Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Pondicherry (Fides Service) - An operation of cultural and spiritual importance is led by the Sarva Vyabi (Ever Present) Catholic weekly circulated in the south east Indian state of Tamil Nadu .
The weekly, produced by the archdiocese of Pondicherry, is appreciated and read by Catholics, other Christians, and people of other religions. Most of the readers are lay people, scholars, academics and intellectuals. It is an important channel of opinion and formation which in a century of publication has made a major contribution to local culture.
Sarva Vyabi recently celebrated its centenary in the presence of religious leaders, civil authorities and personalities in the field of culture and science, authors and journalists. Archbishop Anandarayar of Pondicherry, said: “Sarva Vyabi is one hundred years old: it has grown and it has helped others to grow. It has changed and it has helped change mentalities of people in India, in Asia and also in America and Europe”, he said referring to the weekly's international diffusion. The Archbishop paid tribute to the missionaries of the Parish Foreign Missions (MEP), who launched to idea and supported it in the difficult early days.
Intellectuals present lauded the weekly for its contribution to literature in the Tamil language.
The present editor Fr. Maria Joseph, recalled that Sarva Vyabi was the first Catholic paper to be printed in a local Indian language. The first edition came of the press in March 1907, thanks to a project led by MEP Fr. Tissandier.
Today the paper treats among other things social questions, rights of women and no caste peoples, questions of justice, peace, safeguarding creation, politics, religious freedom, technological development, and also pastoral and spiritual topics.
Those present agreed that Catholic print media has ever great need of professional competence and the active presence of lay people. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 27/4/2007 righe 26 parole 267)
