Covid-19: Alarming situation on the employment front!

PC THOMAS

The employment sector in India is facing the brunt of the global pandemic that is jeopardizing the future of employers and employees. Loss of jobs has aggravated the problem as most employment sectors from lower economic backgrounds.

Due to the coronavirus crisis, millions of Indians have lost their jobs and keep on stressing as the pandemic circumstance in India appears to exacerbate. But, even as rising coronavirus cases and unpredictable lockdowns undermine India's business recuperation rate, the recent official data came into the light on new jobs in July gives another ray of hope.

As per data released by the Centre for Monitoring India Economy (CMIE), there had been further advancement in job situation in July and a further decrease in the joblessness rate. Urban employment openings are also on the rise. While the gain in July has not been any place close to June, however, there has been an improvement in job numbers. The CMIE research organization earlier forecast a fall in the employment rate in July.

In the last weekend July 19, the urban employment rate recuperated to 35.1-percent, which is the   most elevated rate after the maximum fall in April. According to CMIE, the rate had expanded to 34.5-pc in the week ended June 28, but decreased to 33.2-pc in the first week of July. From the past week, more employments are being included in urban India landscape which brings something relief to millions of individuals who are still searching for a job in a fairly lukewarm market. Essential services and service sector jobs have additionally hurled on different job portals like Noukari.com. Because of the sharp ascent in cases, the situation keeps on staying uncertain; most experts anticipate a sharp angular recuperation in employment if the trend continues.

Set aside from the statistics of CMIE, however, it is obvious that a damaging impact on an economy as large as India's caused due to a complete lockdown cannot be overemphasized. The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), a leading industry association of India, earlier in April released its finding that 100-million and more Indian Jobs are at risk after COVID-19 lockdown.  Therefore, how the economists and entrepreneurs react the issue on employment is still in the realm of speculation like the forecast of Metrological department – “there is chance of heavy rain and NO rain today”.

Social distancing brought about employment misfortunes, explicitly those Indian society’s lower financial layers. Numerous households terminated domestic help services – basically an unorganized monthly-paying service. Most Indians invested a large amount of time involving in household tasks themselves, making it the most widely practiced lockdown action.

As a matter of fact, these are the nervous times for job hunters amid pandemic, particularly for newbie entrants into the rat tap cage. But not getting a job is not the end of the world.  In the situation of crisis, there still lie many opportunities. Many would not get their dream jobs or big pay-perks straight out of the gate, yet given time, they can rethink themselves and set themselves for a better long term future. This article published in Metro Vaartha on 1.8.20- Stay updated with the Best Blog PC Thomas

Keep mental health while social distancing

PC THOMAS

The Covid-19 pandemic has radically changed our lives, including our relationships with other people in our communities, our homes and our workplaces. People are feeling depressed or bored.  Some people are challenging flexible management of works keeping social distancing regulations, some are working safely from home, some are in quarantine and some are distracted themselves for not meeting their loved ones. For romantic couples, the isolation  has an adverse impact on them who have been stuck inside together for months and may be getting bored with each other's company. However, social quarantine should not prevent you from keeping up solid, healthy connections or boosting your skill development and mental balance. 

In this Covidian social time, it is necessary for you to do each possible extent to keep up your physical fitness and emotional wellbeing.  This, in turn, will assist you with a positive mentality to keep your relations upbeat and solid. But how would we go about it? During social distancing, it is imperative to seek approaches to support your mental well-being. You can do this by keeping your mind involved and finding inventive approaches to keep up your social life.

Social distancing and seclusion can be hazardous unless people work to maintain their connections with others. Even if you are encircled by family members at home, tensions will come up and relationships can be strained. Therefore, it is necessary to nurture relationships outside the home, even if you cannot see them face-to-face.

Social distancing is changing the manner in which we live, yet it does not need to change our companionships, sentimental connections. Whatever be the case in your life, you have to understand that this is a temporary stage, and you will come out of it soon. Hence, rather than getting hindered with depressing thoughts, utilize this time to work on your healthy relationships and build beautiful memories.

During this isolation, anyone can maintain his skill development through reading books, brushing up vocabularies to improve his proficiency and share his knowledge and reflections with his friends which will enhance knowledge of people, society, history and culture. It will also expand your minds, and can also give you a sense of accomplishment during these depressing times.

If you want to experience mental and spiritual peace, put on some music and give meditation a try. Meditation and prayers will also help you reduce stress, boost energy, develop an immune system to combat the virus attack. Choosing any of these activities will give you peace of mind and enable you to do complete justice to your free time. You can also explore many other activities in line with your taste and aptitude.

An honest assessment of these areas in your life needs consideration for your mental health. A helpful spot to assess yourself is to consider the areas of your life where you are feeling depleted. At the point when you begin assessing how you can honour your needs and start to take action in these areas, you begin to build trust with yourself and boost your self- compassion. This article published in Metro Vaartha on 31.7.20- Stay updated with the Best Blog PC Thomas

Poor forced to sell resources to catch up with virtual education

PC  THOMAS

In bizarre news, a man of Kangra district in Himachal Pradesh sold his cow, which was his single source of income, to buy a mobile phone so that his two children could get access to online classes. As the man, Kuldeep Singh, says that he approached many bankers and money-lenders, Blade Bankers to get a loan of Rs.6,000, but no one helped him because of his financial condition doesn’t attract bankers. On the other hand, people are now persistent with frequent unwanted calls from bankers asking that – do you want a quick loan with easy features?.

Bankers and lenders should extent support for those who are in need of little funds for their survival in this corona times, so that coronavirus will not laugh at you!. In a bid to help needy people affected in the wake of coronavirus outbreak, some state-owned lenders had announced special emergency loan products, but nothing for the poor and needy for their survival.

In this corona time, to keep their children from leaving school, many helpless parents may forced to sell their valuable resources, driving them further into poverty. In the event that Covid-19 and social distancing are digging in for the long haul for an indefinite time, it is also realistically sure that online edification is definitely not a temporary marvel. In this circumstance, the governments should wake up to the increasing want of access to resources vital for internetlearning.  It is high time governments understood the advantages of investing in human capital.  Cable-TV can also be explored as an alternative option for imparting guidance, as Kerala has now sought to do.

Online classes, being video content, require 4G-resistance, whereas data charges in India are low, most handsets being used by the Indian poor people are not 4G-savvy. India’s mobile broadband is tarnished for its deprived quality, particularly in rural areas.

Online instruction cannot ever match the class-room experience, but it can democratize access to learning in circumstances where schools, teachers and libraries are not enough.

This article published in Metro Vaartha on 28.7.20- Stay updated with the Best Blog PC Thomas

International Nurses Day

https://xiaomi.dailyhunt.in/news/india/hindi/the+free+press+journal-epaper-fpressjr/international+nurses+day+2020+these+nurses+bravely+meeting+the+covid+challenge-newsid-n184016234?pgs=N&pgn=62&tk=0&mode=wap&

https://www.freepressjournal.in/indore/international-nurses-day-2020-these-nurses-bravely-meeting-the-covid-challenge

Plight of Working Mothers harder during COVID-19

PCTHOMAS

The COVID-19 outburst has compelled schools, crèches and day-care centers to shut their doors. In response, many working women with their tiny kids are now struggling between household chores and office works with a sudden increase in child care responsibilities. Working women are continually battling, keeping up a balance between their personal and professional lives while at home around their kids in the Covid-19 pandemic. What is more, the situation has hit the women-folk hardest. They are persistently battling, keeping up a harmony between their own and professional lives and their life at home around their children at the time.

One of the working women shares: “I used to drop off my four-year-old child at a daycare home en route workplace and get him back while returning. This was our everyday practice during the working days until the pandemic broke out. After the pre-schools and childcares were shut down following lockdown, my husband and I are completely befuddled. My husband was forced to choose work-from-home option with a less salary since I have to attend office now. How can a father be a mother?!  We don’t know how long it can be done.”

Transforming into the status of motherhood is one of the most unfathomable happenings in a working ladies' life. Nothing gives her more delight than holding her infant in her arms. Yet, for certain working women it is challenging to live fully her motherhood during the continuous flare-up of coronavirus pandemic. Fear, uneasiness and sentiment of vulnerability have gripped them terribly at this difficult time.

Motherhood is not an easy task particularly in the event that you are a working employee. The added stress of work can make you depleted as well as put you in a difficult situation of not having the option to invest enough energy with your kids.

Having professional career makes a woman find her task at home, overwhelming and demanding. This may make her on edge and put her in despair that can even aggravate it. This is very conceivable particularly in the current circumstance when COVID-19 pandemic has constrained all working moms, just like other professionals to work from home.

Women are usually very passionate in whatever they do and they are accustomed to overseeing nearly everything alone. In the present situation, working women find it hard to balance their commitment to their work by which they earn for their family and at the same time commitment to care for their children adequately. Under this circumstance, they have no other option but to concentrate on their work, finding an alternate way of dealing with the situation at home with the help of their r relatives who can deal with their children comfortably.

Certainly family is important similarly, the working women who are light of the family too are important. So you, working women, you need to take at least 30 minutes daily to spend doing things you would like to do. You can even simply relax and enter into the privacy of your self away from others. This will help quiet you down, bring down your worries and make you more joyful and satisfied. Stay updated with best Blog PC Thomas

How do we prepare ourselves against Covid pandemic?

PC  THOMAS

The exponential hike in coronavirus cases is troublesome for the people across the planet. The World Health Organisation (WHO) warns that the pandemic will wreak further havoc on the face of the earth.

Now, newer blueprints are emerging in India’s Covid-19 surge with cases crossing a million-mark. With the fear looms large, the coming back of complete lockdowns in various parts of India is even more worrying.

Bihar has been declared completely closed for two weeks from Saturday. Major cities in various states have been closed. U.P and M.P are under complete lockdown during weekend, Sundays. Guwahati, the capital of Assam has been in lockdown since June 28. Pune in Maharashtra on June 13 and Bangalore on July 14 were closed. Calcutta is in a partial lockdown in various cantonment zones. In Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram is on a triple lockdown from July 6. At least one-third of the country's population is facing lockdowns again in at least 10 states.

Now, one question people seek an answer is what we can do now to resist? - It is difficult to answer. However, we can boost our resilience, which is our single best weapon for dealing with stress. This one disease, Covid-19 can provide us with such wisdom beyond our comprehension. It offers a plethora of lessons on a personal, regional and planetary level showing the urgency to promote necessary transformations of our society to survive in the twenty-first century. 

In order to keep the virus under control, it is important that people must follow social distancing protocol effectively. The more people we have exchanges with, the more possibility the virus has to spread. Hence, try to limit the number of people we see - especially over short periods of time. All People should adhere to the government guidelines, wearing masks and sanitization regularly.

As the crisis allows us to find additional meaning in our lives, many little things surprisingly become very important for us. What to do now?  - As a very little measure, do yoga regularly as breathing exercises will increase our lung capacity. As heart rate increases, breathing becomes rapid and the virus will likely find it difficult to gain a foothold. Those who are smoking quit their habits as smoking damages the lungs providing a foothold for infections.

Although the Covid time affects our emotions, memories, feelings and perspectives, it should help us to transform our vision of life for better and to develop our character. A crisis like this teaches us lessons we would not learn when things are pleasant. We are the sum of the experiences that we come across as we go through life. As human beings, when we encounter a challenge, we have liberty on how to respond to it. Every decision that we make leads us down a different road.

Although there are many unforeseen transformations are brought into our lifestyle, we can use this time more effectively and the crisis can be changed into an opportunity to better the quality of our life!.

This article published in Metro Vaartha on 21.7.2020

Stop comparing your child with Damor-ka Beta or Pinky-ki Ladki

PC  THOMAS

With the CBSE Class-12 and Class-10 results have been declared and students have begun steering up for a decisive phase of their lives. For Class-10 students, the results decide as to which stream they choose further and it is one of the significant milestones for their life. For Class-12 students, it is all about getting into the right institution and face competition. And those who fail to perform in exams, they have to take further chances to improve and recover.

Nowadays, an increasing sense of competition has attacked the mind of children, parents the relationships and society at large. Some parents think that the marks obtained are of the barometer to judge their children’s life and future. At the same time, children’s natural ability, skills and innovation usually take a backseat.  

Once the results are out, parents generally start comparing their children’s marks with those of others. They say to their child –“Look at Damor-bhayya ka beta, or Pinky-didi ki ladki”.  You have scored only 88-percent marks, while the others have scored 98-percent. They have not given tuition for their child, their life situation is too meager.  At the same, we give you full luxuries and amenities – If you are a parent like this, you are fully spoiling the life of your child!

It has been seen that insufficient marks in exams push students towards depression leading to even suicide in this cyber age. If your child gets high marks, that is great! But if the child doesn’t, don’t take away their self-confidence and dignity from them. Appreciate the effort, even if your child secures 2 marks more than the previous test. Tell them that they have ample room for inventiveness. This builds confidence in them.

Some parents feel pride that they have made their kid’s admission in prestigious and costly schools. Obtaining good education is a privilege of the children, and it is the obligation of the parents to train them accordingly. Parents ought to comprehend that the primary objective of the best instruction is to make capable and independent people and not qualify them for securing an occupation and earn money.

Parents should also keep in mind that every child is unique and special from the other. Each one has its own set of special talents and strengths. As the children are the most important in their life, parents must focus all their attention on them and do whatever they can to make sure that they do well as per their merit and potentials. Let the children opt for their own careers.

Cut-throat competition usually leads to depression among students and as a result, they fail to justify the expectations of their parents. The parents should take out more time to understand and encourage their kids instead of comparing them with peers and classmates. School can assure students that examination marks are not the only benchmark to decide their future. - askpcthomas@gmail.com

This article published in Metro Vaartha on 18.7.2020

The Little Cat, Ate the fresh fish

PC THOMAS

Kudos to Ameya S, a class-2 tiny-tot, for her poem “Little Cat” published in Metro Vaartha, dated 15 July. Having got ‘crazed’ with the rhyme, I took a screenshot of the child’s page and put it in the status of my mobile. Also, I added one more quote in my status page –“Keep encouraging, because your words may be the only pillars of strength for someone who is pulling themselves up to stand again and learn on”.

Since the Malayalam clipping in my status page is unable to understand for the contacts who are non-Malayalees, they all enquired - “What is it meaning sir?, make it  in a language which we can understand’. In reply mode I said, it is a poem written by a class-2 child in Kerala, it means: “The little cat came, Eaten the fresh fish, When make a Noise, The little cat ran away”. All people have appreciated.

The tiny tot Ameya’s poem made me crazy, why? A very long time ago, when I was in the fifth class, (when there was no mobile or internet), my English teacher made an extempore writing competition, to be performed on the blackboard. Everyone was asked to write anything on the board, and the selected one would be prized. In my turn, I wrote my originally written a four-line poem in the board about a little cat like this. I remember it - “Myavu, Myavu Little Cat, Drinking Milk with closing eyes?, You Think, no one knows, But everyone knows you are naughty”. My poem was awarded. The whole teacher encouraged me to write more. It really made a stepping stone in my career.

I am now nearly a senior citizen level, not a journalist,  but I have written hundreds of write-ups in various publications.  With over the past 26 years of writing experience, I have cultivated an addiction of mine from a flickering flame to a raging fire with words. My Cat-Poem was laid a strong foundation in my life. At the same time, I see a phenomenon in the field i.e, - “No prophet is accepted in his own country” – means, all recognition and apperception of my works I get only friends from far distant areas, not from locals from close vicinity.

Kudos to the little child Ameya for her excellent work!. I say, the journey of a 1000-miles really does start with a single step. Your tiny poem will be the stepping stone of your success.  Move yourself in the step-by-step process of your personal growth, - You will be honoured with your skills and creativity. - askpcthomas@gmail.com

Can coronavirus spread via Newspapers?

PC  THOMAS

The Apostle Saint Thomas doubted Jesus’ resurrection saying that until Jesus himself comes to him and touches his body, he would not believe. In the same way, as a skeptic literally by name, I decided that until the coronavirus eliminated from Indore, I won’t read physical newspapers subscribed at home!

The decision I took with my ignorance based on exaggerated rumors spread in social media about newspapers being carries of covid-19.  Also there were no authentic pieces of information with regard to the issue came to my notice at that time. However, in the peak of covid-19 induced lockdown, there have been many doubting Thomases all at once discontinued newspapers in their homes and satisfied themselves temporarily with e-papers. Through unlock 1.0-period, however, I restarted enjoying two newspapers including Metro Vaartha subscribed at home.

Let me say an experience with my newspaper boy Mayank Dindayal Sharma, aged 25, has now become a bank officer! From childhood onwards he distributed papers, and even after getting job in bank, he continues the distribution of papers and he believes the paper-boy’s job adds him extra dignity besides his banking post. He shares, “During lockdown the people were influenced by different misunderstandings and rumors spreading that newspapers being instrumental in the spread of corona virus. Thus, about 50-percent of people stopped newspapers in April, however from May-June the situation has entirely changed.  Starting from June-July, more than 90-percent of people wanted to get their daily newspapers again, but about 10-percent of people are still under fear”.

Another hawker Mahak Sharma shares-“Busting rumors during the peak time of strict lockdown that have caused a fear amongst one and many. Almost all of my parties have now re-stated subscription.  Looking to safety, I deliver newspapers wearing full gloves which are antiseptic. So it is never possible for newspapers to spread this virus.  The distributors are also taking precautionary measures. Workers in printing press are using gloves as a preventive measure to avoid any ill effects on them".

In the very March end, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has categorically rejected the rumour spreading via social media that newspapers can act as carriers of Covid-19. The WHO adds - “The probability of an infected person contaminating commercial goods is low and the risk of catching the virus that causes COVID-19 from a package that has been moved, travelled, and exposed to different conditions and temperature is low, hence what we can do? Wash our hands before and after reading newspapers or books”. All scientific evidences suggest that absorbent paper surfaces that include newsprint are safe from the coronavirus.

However, in the stringent lockdown, the production and distribution of some local newspapers in India have hit hard not only due to the coronavirus pandemic, but also on account of misinformation. Most people say, despite the availability of online-editions, obviously newspaper in hard-copy is always ideal and preferred by almost all people together with their morning tea intake. It is also true that if there is one thing that people are consuming more during the lockdown, it is newspapers. Teaching people about hand washing helps them and their communities stay healthy and safe in this corona crisis. - askpcthomas@gmail.com

 This article published in Metro Vaartha on 17.7.2020

Suicidal tendencies in Children should be tackled

PC  THOMAS

It is shocking to read the news that 66 children and teenagers under the age of 18 have committed suicide in Kerala since March 25, a day after the nationwide lockdown was announced to contain COVID-19.

What is causing the adolescent lives to be so hopeless that there is no ray of hope ahead in their life? Is it is because of the indefinite length of school opening or the inability to see their classmates and teachers, or is it mere loneliness or depressed state of mind? Or is based on the reason that parents rebuked children for not attending online class, or not allowed them online games or due to problems in families and substance abuse by parents?

Though the reasons for the suicides are varied,  it is believed that the lockdown has triggered emotional strain among children as they are not getting to close together with their peers at school which remain closed in the wake of the pandemic. In addition, there may be declining interest in friends, activities, or hobbies previously enjoyed,  domestic issues, lack of parental concern, poor communication between parents and child, parent’s improper way of dealing with the errors committed, that pave the way in spiking the number of suicides among children. 

According to the latest survey conducted by Child Right and You (CRY), the lockdown period resulted in an increase in the relationship between children and parents. At the same time or in contrast, many parents report that their child became more nervous, anxious and short-tempered during the lockdown!

Obviously, due to lockdown, since children cannot go to school, or out of play, they are in tedious emotions and getting bored to tears.   Also, for many families, lack of money and too much debt experienced as the biggest financial constraints due to job losses, salary cuts, etc during this time of Covid, which might have created a chance for more possible parent-children clashes.

However, raising serious concern over the matter, the chief minister of the state asked parents to ensure a happy and peaceful environment at homes. He asked them to take more care of the children who are now devoid of school or college friends.  In view of the situation, the Student Police Cadet project is going to launch a telephonic counseling programme called ‘Chiri’ (Laugh) to provide relief to students facing mental pressure. The project is intended to strengthen students’ commitment towards their families and community along with enabling them to resist negative tendencies like substance abuse, deviant behavior, intolerance and other social evils.

Looking to the current complicated situation of children and families there are some schools that also have come up with on-line counseling sessions that help children cope up with the stress. Obviously, school and teachers can play a vital role as online schooling is on the way of new education.

It is praiseworthy now that the government of Kerala takes the decision to investigate the cause of the child's suicide and provide tele-counseling for the needy to help tackle suicidal tendencies in children. Besides, it would also be a good idea for teachers to set aside some time between online classes to teach a lesson on improving mental health to children and parents as well. Let the children realise that life is not about ending yourself, it is about moving forward.
This Article published in Metro Vaarthha on 14.7.2020

Major Challenges Facing Online Education Today

GREESHMATHOMAS

The crisis that Coronavirus created has led to major changes in the education system in many countries. The most significant move is the change of the traditional way of teaching in which students are taught in classrooms meeting teachers face-to-face. Although a lot has been discussed on the impact COVID-19 has had on the economy, employment, and the environment, how the pandemic is currently affecting different stakeholders of the education system and how they are responding to it, needs serious concern today.

While online classes are an effective substitute for the Covid situation, there is one major concern as to how effective the online education is going forward. Although the digital teaching system is considered a temporary one that will fade with the lifting of the lockdown, it is likely to become permanent in the future.

Accordingly, there is an expected change in the curriculum and time of learning in schools all over India. Union Human Resources Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal has lately said that he plans to reduce the syllabus and the schedule of classes in schools for the next academic year after consultations with the education secretaries. He has also sought comments and observations from teachers and experts in this regard. However, the central government is now considering opening schools in August or so and it is hoped that by that time the outbreak of covid-19 disease will be brought under control.

In the midst, a large number of wealthy parents are looking for ways to organize online learning for their children.  As a part of this, they are trying to secure those laptops and mobiles that are the best to suit their children’s needs. On the other side, we recently read the sad news from Kerala that a girl committed suicide due to a lack of access to online learning.  Our digital education system road ahead should not ignore the fact that many such poor students still exist in our country and do not have access to digital educational programmes for want of internet access. At the same time, the urgent need is also to consolidate the procurement of technical amenities for all to be intensified.

At least, every student must have access to high-speed internet even those who are living in isolated areas. For students who are not sufficiently equipped with basic technological tools and skills, watching pre-recorded or live online classes   will be baffling as well as frustrating for them.

The curriculum and learning platform must be designed in such a way that it does not adversely affect the quality of education from primary level to higher secondary level. Governments and educational thinkers must look at this need positively and scientifically.  

This Article published in Metro Vaartha on June 6, 2020

Reducing Syllabus: A Great Relief for Students

GREESHMA THOMAS

A woman had a pet dog and one day it fell sick. To save the dog, every day she attempted to give a tablespoon of medicine down its throat, yet the dog would always resist and pull away. One day when she took the bottle, it slipped out her hands and the medicine spilled all over the floor. To her surprise, the dog went over to the puddle and began lapping it up! In fact, here, the dog had not been resisting to take the medicine. It was resisting the strategy that its master had used– pushing it down its throat.

It is a similar situation when we consider the pedagogy used in our schools. If heavy subjects, other educational burdens along with parental compulsion and peer pressures are push into children’s throat in the name of educational therapy, many of the students will not be able to absorb them and they will resist and vomit it, especially now, as  they are  in the pandemic situation.

During this Covid-time,  when students, teachers and parents are all  in a crisis situation, the decision of the CBSE to reduce the syllabus for classes 9 to 12  by 30-percent this year, seems as a right strategy due to the trouble caused by the COVID-19. It will certainly elevate students’ to a happy frame of mind to study with earnestness.

The CBSE in their process of trimming down about 190 subjects for classes 9-12, cut various key chapters like secularism, democratic rights, religion, gender and caste and food security, which create now a major controversy by some people. However, there was a mixed response from various stakeholders as many school representatives welcomed the move to decrease the course load on children, while a section of academicians said it appeared to be ideologically driven.

Amidst arguments, however, let us realize that education came to bring life and light to people who have no vision or right vision of life. But so often, as we have seen in the above story, we use the wrong method to force our expectations down students’ throats instead of presenting it in such a way that they will willingly receive it.  Parents also often make wrong decisions in their eagerness to give the best opportunities for their children by giving unwanted compulsion in study down their throat. What children should realize is that they are the ones responsible for their own learning, homework as well.

With the CBSE’s decision by reducing the heavy burdens for students at this juncture of Corona crisis, it is necessary to teach the students the values of secularism, democratic rights, religion, culture as well as the evils of gender and caste discrimination. While reducing the syllabus, these lessons must find some place in the syllabus, maybe in a shorter version.  Our first priority today is to save our world from the coronavirus crisis and to look for ways to revitalize the economy, and our lives, after this major crisis. Let the students now go for enjoying the education with discerningly reduced syllabus and freedom! 

The Feast of the Apostle Saint Thomas

PC  THOMAS

On July 3, the Church honors the solemn feast of St. Thomas the Apostle.  The auspicious occasion marks the remembrance of the patron Saint Thomas who was among the twelve disciples of Jesus Christ who appears in the gospel.   He is the closet follower of the Christ, having doubts about Jesus. His disbelief helps us understand how important the gift of faith is.

The Gospel of John records three statements of St. Thomas that gives glimpses of his character.  First when Jesus desires to go to Bethany, bordering Jerusalem, the other disciples try to prevent him from going, since he was almost stoned there for claiming kinship with God.  Thomas, however, sticks by Jesus, and says, ‘Let us go that we may die with Him’ (John 11:16), which shows Thomas’ courage and his commitment to Jesus.

Second, when Jesus announces his imminent death and assures his disciples that he will prepare a place for them, he adds, ‘You know the way to the place where I’m going’.  Thomas answers candidly, ‘Lord we do not know where you are going, then how can we know the way?’(John 14:15). This prompts Jesus to reply, ‘I am the way’.

The third statement sees in John 20:23, which caused Thomas to be remembered as the ‘Doubting Thomas’ It reads:- On the evening of Jesus’ resurrection, Thomas was not with the other disciples in the Upper Room in Jerusalem, so he was not present when Jesus appeared to them and showed them the wounds on his hands and his side.  Later, the other Apostle told Thomas. ‘We have seen the Lord’ (John 20:25) when Thomas uttered, ‘unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, put my finger into the holes and lay my hand into his side, I will not believe” (John 20:25).

A week later, Jesus again came to the Apostle.  After wishing them peace, Jesus called Thomas and told him to look at his hands, put his finger into the holes and to touch his side. Thomas was grieved that he had doubted Jesus’ resurrection.  He cries out: ‘My Lord, My God’.  Then Jesus said, ‘Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed”.

The surrender of Thomas ‘My Lord and my God’ is the clearest affirmation of the divinity of Christ that any of the apostles ever gave.  This, then, is the substance of the Thomas’ faith:- he believed and proclaimed the divinity of Christ, and became a devout defender of the faith something which none of the other apostles had yet done.  This is the great example today for many of us because we doubt. We honour St. Thomas as Saint, he is considered to be the Patron Saint of India. His life teaches us to trust in everything the Lord has promised us so that we, the faithful can rise to new life, as Jesus did. This  article published in Metro Vaartha on July 3, 2020

Grass is always greener on other side

PC  THOMAS

In a landscape, once I happened to observe two donkeys grazing in two different fields, separated by fencing. Tender, green grass grew abundantly in both the fields.   Yet both the donkeys stretched their necks as far as possible towards the opposite direction through the fence just to be able to get a bite of that forbidden grass on the other side.  It revealed to me that the old saying, ‘The Grass is always greener on the other side’, or the forbidden fruit tastes the sweetest.

We humans have the same tendency. We get more attracted to things, talents, abilities or opportunities which others have than our own.    We people are never satisfied even with the abundance we have.  We always find the others are far better, their conditions seem more greenish or attractive to our eyes –   the neighbor’s wife, the friend’s sports car, boss’s beauty bungalow, higher life sep-up of others and so on. See more- PC Thomas Article

On the other side, these things which we think will make us happy, but when we get it we may feel empty and unsatisfied. Our freedom, lifestyle and relations, friendships and bonds, health and situation etc we enjoy daily, which we take for granted simply because they have been in our lives every day. We take a lot of emotional stability to be content with what we have.

This is not mean to say that we should not diligently seek to improve our circumstances, diligently using our God-given talents and opportunities.  But we should not be discontent with the gifted talents that God has given to us and don’t try to covet anything belong to others.  The key to a happy life is being content with who we are and where we are right now. Real contentment does not come when we get everything that we desire, but when we learn to be satisfied with what we have.  

When we have the conviction that we are living according to the best of our abilities and hard work, and believe that our best efforts will be fulfilled by the God in time; our desire to graze on what is beyond the fence will automatically cease and then the grass out of boundaries would not seem more greenish to our eyes.

This article published in Metro Vaartha on  July, 1, 2020