Christianity arrived in Kewachala only in the 1960s. Since the first mixed marriage and the first baptisms in 1977, the Catholic community has grown thanks to priests and nuns, in particular Fr. Dominic Sentu Rozario and Fr. Gianantonio Baio of PIME. On January 16, Mithun Mathias Ekka was ordained a priest, the fruit of the seed that was sown.
A tragic case of isolation and indifference in Uttar Pradesh becomes a national issue. Boy cares for 52-year-old mother and, after her death, accompanies her to a post-mortem facility. After his father died of HIV/AIDS, and his mother contracted tuberculosis, the community abandoned them. The boy, who dropped out of school to care for his mother, fears being killed by relatives over his land.
At Manikarnika Ghat, an important cremation site in the holy city, a structure linked to the Hindu Queen Ahilyabai Holkar has been demolished, part of the Kashi Vishwanath corridor project. Meanwhile, the environmental problems of the Ganges and the poverty of many residents remain unresolved. The project has left the Gyanvapi Mosque exposed, paving the way for fresh sectarian tensions.
The deaths, in the Badarganj and Rangpur areas, are linked to the consumption of bootleg alcohol. The latest victim is alleged trafficker Zainul Abedin. In this Muslim-majority country, the existing ban encourages illegal trade. Investigations into the supply chain are ongoing.
The court ordered the release of Aneeqa. Abducted in late December and subjected to a fake conversion, she was recognised as a child based on official records. Her abductor’s arguments were rejected and he was ordered arrested. According to The Edge Foundation, “Such rulings restore faith in the justice system and give hope to countless families facing similar threats.”
Government plans to change the education system have sparked strong protests from teachers, parents, and academics. Criticism centres on flawed teaching materials and the additional costs to families, in a country still coping with the damage caused by recent extreme weather events and where many people still face great economic hardship
