North East Catholic Research Forum

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Who is Responsible for Human Disasters?

Opinion | Articles | M L Satyan |

Soon after the Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad we have witnessed mixed feelings expressed by public – shock, sadness, anxiety, fear, suspicion and anger. Also, various theories are evolving like bird-hit, technical fault, high temperature, pilot’s mist.....

The Temporariness and Unpredictability of Life

Opinion | Articles | Cedric Prakash |

It is a tragedy of immense proportion! One of the worst in the history of civil aviation in India! An Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner (AI-171), from Ahmedabad to London, crashed shortly after take-off. The flight departed at 1:38 pm from the Sardar Vall.....

Corporate Swindling amounts to Human Rights violations

Opinion | Articles | M L Satyan |

Two days ago, I came across a YouTube video in which a group of human rights activists are campaigning in a bus in Chennai. The motive of the campaign was to sensitise the common people about corporate companies looting the forests in Madhya Pradesh, Chha.....

Francis’s Bottle Craft: Miniature Homes in Glasses

Current Updates | Editorial Pick | Editorial team |

The Miniature Artist of Sikkim

In a quiet corner of Sikkim’s Lingzey, Gairigaon, an artist has been creating entire worlds inside bottles—one intricate house at a time. Meet Mr Francis Rai, the man behind Francis Bottle Crafts, whose passion for miniature architecture has turned into b.....

A Challenge to Communicators

Opinion | Articles | Cedric Prakash |

On Sunday 1 June, the Catholic Church will observe the 59th World Day of Social Communications. The day is significant becuse ‘communications’ is an important and integral dimension of the Church. ‘Communications Day’ is one of the oldent ‘special days’ .....

When did God Die?

Opinion | Articles | Chhotebhai |

Another startling headline? It isn’t about Holy Friday. It was occasioned by a Special Edition (100 pages) of Time magazine totally dedicated to Pope Francis, on his death. Strangely, there was no mention of this in the Catholic media. A soft copy was sen.....

Religious minorities and caste census

Opinion | Articles | John Dayal |

The 2025 Census is still some time away, but some unusual groups are looking at it with very mixed feelings. For Dalit Christians and Pasmanda Muslims, the question is if the Census, which this time will also enumerate the caste affiliations of citizens, .....

War as consequence of human Error

Opinion | Articles | M L Satyan |

Why there is a sudden war between India and Pakistan? Is this an economic war or a political war? The war between India and Pakistan is very much human-induced and a result of failures. It was reported that the Pakistani terrorists killed 26 tourists at .....

White Smoke, Dark Cloud, Silver Lining

Opinion | Articles | Chhotebhai |

At 21:47 IST on 8th May I received a message from a priest friend in Rome that white smoke could be seen emanating from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel. So we had a new Pope. Frankly, I was surprised at such a short conclave. Secondly, I was shocked.....

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.....

Pope Francis: A man of the moment, someone who gave the world so much

Opinion | Articles | Joseph M Thohrii |

On the 13th March 2013, when the white smoke from the Sistine Chapel was seen, the faithful gathered in the Vatican square exclaimed in joy shouting, “Habemus Papam” meaning ‘We have a Pope’. And the man was none other than Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio,.....

Why Pope Francis couldn’t visit India

Opinion | Articles | Leivon Albert Lamkang |

His presence here could have been a moment of healing and recognition. It would have signalled that religious pluralism is not just tolerated in India—it is honoured. In diplomacy, sometimes what doesn’t happen is as telling as what does. The recent news.....

After Francis, Who?

Opinion | Articles | Chhotebhai |

Focus now shifted to the Camerlengo (the papal custodian till the election of the new pope). It was now his duty to follow the guidelines for the election of a new pope as specified in Universi Dominici Gregis (UDG), promulgated by Pope John Paul II on 2.....

The Messenger is Gone, but not the Message

Opinion | Articles | M L Satyan |

After a very long period, God selected a modern, pro-poor Francis Assisi in the form of a pope to reform the church that was rusting. Definitely, he too had been seriously reflecting on the contrast between the wealthy Vatican and the acute poverty outsid.....

Editorial

Thank you Kerala, for keeping the Spirit of India alive

The most notable bright spot of the 2026 assembly elections is clearly the manner in which voters in Kerala exercised their franchise; Not because they voted any particular party to power, but because they avoided voting along communal lines. The victorie.....

Some Accountability for Social Media platforms

In March, a Los Angeles court hearing a petition filed by a 20-year-old woman, Kaley, who was a minor at the time of filing the case, held Meta and Google guilty of coming up with attention-grabbing applications, resulting in minor addiction to YouTube an.....

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.....

Previous Articles

Equality and Dignity of Citizenship

Opinion | Articles | Felix Machado

Introduction Certainly, we are all born equal and we all possess the God given dignity. Our right to equality and to our dignity have been given to us by God and we belong to God alone. The Second Vatican Council declared: “A sense of the dignity of th.....

Denial of permission to CAAD is not just what meets the eye

Opinion | Articles | John S. Shilshi

In recent times, this country has been unfortunately witnessing increasing instances of injustice against the Christian community in different parts of the country. From physically attacking priests and nuns to harassment in different forms, Christians, p.....

A Mizo Folk Tale - Offering of food and grains to the deceased

Current Updates | Culture | Luke Sangkima

Long ago once upon a time, there lived two lovers named Tlingi and Ngama. As lovers, they met each other in some undisclosed locations only known to them. One day they agreed to meet near a hillock which both knew. In those days, their village was at war.....

Digital learning in today’s World

Opinion | Articles | Joseph M Thohrii

The 21st century is an era of digital transformation, a change that would remain in our activities of learning and pursuit of knowledge. The digital transformation brings unparallel change to the growth of communication and development. It is believed tha.....

Formation needs transformation

Opinion | Articles | M L Satyan

I was intrigued by the revelations Bishop James Thoppil of Kohima, chairman of the northeast bishops’ formation commission, made during the meeting of the formators of northeastern region held from October 21-23, 2024 at Mount Tabor Retreat Centre in Dima.....

Harvesting Souls?

Opinion | Articles | Chhotebhai

Back in 2000 Arun Shourie wrote a book “Harvesting Souls – Missionaries, their designs and claims”. It was a condemnation of everything remotely connected with missionaries. In the Indian context it was about our Christian presence. For those who came.....

The Emerging Cultic Churches

Opinion | People's Edit | G.L. Khing

The term ‘cult’ refers to a system of religious veneration and devotion directed towards a particular figure or object. All religions are cultic in nature, yet the object of worship is God. A diversion from this true worship leads to erroneous cult where .....

Archbishop John Moolachira gave a clarion call to protect Mother Earth

Current Updates | NE Brief | NECARF Rep

Addressing the North East India Pastoral Conference 2022 in Guwahati on September 14, 2022, Archbishop Moolachira, President, North East India Regional Bishops Council (NEIRBC) gave a clarion call to protect ‘Mother Earth”. Invoking passages from the Bibl.....

A brief history of St. Thomas Church, Phelungre village, Kiphire District.

Opinion | Articles | Benjamin Chang

Phelungreans were the first to receive the Catholic Faith in 1975, under Tuensang district (Present ENPO Area). The Church is dedicated to St Thomas the apostle, who in A.D. 52 brought the Christian Faith to the Southernmost part of the country. The Catho.....

Student Suicides - A Silent Epidemic

Opinion | Articles | M L Satyan

A recent article with the headline: “Suicide of Ashir Nanda in Kerala: A Wake-Up Call for Schools” by Fr Suresh Mathew OFM Cap is an eye-opener. In his article he mentions that the recent suicide of 14-year-old Ashir Nanda, a Class 9 student at St. Do.....

Radical Changes by Pope Leo-XIV

Opinion | Articles | M L Satyan

I watched a very inspirational and thought-provoking video on Pope Leo. The narrator mentions that the new Pope, soon after assuming the office of papacy, has made radical changes in the Catholic Church that are sending shock waves to the Catholics, espec.....

Opinion

Amazing (F)acts

Articles | Chhotebhai |

During Eastertide, till the Ascension, the daily Mass readings are invariably taken from the Acts of the Apostles. Some of these acts are amazing. This is how biblical scholars describe this compilation. It is usually attributed to Luke, a non-Jewish S.....

Poverty and Caste: Two Unseen Weights Crushing Young Lives

Articles | John Dayal |

Rohith Vemula was a 26-year-old Dalit PhD scholar at the University of Hyderabad whose suicide on January 17, 2016, sparked national protests against caste discrimination in Indian academia amidst demands for the resignation of the then Human Resources mi.....

A Clarion Call for Repeal of APFRA 1978

Articles | Yumri Taipodia |

In every society, there comes a moment when laws must be re-examined—not out of rebellion, but out of responsibility. A moment when people pause and ask whether the legal frameworks that once seemed necessary still serve justice, freedom, and human dignit.....

From Prosperity to Austerity

Articles | Chhotebhai |

Not so long ago we were talking of a trillion dollar and the fastest growing economy; about Amritkal and achche din. Our vishwaguru had growing locks and global ambitions. Then the bubble burst on 28th February when Dada Donald and Bibi Netanyahu launc.....

Thank you Kerala, for keeping the Spirit of India alive

Editorial | John S. Shilshi |

The most notable bright spot of the 2026 assembly elections is clearly the manner in which voters in Kerala exercised their franchise; Not because they voted any particular party to power, but because they avoided voting along communal lines. The victorie.....

Some Accountability for Social Media platforms

Editorial | John S. Shilshi |

In March, a Los Angeles court hearing a petition filed by a 20-year-old woman, Kaley, who was a minor at the time of filing the case, held Meta and Google guilty of coming up with attention-grabbing applications, resulting in minor addiction to YouTube an.....

Current Updates

History and Spread of Christianity in Arunachal Pradesh

Editorial Pick | Editorial team |

Map of Arunachal Pradesh

• Home • About Us • Education • Opinion • Current Updates • Reports • Photo Gallery • Archives • Contributors • Contact Us History and Spread of Christianity in Arunachal Pradesh **//** Easter: The Beginning of a New Story **//.....

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.....

Education

Don Bosco University Assam

University | NECARF Rep |

Where Quest for Excellence is a Mission

In search of Excellence.....

In the Serene Crest of Green Chandel

School | NECARF Rep |

St. Peter's Higher Secondary School

In the serene crest of Chandel stands St. Peter's Higher School where every hidden qualities of students is turned into excelence.....

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.....

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