CC NAME: Indian Dalit Ecumenical
Federation
FAITHS AND TRADITIONS REPRESENTED IN
CC: Hindus, Muslims, Dalits and Christians .
LOCATION OF CC: Thiruvalla,
Pathanamthitta, Kerala.
KEY AREAS OF FOCUS: Peace Building,
Women Empowerment, Leadership Training, Religious Festival Celebrations,
Interfaith Conferences, Educational support, Free Tuition for Poor Students
etc.
PRIMARY AND SECONDARY CONTACT
INFORMATION:
Joseph Chacko C.Muthu
Thadathil Totathil
Kuttapuzha. P.O Anjilithanam.P.O
Thiruvalla, KeralaI,India Thiruvalla, Kerala, India
Ph: 9847163315 Ph:
914692690109
E-mail: josephchakouri@gmail.com
URI Regional Staff with Sri. Joseph Chacko (President
of Indian Dalit Ecumenical Federation CC, Thiruvalla)
Inauguration of URI Peace Center at Thiruvalla in the presence of MI
Team
QUESTIONS:
1. What is the current
religious/cultural/social context in the area where your CC is working?
Thiruvalla
is pathanamthitta District in Kerala. Hindus, Muslims and Christians are the
main communities there. There is a large concentration of aborigines also, who
were subjected to untold miseries for centuries. So many agencies strived for
decades for the upliftment of the downtrodden class. Thiruvalla is the oxford
of Kerala, because of the number of educational institutions. There are two
medical colleges owned by two different churches. A number of schools and
colleges are offering innumerable courses for students. The problem is the rise
of fundamentalism. Every religion is competing with each other and conversion
is a hot issue. The Mar Thoma Church and Believers’ Church have their
Headquarters here. Mar Thoma College (The first accredited College in Kerala),
where Dr. Abraham Karickam was the Principal, is also in this city.
2. Why is interfaith/intercultural bridge
building needed in the area where your CC works?
In our
particular area called Paippadu, there is a large Muslim population. There have
been occasional clashes among various sections of the society. Any problem that
occurs any where in the world will have its repercussions here. Iraq-Kuwait was
also a hot issue as also the Babari Masjid problem. Christians are divided into
umpteen sects and they fight one another. Conventions usually become a
nuisance. So we need a strong line of inter-religious leaders who can uphold
the social fabric intact.
(i). Conducting leadership training programs
focusing 160 students in three local areas.
(II). Counseling with training classes for youth on
second, third and fourth Saturdays of every
month.
(III). Celebrating all religious festivals.
(iv). 10 days continuous leadership training
programs in every year.
(v). Organizing religious speeches of different leaders.
(vi). Interfaith harmony programs.
(vii). An
interview with Golokananda Swami (Director of Sri Ramakrishna Ashram) and
K.M.Isam Muhammad Moulawi (Payippadu Imam). The theme of the interview was ‘how
can we improve interfaith relations among people?’. We are also waiting for the
interview of Chrysostom Thirumeni in the same subject.
(viii). We have given scholarship to a poor nursing student
and now she is working.
(ix) . Celebration of U.N Days.
Educational Assistance
distributed by Rev. Dr. Charles Gibbs (Former executive Director)
(viv). We organized a
Kudumbasree Unit named ‘Mother Teresa’ as a women empowerment Project.
Members of our community
attending an orientation program
(vv). Conducts medical camps
Free Medical Check up is a regular feature.
(vvi). URI Peace
Centre conducts various camps and awareness programs for adults and children , especially of socially deprived
sections.
Peace Pledge on UN International Day of Peace
Website Inauguration of URI Peace Center by Mar Coorilos Metropolitan
Summer Peace Building Training
Institute for Youth
Ecumenical Students’ Conference
inaugurated by Dr. Euyakim Mar Coorilos
Free Tuition for students is a
regular feature at the URI Peace Centre
Class on Health and Hygiene
4. Between which specific religions
or cultures are bridges being built?
Peace Initiatives are for unity
among Christians, Muslims, Hindus and Dalits. Aborinees have been fighting for
ages for their rights. Caste system was very strong before and now we have been
able to overcome the same to a great extent. Still the evil pervades among all
sections of the society.
5. Please explain the method or strategy that your CC uses to bring
together people of different cultures and faiths that would otherwise not
interact or cooperate with each other.
We organize leadership trainings
programs to cultivate awareness regarding the necessity of interfaith harmony. Our main aim is to bring
together the people of different cultures and Faiths through Saturday workshops in peace
building, women empowerment through Kudumba Sree and celebrating religious
festivals together. Our URI Peace centre is a nucleus of these activities.
6. Given the current context you described,
what does your CC hope to achieve (goals)?
We want to build up powerful
youth without any racial or religious prejudices. We wish to help the poor
students for their education and also distribute study materials for them.
Education is the best means for equality of our people. We are planning to help
a poor family, who have no shelter for their house.
7. How do you see your CC’s work improving
cooperation among people of different traditions?
There is healthy
cooperation among the members of different traditions since they have now
learned to respect each other’s faith. Economic independence is the big challenge
that we face. Most of our people are
agricultural laborers.
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.)
Our Peace Centre is a source of
inspiration for all. All sections turn to us when there is even a small
problem. Bishop Geevarghese Mar Coorilose of the Jacobite Church is our patron.
He is a member of the WCC Central Committee.
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?
When we celebrate religious
festivals, all communities come together. Many persons and organizations come
forward to host our programs on interfaith harmony. People irrespective of
their religious differences support us for all important activities.
10. Please share a specific short story about
your CC’s work that might teach a lesson about interfaith or inspire other CCs.
1.
One of our members was initial
supporter of the URI Peace Center. In the meantime he had some mental depression
and he began to hide himself from the public. But due to continuous interaction
of URI team, he overcame the difficulties and became alright. Recently he
published his book ‘Dasapushpangal’ (Collection of Poems).
2. First URI Peace Centre in the world
It was a few years ago that Dr. Abraham Karickam shared the idea of a URI Peace
Centre in our area. He assured a donation of 1000 US dollars for the
construction of a Peace Centre provided some one offered 2 cents land.
Joseph Chacko, our founder immediately
sized the
opportunity and offered 2 cents of his paternal property for the same.
The title deed was made and the property was registered in the name of URI
Peace Centre. URI San Francisco office offered 1000 dollars, with which we
constructed a peace centre which has ever since become the nucleus of peace
building in the area. It was our privilege to have Rev. Dr. Charles Gibbs who
dedicated the building in the presence of Sally Mahe, Barbara Hartford and the
whole URI moral imagination pilot team (the second session of MI training was
here in Kerala) and also members of the second Holy Books Conference. This has
the privilege of becoming the first URI peace centre in the world, though it is
very small in proportion.
11. How
is your CC’s work helping to achieve the mission of URI?
URI works for the well being of the human beings and the Earth. All
our programs are attuned to this mission. Our CC acts as a supportive medium to bridge the gap among
different religious communities. We work mainly among the youth, women and the
Dalit Class.
12. Within 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?
We
encourage our members to deepen and grow in their own tradition and Faith. At
the same time cooperation increases a lot among them. Many of the down trodden
people come forward to leadership in all walks of life and they have leaned to
respect all faith traditions. But still we have the challenges of
identification with the main strata of the society. Marriage is a big problem
for our girls, as there is still the caste feeling in many people around.
Slowly we are trying to overcome all mental blocks.
13. How is being part of URI helping your CC to
achieve its goals?
URI is the only team helping us to look
forward. We learned from other CCs and we are trying to initiate new projects. 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.
Our members have attended several leadership programs and youth camps. We were
able to conduct a Peace Building Training Institute for one week and Dr. Abraham
Karickam was the Chief resource person. Joseph Chacko was able to attend the
Mayapur Global Assembly at Calcutta. That was an unforgettable experience for
him to meet with all world leaders from various religions and communities. That
gave him great confidence to move forward with the feeling that a great
community was always there to support him.
14. Aside from funding, what are some specific
ways URI can better support your CC in reaching its goals?
1. We need more training for youth. Peace building Workshops by URI is essential.
We expect valuable instructions and proper guidance.
2. Our URI Peace Centre is the first of its kind in the world and it is
still in its infancy. We are grateful to the Global Office for the generosity to support grass root level organizations like
this.
Compiled
by T. G. Stephen and Sini. D
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