North East Catholic Research Forum

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Criminalising ‘Conversions’!

Opinion | Articles | Cedric Prakash |

On 1 July 2024, Justice Rohit Ranjan Agarwal of the Allahabad High Court in a bizarre comment said, “if this process (religious conversion) is allowed to be carried out, the majority population of this country would be in minority one day, and such religi.....

In Their Shadow

Opinion | Articles | Chhotebhai |

Has the dust begun to settle or the temperature begun to rise, despite the advancing monsoon? This weather barometer is political not climatic. With the elections over, the Union Cabinet in place, the Speaker also elected and proceedings in the Lok Sa.....

The Hug of a Humbug!

Opinion | Articles | Cedric Prakash |

Few will not remember Judas Iscariot and the role he played in the betrayal of Jesus! For those who don’t know or don’t remember, these passages from Sacred Scripture will help put things in perspective: And while they were eating, he said, “Truly I .....

The Journey to my Vocation - Part I

Opinion | Articles | Benjamin Chang |

In the Footprint of Christ

While preparing for my Diaconate Ordination, I had ample time to recall about my vocation, my life... There is an inner urge to share something about my vocation with you all. I guess, it might help some people… My vocation is like any vocation that bega.....

Politics without Principle

Opinion | Articles | M L Satyan |

Many years back Mahatma Gandhi spoke about seven crimes. One of them is “Politics without principle”. We need to appreciate Gandhiji for brilliantly analysing the political scenario of his time as well as the future. After more than two-month-long electio.....

Statement of Concerned Catholics

Current Updates | Editorial Pick | Editorial team |

On Thursday 4 April 2024, Pope Francis in a very incisive message to the participants in the First Colloquium between the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue and the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions, held in the Vatican said, “We n.....

Voting, A Christian Duty

Opinion | Articles | Chhotebhai |

It’s that time of year when we head to the hustings for the great Indian tamasha, the Lok Sabha elections 2024. The present regime at the Centre is so confident of a third term in office that it has invited representatives from various world political par.....

Mantra for a stress-free life is ‘Just to leave it’

Opinion | Articles | M L Satyan |

We have been boasting of our science, technology, military and weapon power. Every country has been spending enormous amount of money for procuring arms, weapons and nuclear power. Our human pride, our imagined self-importance, status and money power, the.....

Under Attack from Hindutva Forces, 'Convent' Schools Fight for Survival

Opinion | Articles | John Dayal |

Well into the liberalised economic order, matrimonial advertisements in north Indian newspapers had parents of eligible men seeking brides who were fair, accomplished, homely and ‘convent educated’. The last qualification was an omnibus one, ensuring that.....

Let us be the Change that we want to see

Opinion | Articles | Benjamin Chang |

Christian Churches have played an important role in bringing people together from different walks of life as one people, as one Christian family. It is in the name of Jesus that we are able to acknowledge one another as our own brothers and sisters. It is.....

Step in to the World of Journalism and Mass Media

Education | College | NECARF Rep |

Niscort Media College

For those who aspire for the world of Mass media.....

Are we building an Indian Church or a Roman Church in India?

Opinion | Articles | M L Satyan |

Bishop Saupin

I am raising this question mainly in the backdrop of the recent installations of bishops and an Archbishop in some of the north Indian dioceses, especially in the tribal belt. It is indeed an "eye-soaring" experience when I look at the clergy with the Rom.....

Dogs & Gods of War

Opinion | Articles | Chhotebhai |

This is an alarmist headline. It is meant to be. It is inspired in part by the novel “Dogs of War” written 70 years ago by Fredrick Forsythe. But this article is not fiction, for truth is stranger than fiction. Polytheist religions have Gods of War. M.....

Electoral Bonds: Intimidate, Induce and Collect

Opinion | Articles | M L Satyan |

As per the Supreme Court’s order, the Election Commission uploaded the list of the donors of electoral bonds. Many political analysts and journalists studied the list and revealed the truth that most of the donors purchased electoral bonds for two major r.....

Editorial

Sanju Samson's Silent Prayer was the Loudest Thanks giving

In a country where cricket is not just a game but considered next only to religion, a spectacle unfolded on March 1 inside the mammoth and iconic Eden Gardens cricket stadium in Kolkata, where the Indian and West Indies teams played the last of the Super.....

Stooping Beyond a Limit

When Himanta Biswa Sarma exited his parent party, the Indian National Congress, in 2015 and joined the Bharatiya Janata Party, not too many eyebrows were raised since such leapfrogging from one political party to the other was nothing new in Indian politi.....

The Culture of othering is an unhealthy trend

A German Lutheran pastor, Martin Niemöller, was against the Communist ideology and also against Semitism. His distaste for them made him a natural ally and supporter of Rudolf Hitler. When Hitler ultimately assumed power and insisted on the supremacy of t.....

Persecutions in the land of Tagore, Vivekananda, and Gandhi

India is fortunate to have given birth to three outstanding sons, Rabindranath Tagore, Swami Vivekananda, and Mahatma Gandhi, who inspired generations not only in India but across the world. Apart from their liberal thinking, their thoughts on religious f.....

The determination was written on every Indian player’s face

On the intervening night of November 2nd and 3rd, the Indian women’s cricket team created history by winning the ICC Women’s World Cup for the first time at the DY Patil stadium in Navi Mumbai. They defeated South Africa, a team dubbed by many cricketing.....

Zubeen Garg unites people even in his death

Many ordinary people who are not connected to music and art might not have even heard of Zubeen Garg, despite being an iconic artist and a person who cared for others. However, after his unfortunate and untimely demise on September 19, 2025, social media.....

How serious are educational Institutions about the mental health of young people?

During the monsoon session of the Parliament in July 2025, Union Minister of State for Education Sukanta Majumdar informed the house that student suicide cases accounted for 7.6 per cent of all suicide cases reported across India in 2022, showing a slight.....

Religious Persecutions in the Land of Vivekananda and Gandhi

The dictionary meaning of ‘persecution’ reads as ‘unfair or cruel treatment based on race, religion, or political belief’. Therefore, persecution can occur through racial discrimination or political exploitation and is not necessarily limited to the relig.....

From a Murderer to a Pilgrim of Faith

Prior to June 27, 2025, not many people in this country and elsewhere would have heard of Chengu@Sudharsan@Chandu Hansda, who at the age of 13 turned into a murderer when he joined the mob that brutally burnt alive an Australian missionary, Graham Stewart.....

Ominous Signs and the Catholic response

India is a country that boasts staggering diversity—a colourful mix few in the world have the privilege of sharing. Since independence and the enactment of the constitution, freedom, liberty, and equality before the law has always been our treasured right.....

The New Pope and His Message

This time, 1.39 billion Catholics across the globe were fortunate to see the white smoke come out of the Sistine Chapel chimney on the second day as Cardinal Robert Prevost was elected by the cardinal conclave in the fourth round of voting, one less than .....

The Pope didn’t Sulk or Shun

The Vatican News released a video of Pope Francis extending Easter greetings to a multitude of people at St. Peter’s Square in Rome, which was one day before his final journey to the eternal world. A close look at that video reveals that the Holy Father w.....

Previous Articles

NECCOD Continues to engage it Member through Online Activities

Current Updates | NE Brief | NECARF Rep

In an effort to continue engaging its members with online activities during the Covid-19 Lockdown, the North East Catholic Community, Delhi (NECCOD), conducted a Bible quiz, Painting and Essay writing competitions, which received massive response from the.....

A Brief History of Roman Catholic Church in Mizoram

Opinion | Articles | Luke Sangkima

In the history of Christianity in North East India, Mizoram is one state where the faith entered very late on its soil as compared to other neighboring states. In this region, the advent of Christianity followed the British flag, except in the Ao area of .....

Convenor of ICF writes open letters to four Indian Cardinals

Current Updates | Editorial Pick | Editorial team

In an open letter to Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrao, Cardinal Baselios Mar Cleemis, Cardinal Antony Poola, and Cardinal George Koovakad, Chhotebhai, the Convenor of the Indian Catholic Forum, wrote that the Catholic community in India is proud of them, that.....

Bishop Victor Lyngdoh is the New Archbishop of Shillong

Current Updates | NE Brief | NECARF Rep

As per a communiqué issued by the Diocesan Administrator of Shillong Archdiocese Rev. Father John Madur on December 28, 2020, the Holy Father, Pope Francis, appointed Bishop Victor Lyngdoh as the Archbishop of Shillong. Most Rev. Victor Lyngdoh (64) was t.....

Electoral Bonds: Intimidate, Induce and Collect

Opinion | Articles | M L Satyan

As per the Supreme Court’s order, the Election Commission uploaded the list of the donors of electoral bonds. Many political analysts and journalists studied the list and revealed the truth that most of the donors purchased electoral bonds for two major r.....

The validity of Catholic Baptism

Opinion | Articles | Benjamin Chang

The Catholic Church has always understood baptism differently. It teaches that baptism is a sacrament that accomplishes several things, the first of which is the remission of sin, both original sin and actual sin—only original sin in the case of infants a.....

Living the Faith amidst the COVID Pandemic

Opinion | People's Edit | Joseph M Thohrii

“Many Christians grow up in Church, but never grow in Christ. They know Hymns but they don’t know ‘HIM’.” (Anonymous) It’s been a year since the global pandemic corona virus has brought the world to a standstill. Apart from loss of lives due to the vi.....

The Holy Week’s Lessons - For Leaders

Opinion | Poem | Anthony Dias

The Holy Week provides Precious lessons, on compassionate, Humble and courageous leadership Through the Teachings and Actions The cataclysmic Crucifixion Of the Historical, Jesus of Nazareth! Who demonstrated What a genuine servant-leader shou.....

Moving Back to the Middle Ages

Opinion | Articles | Thomas Menamparampil

Tagore dreamt of an India where the citizens would have the courage to hold their “heads high”. Martin Luther King dreamt of a homeland that would give equal respect to every citizen. An Iranian composer longs for a civilized culture in her country where.....

Under Attack from Hindutva Forces, 'Convent' Schools Fight for Survival

Opinion | Articles | John Dayal

Well into the liberalised economic order, matrimonial advertisements in north Indian newspapers had parents of eligible men seeking brides who were fair, accomplished, homely and ‘convent educated’. The last qualification was an omnibus one, ensuring that.....

School drop-out rate is a serious concern

Opinion | Articles | M L Satyan

I had an opportunity to work with Functional Vocational Training and Research Society (FVTRS) from 2008 to 2014. The focus group of FVTRS was always school dropout students. Local NGOs became partners of FVTRS to provide skill training to school dropout s.....

Education

Job Fair in Don Bosco Kohima

College | NECARF Rep |

Job Fair Notice

For kind attention of young boys and girls who are interested in getting recruited in different Comnpaies......

Step in to the World of Journalism and Mass Media

College | NECARF Rep |

Niscort Media College

For those who aspire for the world of Mass media.....

Avail Early Bird Discount in Media Studies

College | NECARF Rep |

Admission Notice

NISCORT, one of the Premier Media Colleges in the National Capital area, announces admission for several graduate and post-graduate level courses in Media studies. Interested students may visit www.niscort.com for details......

NISCORT Announces three different courses in Journalism and Mass Communication

College | NECARF Rep |

aa

For those Interested in Journalism studies, the above affordable courses comes as a boon.....

NICORT Media College Announces Short Courses in Media fields

College | NECARF Rep |

Annoucment

NICORT Media College Announces Short Courses in Media fields.....

For those interested to make a Career in Mass Media and Journalism, NISCORT provides the opportunity

College | NECARF Rep |

NISCORT opens Admissions for Course in Mass Media and Journalism

NISCORT opens Admissions for Course in Mass Media and Journalism.....

Current Updates

ICF Writes to the President of India

Editorial Pick | Editorial team |

Hon’ble Smt Draupadi Murmu, PRESIDENT OF INDIA Rashtrapati Bhawan New Delhi presidentofindia@rb.nic.in 31st December 2025 Respected Rashtrapatiji, Sub: Christmas attacks on Christians Namaskar! I respectfully place before you some of the.....

Attacks aginst Christians increased by 500% since 2014: Rights Groups

Editorial Pick | Editorial team |

Attacks Against Christians Increased by 500% Since 2014: Rights Groups New Delhi: On November 4, Christian rights activists assembled at the Press Club of India to release a report about an alarming and sustained annual surge in incidents of violence a.....

An MSMHC Nun from Mizoram did the North East Proud

NE Brief | NECARF Rep |

Sr Rose Paite

October 14, 2025: Sr Rose Paite, an MSMHC nun from Mizoram, received the prestigious National Award from the Catholic Mental Health Ministry (CMHM) at the World Mental Health Day Conference in Kerala. The prestigious award was handed over to the recipie.....

Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernandez’s address

Editorial Pick | Editorial team |

Synodality: Why No, and Why Yes Some have hoped that our new pope would ease up a little on this matter of synodality. Instead, Pope Leo has expressed a strong desire to continue along the path of synodality. For example: “Synodality becomes a mindset, .....

North East Catholic Community of Delhi puts up a Glittering show

NE Brief | NECARF Rep |

Mr Lalduhoma and Archbishop Anil J T Couto, with other dignataries

The North East Catholic Committee of Delhi (NECCOD) accorded a warm welcome to their new members who had joined them in the Delhi NCR region with spiritual and a social gathering worthy of the colours mix of the region they come from. This was the 33rd oc.....

NEIRBC Gets a new Education Commission Team

Editorial Pick | Editorial team |

Guwahati, June 25, 2025 – The Northeast Bishops Council’s Commission for Education has appointed a new leadership team, with Fr. Dr. Paul Pudussery, a Holy Cross priest, taking the helm. This transition marks the third leadership handover since the commis.....

Opinion

India Blacklisted!

Articles | Cedric Prakash |

On March 4, 2026, the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) released in Washington its Annual Report 2026. The USCIRF website( www.uscirf.gov) states that, “The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) is an.....

International Women’s Day 2026: “Give to Gain”, a slogan well coined

Articles | Joseph M Thohrii |

“I want every girl to know that her voice can change the world”. (Malala Yousafzai) India's women have made significant progress since the days when they had to endure severe exploitation and conform to well-defined societal norms. In the last few decad.....

Sanju Samson's Silent Prayer was the Loudest Thanks giving

Editorial | John S. Shilshi |

In a country where cricket is not just a game but considered next only to religion, a spectacle unfolded on March 1 inside the mammoth and iconic Eden Gardens cricket stadium in Kolkata, where the Indian and West Indies teams played the last of the Super.....

Asia’s Fragile ecosystem may well be further complicated by the US-Israeli war with Iran

Articles | John Dayal |

The eruption of hostilities between Israel, the United States, and Iran — codenamed “Operation Epic Fury” — has thrust Asia into a precarious and highly sensitive geopolitical and humanitarian crisis, evoking a hesitant response of protest rallies and pea.....

Sowing the Wind

Articles | Chhotebhai |

At the beginning of the year, shortly after Trump invaded Venezuela, I had written “As Thick as Thieves”. I re-read it before writing this piece. I had then warned that the Venezuelan “success” would embolden Trump to flex his muscles elsewhere too. Tr.....

The Gujarat Carnage 2002: Never Forgotten!

Articles | Cedric Prakash |

It took place in 2002! A tragedy that will NEVER be FORGOTTEN! The Gujarat Carnage 2002 is easily one of the bloodiest chapters in post-independent India. The burning of the S-6 compartment of the Sabarmati Express (from Faizabad to Ahmedabad) some distan.....

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