Ramanujan’s essays deleted from syllabus *Towards a new evangelization

New Delhi, March 30, 2012: Hindu hardliners wanted the scholarly text removed.

Under pressure from various groups, Delhi University has decided to delete essays written by eminent scholar A K Ramanujan on Ramayana from its History syllabus.

The executive council of the varsity yesterday ratified the October, 2011 resolution of the academic council to remove the essay titled ‘Three Hundred Ramayanas’.

Of the 23 members in the EC, only one member opposed the decision.

However, protests are brewing at the campus with the Democratic Teachers Front (DTF) planning its next course of action against the varsity’s move.

The inclusion of the 30-page essay, which offers a number of tellings of the epic story of Lord Rama, including the Jain, Buddhist and Kannada narratives, in BA (Hons) syllabus was opposed by Hindu hardliners.

Terming it as “blasphemous”, the Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad and other group activists had been demanding removal of the essay from the University syllabus.

Ramanujan’s “Three Hundred Ramayanas” is considered by Indologists to be a classic study of Hindu diversity and a discussion of the hundreds of different tellings of the epic story of Rama and Sita.

– outlookindia

Towards a new evangelization

Uttar Pradesh, March 21, 2012: The seminar highlighted the challenges faced by Khristbhaktas before the traditional Christian faith.

“Today Jesus is everything for me,” says Niranjan, an advertising manager and a non-Christian.

He was transformed into a Khristbhakta (Christ devotee) impressed by his wife’s devotion to Jesus Christ that saw his mother experience miraculous healing.

Asha Gupta, an upper caste woman and another Khristbhakta, said she too like Niranjan’s wife went to Martridham ashram goaded by neighbors to pray every Sunday.

“Initially my family did not like my going there. But when they saw the blessings bestowed on us through faith in Jesus, the entire family started believing,” she said.

Khristbhakta Reena said she got visions of Jesus during prayer while Urmila Devi narrated that faith in Jesus has given her new life and stopped her from commiting suicide.

“What I am today is the blessing and gift of Jesus my guru,” said Urmila Devi.

These testimonies were aired during a March 16-18 seminar organized by Jnana Bharati Theologate in collaboration with Matridham Ashram, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh.

The seminar titled “Missiological Concerns and Pastoral Issues in New Evangelization” highlighted the challenges faced by Khristbhaktas before the traditional Christian faith.

The participants were exhorted to be “nurtured by undeterred faith of the simple people who experienced healing and inner joy”.

The seminar addressed issues pertaining to culture, tradition, ritualistic practices and administering of the sacraments to the Khristbhaktas.

Theologians and missiologists presented research papers related to the recent challenges faced by the Khristbhakta.

Bishop Antony Fernandes of Bareilly said that he has spoken to Pope Benedict XVI regarding the full communion of the Khristbhaktas into the Church.

The participants comprising theologians, missiologists, prelates, priests, religious and Khristbhaktas decided to give more support to the movement that began in northern India 20 years ago.

It has now become one of the most discussed and debated faith-challenging phenomenons in the North Indian Church today.

Gripped by the Word of God, thousands of people of other faith accept Jesus as their Lord, while still continuing to be within their own traditional culture and social system.

Matri Dham Ashram (abode of the mother) dedicated to Mother Mary was set up in 1954 in Varanasi by the Indian Missionary Society, an indigenous religious congregation based in the holiest city of Hindus.

– ucan