Mangalore: Margaret Alva launches centenary celebrations of CASK
Pics: Brijesh Garodi
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (NM)
Mangalore, Sep 22: The Catholic Association of South Kanara (CASK), the oldest Catholic lay organization in south India, on Sunday September 22 launched its centenary celebrations with a glittering event held at Milagres hall.
The celebration was formally launched by governor of Rajasthan Margaret Alva by lighting the ceremonial lamp. Union minister for transport, road and highways Oscar Fernandes, MLA J R Lobo and Rosary Education Group, Pune chairman Vivek Aranha were the guests of honour while bishop of Mangalore diocese Dr Aloysius Paul D'Souza presided.
Addressing the gathering, Margaret Alva said, "Our history has recorded narratives of forced conversions, migrations, and attacks, but we have survived. Our people are settled in different parts of the world, and we are recognised in healthcare and social sectors. This is an occasion of thankgiving, celebration and dedication. From business to NGO, health to education, our people have brought honour and glory to the community. May their tribe increase."
Stressing on the need to revive and sustaing the native culture, she said, "Catholic music, dance and tradition which are so rich in their forms need to be revived, documented and popularised, and Mandd Sobhann has been doing it. There is a need to research and record them, lest they should be lost. Our younger generation has lost touch with the mother tongue and culture, we have to bring it back. Our traditional attires are fading into oblivion. Goa has been reviving its culture in a big way. World Konkani Centre introduced Devanagari script in the 1990s. Today Konkani has been included in the 8th Schedule of the Constitution."
She added, "The younger generation has been leaving aged parents and their ancestral houses here and going away. There is an urgent need to train caretakers and provide for people who are neglected. The CASK shoud consider taking up this initiative."
Alva declared, "Love your religion, and love your language". She also assured her monetary contribution to CASK.
MLA J R Lobo in his thought-provoking address said, "In pre-Independence times, the Christian community was engaged in trade and enjoyed good posts in the government sector. Over the years, importance was given to our language, tradition, and custom. But today so many changes have taken place. People have sold their lands and migrated to other parts of the world, and hence our population has declined. People who move away do not come back. A 100 years (of CASK) have passed, there is a need to introspect how things have changed and how they could be sorted out. There are very few people from the community in prominent sectors, hence there is an need to prepare our youth to reach those sectors and get our identity back in those fields.
"CASK can do it as it is financially strong. We always point out at religious leaders and priests, but a lot can be done by the laity. The laity cannot escape from its responsibility. There is a need to create a platform where people can come together, discuss and take the initiative to tackle the problems facing the community and thereby strengthen it. We have financial strength and resources. If these things are done, this programme will be more meaningful," he said.
Oscar Fernandes in his brief address gave examples of St Aloysius College and Father Muller hospital and said that the Christian community has contributed immensely to various fields like education and healthcare. He echoed J R Lobo's thoughts and said that there is a need to build a strong society.
Bishop Dr Aloysius Paul D'Souza also backed J R Lobo's idea of creating a common platform and said, "Earlier Mangaloreans enjoyed a lot of respect but where are we today - this is the question that stands before CASK. Laypersons should come together unitedly with high spirit and create this platform."
Lauding CASK for its works, he said, "Although CASK has been doing much good work, it has been inward, but time has now come to look outward. Leaders in different fields should come together and create opportunities and jobs for others. Let us work together."
Vivek Aranha said that the contriubtion of Christian community has been tremendous, not only in terms of development in Karnataka but all over India. "Our people have been been recognized in different sectors like eductaion, politics, agriculture etc," he added.
On the occasion, Margaret Alva released the 400-page book '100 Year History of CASK and the Mangalorean Catholic Community' authored by John Monteiro. Oscar Fernandes launched the CASK website.
As many as 100 children from 25 schools of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi were given scholarships of Rs 2000 each for purchase of books.
The main sponsors of CASK centenary celebration were felicitated on the occasion. They were Pinto family of Rose Dale who sponsored Rs 12 lac for the centenary memorial office at Pio Mall, Vivek Aranha who sponsored Rs 7 lac and NRI entrepreneur Ronald Colaco who sponsored Rs 6 lac. Colaco was honoured in absentia. Bishop Dr Aloysius D'Souza unveiled the plaque of the centenary memorial office on the occasion.
CASK president Dr Derek Lobo welcomed and delivered the introductory remarks, while secretary Capt John Prasad Menezes proposed the vote of thanks.
Titus Noronha and Lovie Rebello compered the event.
The evening culminated with a colourful cultural programme, compered by Leslie Rego.