K.C MATHEW MEMORIAL 10TH ANNUAL LECTURE BY PROF. JOHN KURAKAR

K.C MATHEW MEMORIAL 10TH ANNUAL LECTURE BY PROF. JOHN KURAKAR


K.C Mathew Memorial 10th annual speech was held on 9th
August, 2014 at Valakom International Study Center. The Public function was begun at 11 A.M with prayer song. Dr Abraham Karickom, Executive Secretary of U.R.I Asia Region presided.Dr. A. Philipose, secretary, Kerala State Social Welfare Board inaugurated the function. Prof. John Kurakar,President , Kerala Kavya Kala Sahithy presented K.C Mathew Memorial 10th Annual speech. Mr. K.C Thomas (Kizhakkedathu), Advocate Sobhna Kumari,Mr. O.Varghese,Mr.P.A Philip, Mr. Sajan Koshy were spoke on the occasion. Mr. K.C Mathew welcomed the members and Mrs. Mariamma Mathew expressed vote of thanks. The programme was concluded at 1. 30 P.M with lunch.
Secretary

STOP WAR, WAR NEVER SOLVED ANY PROBLEM PREVIL PEACE ON EARTH

STOP WAR, WAR NEVER SOLVED ANY PROBLEM
PREVIL PEACE ON EARTH
United Religions Initiative South India Region and Kerala Kavya Kala Sahithy jointly organized a Prayer meeting on 25th July at Kottarakara Kurakar Town Center. The meeting was begun at 3 P.M with Prayer. Rev. Fr. Alex Parankimaammoottil presided. Mrs. Math Guru Priya inaugurated the “Peace Meeting”. Prof. John Kurakar, President of the Kerala Kavya Kala Sahithy and Global Council of the United Religions Initiative gave the Keynote address The members discussed the war and unrest in the middle east countries especially Israel and Palestine. The members urged to the Middle East countries to stop war and prevail peace on earth. Mr. Cosmic Rajan , Music Director and State Award winner,Mr. Neelaswaram Sadasivan, U.R.I Award Winner, Mr. Babu Oomman, Treasurer, Kerala Kavya Kala Sahithy, Mr. Chalukonam Ajith, Mr. M. Achenkunju,, Mr. John Panicker, Mr. K.K Joy, Prof. Molly Kurakar,, Mr. Simson John, Mr. Sunil M.S Mr. George Kutty were spoke on the occasion. Mr. K.K Joy expressed vote of thanks.

Prof. John Kurakar

URI-GLOBAL COUNCIL MEETING-2014

URI-GLOBAL COUNCIL MEETING-2014

One more Global Council and staff meeting is over. We all met at Santa Clara University, California  from 20-30 June, 2014. It was special in so many ways-- the first GC without Charles Gibbs; the first meeting with Rev. Dr. Victor Kazanjian, the new Executive Director; first meeting of the newly elected GC; first batch of the GC members elected for four years and so on. The only staff member who has seen the initial days of URI and who is still at the SFO office is Sally Mahe.I often wondered how it would be without Chares! It is proved that Victor is the right choice. There is lot of enthusiasm and the vibrations are strong. Bishop Bill and the President's Council made it clear that the future of URI is bright. We could meet many of the embers of the President's Council during the special banquet and the dine out in their homes was exciting.

We had a wonderful discussion about how URI would be in 2020. Bishop and John Weiser were very attentive when we began to share our dreams:

                1. There will be about 10,000 CCs all over the world

                2. President William Swing will be addressing members in 250 countries through the URI TV channel prior to the Global Assembly in Bangladesh; Strong communication channels including URI radio will become a reality.

                3. URI ambassadors will be posted in every country capital to negotiate with nation heads

                4. Golden rule will have become a common word in every tongue

                5. Donor agencies will come in search of URI offices around the world to offer their contributions.

                6. Travelling Peace Academy and URI  Interfaith University will attract large number of takers

                7. URI units will be established in every school and college

                8. URI colouring books will be handed over to all beginners in schools

                9. The number of regional coordinators will be three times more

                10. UN will send representatives to the URI Board

                11. There will be a fund raising week and collection centres will be established in all continents.

                12. Global Indigenous conferences will become a regular feature

I could not capture every dream that was aired during that session, but these will give you a feel of the wave length of the dreamers from around the globe. Is not the future of URI bright?

The first URI Global International Indigenous Conference has already commenced here in San Francisco. So much more in the offing.

                           Dr. Abraham Karickom

                                   Prof. John Kurakar