Prayer held for Nido Taniam

 Picture courtesy indiatoday.in

A memorial prayer was held in the chapel yesterday at 1:00 P.M. for Nido Taniam, who was subjected to a brutal assault by certain shopkeepers in Delhi after a altercation which started over Nido being made fun of for his looks. The prayer attended by several students and faculty members emphasised on why it is important to not just pray and remember Nido but to change our racist mind set and include every citizen of this country in what we do. The prayer reminded everyone that we have to love each other and celebrate our differences. Dr. Evangeline lead the prayer and was assited by Mr. Raja Samuel.

Mr. Rochhuahthanga Jongte (RC, MTh II) gave a reflection on the murder which has highlighted the plight of women and men from different states of North East India. He said, ""Many of us in India have made “difference” a crime. What was Nido’s crime? Being different was his crime. Different from whom? Different from the majority who dictates what it means to be normal. To those people, to be different is a sin! Jesus lived, worked and died for the cause of building a colourful society, yet evil forces are interested only in a single unified colour!" He further said "My blood boils, I shiver out of anger... (May be it's too early to come to a conclusion, which I really don't care much)...but this I will say, in Bangalore I've been mocked at even by children...why? BECAUSE I AM DIFFERENT...different from whom? The so-called "mainland" Indians, which implies that we Northeasterners are not of the mainland...I still remember the infamous episode which is reffered to as the Northeast Exodus in 2012... The authorities claim that the sms threats and the rumours were "false," ok fine, let's accept that they are false indeed, but I will tell you one thing that's truly real, and which results in the massive exodus...that is FEAR, my friend. The FEAR was REAL !!"

This was followed by Jongte's final tribute when he said "Adios, Nido Taniam! May your soul rest in peace and may God's peace be with all those dear to you... At least in the New Heaven and the New Earth IT WOULDN'T BE A CRIME TO HAVE BLONDE HAIR OR TO BE DIFFERENT FROM THE MAJORITY WHO DICTATES WHAT IT MEANS TO BE NORMAL...THERE WE WILL NOT BE KILLED, DISCRIMINATED AND MOCKED AT JUST BECAUSE WE HAVE DIFFERENTLY-SHAPED NOSE OR EYES, OR BECAUSE WE HAILED FROM A DIFFERENT REGION WHICH UNFORTUNATELY IS NOT NOT WELL-KNOWN OR RICH OR POWERFUL !!IS IT A SIN TO BE DIFFERENT OR NOT TO BE POWERFUL??" and "Let this be our remembrance of Nido Taniam – to strive for a colourful society, a rainbow nation, where having differently-shaped noses or eyes is no longer a crime worthy of death penalty. May Nido’s death due to his difference open our eyes to see the beauty and joy of difference and celebrate life in all its colourful beauty. Rest in peace Nido Taniam, and may the rest of us start living and fighting!"

JK

Bible Darshan International Bible Conference held in UTC

The international biblical seminar conducted by the Biblical Studies Department of the UTC was held on January 30, 31 and February 1, 2014 in the Ecumenical Resource Centre. The programme was inaugurated by the principal, Rev. Dr. John Samuel Raj, Dr. David Chalcraft, Sheffield University, Rev. Dr. Mohan Larbeer, Secretary BTESSC, Rev. Dr. Monica Melanchton, Professor, United Faculty of Theology, Melbourne and Rev. Dr. Vasant Rao, Principal of ACTC.

The following twenty papers were presented during the course of the three day conference.

(1) “Sociology and the Study of Cultural Context in Global Biblical Interpretation” by Dr. David J. Chalcraft, Sheffield University, UK. Moderator: Dr. Daniel Jones Muthunayagom

(2) “‘The Other Side of the Coin’: Some Reflections on Post-Western Reawakening” by Dr. J. G. Muthuraj, UTC, Bangalore. Moderator: Dr. Gudrun Löwner

(3) “The Parables of Two Rich Men and a Beggar (Luke 12:16-20 and 16:19-31): Their Relevance for Interpreting the Bible in India Today” by Dr. V. J. John, Bishop’s College, Kolkota. Moderator: Dr. M. O. John

(4) “The Politics of ‘Invasion’ of Greek and the ‘Demise’ of Hebrew of Late Antiquity” by Dr. Royce M. Victor, KUTS, Trivandrum. Moderator: Dr. Evangeline Anderson Rajkumar

(5) “Holiness School’s Response to Economic Injustice in Leviticus 25: Its Relevance to Multi-religious and Cultural Context of India Today” by Dr. P. Joseph Titus, Bangalore. Moderator: Dr. Vasant Rao

(6) “Ephesians through a Postcolonial Lens” by Dr. Jayachitra Lalitha. Moderator: Dr. Lalrinawmi Ralte

(7) “Nation and Text: Britain, India and the Bible” by Dr. Hugh S. Pyper, Sheffield University, UK. Moderator: Dr. Joseph George

(8) “A Postcolonial Christological Shift in India: Converging Possibilities” by Dr. C. I. David Joy, UTC, Bangalore. Moderator: Rev. J. Jeyakumar

(9) “Biblical Prophets as Transformative Leaders” by Dr. Joy Philip Kakkanattu. Dr. Sahayadhas

(10) “Living in the Perilous Times: An African Reading of 2 Tim. 3:1-5″ by Dr. Olubiyi Adewale, Laos, Nigeria. Moderator: Dr. Nalini Arles

(11) “Pluralistic Hermeneutics” by Dr. Cherian Thomas, ECC, Bangalore. Moderator: Sr. Dr. Rani Joseph Mary Shruti

(12) “Reading Amos 6:1-7 in the Light of the Mizo Values and Ethos” by Dr. K. Lallawmzua, Aizwal. Moderator: Dr. Jacob

(13) “Can Anything Good Come out of India for New Testament Background?” by Dr. Sam P. Mathew, Allahabad. Moderator: Fr. Jerry Kurian

(14) “Biblical Concepts and the Religious ‘Other’ in India Today” by Ms. Anita Yadala Suneson, Uppsala, Sweden. Moderator: Mrs. Geetha Basappa

(15) “The Theme of Ordination in the Pastoral Epistles” by Dr. Reji Mathew, OTS, Kottayam. Moderator: Dr. J. R. John Samuel Raj

(16) “Reading Rizpah Across Borders, Cultures, Belongings” by Dr. Monica Jyotsna Melanchton, Melbourne, Australia. Moderator: Dr. George Zachariah

(17) “Creation and Human Movement: Prolegomena for a Biblical Migrant Hermeneutics” by Dr. Andreas Kunz-Löbcke, Hermansburg, Germany. Moderator: Dr. Mervin Shinoj Boaz

(18) “A Dialogue between the ‘Eastern’ and the ‘Western’ in New Testament Scholarship: A Proposal” by Rev. (Dr.) Johnson Thomaskutty, UBS, Pune. Moderator: Dr. Abraham Saggu

(19) “Text, Textures of Life and Diaspora: A Search for Theoretical Connections” by Rev. Sam Koshy, Kuwait City. Moderator: Dr. Allan Samuel Palanna

(20) “Marcan Apocalypse (Collapsarian Mark 13) as Jesus’ Prescience: A Post-western Critic” by Rev. G. Soleman, Salem. Moderator: Rev. J. Chellappa Packiaraj

JK

Bible Darshan International Bible Conference

Bible Darshan, the international Bible Conference being conducted by the department of Biblical Studies will be held on January 30, 31 and February 1, 2014 in the UTC. Biblical teachers and scholars from all over the world will be attending the conference. The conference will be emphasising on post Western biblical studies and new trends in this area.

A public function will be held on January 31 in honour of the partipants and will have the Master of the Senate of Serampore College (University), The Rt. Rev. Dr. J.S. Sadananda as the guest of honour and the president of the UTC Society, The Rt. Rev. Dr. G. Devakadasham presiding over the function. The delegates, guests and the UTC faculty and students will be attending the function at 6:30 P.M. The co-ordinator Rev. Dr. Dexter Maben requests everyone to take this as a personal invitation and be part of the conference and programme.

JK

Republic Day worship

The Republic Day worship was conducted yesterday in the Tagore Hall. Fr. Dr. Ambrose Pinto was the chief guest. The worship order and preparations for the worship was done by the Carey Society of the college with help from various students.

Fr. Dr. Ambrose Pinto

Fr. Amrose Pinto has been the head of many Christian institutions in Bangalore including St. Joseph's college. He received the Karnataka Rajyostava award in 2010. His articles include

India: A Symphony of the Absurd
India: Cyber censorship should be opposed
Hate And Anger Won’t Bring Votes; People Always See Through Divisive Politics
India: Intellectuals, Maoists and the State
Justice for Binayak Sen
India: State, Religious Ritualism and
 Politics in Karnataka

In his sermon Fr. Pinto talked about the Indian republic and why reservation for women, rights for the minorities, and freedom for everyone was critical for the country today. He said that India is a country of common traditions and pilgrimages and any move to oppose this will only be done by divisive fundamentalist forces who had no part in the freedom movement of India.

He went on to say that conversion is a political protest and a protest against hierarchy. Fr. Ambrose Pinto asked the congregation to take part in the electoral process of 2014 and said that we have a responsibility of including the excluded. We need to take the leadership in collaborating with others for building the nation and bringing it back to the early stage of the preamble and the core message of what Dr. B.R. Ambedkar wanted for the nation.  

Photo credit- Calvin Sushith Ambler

JK

Dedication of the Mahatma Gandhi Hostel

The Mahatma Gandhi Hostel in the UTC Centenary block was dedicated to the glory of God yesterday by the president of the UTC council and moderator of the church of South India, the Most Rev. Dr. Devakadasham in the presence of the Vice Consul General of the German Consulate in Bangalore, Mr. Hans-Günter Löffler, church leaders of the church of Baden and Hessen and Lassau and EMS and different church leaders in India.

The dedication which started at 7:30 A.M. started with the cutting of the ribbon and the unveiling of the tablet containing information about the dedication service. This was followed by a worship service in which the principal of the UTC, Rev. Dr. John Samuel Raj preached.

The representatives of the German church and the EMS gave their felicitations after the worship service. Guests of the UTC, friends and donors attended the programme which lasted for one and a half hours. The worship was co-ordinated by Dr. Nalini Arles, faculty member and member of the executive of the college.

The cultural programme included a classical dance, local dance, and a song by a kitchen staff member.

Photo credits- Calvin Sushith Ambler and Abu Issac Shalom

JK

Dedication of the Mahatma Gandhi Hostel

The dedication of the Mahatma Gandhi Hostel in the Centenary block of the UTC will be held tomorrow at 7:30 A.M. in the new building premises. The UTC council president and the moderator of the Church of South India, the Most Rev. Dr. G. Devakadasham along with the leaders of the various churches in India and outside India and the Deputy Consul General of the German Consulate in Bangalore Mr. Hans-Günter Löffler will offer prayers for the dedication of the building. The dedication of the building will be conducted with a worhsip for the entire community and friends and guests of the UTC.   

Christmas Carol service

UTC choir

The Christmas carol service in the UTC was held on Sunday, December 8 at 6:30 P.M. on the UTC lawn. The programme was live streamed on the internet. The worship convenor for this academic year, Rev. Dr. Evangeline Anderson Rajkumar was in charge of the service and Ms. Jeviholi Swu, MTh I was the choir conductor. The songs sung by the choir and the various language fellowship groups can be found on the utc you tube page. The first song sung by the choir "Ding dong merrily on high" can be found at  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LyoHMuZK2ro 

Kannada fellowship

Hindi fellowship

Naga fellowship

Telugu fellowship

Tamil fellowship

Malayalam fellowship

Junior Bible Fellowship

Pictures- Mr. Calvin Sushith Ambler
Video- Communication department with help from Mr. Vasikaran Williams

JK