Democracy in a Law College and Fairness in a University...

Democracy in a Law College!
These are the days of Election to the College Union. Students, especially the younger ones in the day batch are so spirited in the process and they were campaigning so vehemently among their evening batch seniors, not necessarily in the academic aspect but in age. They stand all the way from the entrance to the doors at our class rooms and stop everyone to solicit votes for themselves and their candidates.

Then they take out processions shouting slogans to the extent that none could engage any class. When one of the parties comes to a particular class, the others invariably see that the ones in the class don’t utter a word! Even when someone try to close the doors to ensure hearing, the ones outside bang the windows and doors so violently and the make the situation so volatile!
To add to this undemocratic ways are the so called ‘seniors’ who are seemingly so fanatic and they blindly support their brand of parties. The college authorities have to follow them to avoid any unnecessary confrontation among various parties! Teachers were almost helpless as none seem to be morally strong to say no to such unruly behavior! These are the ones to be the guardians of justice as lawyers and to end up as legislators one day or other!

Also fair play, a laughing stock in the campus!
Internals like the attendance, seminar, assignment and test papers are only farce as for as many are concerned. Test paper is an open mal-practice and none seem to worry about!
The staffs are not disciplined and don’t come prepared and so they initiate the value deterioration! Time table is never followed, nor do many of them come in time! Announcements never are given in time and in order.

Some teachers maintain their authority not on the basis of their erudition and scholarliness, but through their clout with the internal marks.

Library is worse than a recreation hall as there is only noise all over!

Need not say anything about the cleanliness of the class rooms! Stray dogs all around as it is the case in the roads and other public places like the beach and so on.

The University:
If the college is hopeless, the university seems to be worse. When we apply for scrutiny and revaluation, they show the papers first and demand us to sign without making any remark at all! After this, the result is announced as there is no change in marks! How come that happen, two people valuing a same answer in the very same way as if it was some kind of weighing! Our signing itself could create some kind of prejudice.

Besides this I doubt whether the previous marks will be deleted/ cleared to make the second valuation free and fair! If not, how can the second one not being prejudiced?
The syllabus and available books are practically none!

Nuptial Mass in Advent!

Loving greetings! Hope and pray that this letter finds you fine. Quite often you have seemingly treated me as an irritant! However, certain things I can’t but tell you for the betterment of the archdiocese, of course to my knowledge.

You are aware of the plight of Gladin in our parish! He was not even allowed to concelebrate the nuptial Mass of his own nephew, let alone the blessing of the marriage. He is not welcome there either! You know the incident behind that! The question of nuptial Mass in Advent!

Just today I went for a marriage in one of our parishes. I reached while the Gospel was being proclamed and remained there till the end. The Mass was concelebrated by five priests – two from our archdiocese, two from one of our neighbouring dioceses and one from a religious congregation! It was in no way different than the Masses of other days, though it is advent and that too after 17th.

I think that it is not the case with our neighbouring Kottar or the neighbouring Verapoly Province! To my understanding Trivandrum province alone is advocating it and that too for the poor and the weak! The mighty doesn’t care at all! That is the message, loud and clear, emanating from the marriage I referred above!

Though I can’t still understand the theology behind not offering Mass, I am here not to advocate for the repeal of any law decreed by you! However, I do question the inequality being meted out to the poor in our archdiocese! Equality before law is the basic right of anyone in this country and I don’t think that it is different in the church!

Laws may be violated, but not so blatantly as here in our archdiocese and that too with the knowledge and support of priests! The violators are violators and they should be treated so. Do we have a system of enforcing laws and booking the offenders? Do we really consult people concerned other than the ‘yes men,’ before enacting such laws, especially when it is seemingly contrary to what was practiced and provided in guides like the Ecclesiastical Calendar or so?

Let us ensure support of all concerned, and take everyone possible into confidence before enacting such laws so hurriedly and then helplessly witnessing violations!

If you don’t mind, I shall send to such comments as and when situations demand and would love to know your mind.