Writers Forum - December

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so very many structures like culture, language, religion, politics et that relate with economy and they are not actually founded on economy, but relate with economic structure on a common platform?

No doubt, economy controls and affects our very living. It affects our thinking, lifestyle, psyche, behavior, relationships, attitudes, mindset, belief s y s t e m s , e d u c a t i o n , occupation, e t c . T h i s effect may be positive or negative. It is a cause for various social and ethical problems world is facing now.

The growing distinction between the rich and the poor, war, cultural colonialism, materialism, consumerism etc are some of them. However I would like to get your attention towards another important factor that is related and being affected because of this economy- it is Ecology. Both Economics and Ecology have the same root word from ancient Greek called “oikos”. Economy means "management of a household, administration". Ecology

of organization.

Environmental economics is a subfield of economic concerned with environmental issues.

othing surprises us when we come across in the newspapers that world leaders come together and discuss economic reforms and

policies, especially in recent days. Economy has become the priority factor for every sphere of human survival. Economy has also become a big worry to every nation and the whole of humanity. The whole world seems to be revolving around economy. Economy is more a medium of trade and business, but it is becoming the fundamental basis for human survival. The question that taunts me is, are we making economy the base structure as Marx said, forgetting that there are al

c.

the

,

means the network or inter-relationship of all organisms at varying levels

.

s,

Let's consider an example to understand it b e t t e r . Pollution can be a simple example of market failure.

If costs of production are not borne by producers but are borne by the environment, accident victims or others, then prices are distorted. Assessing the economic value of the environment is a major topic within the field. Use and indirect use are tangible benefits accruing from natural resources or ecosystem services.

Sustainability is the only place where Environment conomy Converge. We must be able to move

point.

I wish all the readers a Merry Christmas and a Prosperous New Year 2015.

Have a Happy Reading.

and E towards that

EditorialEditorialLumnesh Swaroop, SJLumnesh Swaroop, SJ

DECEMBER 2014DECEMBER 2014 Writers’ ForumWriters’ ForumPg.02Pg.02

od created this world out of his overflowing love. Human being is a child of God, made in the image and likeness of God. Is a child of G

God in any way that a butterfly or a stone is not? If so then what is special about a human being? Is it our capacity to love? Even though it may be a kind of love we share with the rest of the animal kingdom, it would seem there is a specifically human form of love that involves our imagination, our emotions, our intellect and our volitional consciousness. If any threat to imagine or feel or think or will, it is a threat to his or her dignity.

Let us look at the worth of a human being in a capitalist society. Human beings are gripped by commodity consciousness. As a result, their focus is not on the notion of the development of the higher powers, but on the accumulation of things. So it follows that they seek fulfilment not by learning to love in progressively deeper and broader ways but by becoming things acquirers, toy gatherers and fruit

t a s t e r s . T h e i r focus is a n affront to h u m a n dignity, a s o r t o f s a y i n g ` n o ' t o w h a t h u m a n b e i n g s are and

settling for being less than what humans are. Having more is more important for them than being more.

Since Genesis there have been at all times human beings who always wanted much more than they needed, who strove to accumulate much more than they needed, and who treated other human beings either as obstacles to their pursuits or as potential instruments in their attainment. Even others are obstacles; the usual tendency is to get them out of the way through deceit, black mail, bribery or even

murder. e.g. Cain and Abel. When people are considered to be instruments, the task is to make full and profitable use of them. e.g. slavery in Egypt. Today things have become people, and people have become things.

Slavery is one of the most dramatic forms in which other humans are viewed as property and turned into a commodity to be used and exchanged. The tendency to think of only one's own fulfillment results in the tendency to

commoditize other human be ings . H u m a n development could b e a k i n d o f c o m m o d i t y consciousness in today's world. The capitalist economy puts profit above people and thereby c r e a t e s a g a p between the rich

and the poor, the haves and the have not's.

Commodity consciousness and human fulfillment:Even if we consider that because of commodity consciousness human beings have exerted and extended themselves, unleashed their imagination, had creative insights, made full use of their deliberative powers, planned carefully and carried out projects with determination and self discipline, and even if it be granted that in doing so, they have actuated their higher human powers, still the question remains whether the people engaged in it are, by that very fact, bringing about human fulfillment of others who will taste the fruits of their efforts. Does it follow that they are fulfilling themselves as human beings? The answer to both these questions is, ̀ no.' Neither the producer nor the consumer who are gripped by commodity consciousness can attain human fulfillment. People think that new and

b e t t e r commodities will make life better in all r e s p e c t s . S u c h thinking is m y t h i c delusion of commodi ty consciousnes

COMMODITIZATION OF HUMAN BEING IN THE CAPITALIST ECONOMYCOMMODITIZATION OF HUMAN BEING IN THE CAPITALIST ECONOMY

Sch Antony Pais SJSch Antony Pais SJ

Writers’ ForumWriters’ ForumPg.03Pg.03DECEMBER 2014DECEMBER 2014

Writers’ ForumWriters’ ForumPg. 04 Pg. 04 DECEMBER 2014DECEMBER 2014

The enslavement will be all the stronger in so far as the person is deluded into thinking that he or she is functioning at a higher level. If a person is centrally focused on making money and if such a focus is not appropriately central to human life ( because what is central is the development of love), it can be said that such a person lacks goodwill and is inappropriately oriented and therefore, despite appearances, is not fully functioning as a human being. Such a way of life threatens human dignity and treats other people as commodities to be used or exchanged.

People are hooked to the belief that they can purchase happiness. Advertisement will have itself become a drug whose dose is craved and demanded. Instead of viewing the self as a person who is on a journey, a person who has experienced much and has much more to experience, a person who has come to understand and has much more to understand, a person who has loved and has much more loving to do, we will think ourselves as the persona of our advertisements, as something that can be reduced to a resume or advertisement. The person depends on the market place for the sense of self worth. If the person is a winner then he will have a strong sense of self worth. On the other hand if the individual happens to be a loser, in the self commodity sale, the person may already be in a state of inferiority complex. There is not much talk about self-worth and self-esteem.

Addressing the threats:We are supposed to love our neighbour as ourselves; we ought to seek the good and fulfilment of the neighbour as well as good and fulfillment of ourselves. God does not love the world as a route to self-

fulfillment. God loves the world to fulfill the world; God calls and empowers human beings to love others in the same way. Therefore every human being has worth, dignity and v a l u e i n h i m s e l f o r herself. We can never reduce human beings t o a commodity. If we do so, it speaks much about the self-worth, dignity and value that we have for o u r s e l v e s . T h e r e f o r e s e r i o u s introspection is necessary in our way of life. The way we live and the way we relate to others manifest our relationship with God. The inner emptiness and insecurity of the person is manifested in a commoditisation of human beings.

Gandhiji said, “The world has enough for everyone's need, but not enough for everyone's greed”. We can make this world a better place to live in only when we share with others and consider others as a co-partner in the journey of our life on this earth. We are here to learn how to love, that love is central to human living, that in widening, deepening and actuating our capacity to love we move more and more toward fulfillment. To be Christian is to live a life of love, thereby becoming ever more a child of God. The great commandment is to love God with one's whole heart and soul and mind and to love one's neighbour as oneself. God, neighbour and self are seen as proper objects of our love .

COMMODITIZATION OF HUMAN BEING IN THE CAPITALIST ECONOMYCOMMODITIZATION OF HUMAN BEING IN THE CAPITALIST ECONOMY

Sch Antony Pais SJSch Antony Pais SJCont’d from pg. 03Cont’d from pg. 03

he world today is taking a giant leap towards digitalisation. As Jeff Jordan, a partner at Andreesen Horowitz, would say, “We are in T

the midst of a profound structural shift from physical to digital retail. It's happening faster than I could have imagined.” In this context E-commerce has made its mark, by being relevant to the people of this generation. It has created an environment where in the distance between the buyer and the seller has been shortened. Moreover it has given more convenience and the benefit of choice to “e-consumers”.

As we e x p e r i e n c e today, life has b e c o m e complex with t o o m a n y w o r r i e s , including that of frequent traffic jams, long queues, high prices and brand manipulation. E-commerce comes as a solution to most of these problems. As it provides varied services beginning from electronics, clothing, cosmetics and books, to reservation of movie tickets or tickets of any modes of travel, E-commerce has come as a time saving and a convenient option to many. Besides, it offers a variety of products or services along with its description and customer's feedback, which helps the customers to make a right choice. In today's commercial world we often hear about a kilo of Tomato costing five rupees being sold for twenty rupees. Here E-commerce has made its impact by offering products and services at reasonable prices. This happens because E-commerce undertakes its dealings without any mediators; so there is no price manipulation. It was estimated that the total turnover of all the ecommerce undertakings would cross Rs10,000 crore during this Diwali.

E-commerce is showing a steady progress as India; it has 250.2 million internet users. The total turnover of all the online marketing firms was estimated at Rs 25,500 crore in 2011 and it is expected to increase up to Rs 54,800 crore by 2015. One of the online business giants, Flipkart had a turnover of Rs 600 crore on its Big Billion day, i.e. on 6th October, when huge discounts were announced on all products. But it had to pay the price for it as the Enforcement Directorate (which governs the rules and regulations

of E-commerce) issued notices for violating the rules of fair trade practices.

E-commerce offers 24x7 service, anytime, anywhere and anything. This makes it convenient for the buyers. It has very low operational cost, as it hardly requires any infrastructure and even the labour cost is less. This ensures steady increase in the profit margin. E-commerce increases the efficiency of the economy by creating competition in the market and avoiding monopoly. The marketing options such as Cash on delivery and Easy Returns attract Indians to E-commerce. Cross border transactions are carried on without much legal restrictions. If you take the example of ebay (foreign online seller), it reaches out to four million consumers of 3,311 Indian cities. On the other hand around 15,000 Indian sellers sell handicraft products to 112 million customers spread across 190 countries. In this way E-commerce will contribute 4% to the GDP by 2020.

It has not been easy going to E-commerce in India, beginning with the internet, which is yet to reach the frontiers. There is a need of last mile connectivity too, a link chain to connect the remote places. The other worry is high dropout rates by consumers who opt for Cash on Delivery. Only online payments will solve this problem. Besides, restrictions on FDI also affect E-commerce. E-commerce does confront small business establishments. It has created an 'adapt or die' scenario. Introduction of E-commerce has also reduced the customers at malls by 49.5% in Delhi. Above all, heavy price reductions do affect retailers. Hence the Enforcement Directorate has issued notices to all the online retail firms.

But there is a way forward. Mall culture is just for entertainment and not for purchases. People prefer to sit at home and shop online. It is the right time wherein E-commerce has to focus on the smaller towns, where mall culture has not yet penetrated. Introduction of mobile apps prove to be an easy method of promoting online shopping. Quick deliveries and customer satisfaction will certainly promote online marketing. This will reduce price manipulation by the middle men. Standard goods and services at a reasonable price with customer satisfaction will add feathers to E-commerce.

E-COMMERCE – A NEW TREND E-COMMERCE – A NEW TREND Vishwas Misquith SJVishwas Misquith SJ

Writers’ ForumWriters’ ForumPg.05Pg.05DECEMBER 2014DECEMBER 2014

rosperity of any nation is extremely difficult without industrial development. It is a well established truth for any economy, whether it is P

developing or developed. Economic development and industrialization have become so closely integrated with each other that progress of an economy is now assessed from the success it has achieved in transformation from an agricultural set up into an industrial one.

Through industrialization a situation is created whereby many industries are set up rapidly, and ultimately backward areas are converted into economically developed areas and backward e c o n o m i e s i n t o developed economies. Industrialization in fact is a composite term. This

involves a number of structural changes such as changes in production techniques, intensity of industrial employment and output. Industrialization propounds support of all sectors of skillfully organizing business enterprises, application of science and technology, channelizing specialized labor along with the division of labor, ever increasing road of electrical, electronic and computer application to achieve efficient activity etc. In this way Industrialization is not only a way to increase output or national income but is also a means of introducing modern technology and changing ways of life. Industrialization refers to transforming the structure of the economy by its reinforcing quality.

But all the above cannot be extended without a well planned industrial policy. The industrial policy provides direction to the pace of industrialization and industrial development.

Indian markets: India remains a key focus of the world marketing agenda. Today India is looked upon by the world as the perfect market. Foreign investors are having high expectations from the Indian markets.

Agricultural Growth: India adopted sufficient policies to ensure the goal of food-grain self-sufficiency. The present growth rate and the growth of urbanization are affecting the agricultural movements both favorably and adversely. There has been a substantial increase in the available food- grain per capita.

The changes initiated in the Industrial policies are widely believed to have enabled firms and industries to operate in a more market sensitive manner to secure increased output and efficiency by a better utilization of capacity.

Now as a Jesuit what are the lessons I should learn from the process of industrialization?

Maximum utilization of the available resources.

Innovation ( creative-fidelity )

Avoiding the use and throw culture.

M a k i n g t h e communities where I live self-sufficient by growing vegetables and availing ourselves of o t h e r n e c e s s a r y commodities.

Following the policy of recycle, reuse and reduce.

Work culture of the industry.

We Jesuits are gradually creeping into a culture where work is given more importance than the person. There was a time when personal relationship mattered a lot for in our communities. This is the reason why GC 35calls community life itself a mission.

Writers’ ForumWriters’ ForumPg. 06Pg. 06

LESSONS LEARNT FROM INDUSTRIALIZATION

LESSONS LEARNT FROM INDUSTRIALIZATION

Lijo Placid SJ (DEL)Lijo Placid SJ (DEL)

DECEMBER 2014DECEMBER 2014

Guest ColumnGuest Column

urse the baby, care the child and free the adult” says, Alexander Hamilton. The baby, the child and the adult here refer respectively to the N

under-developed, developing and the developed economies. Before the Second World War free trade existed in the world economy, permitting international flow of goods and services without any artificial restrictions. Trade was a mutual exchange of resources and services from one economy to another. However in the early days following the Second World War various countries built in a barrier and adopted trade restrictions. It was here that the world economies split into developed, developing and under-developed economies. Hence after various conferences and deliberations a number of policies have been formulated to protect each nation's trade, to nurse the under-developed nations and to encourage the developing nations by the developed nations of the world.

India has grown from being a baby to a child. The WTO, the Union of countries and integration among nations have brought about a process of development. The rise in the industrial countries (BRIC'S) Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa has generated a sense of optimism towards the possibility of development albeit of a more measured character than in the 1950's. Even if the entire South is not likely to develop it is undoubtedly the case that a small number of countries have experienced a genuine success in their ventures. Will the late developing countries succeed in the struggle to modernise their economies and catch up with the more advanced countries or are they destined to fall ever further behind?

As each type of existence on this planet has its own life cycle, economy has five business cycles, depression, recovery, boom, inflation and recession. Some economists are so attached to the notion of growth that they can't let go that word, so they refer to recession as a time of negative growth. Centuries of economic deprivation and neglect coupled with isolation from the mainstream of Indian states had resulted in widespread poverty, unemployment and economic backwardness of the people living in the northern states like Kashmir, Manipur, Tripura... etc.

Economic neglect and lack of development generally create inequality and disparity. These reach an unsustainable level when there is failure of governance whose primary responsibility it is to address the causes of such disparity. In the absence of governance, extreme inequality and disparity often lead to violence and militancy.

The justification made regarding the growth is, that rapid economic growth will bring prosperity and

wealth to all Indians, removing poverty, hunger and injustice. That high growth rates can make India a land of milk and honey is a myth. 70% of India remains deprived of basic needs of one kind or the other, employment in the formal sector has hardly grown, undernourishment and malnourishment are on a high. Inequalities between the rich and

poor are growing significantly and ecological unsustainability has already set in. The more we go for large scale technology and intensive, capital investments, these problems will only get aggravated. Modi's 'Make in India' slogan can well be stated in the full form “Make Money in India.” As someone stated, it is highly profitable to invest in the Indian share market rather than to start a business in India. This paves the way for the MNC's to enter India and make their investments and return home with high gains providing a little employment to the host country.

Sacrificing ecological growth, the economic growth has taken prime importance. The dire competition among the countries to be an adult (Developed nation) is the only reason causing the imbalance and destruction of the various strands in the web of life.

MISPLACED FAITH IN ECONOMY'S GROWTH

MISPLACED FAITH IN ECONOMY'S GROWTH

Avinash D'Souza SJAvinash D'Souza SJ

Writers’ ForumWriters’ ForumPg. 07Pg. 07DECEMBER 2014DECEMBER 2014

t was around 3.30 pm that I heard a knock at my door. It was more of a gloomy day. I was almost in the arms of slumber. I never happened to be alone in the I

afternoons, but that day somehow I was alone in my room in Jannathnagar during my slum living. It had become a habit with the children over there to disturb us by knocking at the door and run away from our sight. I did not mind the knock which I heard at 3.30 pm. I opened my eyes only to experience the afternoon sunray filtering through the door and pricking my eyes in the dark room. After a while it slowly disappeared and I heard another knock. I did not mind this knock too and covered my face with the thick blanket. After two minutes there was a continuous knock and I was irritated and angry. I got up at once and opened the door and I saw a small girl standing at the door. I had not seen her before. Without asking for the reason of her coming I sent her out at once.It was after two days that I came to know that she was an orphan girl whose mother had committed suicide two months earlier and her father had lef t her with her grandmother who worked as a housemaid. The latter is hardly found at home and usually comes home in the evening. When I heard this fact I was dumbfounded. The knocks which I heard at my door now began to knock at the inner self of my soul. I began to think over those knocks: Was her first knock a sign of her loneliness, a sign that she wanted to be with someone?Or was she hungry and wanted to have something to eat?Or was she seeking my company to play with her?This wasn't the feeling of the people of Jannathnagar. There are hundreds of such children who are deprived of parental love and care, and it is such children when they grow up make their children experience the same.

It has often been said that the slum dwellers are contributors to the growth of economy. Their work is always meant to be behind the curtain. Slum world always shares such common characteristics as high incidence of violence, crimes, discrimination, poor sanitation, dominance of informal economy, child labour, prostitution, abuses, etc. More importantly they are the people who are most neglected by the government.

It was here that I had a chance to live for thirty six days which changed my overall outlook on slum world, especially Jannathnagar which is situated in the outskirts of Dharwad city. It changed the state of my mind, for I had been afraid of Muslims, especially of men whom I had considered from my childhood to be terrorists.

I had five main objectives in my mind in my slum living:

First, to have an experience of simple and poor livingSecond, to experience the difficult life of some of my own classmates who came from such slumsThird, to understand the hardships of poor peopleFourth, to experience the providence of God in the midst

of insecurityFifth, to build a new bond of r e l a t i o n s h i p b e t w e e n Vidyaniketan and Jannathnagar

The first day of my entry to Jannathnagar was challenging because I had just begun my internals and I thought I had made a wrong choice. But this was only the first challenge to face. While travelling I had seen people standing in long queues for water and I used to think about their situation and feelings, but after coming to

Jannathnagar I found that people enjoyed doing it because they were accustomed to it. Our relationship began with water. Sharing of water on first two days made us feel comfortable with people of different castes. Though they found us strange youngsters they saw something new within us and we shared with them the newness that they wanted to see in us.

We had our own style of building relationship with people. First we targeted the old grandmas who seemed to be the leaders of their families because they lived not in one family but every day in a different family of their children who were living in the same locality. As a result we were able to catch several fish in one attempt and moreover build trust. Our second target was children. Whoever we met, we tried to visit their houses and introduced ourselves to them.

LIVING THE WORDLIVING THE WORD

Joswin Pereira SJJoswin Pereira SJ (Personal Experience in the Slum)


ExperienceExperience

Every evening we Jesuits, had prayer and sharing together which strengthened us to move forward with new vigor. The feeling of out of place had just disappeared. There were many responsibilities which kept us working always. The second objective that I had in my mind was to experience the hardships of my classmates. There are hundreds of students in our college who do not even have breakfast in the morning and directly have their lunch in the afternoon. They suffer the pain of their hunger silently because of their studies. They know that every drop of sweat of their parents was for their future. Whenever I used to think about this my mind used to turn towards those for whom food is provided on the table on time but do not like to eat, for they do not feel hungry.

In Muslim families, men are the ones who earn the daily bread of their families, where as the women are the ones who are very responsible for bringing up th the poor but also in being with the poor of Christ

1Once I was asked:

“Is there peacein this world?”

2I wish I could say:Yes, there is peace

In this World !But how I?

3There are wars

Causing people to dieevery day.

4There are rapes plentyMaking the innocent

Die of shame and guilt5

There is corruption galoreMaking the poor poorer,

The rich richer6

Why must humansTake away human life ?

Why must humansFight for their lives?

could

Peace is PossiblePeace is PossiblePruthvi Rodrigues SJPruthvi Rodrigues SJ

7Tear drops are falling

Mourning the lost victims8

Will humanity ever seeThis world

Live in peace and harmony ?9

Will one allow the otherTo live in freedomAnd die in peace?

10What can I do ?

All I can do is to cryAll I can do is to pray.

11Come,

O Prince of Peace,Wipe away tears from

every eyeAs once you did promise.

12Bring Love and Joy

That I may proudly say:There's peace in this world.

their children. But their life in general woven around the mantra called 'Khana, Peena, Sona, Kamana' i.e. eating, drinking, sleeping, earning. They are people who have no clear cut goal beyond this, neither have they had someone who could inspire them to have one. One very important lesson we learnt during our stay in the slum is that when two or three are put together in a mission, and when their minds come together with their ideas and thoughts may not always go hand in hand and surely there will be conflicts. To overcome these conflicts and work together one needs to have a open heart and humility to find what God wants of them. This is what we learnt during our slum living and on which we are still working.

Being a Jesuit I have learnt that being poor is actually being rich and this richness one can experience not only in being wi

LIVING THE WORDLIVING THE WORDJoswin Pereira SJJoswin Pereira SJ


Cont’d from pg. 08Cont’d from pg. 08

Pg. 09Pg. 09 Writers’ ForumWriters’ Forum

PoemPoem

e are all aware of the multinational companies. An MNC is such a company that operates in different countries by means of W

production and services. MNC's play an important role in a country's economy as in the world at large. The budget of some MNC's is so high that at times they even exceed the G.D.P of a nation.

It all began after the liberalization as part of economic reforms in 1991. The goal was to make Indian economy as market oriented and expanding the role of the private and foreign investment and the goal was achieved partially. From then on, many other companies saw rich arenas of market

especially to flourish their business in India. On the other hand these corporations have the specific goal of earning profit as usual as any business expects. Some corporations even expand their jurisdiction of function beyond their native places when they get a wider scope to earn profit and also acquire consumers' confidence. Further, the rising population of India promises macro scope of market and enormous profit to MNC's.

There is no doubt that these MNC's contributed a lot for the development of India. Unused resources widely used, technological advancement, job creation and overall stability of economy are some of the major achievements of MNC'S in India. Today MNC's contribute inversely in increasing Foreign Direct investment and thus contributing largely towards Gross Domestic Production and decreasing balance of payments. On the other hand MNC's also have a major influence on our lives. Western culture is already dooming our traditional heritage. Labourers are squeezed for maximum profits to the neglect of their health and safety issues. Tough competitions are raised among local companies which normally cannot face, the only way left to them being to surrender and shut off! The MNC's are also inculcating the feeling of subservience among Indians. Their contribution to job creation is marvelous, but that to their selfish advantage by using cheap labour in India.

MULTIPLE EFFECTS WITH MULTIPLE DEFECTS

MULTIPLE EFFECTS WITH MULTIPLE DEFECTS

John Prashanth SJJohn Prashanth SJ

Also they play subtle politics as they get the policies suited to their needs by bribing bureaucrats. Scams still exist as we witnessed recently in the Flip cart big billion conflict.

The trend of consumerism is also a fruit of MNC's. This is because MNC's hardly concentrate on long term services but only meet temporary mind set and taste of consumers. Now people only flock to malls for all their needs, and the local market seems to be deserted in the periphery. All are ready to pay higher costs, even double the amount and even spend much time in mall quarters, which seems to be a new trend among simple, middle class people. Youth get blindly absorbed by offers and discounts without realizing the techniques of selfish hawkers. All this gives us the message to be more analytical than hypothetical in our thinking about consumption.

It is an apt time to ponder whether we are losing something precious without our awareness. We often tend to evaluate results on the national level, but when it comes to our own home, surely we end in nostalgic disgust. It looks to me that the time has come when w e n e e d t o b e prepared for the worst.

M N C ' s i n India have its own benefits and limitations. Let's be first and foremost be rooted in our culture and then welcome the other.

Writers’ ForumWriters’ ForumPg.10Pg.10

Pg.Pg.


Through the previous two decades the nation has been subject to numerous fundamental problems like unemployment, population explosion, illiteracy, health problem, hunger, poverty and other socio-economic problems. Among all these, poverty is an important problem, around which all other problems are revolving. Poverty is a complex phenomenon. It is, moreover, related to time and space.

It is related to the conditions and possibilities of a given society and varies not only from country to country but also within the same society. In India, poverty can be defined as 'that situation in which an individual fails to earn sufficient income to buy his/her bare means of subsistence'. There are two types in poverty, Absolute pover ty and re la t ive poverty. The first concept r e fe r s t o un fu l f i l l ed minimum needs, especially with regard to subsistence level nutrition, while the second concerns the unequal distribution of income and expenditure in s o c i e t y a n d t h e consequent/comparative deprivation of certain groups or individuals.While we fly the best aircraft in the world, ferrying more than a hundred million passengers every year between Indian cities, there are still many villages which lack access to all-weather roads.

While international cities like Mumbai boast of the richest individuals on the planet, the villages in the same state have seen more than 41,000 distressed farmers choosing to end their life due to indebtedness and bankruptcy in the past twelve years. And while we are now a trillion dollar plus economy, with 550 million youths, we must deal with the fact that we have more people living in poverty, more children to bring quality nourishment to, more people to provide with clean drinking water and more people who need to be brought under literacy than any other nation. Transforming India into a developed nation implies that every citizen of this country not only lives above poverty line but well above poverty line. These are our fundamental challenges in relation to poverty for the 21st century.

Measurement of poverty in IndiaTo measure the extent of poverty and the number of poor in the country, the professional economists have made use of the concept of 'poverty line'. Thus poverty is measured based on consumer expenditure survey of the National Sample Survey Organization (NSSO, 1970). A poor household is defined as the one with an expenditure level below a specific poverty line. Earlier India used to define poverty line based on a method defined by a task force in 1970. It indicated, “the nationally desirable minimum level of consumer expenditure”, “the socially accepted minimum standard of living”. It defined poverty line as the midpoint of monthly per capita of 2,400 per person in rural areas and 2,100 in urban areas. On this basis, the respective rural and urban cut off points turn out to be respectively about Rs.61.80 and 71.30 at 1976-77 price. And it became Rs.106.70 and 121.71 respectivelyat 1984-5 price.

But in 2011 the Suresh Tendulkar Committee defined the poverty line on the basis of monthly expenditure on food, education, health, electricity and transport. According to this estimate, persons who spend Rs. 27.2 in rural areas and 33.3 in urban areas per day are defined as living below poverty line. This estimation has been severely criticized for fixing the poverty line too low.

Critical analysis of poverty in IndiaThe question for us today is, “has poverty really declined in India”? In 2011-12, India had 270 million below the Tendulkar p o v e r t y l i n e a s c o m p a r e d t o 4 0 7 million in 2004-5, that is a reduction of 137 million persons over the seven year period. Now the debating point is, “is this really possible”? Because from 1960 to 1993 for nearly 33 years, the declined poverty rate is 10%.But from 1993 to 2012 in less than 20 years the declined poverty rate is nearly 25%. Is this possible? Is this decline because of economic development or is it because of a fault in the estimation? Is it a politically free planned default estimation? Tendulkar poverty line is highly criticized for fixing the poverty line too low.

CONCEPT OF POVERTY AND ITS MEASUREMENTCONCEPT OF POVERTY

AND ITS MEASUREMENTDolwin Cutinha SJDolwin Cutinha SJ


Can a person really with Rs.27.2 in a rural area and Rs. 33.3 in an urban area lead a life dignity with basic needs fulfilled? Not only is the present estimation criticized, but even in 1985, people criticized the way of estimation. They said, “How can one manage with Rs.105 per month? We would like these experts to try to survive with this amount. It is more the starvation line than the poverty line”.

On September 2, 2013 the parliament gave its nod to Food Security Bill which seeks to provide highly subsidized food grains to the country's two thirds population, that is, 820 million people of India. Now Tendulkar Committee says only 22%, that is, 270 million people are below the poverty line, but Food Security Bill is assuring food grains for 820 million people. Now the real question is: what is the exact number of poor in India?

Suggestions to control poverty in IndiaTo end the poverty in India (i)Agricultural inputs need to be given to the farmers, since India is still to a large extent an agriculture-based economy.

(jj) Investment in the basic health: India needs to invest in the healthcare sector we do have a large number of people living either on poverty line or below poverty line.

(iii) Investment in Education: meals that are given at the primary school will surely improve the health of the children. Education is the only way to move forward and eradicate poverty in India. Education is not merely formal but also the non-formal; education in Health related matters also plays a very important role.

(iv) Power t r a n s p o r t a n d communication services: w i t h o u t power no going

forward or further growth; unless the crisis of power is solved one cannot think of improving the other sectors including governance.

(v) today's poverty in India is not merely economic but in many other fields as well. We need to consider the overall development.

(vi) Human capital utilization: we do have tremendous human resources which we need to capitalize on. Our poverty today is of lack infrastructure, like roads, power, safe drinking water, proper housing facilities and sanitation in the urban as well as in rural areas.

(vii) Healthy soils, biodiversity and a well functioning ecosystem will provide the environmental services needed by human society.

(viii) The commercial law, juridical systems, government services and policing should not undermine the peaceful and prosperous division of labour.

(ix) The government has introduced many anti poverty programs to end the poverty in India. (see appendix for more information)

ConclusionThere is pressing need to raise the economic conditions and living standard of over 300 million people living in extreme poverty out of 1 billion population. One of the reason for this situation is that a large part of growth comes from the manufacturing and the service sector which is kept away from poor people. We need to ensure that fruitful employment is made available to the poor masses. During the decade and onward, we require development initiatives which will integrate competencies, skills, employment and market access and will make available quality/ education for children and health care for the Indian poor families.

CONCEPT OF POVERTY AND ITS MEASUREMENTCONCEPT OF POVERTY

AND ITS MEASUREMENT Dolwin Cutinha SJDolwin Cutinha SJCont’d from pg. 11Cont’d from pg. 11

DECEMBER 2014DECEMBER 2014 Pg. 12Pg. 12 Writers’ ForumWriters’ Forum

1. What is your uppermost feeling as you are just ordained as priest?

My uppermost feeling at this juncture is gratefulness to God for choosing a lowly me to be His minister, and at same time I feel my unworthiness.

2. How would you image your life in the Society?I imagine my life in the Society as a flowing river. There are ups and downs, curves and straight paths, rocks and soft mud, flowers and thorns. Yet the destination is clear and one has to reach it with the grace and support of the One who has called me to this way of life.

3. What is your learning in these years of your formation to priesthood? How would you find yourself as a priest?In the past 14 years of my formation I have learnt that everything is possible in life with trust in God and oneself. I have learnt to be more patient and responsible. Moreover I have learnt that God's ways are different from human ways. Everything on this earth has been created for a purpose and God loves everybody equally. In return, we too are expected to do the same. I find myself as an instrument in the hands of God to carry on his salvific work on this earth - A friend and comforter of the suffering and the lost in the vineyard of Lord.

4. What is your vision and mission as a priest?A priest is basically a servant of God and a minister of the sacraments. In this line, my vision and mission as a priest is to be a channel of grace and mercy of God, not the controller. My primary work or mission should be to bring the people of God into the presence of the most merciful and loving Father of us all; to mirror His light on this earth; to bring the light of hope, faith and justice in this uncertain scenario.

5. How is priesthood relevant in this generation?Whatever may be the generation, deep within the heart of everybody there is a thirst for divine food and touch. So as priests the representatives of Christ can transform the lives of people through effective preaching of the word of God.

At the same time, the faithful are looking for God's compassion and love. I think as a priest one can mirror that love of God. Moreover people in spite of all the prevailing scams and crimes, feel confident to pour out their sorrows and burdens to a priest. In this modern world a priest can still be a comforting mediator between God and people.

6. As the minister of the Church, how will you bear witness to the person of Christ?The priesthood is not a job, a human career, but a gift of God. He has entrusted the priests with a task to preach His words of pardon and make Him present in the world. A priest is ordained to witness the Lord to bear, to love and serve with genuine care, with no trouble and pain to spare. As a simple person like Christ our High Priest, called by God, one must do what Christ himself did. He went where people were and made them feel the unconditional love of the Father. So also, I as Christ's representative must try to imitate Him in my daily words and deeds.

7. What would be your message to your younger brothers in the Society? We all are called by Him for a purpose. So we need to discern God's will for us and allow Him to act through us. Then we can see marvels working through us. Let us never have even an iota of d o u b t r e g a r d i n g H i s guidance and support, because “He who has begun the work will see that it is truly finished”.

Writers’ ForumWriters’ ForumPg. 13 Pg. 13

INTERVIEW WITH FR BALARAJ SJINTERVIEW WITH FR BALARAJ SJ


1 . W h a t i s y o u r uppermost feeling as you are just ordained to priest?

I feel very grateful to God, to the Society of Jesus, my family and friends.

2. How would you image y o u r l i f e i n t h e Society?

Potter and clay. Just like the potter moulds and shapes the clay, the Society moulds me and shapes me

3. What is your learning in these years of your formation to priesthood? How would you find yourself as a priest?

The Society has formed me well. It has taught me "to fish".

4. What is your vision and mission as a priest?My vision and mission as a priest is "To allow Jesus to

live, love and work in and through me"

5. How is priesthood relevant in this generation?I have heard many people saying, young priests are a great

example in today 's context. Today's world teaches youngsters to b e c o m e s e l f i s h , Priesthood can be an example where one can learn to be selfless.

6. As the minister of the Church, how will you bear witness to the person of Christ?

Just being the presence of Jesus... by being an instrument in God's hand

7. What would be your message to your younger brothers in the Society?

Enjoy discovering yourselves in Jesus.


INTERVIEW WITH FR ANTONY EDWIN SJINTERVIEW WITH FR ANTONY EDWIN SJ


Contribution of Agricultural sector to Indian EconomyContribution of Agricultural sector to Indian Economy

Migration is a process in which people move from one place to another in search of a better living. Primitive people moved from one forest to another in search of food, shelter etc. As the civilizations grew humans settled down in a place but the process of migration has not stopped. In this post-modern era migration is a gross reality and a culture in itself. Today people migrate for various reasons: economic wellbeing, education, to break the monotony in life, etc. Here I would like to focus on the migration of poor people from the villages to the metropolitan cities in search of jobs for financial stability. Though economics motivates them to migrate to better pastures their social, political, cultural and religious experience is shaped or most of the time threatened by this process. Some years ago when I was pursuing my philosophical studies in Pune I used to visit a nearby slum as part of my weekend ministry.

Many people living there were migrants from north-Karnataka region. The cruel and pathetic situation in which they were caught up was extremely agonizing. Their dream of a better future looked a distant reality. Another experience that I have these days is during my Monday village ministry. As I travel to my village Bingipura near Electronic City I see

hundreds of people who've come to Bangalore from various quarters in search of jobs. The difficult situation in which they live is hard to digest.

Migration and the Church

Upholding human dignity as well as respect for human life is the bedrock principle of Catholic social teaching. Every person regardless of caste, colour, creed, sex, nationality and economic condition is worthy of respect. It is the right and responsibility of every Christian to promote these values. 'Gaudium et Spes' of the Second Vatican Council beautifully enunciates it.

Norwin Pereira SJNorwin Pereira SJ


TOWARDS A RESPONSE

TO ECONOMIC MIGRATION

TOWARDS A RESPONSE

TO ECONOMIC MIGRATION

The social encyclical 'Pacem in Terris' of Pope John XXIII and Centesimus Annus of Pope John Paul II bring out critical issues regarding the plight of the migrant workers. Bible has a lot of narratives on migration. It is a story of an oppressed people in slavery set free from Egypt to the Promised Land with hope of a better life under the protection of their LORD. Bible has a lot of narratives on migration. It is a story of an oppressed people in slavery set free from Egypt to the Promised Land with hope of a better life under the protection of their LORD. W e h a v e examples like A b r a h a m , Moses and in t h e N e w Te s t a m e n t Joseph, Mary, Jesus, Paul etc.

What is our response today? In this post-modern era, on the one hand communication and technology is at its best and on the other, human beings are commoditized as mere goods to be bought and sold for money. Can we strike a balance so as to uphold the dignity and respect the human life in today's context? Can we strategically tackle these issues in our own situations as religious?


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I salute you, O Diocese of Shimoga

For your splendid glory!

A thousand salutations to you

For the steadfastness of your faith!

Widespread is your fame like the Sharavati

Like the roaring Jog falls you shared your bounty

You helped countless souls to walk the path of faith

ou prepared hundreds Christ Jesus to proclaim.

A comforting mother to me when depressed,

A good shepherd when far I strayed,

Warmly you embraced me the prodigal.

Ever grateful am I for your tender affection.

A score and five years of your yeoman service

Reflects Christ's values in every vein;

May your silver glory rise to the skies

May Christ lead you on a hundred years.

PÉÆÃn £ÀªÀÄ£À ¤£ÀUÉPÉÆÃn £ÀªÀÄ£À ¤£ÀUÉ

A THOUSAND SALUTATIONS!A THOUSAND SALUTATIONS!

-Karnataka Juniors, Tvm-Karnataka Juniors, Tvm

(Translation)

POEMPOEM

ope Francis greeted young professionals, businessmen and entrepreneurs taking part in a congress promoted by the World P

Economic Forum, in collaboration with the Pontifical Universities of Rome, and called on them “to promote ways and attitudes that help to overcome social and economic exclusion to contribute to foster a new mentality in which money is not considered an idol to serve but a means to pursue the common good.” This has been the stand of the Church ever since it has articulate d i t s position i n economic matters from the t i m e Octogesim a Advenien s : A Call to Action, the Apostolic Exhortation of Pope Paul VI was promulgated in 1971. This letter was published commemorating the great social encyclical of all time, Rerum Novarum way back in 1891 by Pope Leo XIII. All must have a right to participate in society. Economy is the driving force behind it. It is so closely linked with justice and peace in society that one without the other is incomplete.

Our world is changing fast. In the context of Anekal itself, we see effects of urbanization that have resulted on the one hand in an economic boom, while on the other, has had its negative effects on people. They have lost land, their very identity. People have migrated all the way from Bangladesh and live close to the Anekal railway station just in search of jobs for better economic stability. The hard reality is that their living conditions are pathetic and unimaginable, like that of many other people who belong to the lower strata of society.

The marginalized, the downtrodden, the elderly, the differently able and the infirm are the new poor today. It is they who are to be considered while creating newer economic reforms and policies for our country. This is economy of inclusion.

Where is the future leading us? Is Marxism or liberalism an alternative or a solution to capitalism or to democracy? These ideologies alienate human beings. As Christians can we be silent to the rising economic disparities in our nation? It is the personal responsibility of every Christian to build up this crumbling world order. We are in need of a renewed consciousness. It calls for initiatives on our part and necessary political action in order that we may collaborate with others and thus form ourselves well rooted and grounded in faith that reaches out in love. And hence what can we do?

Realize that in our business enterprises, money is to be used and not loved and persons are to be loved and not used. Build up an economy based on moral principles. Doing business is not bad, I feel, but we need to set limits to our profits. It is much more challenging to check the levels of our greed. Evaluate our economic growth from the perspective of the under-privileged and base our national growth indices on their progress in society. The basic human needs of roti, kapada, makan, bijili, pani, swasthya and shikshana ought to be met.


An Economy of InclusionAn Economy of InclusionRyan Rodrigues SJRyan Rodrigues SJ

KARL MARXKARL MARX

ar

K collaborator

Friedrich Engels.

His famous works:He wrote, along with Engels, “Communist Manifesto”His most important

also known as the bible of the working class.

His ideas:Ÿ “The history of the existing societies is the

history of class struggle.”

Ÿ The merchant class or bourgeoisie have managed to overcome the aristocratic class because of their wealth.

Ÿ The bourgeoisie see the world as one big market and it has alerted all the aspec even a family, an destroyed rural civilisations and created enormous cities.

l Heinrich Marx, A German from a Swiss family was born in 1818. He was a highly influential, revolutionary thinker and

philosopher. He had a life-long

work is “Das Kapital”,

ts of society, d has

Ÿ The industrial workers or proletariat are exploited by the bourgeoisie. This is because the owners of private property must have maximum profits which they make by exploiting the labourers, by giving them wages just enough to keep them alive.

Ÿ So there will be a class struggle, the proletariat revolution, wherein the collective ownership of the means of production by the workers will overthrow the capitalist dominion. This he called communism.

Ÿ Polarisation of society into the rich and the poor.

Ÿ His idea of socialisation (i.e. abolition of private property), was based on his deep understanding of economics and philosophy.

What we can learn from Karl Marx:1. Simple living, high thinking.2. Stand for the poor.3. Refusal to abide by the mass opinion and to swim

against the current.4. We must be prophetic.5. Be critical against a culture of exploitation.

Sometimes it is also said that Marx was a true follower of Jesus (though he was an atheist) because of his stand for the poor.

Praveen Martis SJPraveen Martis SJ

I consider development as refuse if it does not address these important issues that affect our people evermore, today. How can we strive towards an economic justice for all or, in other words, towards an economy of inclusion? Take the preferential option for the poor seriously by having a lived experience with the poor from time to time, live a life of witness based on Gospel values and deep-rooted convictions, keep ourselves up to date with the changing signs of the times through an in-depth analysis of reality in and around us, organize campaigns

and movements to mobilize the cause of the economically deprived strata of society, put up street plays and folk dances that give a message to

the rural poor to empower them and make them aware of their rights and of benefits that are due to them by the government, encourage entrepreneurship among the very many students in our colleges to invent something for the poor, and last but most important of all, pray earnestly that all people of good will may strive to establish the common

good.

An Economy of InclusionAn Economy of InclusionRyan Rodrigues SJRyan Rodrigues SJ Cont’d from pg. 17Cont’d from pg. 17

DECEMBER 2014DECEMBER 2014 Writers’ ForumWriters’ ForumPg. 18Pg. 18

DOES YOUR CONSUMPTION MAKE YOU THINK?

DOES YOUR CONSUMPTION MAKE YOU THINK?

Joswin Pereira SJJoswin Pereira SJ

n the present millennium many ideologies have tried to dominate the world. But only one thing seems to have achieved its goal, which has created I

inequality and threatens to tear apart the world into two parts. It is more powerful than any other power in the world and greater than any other religion, and that is consumerism. Mass consumption had its roots in the theory of Scientific Management which was proposed by Fredric Winslow Taylor to the industries. This

resulted in unlimited productivity and reduced the cost of commodity. By this began an enormous production and consumption at lower price. On the other hand, even when consumer goods were not yet used, the industries kept on producing them for their survival. To stop this problem a new concept came up, that is, to buy and waste the things in order to improve the economy. This concept projected a new deceit on society that more consumption leads to better living. The main motive behind all this is nothing but profit, by whatever means possible, even exploiting the weak.

Today, advertisements have become a channel of deception, which can persuade people to buy a product at any cost. This consumerism has spoiled the social status of the nation. y. Today's education is more focused on earning than on learning human values. People have become so selfish that they have forgotten the society in which they are living. People believe that possessing costly and brand products will increase their status and dignity. But on the scenario of humanity, it has created a dark cloud of sadness. There is disrespect for elders, emotional imbalances, lack of satisfaction, lack of self-awareness and absence of true love. Today's friendships and family life shifts have become artificial. Modern life of ease and comfort is filled with dead gadgets which provide no lasting satisfaction.

It was Adam Smith who provided an economic system, but this system led to capitalism, and consumerism is its by-product. Because of consumerism, we keep on buying and throwing away things and there will be no end to it. As population increases, production and wastage increase and these will surely affect our ecosystem. Consumerism is the poison which deviates the mind from the purpose for which the human being is created. We need to respect and love nature, and nature in its turn will love and respect humanity in its own way for its betterment.

Pg. 19Pg. 19DECEMBER 2014DECEMBER 2014 Writers’ ForumWriters’ Forum

To straighten my ways and mend my life, Come to make me a creature new,

I can hear the beat of Thy feet,

Yes, I do feel Thy gentle touch.

There's life in the mountains,

There's joy in the fountains,

There's hope in my heart,

O Come, Lord of mine Thou art.

O Come, Light of the world,

Dispel the darkness of my soul;

O come Spirit Divine and draw me,

From this end to a new horizon.

Sun rays bring new hope,

While light plays with shadow,

Come O Master, in this world of dreams,

Help me to walk along.

O Come to comfort the estranged,

To give life of bliss to the dead,

Fear of sin has flooded my heart,

Come Immanuel, my Saviour Thou art.

O COME

Nishanth Noronha S.JNishanth Noronha S.J

KSJ WRITER'S FORUM WISHING YOU ALL A

HAPPY CHRISTMAS AND PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR 2014

KSJ WRITER'S FORUM WISHING YOU ALL A

HAPPY CHRISTMAS AND PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR 2014

Pg. 20Pg. 20DECEMBER 2014DECEMBER 2014 Writers’ ForumWriters’ Forum

POEMPOEM

DECEMBER 2014DECEMBER 2014 Pg. 21Pg. 21 Writers’ ForumWriters’ Forum

The world awaits the King

The world awaits the Lord.

But who is this King and Lord?

Is he one who rules all and is super-rich?

Unfortunate would be

humankind

If it searches Him thus….

For He reigns not as

powerful but as weak,

It is in this that He finds Power;

For He lives not as rich but as poor,

It is in this that He gains all Riches.

Are you in search of Him…?

In places and instances

Where you can't find Him…?

Do not lose heart, for He lives:

In the labor of the one

Whose work his highest form of prayer,

In the hope of a domestic worker

Who slogs only for the love of her child,

In the decrepit old

Whose sole support Is their Creator,

In the pain of a patient

Stricken by cancer or AIDS.

Keep watch for the Lord

Who longs to meet you

differently this Christmas…

Are you ready?!!

WORLD AWAITSWORLD AWAITSVinod SJVinod SJ

Writers’ ForumWriters’ ForumDECEMBER 2014DECEMBER 2014 Pg.22Pg.22

POEMPOEM

DECEMBER 2014DECEMBER 2014 Writers’ ForumWriters’ ForumPg.23Pg.23

Writers Forum - December

Self Improvement

Transcript of Writers Forum - December