MM Memorial Lecture

Dr. M.M. Thomas Memorial Lecture
Saturday 06 December 2008, 3.00 p.m.
At Pennamma Bhavanam, Manjadi, Tiruvalla

On the occasion of the twelfth death anniversary of Dr. M.M. Thomas, we have ed the memorial lecture on Saturday, 6 December 2008 at 3.00 p.m. Renowned cultural theorist and writer Dr. P.P. Raveendran (School of Letters, Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam) delivered the memorial lecture on

'Cultural Meanings of Globalisation'.

Seminar on COMMUNALISM

one-day seminar
Growth of Communalism and the Attacks on Minorities
on Saturday, 22 November 2008, from 9.30 am to 4.00 pm
at Pennamma Bhavanam

The seminar situated the issues theologically, in order to discuss the questions regarding Christian witness today. The seminar discussed the historical roots of communalism and its linkages with casteism. The discourse on secularism and religiosity was reexamined to understand the growth of communalism in India. There were presentations on the attacks on dalit and tribal Christians in Orissa and the communal violence in Marad to understand the subtle and complex dynamics of communalism today.

Programme
Session I: Roots of Communalism
9.30 am to 1.00 pm
Chair: Simon John
Introduction and welcome speech: Satyan T.M.
K.K. Koch: Communalism and Casteism: The historical links
Rev. Sunny George: Secularism and Religiosity in India: foundational issues

Session II: Contemporary Forms of Communal Violence
2.30 to 4.30 pm Chair: Sonia George
Welcome Speech: Ms. Jincy Thampikkutty
Rev. Jacob P. Thomas (Ayroor Chayal Mar Thoma Church): Attacks on Dalit and
Tribal Christians in Orissa
Vidhu Vincent (Journalist and activist): Violence in Marad and the growth of communal fascism in Kerala
Rev. P.V. Joseph (Senior Faculty, KCC): Theological Reflections on Communalism
Vote of Thanks: Shiju Sam Varughese

Introduction and Welcome Speech: T.M. Satyan

Sri. Simon John

Sri. K.K. Koch

Rev. Sunny George

Audience

LUNCH TIME

Smt. Jincy P. Thampikkutty
Smt. Sonia George
Rev. Jacob P. Thomas

Smt. Vidhu Vincent

Rev P.V. Joseph

audience

Miracle At Cana: Bible Study

BIBLE STUDY
(John 2: 1-11)
led by
Rev. Sam Koshy
(M.Th scholar, Mar Thoma Theological Seminary, Kottayam)
on Saturday 15 November 2008, 2.30 pm
at Pennamma Bhavanam

In his presentation titled 'Bible on Culture', Rev Sam Koshy presented the

cultural studies method in biblical hermeneutics and applied it to understand

the Miracle at Cana.

Rev. Sam Koshy

Audience
Jomon Cheriyan James

Research Scholars' Collective

Lecture by Rev. Mothy Varkey
'SITUATING THE BODY'
followed by discussion
2.30 pm, 01 November 2008 at Pennammabhavanam
We have begun a Scholars' Collective at Pennamma Bhavanam to study social theory and theology in a more serious manner. Any person who is interested in social theory and theology is invited to join the group. We are planning to organise classes and discussions on various topics on a regular basis. Interested participants will be provided with research guides to work on a topic of their interest. The participants are supposed to write a research paper of 20 to 30 pages length at the end of the first six months, and the papers will be published as a book. All of you are invited to join the collective. The class on "SITUATING THE BODY" by Rev. Mothy awas the first in the lecture series. In his lecture he discussed the advent of the body as a strong theoretical concept and category in Social theory and theology.

Please see the photographs below:

Rev Mothy Varkey
Sri M.D. Thomas introducing the Book Series of the Subject and Language Press

The Audience

Suku Sir making a point (below)

Sri Biju Lal

Discussion that continues....

Bible study : Tuesday 07 October 2008

sri yacob thomas

two-day workshop for teenagers at perumbavoor organised by Pennammabhavanam in association with the Guardian Angel Society, Vengola, Perumbavoor

Understand Ourselves to Grow in Faith

body sculpturethe concluding worship
Dr. Renjan Roy Mathew
Parents of the participants
group activity

group activity

morning prayer: Gabriel Rampan

what is Spirituality?: Rev. Fr. Aby Varkey

Eco-theatre: T.M. Satyan

Gabriel Rampachen with the participants

Please Support Pennamma Bhavanam

Dear friend,
Greetings from Pennamma Bhavanam!
Pennamma Bhavanam, as you know, is a space that Dr. M.M. Thomas nurtured through his public witness in church and society. Ever since he left us in 1996, we have been trying in a modest way to keep this space a mother home for liberative faith, politics and praxis. This journey has never been smooth and easy.
The get-together of the friends of Pennamma Bhavanam which met in May 2008 collectively resolved to revitalise the Pennamma Bhavanam so that it will become a space that enables and empowers new generations to see new dreams and become new identities to engage in public witness. We have already initiated new programmes to translate this vision under the leadership of two full-time coordinators. The brochure which is enclosed herewith will give you more clarity about this vision. The interest from the endowment fund is just sufficient for the maintenance of the building. We need another 400,000.00 rupees to meet the programme expenses of the current year.
We have confidence in friends like you who are committed to the endeavour. Therefore, we request you to offer financial support to the centre. We expect you to take the commitment of supporting the centre for the coming three years. The cheques and drafts should show the Tiruvalla Ecumenical Charitable Trust as the payee and be sent to Pennamma Bhavanam. Thanking you,
Yours Sincerely,
Sd/-
Rev. M.J. Joseph Dr. Varghese George Jomon Cheriyan James
T.M. Satyan Shiju Sam Varughese

Dalit Theology Seminar: Photographs

Rev. Y.T. Vinayaraj

Dr. T.V. Madhu

Smt. Rekha Raj

From left: Smt. Rekha Raj, Rev. Sunny George, Dr. T.V. Madhu and Rev. Y.T. Vinayaraj
Rev. Sunny George, the moderator, introduces the book
The Audience

Programmes in JULY 2008

1. Ecumenical Forum
In the context of the controversy over the new SCERT textbooks, an ecumenical forum was launched to formulate a faith response to the same and so far three meetings were organised to discuss different aspects of the dispute. The forum will publish the papers presented on the issue as a booklet to reach a wider community.
2. Sister Mercy Kuttianil Remembrance Get-together
A get together was organised on 6 July 2008, 2 pm at the Pennamma Bhavanam, to commemorate late Sister Mercy Kuttianil, who was actively involved in the fish workers’ struggles in the 1980s and 90s. The memories of the peoples’ movements in the 1980s and 90s were shared by the participants and the need for collective action in the contemporary political context was affirmed.
3. Public Lecture: Demigods and Spirituality
With the intention of reaching out the wider public in Tiruvalla, we are organising public lectures on regular basis. The first public lecture was a faith response to the issue of demigods and the false spirituality that is rampant today. It was organised on 19 July 2008, 4pm, at the YMCA Hall, Tiruvalla. Bishop Thomas mar Athanasius delivered the lecture and the session was chaired by Rev. M.J. Joseph, the chairperson of the trust. More than sixty people attended the programme.
4. Film Viewers’ Collective
In association with the Literary Club of the Mar Thoma College, Tiruvalla, a collective of students who are interested in films was launched. The collective will meet on alternative weekends to watch and discuss films. The first meeting of the collective was on Saturday, 26 July 2008, and the Hindi feature film Tare Zameen Par was screened. 18 students are now members of the collective.
5. Pennamma Bhavanam goes Online

We have started a blog (http://www.pennammabhavanam.blogspot.com/) and an online discussion forum (pennammabhavanam@googlegroups.com) to be in constant touch with the global network of friends and well-wishers of Pennamma Bhavanam. We urge all of you to join the discussion forum and to visit the blog.

Photographs

Front View of the Pennamma Bhavanam

Mrs. Pennamma, Dr. MM's Wife