SURYA THEJAS CC Profile

CC NAME: SURYA THEJAS, Kerala, South India

FAITHS AND TRADITIONS REPRESENTED IN CC: Hindus, Christians, Muslims and Dalits

LOCATION  OF CC:  B.M.M.II CENTRAL SCHOOL, SOORANAD, Kerala, South India

KEY AREAS OF FOCUS:  Peace Building, Education, Palliative care, De-addiction Programs, Environmental Protection,

PRIMARY AND SECONDARY CONTACT INFORMATION:

PRIMARY CONTACT:  Sr Dr EMILIA                         Ph:  9447362730   Email: sremilia@rediffmail.com

SECONDARY CONTACT: S. GANGADHARA KURUP         Ph: 9847452278   Email: bmm2cscbse@yahoo.com

 Photo Session after the Inauguration of Surya Thejus CC

QUESTIONS:

1. What is the current religious/cultural/social context in the area where your CC is working?

Ans. Sooranad North Panchayat is a rural area in the northern side of Kollam District in Kerala State.  The inhabitant s of this Panchayat belong to Hindu, Christian and Islam religions. Many are Dalits, too. Most of them are farmers and agricultural labourers.  There are some government servants and businessmen also.  The highest educational institution in this Panchayat is a Government Higher Secondary School.  Even then most of the young ones are having basic education and are living in harmony and co-operation without any segregation.

URI Regional Team having discussions with the CC Leaders at Sooranad School

2. Why is interfaith/intercultural bridge building needed in the area where your CC works?

Ans. Recently there arose a crisis between two families-- one Hindu and other Muslim. It was related to the misuse of drinking water from the common water tap.   This silly incident began to develop as a serious communal issue with  the supporters of two parties.  The matter was brought up to our notice by a member of our CC.  We interfered and solved peacefully. The sad state is that any simple violence can flare up into big communal issues at any time, due to political manipulation. We have to be vigilant always.

3.  Please briefly describe the main activities or programmes your CC is carrying out this year?

The name of our CC means the “The Halo of the Sun”. Like the sun, we want to spread our warmth to the communities around. Our main activities include:

a.     Relief programme for palliative care patients in the Panchayat

b.     Anti- tobacco movement – a programme for eradication of tobacco use among Youth and Adults

Notice of  programme for eradication of tobacco use among Youth and Adults

c. Special campaign for traffic rules awareness

d. Counseling for parents

e. Medical camp for detection of cancer and blood donation

f. Peace Building

4. Between which specific religions or cultures are bridges being built?

Ans.  Our work is mainly among Hindus and Muslims. But we work for the promotion of wider ecumenism and also to preserve peace between fighting Christian factions.

5. Please explain the method of strategy that your CC uses to bring together people of different cultures and faiths that would otherwise not interact or cooperate with each other?

Ans. We concentrate in bringing the people of different traditions and cultures under the shade of harmony by providing them with ample opportunities to mingle and work together.  Family festivals, Residence associations  and voluntary social organizations will serve the purpose. 

6. Given the current context you described, what does your CC hope to achieve (goals)?

Ans. We hope we will succeed in making them understand the right and wrong aspects of the issues and the necessity for solving the problems and the hidden dangers due to the involvement of the antisocial elements in the society.

7. How do you see your CC’s work improving cooperation among people of different traditions?

Ans. We understand our CC’s work is going in the right path from the support we gained by the local organizations like political parties, youth clubs, other social voluntary agencies  etc.

8. How is the work of your CC helping to prevent religiously inspired violence or transforming conflict? 

(Note: This question is relevant only in areas with violence/open conflict)

Ans. Our effort to bring the religious leaders and social workers and the members of the two fighting  families around a table for discussion for finding a solution, succeeded. We are now emboldened in the fact that as URI,  we have a key-role to play in keeping the social fabric intact. As we are deeply rooted in our PPP, we have the confidence of ensuring support of all.

9. What are some observations or signs you see that relations are improving between people of different faiths/cultures in the area where your CC works?

Ans. We observed the presence of a long queue of the youth, without any discrimination of caste and religion,  in the hospital to donate blood for the patients who were affected by a bus accident which occurred there. The impact of URI is so high in such situations.

The YLP Project under our CC has had miraculous impact in the society. We conducted a big Anti – Drug march and so many people from the village joined hands with us. Our hope is to develop an alcohol free, drug free village. The whole student community has accepted this as their pet project and message is reaching hundreds of families, through our students.

10. Please share a specific short story about your CC’s work that might teach a lesson about interfaith or inspire other  CCs.

Ans. After a few months we, the members of Surya Thejas were invited to the Annual Day celebration of an arts and sports club in a nearby area. The local MLA (Member of the State Legislative Assembly) was the chief guest.  The Secretary of the club introduced us as their saviors in that Water TAP incident (Family Feud in the name of the Water Tap)  and mentioned about the World Organization “URI”.  All were impressed in the activities of URI and they offered their full support in spreading interfaith harmony in their region, too.

11.  How is your CC’s work helping to achieve the mission of URI?

Ans. We work among the youth in Schools and Colleges to spread URI’s principles. Our CC works in Baselios Mar Thoma II Central School where we have around 500 students. The message of our programs reach in 500 families and through them we spread the message to a large section of the society.

12. Within in your CC, you have members from several different faiths and cultural traditions .  How would you describe cooperation among your CC’s members?  What are the challenges?

Ans.  Our members joined the organization after getting a clear understanding about URI.  So they are happy to accept it as a true mission.  The main challenge we have to face is from  some religious leaders who never accept the truth that all other religions also stand for the welfare of human beings.

13.  How is being part of URI helping your CC to achieve its goals?

Ans. “Unity is Strength”, we uphold this teaching.  As URI members, we learned to stand united. We have the moral support of our regional hub for all our multifarious activities. We learn a lot from the experiences of other CCs also.

14. Aside from funding, what are some specific ways URI can better support your CC in reaching its goals?

Ans. We expect valuable instructions and proper guidance for CC and opportunities for exchanging our faith and traditions with youths in other parts of the world.