Some loud thinking….

17^th June 2013 Some loud thinking….

‘Under normal circumstances, one would expect that every individual must be loyal to his or her family. But when one’s family discards dharmic ways, one is duty bound to keep one’s distance from such family…’ (The Hindu, Monday, June 17, 2013 ‘Religion’ in p.6)

For some quite some time, almost for two years, am keeping my distance from my ‘diocesan family’! In the mean time ‘much water flew under Thames’ and none bothered to know why someone is keeping away. It was the days of Platinum Jubilee of the diocese, yet another ‘living together’, the much hyped Synod, which still could be challenged on technical grounds, and so on. Following are some of the serious enough reasons which rather force me to keep aloof, after having attempted enough number of times in vain to convince the leadership whom a courtier team keeps cushy, ostensibly for their interest than of the people’s…!

The leadership doesn’t seem to bother about different views, let alone dissenting views! As A. S. Panneerselvan, the Readers’ Editor of ‘the Hindu’ in his column of 17^th June 17, 2013 quotes Sunil Khilani speaking of the ‘idea of India’; the leadership seemingly fails to grasp the ‘idea of Trivandrum diocese’! This idea is ‘not homogenous and univocal. In fact, no single idea can possibly hope to capture the many energies, angers, and hopes…’ of two lakh plus people. The idea of Trivandrum diocese must be the ‘one that can enable other ideas to emerge, and allow them to learn to live alongside one another… A comparatively populous diocese, naturally ‘with diverse and conflicting interests can be a better home for liberty, a safer have against tyranny, than homogenous and exclusive ones. Within them, factions and differences can check one another, moderating ideological fervor and softening power.’

It may not be pleasing for a tyrannical leadership, however ‘pious’, clever and ecclesiastical he is, to acknowledge and act upon differing views. But there is no other go than this attitude and approach for the betterment of the people in his care. ‘Hearken to the voice of the people…’ is what the Lord wanted of Samuel (1 Sam 8:7) but ‘warn them’ the possible pitfalls, if you are so sure of.

However good and efficient one is, he could be duped by his lieutenants as is reported of the developments with the Chief Minister’s office with regard to the ‘solar scam’ of late. This could only be restrained through transparency and accountability which is not really there in the systems in the diocese. The claim of accountability is for name’s sake and that too is only before those few people who are arbitrarily picked and chosen! Auditing may be there, but not real internal auditing!

This is equally applicable with regard to the making of policies and the much claimed and equally half baked decentralization, though the real ‘centre’ is an enigma!