Alongside

The recent hue and cry over conversion has managed to garner national attention. Conversion has become a contentious issue with re-conversions and a sudden suspicious call being given by some parties for a national debate on it and passing an anti-conversion bill all across India. Why is it such an emotive and contentious issue? Why is there so much insecurity and fear when the word conversion is mentioned? Freedom of religion is enshrined as a fundamental right in our constitution, the right to practice, profess and propagate any religion of our choice is a fundamental right of every citizen in this country. There are specific laws in the Indian penal code against any misuse or fraudulent means or forceful conversion. Over and above this to bring a blanket ban on conversion is infringing on the individuals fundamental rights and it goes against the secular and democratic credentials of this nation. To paint all conversions happening in this country as induced and fraudulent is...

One of the earliest memories of Christmas deeply etched in my memory is the Christmas celebration at my ancestral home. My grandfather would organize a big celebration on the Christmas day, starting off the day with an early church service followed by the festivities culminating in a big meal. Many of my relatives would be invited, the house would be filled with uncles, aunts and cousins running around. But the most memorable aspect of the day was that he would not forget to invite all the workers and helpers who had been involved with him in some way or the other over the years. Most of them were from the lower strata of the society, they would come as whole families, they were given gifts and new dress and were treated to a sumptuous meal. He would oversee all this with a large heart and at the end of the day he would slump into his reclining chair with a look of satisfaction and fulfillment written all over his face Very early in my life this was ingrained in my psyche that C...

Being a good Dad- a legacy worth leaving A shocking statement that rocked me out of my routine life was not from my boss or from a colleague or friend, but it was from my 9 yr old boy when he came up to me and said, “Papa you are always in meetings or travel or with your computer and even at home you are checking mails and you don’t have time for us”. It was a rude awakening call for me and I decided, “That is it!   I need to do something about it or I will be messing up my kid’s life forever and end-up a horrible father, I never desired to be one”.       R ecently I was playing badminton with my two boys; they were super excited that I was playing with them and spending time with them. In fact I could see the enthusiasm and spring in the younger ones stride when he came and asked me if I could play with them and I said yes and he ran home to get the  rackets . I had been telling them that I will join them to play and had not been able to make it up ...

A call to Radical leadership- to be a servant of all I have seen people who are in leadership abusing the power they have been entrusted with for self aggrandizement. Power, position and money are the three things that seem to drive many of the Christian leaders today and then there is the occasional sex scandal that pulls down a well known leader. Leaders are willing to do anything to stay in power and stake their claim for position.   I was in a conference recently and I saw how a well known Christian leader was manipulating the organizers to make sure that he gets the maximum mileage and exposure in that conference and to top it all he had the audacity to publicly proclaim and even went to the extent of displaying his vast influence to the audience present. It was a pretty obnoxious sight.    I have also seen good Christian leaders who in their early days rose through the ranks through sheer hard work and commitment and once at the pinnacle of power tota...

Ten warning signs to watch out for:    Being busy jumping from one activity to another. You have been busy through out the day with lot of activities, meetings and events and at the end of the day feeling drained and asking yourself " what have I accomplished through out the day " Lack of inner spiritual life feeling drained and empty. You might be having your regular quite time and Bible study but that feels like routine drudgery, no joy in doing those things and most of the times you feel like skipping it.  Less and less time spent with the family . You know that family is important and needs to be cherished but you would rather watch TV or read newspaper than talking to your wife or playing with your kids, you find that boring and most times get irritated with kids pranks or jokes. At home you are on a short fuse all the time.  Not addressing character issues but  more focused on results. You know that you are struggling with som...

Oh! What has the world come to, men killing fellow beings in the name of religion, men ruthless, wicked and evil, mercilessly killing innocent fellow beings because they believe that it will give them salvation and heaven, is that what God wants? God the creator of all, God the sustain-er, God the compassionate and loving one, the merciful one; does He delight in the blood of humans, does He need the life of His own beings as sacrifice? Does He check our love and commitment to Him by demanding the blood of another human being who is also His creation? Does the all powerful God need our defense and protection? If one claims to be standing for “Peace” then why killing, rape, beheading, destruction and mayhem.   Tell me how does that bring “Peace”? History has proven undoubtedly over and over that violence begets only violence. God is loving, He is compassionate and merciful and He does not require an eye for an eye, He does not ask us to hate those who do not follow our path,...