Holy Books and Life after Life

Holy Books and Life after Life

The Intertextuality series of conferences under the auspices of Dr. Alexander Marthoma Centre for Dialogue, Kottarakkara and Cosmic Community Centre, Karickam was initiated in the year 2005. The theme of the first conference was “Intertextuality of the Holy Books”. The second conference in 2007 dealt with the subject “One Word Many Versions: A Re- Reading of the Holy Books”. The third conference was held at Santhigiri Ashram Aluvae and its subject was “Holy Books and Violence”. The fourth International Seminar was conducted again at Kottarakara in the year 2011 with the theme “Holy Books and People of differing faith”. The fifth conference was held at the International Public Karickam School from 30^th September to 3^rd October 2013. Several eminent scholars from different parts of the world presented papers on “Holy Books and Life after life”.

            The program was inaugurated by His Holiness Presanna Venkittacharya Chaturvedi Swami (President, Ramanuja Mission Trust, India). Rt. Rev Thomas Mar Timotheos Episcopa, (President, AMCD) gave the keynote address. Swami Sachidananda Bharathi released the Book (Holy Books and Life After Life- Edited by Dr. Abraham Karickam and Dr. Ruwan Palapathwala) by presenting the first copy to the Bishop. Dr. Alexander Marthoma Peace Award 2013, was presented to Rev. Dr. M. J. Joseph. Sidhartha Siva (President’s award for the best debutant Director), Cosmic Rajan (best URI Cooperation circle award), P.A Sajimon (best teacher award), Afna Jaleeb (First Prize winner, URI essay contest) were also given cash award and citations on the occasion. Ian Fry, Australia (The Tripwire to More Questions than Answers), Bishop Kumara Illangasinghe, Sri Lanka (Aryubovan :A Wish for (long or more) Life), Dr. Shanthikumar Hettiarachchi , Sri Lanka (The Living WORD in the Words of the Living),  Emmanuel Ande Ivorgba, Nigeria (Examining the concepts of God, death and the life hereafter in African Traditional Religions) Rev.Dr.M.J.Joseph, Kerala (Affirming the Power of Life) Dr.Galina Ermolina, Russia (Life after death), Jayanti R  Chavan, Mumbai (The Eternity of Holy books and Life ) Rodrijo, Enzo and Luis, Uruguay  (Life After Life),  Sidhar  Dr. B. Rajaram, Coimbatore (Holy books  &  life after life – interpretation)  Rev. Dr. K.V. Mathew, Kerala  (Life After Life )     Greshma, Punalur (After life) , Dr. Abraham Karickam, Kottarakara (The Journey of the Soul )Tinumeren Ozukum, Andhra Pradesh     (Life after life: Biblical Implication), Dame Dr. Prof. Meher Master- Moos, President, Zoroastrian college (Holy books and life after life From the view point of the ancient Avestan Mazdayasnie Zarathushtrian Daena) Rev.M.O Ommen Jr., Bangalore (Resurrection of the dead: Towards a Pauline understanding) Kesava Dasa Swami, Argentina (After Life: References from the Srimad Bhagavatam)Reid Shelton Fernando (Intertextuality of the Holy Books: An interview with Santhi Hetterachchi)Kamal Waleboda, Srilanka (The concept of the life after death in Buddhism)Sankara Rameswaran, Tirunelveli (Life after life: A Vedic experience), Vasudeva Rao , Vedanda Institute, Calcutta (Vedas and life after life), Fr. O Thomas, Kottarakara (Expedition of the soul: A personal experience) were among the scholars who presented papers at the conference.

            Dr. Alexander Marthoma Centre for Dialogue was founded twenty years ago as a project of Marthoma Students’ Conference. The Intertextuality conferences were started with the intension of developing a philosophical foundation for Interfaith dialogue by analyzing the connecting threads among the Holy Books. The underlying concept is that there is only one Holy Book and all the scriptures are to be read like different chapters of one book.

   

Holy Books and People of Differing Faiths

 (Edited by Dr. Abraham Karickam and Ruwan Palapathwala)

The fourth International conference in the Intertextuality series was held in 2011 at Jubilee Mandiram, Kottarakara and Karickam International Public School. So many scholars from different parts of the world including Rev. Canon Dr. Charles Gibbs (Executive Director, United Religions Initiative)  attended.

The theme of the conference was 'Holy Books and People of Differing Faiths' - How different Holy Scriptures treat people of differing faiths. The book carries excellent hermeneutical interpretations on this topic.

This book was sponsored by Swami Chaturvedi of Ramanuja Mission Trust, India. It was released by Thomas Mar Timotheos Episcopa during the inaugural meeting of the conference at Marthoma Jubilee Mandiram, Kottarakara. It includes erudite papers of twenty eminent scholars.

HOLY BOOKS AND LIFE AFTER LIFE 

(EDITED BY DR. ABRAHAM KARICKAM AND DR. RUWAN PALAPATHWALA,2013)

The fifth International Interfaith conference on Holy Books was held at Karickam International Public School from 30th September to 3rd October, 2013. This was initiated by Dr. Alexander Marthoma Centre for Dialogue and Cosmic Community Centre, Karickam 10 years ago.

The theme this year was 'Holy Books and Life After Life' the Book was released by Swami Sachidananda Bharati by presenting the first copy to Rt. Rev. Thomas Mar Timotheos Episcopa. Various scholars from different parts of the world have contributed to this book and erudite articles on the topic have been included in this volume. The journey of the soul from various angles of different Holy Scriptures find place here. It is an excellent study on the given topic. It is published by Dr. Alexander Marthoma Centre for Dialogue and Cosmic Community Centre, Karickam. It comes with a foreword byThomas Mar Timotheos Episcopa, President of Dr. Alexander Marthoma Centre for Dialogue

Swami Chaturvedi inaugurating the 5th International Holy Books Conference

Swami Chaturvedi (Chairman, Ramanuja Mission Trust, India) inaugurating the 5th International Holy Books Conference

Rt. Rev Thomas Mar Timotheos Episcopa delivering the valedictory address at the 5th International Holy Books Conference

Rt. Rev Thomas Mar Timotheos Episcopa delivering the valedictory address at the 5th International Holy Books Conference

On the stage- 

Front Row( from left) : Dr. Abraham Karickam (Chairman of KIPS and Executive Director of URI South India Region), Rev Dr. M.J Joseph(AMCD Award winner), Swami Sachidananda Bharathy (Dharma Bharathy Ashram), Bishop Kumara Illangasinghe (Srilanka)

Back Row (from right) : Rajan Cosmic (Best CC award winner), Siddhartha Siva( Indira Gandhi Award winner for Best Debut Film of A Director), P. A Saji Mon (Best teacher award winner) and Afna Jaleeb (Winner of Essay competition conducted by Cosmic Community Centre, Karickam)

The fifth International Interfaith Conference on Holy Books was held at Karickam International Public School on 30^th September to 3^rd October, 2013. 30 Scholars from different countries presented their papers based on Holy Books.

 Swami Chaturvedi, chairman, Ramanuja Mission Trust, India inaugurated the Holy Book Conference. Swami 

Sachidananda Bharati released the Book “Life after Life “The Alexander Marthoma Amity Award presented to Dr. M.J 

Joseph (Former Director of Ecumenical Christian Center, Bangalore) during the meeting. Best URI-CC award 

presented to Mr. Rajan Cosmic, Director of  Odanavattom CC. URI Art award presented to Mr. Sidhartha Siva, the 

National Film Award winner for Best Director of the film” 101 Chodyangal. Essay competition award presented to the 

student Afna Jaleeb. Merit award presented to Sajimon, State ward winner of Best teacher.

Ian Fry, Swami Kesavadas, Jayanthi R. Chawan, Galina Ermolina also spoke on the occasion. Prof. John Kurakar

 expressed vote of thanks. The cultural programmes were at 2 p.m on 1^st October. Thiruvathira, Group Dances,

 Mohiniyattom, Group songs, Mappila pattu, Oppana and other entertainment programs were performed. URI arranged a

 study tour on 3^rd October for the delegates from different parts of the world. Study team visited Pothencodu Santhigiri 

Ashram  and world famous tourist center “Kovalam”.

Some delegates of Holy Books Conference and CC members at Kovalam

Santhigiri Ashram

Delegates of Holy Books Conference and CC members at Santhigiri Ashram, Pothencode, Trivandrum

Prof. John Kurakkar and Siddhartha Siva 

In close communion with Nature--Some delegates of holy Books Conference at Malamel Rock

Paper presentation of Galina Ermolina (Russia)at the Holy Books conference

Paper presentation of Dr. Abraham Karickam at the Holy Books conference


Dr. Abraham Karickam welcoming the Delegates at the School assembly

IDP Peace March-URI South India

We had an excellent Peace Procession on 2^nd October under the auspices of URI South India Region, in connection with UN IDP celebrations. More than 700 students and CC members participated. It was inaugurated by District Judge S. Sarika Devi.

Inauguration of IDP Peace Procession by District Judge Sarika Devi

International delegates repeating the peace pledge in connection with IDP- URI South India region

We had an elegant and meaningful Peace March in connection with IDP and UN International Day of Non Violence on 2^nd October at Kottarakkara. Members from various URI CCs and organizations like All Kerala Children’s Organisation, Y.M.C.A, santhvanan Cancer care Project, students from various schools etc participated. It was inaugurated by Mrs. S. Sarika Devi (District Judge) at a function presided over by Dr. Abraham Karickam (Executive Secretary, URI Asia). All the delegates of the International Holy Books Conference also participated, which added much grandeur to this year’s Peace March.

A scene of the IDP Peace March

Four classical dances of India represented— Kathakali( which originated in our place,Kottarakkara), Mohini Attam, Bharatha Natyam and Kuchipudi

Delegates and volunteers of Fifth International Interfaith conference on Holy Books