The Works

| 2005 |

When the Lotus meets the Cross

If every action invites an equal and opposite reaction, then the recent controversial film of Goa’s freedom struggle seems to have met its match in the film ‘India: The Lotus and the Cross’ (ILC).

While the controversial film on Goa’s freedom struggle sought to portray a violent side to Christianity in Goa, the ILC is a concerted effort to amplify the compassionate and charitable face of Christianity. If the first film tried to ‘prove’ Christianity’s inability to interact with Hinduism, the ILC attempts to do just the opposite.

The ILC seeks to convey the message that since religion is rooted in a particular soil, people should experience God through their own culture. In the case of a multicultured country like India, influences between different religions are bound to take place.

The ability of Christianity to adopt and adapt to the different cultures in India society is one of the main themes of the 92-minute ILC, produced and directed by the Canada-based Vishnu Mathur.

Throughout the film, efforts are made to bring in instances of inculturation, similarities between religions and the Hindu-Christian dialogue. For instance, the Hindu woman is shown worshipping the tulsi in front of her house with incense sticks and flowers, while the Christian woman worships the cross in front of a house by lighting candles and offering flowers.

The film records the comments of an array of speakers such as Dr Seby Mascarenhas (rector of the All India Mission Seminary), Dr Noel Sheth (Jnana-Deep Vidyapeeth in Pune), Fr Hillary Fernandes of Vasai-Maharashtra, Swami Aginvesh, Fr Charles Vas (director of Sangeet Abhinay Academy in Mumbai) and Fr Joe Pereira (founder of Kripa Foundation in Mumbai).

While explaining that much of Catholic rituals are borrowed from other influences, Dr Sheth also believes that inculturation involves adoption and adaption of one’s own culture. Swami Agnivesh claims that God is never partial and the game of partiality is a religious mindset. Fr Fernandes even finds similarities between Ganesh and Jesus.

Citing the various instances of inculturation -- the influence of Hindu symbols and rituals in Christianity in India -- the film shows Indian catholic priests celebrating mass sitting on bare floors in simple shawls. Indian style devotional songs sung and dances to praise the Lord and rich sweets distributed as in Hindu temples are also followed during the Eucharist.

The film also depicts new trends in Indian Christian Art, where Jesus is painted as an easterner and Mary a bejewelled Indian lady attired in a saree.

The film also highlights the field work of some Christian priests and nuns who devote themselves wholeheartedly to the alleviation of poverty and diseases in India, irrespective of caste, class or creed.

The speakers admit there is an initial opposition to the Indian Rite mass, specially among the modern sections of catholic society. They however emphasise that the Indian Rite mass would be far more meaningful to traditional villages, where people have had little access to western forms of christianity.

The documentary may raise eyebrows among the traditional christians here in Goa, who are grounded in western forms of christianity, since they could perceive the film as a attempt to ‘corrupt’ the christian faith. For them, an Indian Rite mass is both unnecessary and meaningless.

But for the liberal practitioner of Christianity and for those rooted in traditional Indian villages, the film will be warmly appreciated as the ability to embrace different cultural influences within Christianity.

In any case, the acceptence of multicultural influences in the profession, prayer and practice of one’s faith, as captured in the ILC, is an exercise that could well sustain the rich multicultural fabric of Goan society.

A number of us in the West haven't seen the film, but have heard the reviews and buzz about it....Whatever the intent of the producers, one hopes to God that films of this ilk continue to expand and build on the incredible heritage of congeniality and cohesiveness that exists in Goa among people of ALL faiths....regardless of the routes taken to achieve this state....IT IS ALL ABOUT people perceptions and THE WILL to live "big hearted" or interpret things in a fractious way.

Long live our Diverse cultures and societies in the homeland of our birth, something we see our new adopted countries struggling with. Let's appreciate the Magic that is; and not try to fragment it.

Paula Bedi
Philadelphia
USA
23 Feb 2005

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