http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/govindraj-ethirajideainjustice/367312/

Actor Shah Rukh Khan gets held up at New Jersey Airport for two hours (one hour, six minutes if you were to believe US Immigration). The nation is seething in anger because a) he is a Muslim and it could be racial profiling and b) he is a superstar. Lots of Khan and non-Khan Indians must be getting held up. But they are not superstars. And they don’t know Hillary Clinton. The question here is: Is the detention of SRK unfair or unjust or both? Or neither? If so, why?

What if I am detained for two hours at US Immigration during my next visit there? As a journalist, I could call a few people too. It’s possible they might not respond with the same alacrity, if at all. I could drop a few names. “I had tea (in a small group just in case) with America’s first Director of National Intelligence. Well, he wasn’t the chief then. But I still met him. Oh I remember, I have interacted and interviewed his younger brother extensively. Gosh, he might even remember me.”

Would that help? What about my detention then? Would it be unfair, or unjust? After all, you are detaining someone who now knows the former Director of National Intelligence and his brother, an individual of some repute.

It’s a frequent occurrence on Mumbai’s packed roads. A Maruti Gypsy with yellow lights flashing and sirens blaring appears out of nowhere, rudely nudges my car (and all others) over to the side and zooms ahead. The policemen seated at the back of the Gypsy give me the glare which says: “Don’t try and overtake us—or else.” The vehicle being escorted is usually a top-end SUV. Not quite an ambulance. Why should I get nudged out? Is it unfair, unjust, both or neither?

And finally, as I am sure you are getting the drift, the last one. I am an occasional visitor to Mumbai’s Hard Rock Café restaurant in the heart of Mumbai’s once humming textile district. Everytime I drive out, I am struck by the absolute contrasts. The pavement across the road is lined with densely packed slums. My biggest concern is heading home and clearing my head of the smoke and alcohol fumes. For the people sleeping on the road outside, presumably there are bigger challenges in life. Should it be this way? Is it unfair, unjust, both or neither?

Professor Amartya Sen did not say there was one single reason for his propounding his Idea of Justice theory when I asked him as much in an interview the week before. The Bengal famine is said to have influenced many of Professor Sen’s thoughts and approaches. Yes, he said, in a way. But the idea also developed over time. I think it was at the London School of Economics where he said last month: “I remember my son when he was three complaining that his sister was not being ‘just’ to him!”

I asked Professor Sen whether he felt young Indians were in sync with the idea of justice as he saw it. And it struck me, as Sen answered the question, that Young India actually lives on with the most amazing amalgam of principals and values. Where justice and injustice have little or no co-relation to our real lives or that of others. Where denial of a right to education, livelihood or food has no bearing on our notion of justice.

It also struck me as I was posing this question to Professor Sen that the idea of justice in India is indeed vague. We feel incensed about former President A PJ Kalam’s frisking at New Delhi airport but don’t react as strongly or care about the fact that most children in the city or town you live in will not have a proper education. Here’s a hint, try asking the domestic help at home whether the children in their homes are going to school.

Professor Sen concurs that the idea of justice is something that needs to be inculcated at an early age. I couldn’t help thinking. How does a school-going child view poverty, malnutrition and illiteracy? As a problem, a nuisance, something to be sad about, something to feel happy about (“because I have cereals for breakfast and travel in my dad’s car”) or the reflection of injustice in society?

I reckon we all know the answer. Frankly, we don’t care. Even if we do, it’s an academic problem for someone else to resolve, like the government. Solving a problem requires an appreciation of it. And an understanding of what is ‘right’ or ‘wrong’. What is just and unjust? The millions who sleep on the streets of Mumbai, the children begging at the traffic signals—sound like a politician rallying for votes, injustice or a pointless narration of someone’s personal misfortune. Or is it the “Idea of Injustice”?

The writer is Editor, UTV Business News

We did sense a real break through in that tough place.

Heres an exciting list of how things looked and hope it encourages you to keep coming and evangelising the amazing work at the orphanage. So heres a run through:

1. There was a approx number of 13 vols – thanks guys it made such a difference.

2. The staff were very calm, helpful and chatty. One kept thanking me for holding the basket of pills she was handing out! There seems to be a deep desire for partnership here from the ground level staff.

3. Some of the staff seemed to desperately want share what work they are doing no matter how small. I think our non confrontational approach and encouragement to them is giving them a small confidence in us that we can work together.

4. The boys were very responsive and calm. There is an expectation they have that we are there.

5. There was generally a peace in the place.

6. My 2 non-christian friends came to help. They really enjoyed it and were genuinely impressed by what is going in. This really speaks of our love for the boys and our commitment to see change no matter how slow. More than that it speaks of Gods love for them too.

This is all Gods work, he has changed and developed so much. Its a great work and thanks so much for your love and work!!! Lets keep bringing those fireworks of fun!

Tanya

Interview with Vidhya:

Interview with Sandhya:

Interview with Rosy:

Interview with Rebekah:

Aims of the project:

* To give the young people a new skill
* To empower and involve young people in a project
* To get young people thinking about what is good and what is bad in their community
* Raise young people’s self esteem through encouraging their creativity
* Diverting young people from negative behaviour by involving them in positive activities

Aims of the exhibition

* To present young people’s art work and thus give them a voice
* Encourage young people
* Raise awareness about Oasis India
* To raise money for the ongoing work of the youth project

What does the youth project in Doddigunta do?

The Doddigunta community project aims to encourage and empower children and young people to work towards a better future. The project focuses on children from the slum community and the government housing, giving them educational support, and recreational activities to help boost their self esteem and their chances of a better future. Specifically the project runs a football program every morning, after school classes in language and maths, and a safe space for young people to hang out in. Oasis also runs a girls club in the same community that encourages young women to respect themselves and gives them an opportunity to talk about issues that affect their lives. The young people who have participated in this photography project are all from this community and are a part of Oasis’ programs.

Schedule for the exhibition

4.00 Arrivals snacks, ppt, rolling visuals, viewing exhibition, music
4.30 Introduction – (Ajit)
4.35 Film with audio of boys (Savio)
4.40 Interview with one of the young people (Ajit)
4.45 Dance (Young people)
4.50 What is Oasis, how can I give? (Anita)
5.00 Prize for the most hard working young person (Pete)
5.05 Exlpain how auction/exhibition works (Patrick)
5.10 Let people buy photos, eat food etc…

Date/Time: Saturday, July 25, 2009 between 4-6pm

Venue: Feba Radio Auditorium, 7, Commissariat Road, Bangalore City, India (Adjacent to Bangalore Central)

Google Map: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=7%2C+Commissariat+Road%2C+Bangalore+City%2C+India

RSVP via FB: http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/event.php?eid=95604176589&ref=ts

‘So I prepared my mind that morning said a prayer that went something like ‘Lord give me your strength today, help me to love beyond myself and see your image, Jesus in every boy I am in contact with. Let you be like a ‘firework of fun’ in this dark place and let it be the most attractive, safe and loving thing they have ever seen. Let love be there!’

I pray like this most weeks as I am not quite sure what to expect when I get there. Will the boys be wearing clothes today? What wounds will I see? Who will need comforting and huge amounts of cuddles? Will the staff show up this week?

This week half of the boys are naked and we are told that they are receiving some sort of skin treatment in the form of white paste. Its all a bit of a shock but the bright coloured balls that we brought in are a distraction and the boys go crazy. They are smiling and running around fascinated by them.

You see they recognise us now, we are the team that comes every Saturday, with games, some form of comforting physical contact, a simple connection that says: ‘you’re someone special, you mean something to us and we want to treat you as family’.

‘Crayons, paper auntie’ says one boy and we lay out paper and the hidden artists get to work on their masters pieces. I have heard some people comment that because these children are physically handicapped they don’t need much, they are less than human but here I sit and see geniuses waiting to be discovered, artistic, bright, playful.

Then there are the boys that can’t move and for them sound, smell and touch are essential. To them I give them shakers and peanuts in a bag. Their senses are challenged and they happily play.

I have to be honest this is at times very hard to do, especially amongst the meal times when human excrement and food helpings are somehow mixed together, when touching the boys means you could be touching anything!!!!

I think ‘what am I doing here, I feel sick!’ Then I step back and remember that God has opened a door for us here, quite miraculously. Its us the church who are with these boys when no one else wants to. Why should they, this place is tough?

The thing is God is there, if he is anywhere the image of God is so deeply imprinted on all their faces. Its a place where you see light and dark so distinctly and you know that you know, that if there ever was a place to be the light, it is with these boys, right there in all the excrement and stench!

I know that in the time i spent there our presence has made a difference. I am empowered to know that the power of the holy spirit is so attractive and smells so so good to these boys, it is irresistible! I remember that if all I do is bring the fireworks of Jesus into that place, just to see their joy, I have done enough.’

To help out at the Govt Home, pl contact Jessel @ 9986561853

WHAT IS IT?

Once a month, we are committing to devote time to different NGO’s who are doing an incredible work and help them serve people better. Once you join a team, you can go throughout the month on your own time also. We never want this to just be an ‘outreach’. We want this to be a part of our lifestyle – where we pour into others lives on a consistent basis.

WHERE ARE WE GOING?

Check out the poster attached. It gives you a good picture of what each NGO is about. Here’s a quick summary

Auto Raja – Homeless people, dying & destitute people picked up from the side of the road.

Bosco Mane – A home for boys who have run away from home within the last two weeks. They have been picked up from the railway station & are in this home for counseling.

ACCEPT – A hospice for HIV+ patients. We spend most of our time with the children here who are also HIV+.

PATH – A deaddiction centre for men struggling with various addictions. Right now they have two guys there. Very personal & real.

GOVT HOME – A home for 95 physically & mentally challenged boys. Meant for only 50 boys & with only 2-3 staff, this is a tough place to help out BUT we believe that God has opened a door for us here to really see this home turned around.

OASIS – not happening this weekend.

WHEN IS IT?

As of now, we have committed to doing this every 2nd SATURDAY of the month. Each team will be going at various time throughout the day. Details are given below.

WHO CAN COME?

Anyone can. =) This is OPEN to ALL PEOPLES of all ages & backgrounds. All you need is a heart to serve. =)

HOW DO I JOIN?

Below is a list of the different team leaders, their contact info, meeting points & timings of the trips. Just give them a call & they will help you sort it out.

AUTO RAJA
Contact Person: Anup Oommen
Ph: 9986048430
Meeting Point – 3pm @ Christ College Main Gate
Return – 7pm @ Christ College

BOSCO MANE
Contact Person – Ronnie
Ph: 9742103625
Meeting Point – 1:30pm @ St Josephs European Boys High School Main Gate
Return – 5:30pm @ St Josephs

ACCEPT
Contact Person – Radhika
Ph: 99867699127
Meeting Point – Accept (Near Kothanur Dinne) Call Radhika for directions
Timings – 3pm to 6pm

GOVT HOME
Contact Person – Jessel
Ph: 9986561853
Meeting Point – Govt Home Inbetween Kidwai Cancer Hospital & NIMHANS (near Dairy Circle).
Pl call Jessel for specific directions
Timings – 11:00am to 1pm

PATH
Contact Person – Nitin/Nash
Ph: 9741126262/9739380519
Timings 4pm – 6pm
For further details contact Nash.

so yeah, a bunch of us went out with the kids to take pictures of their community… and more specificially of water, faces and hands. These were the themes the kids themselves wanted to take pictures of. first we taught them how to take pictures… taught them the basics about how to compose a picture… how to use the flash… don’t cover the flash in case you’re using it… make sure your subject has enough light… taught them about how you need to half click (padi press) so that you can give the camera time to keep your subject in focus…

so yeah… now we’re doing an exhibition to raise money for the kids… they’re really passionate about football… so probably some of the money will go into getting them great… then some other stuff… oh… by the way… they’re doing a freedom tournament this sunday in frazer town corporation grounds… i think i’m going to be there… cheering them! so that’s July 28, ’09 around 1? i’m not so sure about what time though… but i know it’s on sunday… and the kids have been training for it for a while now.

so yeah… gettin back to the photograhy exhibition… we’re involving them in every phase of the planning and execution… so that means they need to come up with names and we together agree on it… we work together with the kids on making the invites/flyers… work with them to make sure we have an audience/buyers for the exhibition… we’re really looking forward to it! it’s going to be soo good!

yeah… so in one of the meetings discussing what we’d probably call the photography exhibition, one of the kids thought we should call it – last angels. and jennie and me were quite puzzled by it… what do you mean, last angels? so he went on to explain… well… you know… we’re like the last ones to get opportunties… last ones to get new stuff… we’re generally ignored… so hence… last angels… wow! i really liked that title…

but then most of the kids like the title… “World’s future” implying that they were the world’s future… how cool is that again! the “punch line” is “in focus now”… so putting it together, it will be… “World’s future – in focus now” i really love it!

i’m really hoping you can make it. I’m really hoping you will support the cause… and even more… i’m hoping you’ll join us in our journey trying to make the world a better place… stop talking… start walking!

So be there if you can…
Date: July 25, 2009
Time: 4pm to 6pm
Venue: Feba Radio Hall, commisrait Road, Bangalore 560001. It’s very close to Bangalore Central (which is on MG Road)… so you follow along the road from bangalore central and turn into this road… next to bangalore central, there’s this icici bank… and next to that i think is the feba radio hall… or may be it’s 2 buildings after… i’m not terribly sure… but it’s there…

hmmm… or wait… may be i can mark it on google maps!

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=103995169596750829609.00000111da42e8a0ff0da&ll=12.972452,77.61137&spn=0.003837,0.005466&t=h&z=18

So that’s the link to the place… please come!

would be great if you can confirm your attendance on facebook!! http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=95604176589#/event.php?eid=95604176589

would be also great if you can sign up for our news updates: http://groups.google.com/group/tnt-news

… 3 months already gone… man this year is really flying by!! i’m really pumped about what God is doing in our midst. God’s been so amazing in guiding us over the last few months. I really believe that He is setting us up for something huge in the future.

To me the key is that we constantly stay outward focused. The church exists for those outside of it’s walls. So the moment we start catering/focusing/hanging out only with our own churchy bunch, we become irrelevant to the Kingdom. It isn’t only about how ‘spiritual’ we are, if we are not reaching out, we’ve missed the point – simply cos the POINT of church does not lie within it’s four walls.

Three things I know for sure
One
We as a community are blessed beyond measure.
Two
There is a HUGE need in the city around us.
Three
God wants to meet those needs THROUGH us.

Prostitution, abuse, child pornography, rape, dowry related deaths, discrimination, corruption, eve-teasing, beggars at traffic lights and thousands of homeless people are just some of the many needs and issues facing us today.

The sad thing is that most of us would not have even felt anything as we read that. It didn’t bother you one bit.

You might say, ‘ Ajit, these are big issues, what can i do about that? Ok, maybe we can’t stop sexual abuse or solve corruption… but I think we can change a LOT in our own world. The watchman in our apartments, the maid in our house, the guy who cleans your table at work, the eunuch at the traffic signal – real people we meet in our everyday lives who have needs, desires, dreams & hopes. How do we treat them?

I don’t have all the answers, but I must ask the question – Are we really living for a cause greater than ourselves? Or are we just hypocrites who are happy with a bit of blessing and two hours of church on Sunday? Are we really salt & light in our own world? Are we?

Wake up.This world needs salt & light IN it & not hiding in church.

For months and years, we have been praying for God to change our city. The truth is He wants to use YOU and ME to do it. So I urge you, if you don’t want to be part of the answer, I urge you to please stop praying that prayer.

So let’s begin a journey together of discovering what it really means to be salt, light, love & justice to our world. We will be focusing on this a whole bunch in the next few months… =) So get ready for some life altering God moments… if you thought last year’s camp was radical, get ready to get stretched to a whole nutha level this year!!!

ps – if you are wondering what happened to the ‘nice ajit’.. well i think we ALL (myself included) deserve a royal kick up our rear end when it comes to social action..

Q) Can you tell us a lil bit about the many sides to Brian Raj…
A) Brian Raj the man – some one ordinary attempting to live an extra ordinary life!
Brian Raj the Oracler – the technology sales guy
Brian Raj the Kottayam Kokonut – the pastor actor
Brian Raj the Youth Pastor – calls everyone… hey! buddy =)
Brian Raj the ambassador of the iPhone… it isnt an ambassador, it’s the ferrari among phones =)

Q) What is the secret to your exuding beauty (fine… charm):
A) I am still learning to take compliments graciously

Q) The secret to your ‘Fair & Lovely’ skin!
A) ☺ same answer!

Q) The trick to constantly smiling and always being the nice guy?
A) So now you’re also tricked in to believing am a nice guy

Q) If you had to be a bad guy from a movie… you’d be??
A) James Bond

Q) At your bedside….we’d find
A) The last read book, these days its the Bible or Right people/place/plan

Q) Your favourite God moment
A) My silly conversations with God while I ride my bike

Q) The best thing you’ve learnt from Jesus
A) Compassion

Q) Most memorable Youth Pastor moment
A) Was when I hear some of my young people come up and tell how God used me in their lives

Q) Worst sermon blooper
A) Recently I was telling this bunch of small kids the story of Zaccheus and decided to spice it up a little bit. I told them that Zaccheaus heard so much about Jesus every where around him, like in the TV, news paper etc.. and he really wanted to meet with Jesus. One guy slipped up his hand and said, “but then those days there were no TV and newspaper “ and the whole bunch got in to a big laughter!!

Q) Your recent project at Karunalaya
A) So the company I work for, Oracle has some funds for charity and a group of us decided to use it for Karunalaya. We painted up the place, did some art work on the walls, got them some home appliances, bicycle etc.. it was a great experience for my colleagues and me

Q) Any plans to change marital status on Facebook
A) That sure sounds like a plan… am working on it! =)

Q) Your dream for TNT…
A) A revolutionary youth movement across our city, spreading and impacting the nation and the nations around

Q) Brian Raj… the future
A) To be known as some one who was after Gods own heart