Christian Ashram Movement

Feasibility of the Christian Ashram Movement of India

➢ Three assumptions of the announcement on the Christian Ashram Movement of India (the Movement) are important to note: a. The pioneers of the Movement can be traced to ancient times. Their faith, sacrifices and commitment are embedded in our culture. We only give fillip to it in our current social, political and cultural context, and do it with a sense of urgency. b. As a Movement of generations of the past and present and continuing into the future, we are emboldened by the availability of the Internet media to conceive a broad-based Movement across the whole of India. Indian culture is in stress and it is time to take a look at all its nodes and see its emerging interconnected pattern. C. As it is culture-focused and based in the faith of ordinary people as they live, it would make significant difference to the assumptions of ashrams, ancient and modern. The new awareness of the Movement would enable autonomous leaders/coordinators to rally in their own corners. A centralised coordination is unnecessary.
➢ Our prior concern is to raise the general awareness of the crucial issues through several channels to enable a grassroots movement take off.
➢ The People’s Reporter, published from Bombay has been a faithful organ for publishing news about the efforts at the CK Ashram in the past and continues to help the Movement forward. We are most grateful for their participation in our pioneering work.
➢ E-mailing is another channel available. From Yahoo e-mail ID I am switching over to , which appears to be more flexible and dependable. We have 150 contacts in our mailing list and the number can be increased with your efforts.
➢ Blogger Dashboard, Webpage and such are other Internet devices that would help disseminate news of the Movement as they happen in different parts of India. It is prayerfully hoped that young people with facility in these important devices would come forward in managing their operation creatively.
➢ A Blog has been created with the title: Christian Ashram Movement. You may reach and participate in the ongoing conversation with your own comments, news and critique.
➢ There is a need for a periodical for substantial presentation of the focus but varied expressions of the Movement. We have had this in mind for a long time. An esteemed colleague, Dr. Vasant Kumar Bawa, a creative thinker, writer, and a layman extraordinaire has given much thought to Christian ashrams and the lack of perspective on Christianity in India on the part of the organised church, of the Protestant variety. Ashram Mitra, a periodical he published for sometime for the purpose of raising critical issues before Christians and the Church in India, is now available with his consent to be revived for the purpose of the Movement. The mechanics of when and how this can be absorbed as our organ and the personnel to professionally manage the publication have to be worked out. Please advise.
➢ For a grassroots’ movement to develop and sustain itself, merely reaching English readers will never do. All national languages of India must become its veins and arteries. Your suggestions and contacts for this purpose are urgently needed. The announcement of the Movement must be translated and published in all national languages. Need volunteers to take charge, to initiate, to mobilize, etc. etc. Please share this information on this breakthrough initiative. Your prayers and thoughtful participation are needed.
Sundaramani