Santhosh's ramblings

We live in a context where, identity-based politics has become the norm of the day. Various divides are being perpetuated using these identities, primarily for political and other gains. And all are in some way or other caught up in this, if not today, likely to be caught up tomorrow. Identities based on people groups and caste is something we have grown up with as part of our life in our nation. This dates much before the idea of India, when we were multiple language and people groups-based kingdoms and communities, a history and culture deeply ingrained in us. Even the christian community that I am part of, which prides itself in its teaching of being caste-less, hold on to caste and people group identity. The geography-based identity is yet another aspect of our life in India. The “Madrasi” or South India community vs the North, the North vs North Eastern communities, the pahadias vs the plains people, the rural vs the urban and many such other identities by which we label

As a professional care giver in health, looking back over last few decades of engagement in various ways of caring and facilitating systems of caring, I realize that my reasons of being in the field are not anymore that I started off with. I remember, when I started off on my journey, as a young consultant, I was one who wanted to change the world.   Started off with an arrogance that “I know it all” and I with my knowledge and skills can change the world I am kept in! I started off with also the clear understanding that I have the knowledge and skills, and the “poor and the people in need” my “God given talents and abilities” so that they can live a better life. (I do no think I still have been completely cured of this paradigm, but it seems to have weaned off a bit over last few decades.) And the institutional structures that I was part of, encouraged this paradigm. We are one of the best care providers, we have the knowledge, the ability and of course “compassion” as an ad

A visit to the Armauer Hansen’s laboratory in the St Georges hospital, Bergen was an interesting but challenging one. The Leprosy Museum (Lepramuseet) in Bergen is housed in the 18th century buildings of St Jorgen’s (St George’s) Hospital, and St. Jorgen’s Church forms part of the old leprosy hospital buildings. The hospital was founded before 1411 and was the central institution for treating people affected by leprosy in Western Norway until its closure in 1946. The present-day buildings date back to the early 18th century. An enthusiastic historian with his passionate story telling stirred our hearts, minds and souls! Let me share with you some reflections, from what I heard. It was at St Jørgen that Hansen’s predecessor, Daniel Cornelius Danielssen, embarked on leprosy research in 1839. In 1840, Danielssen began a collaboration with Carl Wilhelm Boeck. This partnership culminated in the celebrated work ‘‘Om Spedalskhed (On Leprosy)’’, putting Bergen in the forefront o

29/102019 A lesson in rest and contentment   What is visible in front of me is a calm blue lake with mountains around. Though there are multiple series of mountain peaks ahead, I can only see one or two lines of them, rest are clouded out. The last three days have been days of waiting - waiting in anticipation for clouds to part. To part and move away so that the snow peaked series of mountains can be seen. A picture of my life. There is the present peace and calmness around me. There are enough visible mountains around in my sphere of vision and in my life, which is an assurance of the stability I have experienced over years. But my eyes are on the clouds, hoping and waiting for it to pass on. So that I can see beyond what is visible, the hope of something better, the anticipation of something greater and more majestic. All because I had once seen it - in our last visit - and it makes me desirous again. Oh that I may rest in the given calming presence of the lake and t

https://reflectionscreative.wordpress.com/2019/08/04/her-plight/

The last decade has brought in major transitions and changes in our nation. How should we as a missional community respond and re position is a question that is coming up in many discussions. Given below are a few pictures that come to my mind. One – Strategic scattering The two pictures of scattering from the bible are quite relevant for us today. The first one from Genesis 12, at the Tower of Babel, the second one from Acts 6. As a community we have done reasonably well in building reputed institutions of the church, that focus on religious, health, social, educational and developmental and other engagements in our nation. Some para-church mission movements have transitioned from being grass root movements to setting up institutions that reach out and engage with communities in various ways. But we also have started observing and hearing about, many institutions losing its original focus. The foundations built by the founding fathers seem to be breaking or shaking. Inst

I had the opportunity to spent 3 ½ days with a group of enthusiastic path breakers, who are engaged in primary care and medical education with a difference ,  across our nation.  This 3 ½ days spent with “The Group” at Vellore was an invigorating , encouraging and a challenging one! After a few days of these meetings, I am still reflecting – how can I be enthusiastic, passionate and pathbreaking like “The Group”. An enlightened group, who have understood what is important for the context of our nation. Let me expand what I experienced here. The time with this group was invigorating because, there was a palpable and  perceptible passion, a passion that was   instilled in  all ! Passion for primary care, passion for teaching, passion for facilitating learning, and the desire and hope to make a difference.  Echoing what was shared by one facilitator from the Franciscan blessing  “And may God bless us with enough foolishness to believe that we can make a difference in this world, so