Joachim Alva is not known to many people of the present generation. He was born in South Kanara in Karnataka. He was expelled from St. Xaviers College for moving a resolution during the Catholic Students Union meeting to open its doors to other communities also. A lawyer with secular principles, Joachim was actively involved with the freedom struggle as a part of the Indian National Congress. While spending more than two years in Nasik prison, he wrote two books: 1. Men and Supermen of Hindustan, and 2. Indian Christian Nationalism. Both these books were confiscated by the British. I have been trying to get hold of these two books since I have heard that they were good works. If any friend can help me to get hold of even xerox copies, please let me know. Joachim also was the founder editor of the magazine called Forum which used to speak fearlessly against the British. His wife Violet Alwa's role during these times as a strong colleague during the freedom struggle should also not be forgotten. Joachim and Violet Alwa became prominent and respected members in the Indian Parliament after the British left this country. Violet was the first woman lawyer in the High Court in India. As early as 1944, she brought out a magazine called Indian Women. She was the first woman Deputy Chairperson of the Rajya Sabha. During the freedom struggle, Joachim Alwa was a fellow prisoner with many prominent leaders of the freedom struggle including Jayaprakash Narayan and Sardar Patel. Mahatma Gandhi had written to him saying that he missed Joachim because of his early release. In 1930, Joachim Alwa founded Nationalist Christian Party, drawing a large force of Christians into the freedom struggle. I am bringing out these historical facts to point out that when the Hindutva forces brand Christians and Muslims and foreigners, they should do a minimum study on the roles of Christians and Muslims in the freedom struggle. On the other side, there was not much of a role in the freedom struggle by the Hindutva forces. Margaret Alva, their daughter, who is well known today, has been active on the issue of Anti-Coversion Bill in Karnataka. Her speech during the first protest of the Christians against the Anti-Conversion Bill, organised by the Archbishop of Bangalore, Rev. Peter Machado was quite moving. It is there on the net. Her latest letter to Narendra Modi needs attention. Those who can circulate such materials, please do.
https://countercurrents.org/2022/01/margaret-alva-questions-pm-modis-silence-on-attack-against-minorities/ Margaret Alva questions PM Modi’s silence on attack against minorities <https://countercurrents.org/2022/01/margaret-alva-questions-pm-modis-silence-on-attack-against-minorities/> in India <https://countercurrents.org/india/> — by Margaret Alva <https://countercurrents.org/author/margaret-alva/> — 13/01/2022 [image: Margaret Alva] To Shri Narendra Modi Prime Minister Government of India South Block, Raisina Hill New Delhi-110 011. Dear Prime Minister, I write to you, the Leader of our great Democratic,Secular, Socialist Republic of India, governed by a Constitution which enshrines the fundamental rights and freedoms of Indian citizens, irrespective of caste, colour, race or creed, as a senior concerned citizen who has served my country for 50 years in various capacities. You are a leader respected nationally and internationally. You travel around the world, calling on world leaders, including His Holiness the Pope, in Rome, proclaiming that India is a free democratic secular state. Your speeches and statements have been praised and extensively reported on, by the global media. Unfortunately, the reality on the ground here, presents a stark contrast to the image you project of India to the global community, especially in the context of minority rights and secularism. Mr. Prime Minister, across India, highly organised and militant right wing extremist groups are terrorising, attacking and killing innocent citizens in the name of religion. I am appalled at the recent, widely reported statements, made by some religious leaders calling for genocide of non-Hindus, in order to create a Hindu Rashtra. What is even more shocking, is that there is no response or action either by your Central Government, or the State Government that’s controlled by the BJP, of which you are the undisputed leader, or the local administration, to crack down firmly on this virulent, toxic, hate speech, designed to create insecurity and fear amongst millions of minorities, who live here in the country. >From the early days of our freedom struggle, Muslims, Sikhs and Christians and indeed those from many other religious sects and denominations have fought shoulder to shoulder with our Hindu brothers and sisters, to win our freedom and defend our motherland. My parents-in-law, the late Joachim and Violet Alva, were freedom fighters who went to jail and became the first couple in India’s Parliament, she also becoming Parliament’s first woman Presiding officer. There are today thousands of minorities serving the nation in all walks of life, in all parts of the country. Are we now to be treated as second class citizens? Mr. Prime Minister, how can you close your eyes and remain silent when atrocities on India’s minorities are mounting? Your silence Mr. The Prime Minister is misread as tacit approval and encouragement to the ever increasing violence and intimidation India’s minorities are being subjected to. When will you speak up and put a stop to this madness and violence? My home state of Karnataka, where I was born and brought up, has boasted of a peaceful inclusive environment that has drawn people from all over the world. This Christmas, the State BJP government has gifted us the draconian “The Karnataka Protection of Right of Freedom of Religion Bill” in “recognition” of our services, which has provisions that have been previously struck down by courts and are clearly violative of the Indian Constitution. It makes all minorities, our institutions, practices, services and charities suspect. Personal liberties of privacy, of religion, of marriage, and decision making, are taken away, and the state becomes the arbiter of our personal lives, making us subject to probes, charges, and jail by the state and its officials, who will interpret the provisions of the law and imprison us without trial. We Christians are a disciplined, non-violent, service oriented community. If we were involved in mass conversions, why is our number under 3%? 200 years of rule by Christian colonial powers and work by so called “missionaries involved in forced conversions” should have shown in our numbers, which have been declining. Why then this false propaganda and violence against us? The work of Mother Teresa of Calcutta, for the poor, the sick and the abandoned,all over the world was hailed by Atal Bihari Vajpayeeji and Advaniji, and has brought honour and glory to India. Even she and her sisters have not been spared, with their funds frozen. Why? Is this the India our freedom fighters fought for? Our Constitution makers sought to create? And the Father of the nation dreamt of, when he beseeched his countrymen to “wipe every tear from every eye”? Is this the India we have struggled over 70 years to build? Rulers and Regimes down the ages have tried to anes and kill Christianity but it has survived and reached all corners of the earth. It cannot be wiped out in India. We are part of this nation’s fabric. Indian blood flows in our veins and we are patriotic citizens who have, and will continue to serve our people and help build our motherland. History shows that Christianity has thrived and spread on the blood of martyrs. Christ taught us to love our enemies, do good to those who would harm us and forgive those who would kill us. This we will do, as we pray each day “Father forgive them for they know not what they do”. May Jesus Christ bless you my Prime Minister and guide you in your ways. May the love, joy and peace of Christmas remain with us all through the New Year. Margaret Alva is a leader of the Congress party ------------------------------ Countercurrents is answerable only to our readers. Support honest journalism <https://countercurrents.org/subscription>because we have no PLANET B. Subscribe to our Telegram channel <https://t.me/countercurrentsorg> On Mon, Dec 6, 2021 at 3:21 AM KP Sasi <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > *INVITATION: **NATIONAL WEBINAR 'THREAT TO FREEDOM OF RELIGION – A > CASE OF KARNATAKA' * > > *on 9th Dec at 5 – 7 PM* > > *Organised by: National Solidarity Forum* > > > > Dear Friend, > > > > The Karnataka Government has pthat the Anti-Conversion Bill in Karnataka > will be ready by December 5, to be tabled in the next session of the > Legislative > Assembly beginning from December 13. There is no sufficient time given > for any public on such a crucial Bill. In this context, the National > Solidarity Forum is organizing a National Webinar on `Freedom of Religion – > A Case Study on Karnataka’. > > > > The National Solidarity Forum consists of over 50 organizations and 30 > individuals at a national level. It has people from all religions and also > those who are not part of any religion. Initially, the forum started in > 2009 as a response to the Kandhamal genocide in Odisha. From that time > onwards, many significant activities of national and state-level activities > were initiated by the National Solidarity Forum, upholding secular values > enshrined in the Indian Constitution. The proposed Webinar on the Anti- > Conversion Bill is a continuation of such a process. > > The Anti-Conversion Bill is primarily targeted against minorities. The > first Anti-Conversion Law was passed in Orissa in 1967. The attacks on the > Christians began from the 70s onwards, culminating in the Kandhamal > genocide in 2007 and 2008. The law gave a justification for the attacks on > the Christians. After Odisha, the Anti-Conversion Law was passed in 8 other > states in India. In all these states, this law was used to persecute not > only the Christians but also the Muslims. Today, there is enough > documentation to show that persecution of Christians is taking place in > every state and every union territory in India. The proposed law will only > make the situation worse. > > > > The Bill is meant to strengthen the propaganda by the Hindutva forces that > Christians are converting by force and lure. Since the Indian Constitution > has taken a very clear stand on this issue, there is no additional need for > another Bill. The Bill does not recognize that faith is a personal affair > that cannot easily be forced upon anybody. It also violates the basic > tenets of religious freedom in the Indian Constitution. > > > > Even International Forums have taken note of the increase of persecution > of Christians in India. In 2020, the US Commission on International > Religious Freedom (USCIRF) to `Countries of Particular Concern) in their > report. The US State Department ranked India’s persecution as severe along > with Iraq and Afghanistan. During the past seven years, India has fallen > from No 31 to 10 in persecution. The report says: `The Christians are > persecuted in all areas of public and private life, and anti-conversion > laws (currently in nine states, with more considering adoption) are abused > to harass and intimidate Christians. Few people are actually convicted > under these laws, but cases can drag on for years. > > These international observations are also a matter of high concern for the > status of Secular India. It is in this context that the National Solidarity > Forum is announcing a zoom meeting on ‘*Threat to Freedom of Religion – A > Case of Karnataka’ *on 9th December at 5 PM. > > The details of the speakers are: > > · *Moderator: * > > Dr. Ram Puniyani, Convenor, National Solidarity Forum > > · *Inaugural Speech: * > > Adv. Colin Gonsalves, Designate Senior Advocate, Supreme Court > > · *Panellists:* > > 1) Bishop Dr. Peter Machado, Archbishop, Archdiocese of Bangalore > > 2) Ms.Tehmina Arora, Lawyer practicing in the area of constitutional > law and human rights with a special emphasis on minority rights and > religious freedom > > 3) Adv. BT Venkatesh Bubberjung, Former State Public Prosecutor, > Senior Lawyer, Karnataka High Court > > 4) Mr.Javed Anand, Journalist, and civil rights activist who founded > the Mumbai-based Sabrang Communications > > 5) Ms.Vidya Dinkar, Bangalore based Eminent Social Activist > > 6) Fr. Ajaya Kumar Singh, Social Activist, Conferred with Minority > Rights Day Award by the National Commission for Minorities > > 7) Ms. Cyntia Stephen, Dalit Rights Activist, writer, social policy > researcher, and an independent journalist > > 8) Mr.Rajasekharan, Bureau Chief, Lankesh Patrika, and Director, > Vidya Liberation Through Cultural Action, Karnataka > > · *Valedictory Speech: * > > Dr.John Dayal, Senior Journalist, and Human Rights Activist > > The zoom meeting will begin from 5 pm to 7 pm on December 9, 2021. Please > find the Zoom link for the Webinar: > > Time: Dec 9, 2021, 05:00 PM Mumbai, Kolkata, New Delhi > > https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81839146668?pwd=WEFManZlRDRpV00waHNQeTl0S3BFQT09 > > Meeting ID: 818 3914 6668; Passcode: NSF123 > > We invite you to participate in it and we also request you to share this > invitation with friends who may be interested in attending it. > > Dr.Ram Puniyani, > > Convener, National Solidarity Forum > > K.P.Sasi, > > Co-Convenor, National Solidarity Forum > > Cell: 8593835669 > > Ajaya Kumar Singh, > > Co-Convenor, National Solidarity Forum > > Cell: 8917666294 > > -- > > > > > *Dhirendra Panda* > *Convener, Civil Society Forum on Human Rights (CSFHR),* > *Secretary, Centre for the Sustainable use of Natural and Social Resources > (CSNR)* > *L-179, Nandan Enclave, Nandan Vihar, Bhubaneswar-751024, Odisha, India* > *Cell: +91 9437385757* > *Email: [email protected] <[email protected]>* > *Skype: dhirendra_panda* > > 'I do not agree with what you have to say, but I'll defend to the death > your right to say it.' > Beatrice Evelyn Hall (for Voltaire) > __________ Peoples Media Advocacy & Resource Centre- PMARC has been initiated with the support from group of senior journalists, social activists, academics and intellectuals from Dalit and civil society to advocate and facilitate Dalits issues in the mainstream media. 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