: someone who incarnates better the
lower half of the body) in India to sail from Mumbai to Goa in a moral authority of the Society of Jesus in ascendancy. values of Jesus, who made no display of his power
small sailing boat. He completed the journey over eight days, Francis Xavier was consequently backed by and political influence.
covering a total distance of 240 nautical miles (450 km) in a boat considerable authority, notwithstanding his own The courage displayed by the Goa Archdiocese
with just the most basic of facilities. personality traits and zeal. in declaring this beatified Goan native Oratorian,
Salils epic sail concluded on the eve of World Disability Day, on Francis Xavier had extraordinary means at his who salvaged the practice of Catholic faith in Sri
3 December. However, even though the media featured it disposal during his lifetime, and even his miracles Lanka during the Calvinist occupation of that region,
prominently, between the 25th anniversary of the Bhopal Gas post mortem were supported by the powerful from where white Catholic religious orders were
propaganda machinery of the Jesuits. The political flushed out, as Patron of the Archdiocese needs to
Tragedy, the concluding functions of the International Film Festival be considered a historic mark and contribution to
power of the Castillian Philips was also helpful and
of India (IFFI) and the Feast of St Francis Xavier, it did not make it is not suprising that two of the early Jesuits, both the understanding of the post-colonial model of the
quite the impact it deserved to. Spaniards, were beatified in a jiffy (Ignatius of Loyola missionary Church.
This is precisely the point Salil seeks to make, that society and Francis Xavier) in the early 1620s. The I would recommend to all interested in
needs to be much more sensitive to the needs of the disabled. canonisation process and the celebrations that understanding and appreciating more intensely
Basic tasks such as access to shops, government offices, public followed in 1623 were a grand manifestation of and extensively the role played by Joseph Vaz and
transport, places of leisure and entertainment such as parks and the political power of the Spanish rulers who could his Oratorian colleagues to read the historical
cinema halls, even public toilets or the ATM, become impossible gain added legitimacy for their rule over the HISTORICAL EXPLORATIONS documentation translated and published by V
for a disabled person, merely because of the absence of simple Portuguese empire at the time. Perniola, the former Jesuit provincial of Sri Lanka.
aids like ramps and wider access doors. There is a huge gap in Francis Xavier needs to be understood in the souls into eternal death. the saint. She tells us, for instance, that Xaviers It consists of 3 volumes each for the Portuguese
understanding this and taking ordinary measures for the inclusion context of his times and mentality. It is no use In the same letter, Francis Xavier also showed mission among the Portuguese was exclusively for and the Dutch colonial occupation of that island-
of handicapped people into normal life. India needs to travel many attributing to him political motivations of today his concern for Sri Lanka: I believe that Your the benefit of the men and their heroic mercantile nation, and 4 volumes for the British period till
miles to empower its disabled citizens. when he requested the King John III of Portugal to Highness, whose duty it is to care for your people in and proselytising enterprises. Women remained 1863 (The Catholic Church in Sri Lanka, 1505-
set up the Inquisition in Goa. He also had religious India, will be pleased to know the extent of the obstacles to these lofty concerns (even if the Jesuits 1863, 10 vols, Dehiwala, Tisara Prakasarakayo
I undertook this journey to bring about awareness on access convictions very different from those of Vatican II. labours that are being undertaken for the salvation themselves encouraged marriages), either as Ltd, 1989-2001). Presently, I see no substitute to
issues that make life difficult for differently abled people. There is Thus for instance, writing from Cochin to the of souls. In Jaffnapatam and on the coast of Quilon nagging and quarrelsome wives or indigenous these volumes, which alone permit us to know
an urgent need to form partnerships, without which we can do Portuguese king in 1545, he conveys his feelings of more than one hundred thousand souls will easily oversexed concubines. about the continuity of the Oratorian presence
nothing. Governments, corporates and individuals need to start pity for the wretched souls of the Indians: Your be won for the Church of Christ before the end of To an early Jesuit chronicler in India, it was and enterprise in Sri Lanka, after the Religious
thinking about collaborations and understand the needs of disabled Highness has every reason for urging those whom this year. Right enough the intervention of the Jesuits mundo, diabo e carne that stood in the way of Orders were disbanded by the Portuguese liberal
people. We should be able to go to cinema halls, parks and other you send here to labour tirelessly in propagating in favour of the Paravas exploited by the Muslim the Portuguese success in Asia, and woman regime.
public areas with ease, Salil said in his brief speech at a function our holy faith and promoting our religion, since pearl fishers in the Gulf of Manaar got an abundant incarnated all of these. The same lady historian, Alongside the missionary aspect of Goas
held in Cidade de Goa to commemorate his successful voyage. Your Highness knows that God will ask an crop of souls and pearls to the Portuguese. The Ines G Zupanov, concludes that Xavier and the Jesuit historical past, a deeper study of the lives and
accounting of you with respect to the salvation of interest for Ceylon started there and also in its missionaries in general provided a service to the activities of Goan Oratorians could shed light upon
The 2002 National Sample Survey reveals that Goa has 22,000 cinnamon and elephants. dislocated and often morally and culturally other cultural and political aspects that await
great many nations that are ready to follow a better
disabled people in Goa, excluding mental illnesses. Yet, it is only a way if there were one to show it to them. But since A Sorbonne-based lady historian who has been disoriented Portuguese in Asia. When this research. We need complete lists of these
few years ago, after it was ordered to do so by the High Court, that they have no one to teach them, they are immersed analysing in recent years the Jesuit missionary disorientation was the result of the Maratha Oratorians and their family connections in Goa.
the government has set up ramps and railings at government in the darkness of ignorance and stained with activities in India, including the historiography related menace of Sambhaji, the Viceroy sought security Was there any link between them and the colonial
offices. Salils feat shows that given just a few facilities, the grievous sins; and, since they continue to offend to Francis Xavier, has quite a few texts published by handing over his ceremonial baton to St Francis politics behind the Pinto Revolt? This trail may
differently abled can work shoulder to shoulder with most of us. their Creator, they are wretchedly hurling their and online that could shock the pious devotees of Xavier. Much more recently, prior to Liberation, deserve some attention.
He underwent a strict six-month physical training programme
and learnt to sail under the guidance of his coach, Umaji Chowgule,
who accompanied him on the trip. More people need to
demonstrate the kind of commitment that Umaji did, or displayed
the concern shown by the Godrej Group, which sponsored the sail
Tongue in Cheek
Going To The Movies By Adelmo Fernandes
T
as part of their Brighter Horizons programme. he past week or so, the one thing that probably was on everyones glove with these people who sold the tickets on the black market. cinema theatres are closing down. Some well-known movie halls
While his endeavour may have taught us many things about mind was stars, actors and movies, thanks to the International One of my favourite cinema theatres, which I frequented quite have been razed down to make way for shopping complexes. Now
the human spirit and endurance, Salil too learnt something; that Film Festival of India (IFFI) and the coverage that it got from the often, was Cine Vasco in my home town which has put off the lights you do not have to go to faraway theatres situated to watch your
the horizon never ends and there is always more to do. All we print and electronic media. Even if going for the movies was the last several years ago. Incidentally the other cinema hall El Monte favourite movie. All movies are screened under one roof. The concept
have to do is get ourselves a boat... thing we would do on a weekend, one was reminded of this world of has stood the test of time and is still spinning the reels. There was of multiplexes has taken root. But there is a glitch. The prices of the
make-believe due to IFFI. no air-conditioning in the theatres. The only comfort from the tickets are quite prohibitive.
While on the subject, why not go back a few decades into the past oppressive heat and the stale air was the over-head rotating fan, It appears that watching movies in theatres is now the privilege of
It aint over and recall what the movie scene was like then. As far as I can remember
I was an avid fan of English movies, especially those that had a lot of
action. I still cannot forget epics like Guns of Navarone The Poseidon
which at times made so much noise that it was difficult to hear what
the actors were saying.
Every movie always started with the national anthem and people
a privileged few. Once you enter a multiplex, even buying popcorn
and a soft drink can burn a sizeable hole in your pocket. Of course,
these modern-day theatres have all the luxury. There is the central air-
T he decline of the US housing market, which triggered off the
worldwide recession, is not over yet, Moodys Chief Economist
Mark Zandi believes. He says US home prices will soon start
Adventure and classic Westerns like The Good, The Bad and The
Ugly and, of course, Mackennas Gold. These movies, among several
old ones, were a thrill to watch.
stood at attention through it. Then followed a series of advertisements,
followed by the government news reel and trailers of movies to hit the
town in the near future. This was followed by the much-awaited
conditioning. The sound appears to be coming from all directions.
Then there is piped music even in the toilets, which are incidentally
fixed with modern gadgets. This includes a hand-dryer so that you do
moving downwards again, as a flood of foreclosures looms. US During those days the price for a ticket in the lower stall was feature film. not have to wet your handkerchief to dry your face. But all these
real estate, he says, will hit rock bottom in the third quarter of seventy-five paise. The price for the ticket in the upper stall was a Movie theatres were a get-away for young lovers (they still are). luxuries come at a price. In todays world, taking out your family for
2010, after declining 38 per cent. rupee and twentyfive paise, while tickets for the balcony, which had Balconies had special enclosures where the love birds would gather. the movies is beyond the reach of many. Movie-going has become
Despite all the hopeful indicators, the recession isnt over yet. push back seats (a luxury in those days) were sold for two rupees I vividly recall that a vehicle belonging to the theatre owner would go more of a luxury. But fortunately such people need not lose heart.
It started with crashing home prices, and will end only when they and eighty paise. There was always a rush for the morning shows, around the city announcing the latest movie to be screened there. In They can always rent a VCD and watch the latest blockbusters in the
which mostly featured English movies. Most of those who bought the those days there were nothing like a film festival. There were no comfort of their home.
move up again. The US unemployment rate reached a 25-year tickets by jostling and pushing one another were not the ones who massive posters and cut-outs of the popular actors. Every movie was As for me, I will always miss the cinema halls of yesteryears.
high of 10.2 per cent in October, and is expected to peak at 10.7 had any inclination to watch the movies, but the ones were out to a festival in itself. We always looked forward to going for the movies Fortunately, there are a handful of them around. Some renovation
per cent in the third quarter of 2010. The pain, clearly, isnt over make a quick buck by selling the tickets at a premium as the cops with our parents and, better still, with our friends. work on them could help make movie-going a pleasant experience
yet. looked the other way. The buzz was that the police were hand-in- Compare this with the modern-day world of cinema. The good old once again.
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