Dear Fleming,
To your surprise at the New Year functions being cancelled, we must remember
that we are a minority, and as such must stand down in terms of rejoicing at
a time when the collective mood in the reasonably proud people that we are,
has turned sombre.One may only rejoice when the entire body is largely keen
on celebrating. Celebrating at such a time, will not go well when Indians
are rethinking themselves, and what it is that hit the sidereal masses as
well as upper classes. Safety is important. What would one do if a couple of
women were waylaid or disappeared. Give such things a thought. It is a very
real possibility and not just for the sidereal masses. For all we know the
upper classes (perhaps not even Catholics) are having their bals du
guillotine (the lurid dancers mimicking those gullotined during the French
Revolution--the body as it shuddered before going limp), and will have a
grand time, and this too may get revealed, but even that be true, it is not
for us to feel affronted. Also there is more to us than dances. Soon they
too will go cosmopolitan, as cultural accouterments often do. Btw, I am not
trying to teach you anything, but stay with me.
Also, a minority (such as Christians in India) when it faces atrocities of
the kind you mention below should avoid protesting immediately. This point
is moot. The minority has to allow individuals and bodies within the
majority to have their say. Only then should they reveal their hurt, it will
none the less shold on the faces, but simultaneously affirm their oneness.
this is critical, and Christian too.
In 1999/2000, after the then atrocities against Christians, I looked forward
for any artist to historically fix a point--stand witness though a work, not
in vain that a priest had been beheaded, another paraded naked. To my
knowledge nothing happened. Artists like Leon Golub were different. They
were Jews and whose reality was totally different from anything Christians
have yet encountered in India. Anyway, I created a body of work, since I
could not let this go by. The theme was Speculatio: reflections on a
scourge. Seculatio, from the Latin; reflections of the contemplative soul. A
few things happened/ have happened. One woman on Goanet - a Muslim asked me
why only for Christians and not when Muslims get attacked. She received a
fair response, but I did not receive a response back. Earlier this year, I
was dragged into a huge discussion (I have all the material) by another
woman. It began innocuously enough with a forward on Christians being
attacked somewhere, then when I asked as to why I am being sent this Goa was
mentioned, then the fact that I had done this body of work and presented it
abroad, and before one could say boo, it was a maelstrom. The idea was to
supposedly reveal communal agenda, and perhaps use it in some way. You
cannot beat that. Every point I made, and believe me I articulated well and
even joked as to how I saw myself sort of as a bastardized being, was
manipulated. Even an endearing term (or the attempt at being
endearing) "Quit it kid" was pointed out as me talking down. Again, I am
thankful that I have the entire email chain. It was bad manipulation but it
was used all the way. So maybe those guys know a thing or too, although they
may not react as people may like them to.
Anyway, I do not have anything more to say. Very drained. Take care folks.
venantius j pinto
to condemn TERRORISM
To: "fleming rodrigues"
Cc: janerodrigu...@rediffmail.com
On Sat, 27 Dec 2008 fleming rodrigues wrote :
I am surprised and appalled that many of the Catholic organisations and
gymkhanas --- Bandra, Wellingdon, Catholic to name a few stopped all their
Christmas and New Year functions in so called "solidarity" and grief. How
come none of these concerned citizens showed any compassion and feelings
when churches were being burnt, nuns were being raped and priests were being
tortured? These gyms merely turned a blind eye and let life carry on but now
get up and take notice hoping to get a pat on the back and a mention in the
press for their "good deeds" and "sacrifice"?
