I wrote down these thoughts on 26 January 2026 as Republic Day Reflections…
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As I sit here on Republic Day, the echoes of our national anthem still ringing in my ears from this morning's flag-hoisting ceremony, I can't help but feel a mix of pride and profound concern. It's the 76th year of our beloved Constitution – our Constitution, as it proudly declares in its opening words: "We, the people of India." Yet, in these times, that "we" feels increasingly under siege. Fascism's shadow looms large, fundamentalism rears its ugly head, and minorities like us Christians – along with Dalits, Adivasis, women, and so many others – find ourselves on the frontlines of a battle for dignity, rights, and simple survival.
I've spent years witnessing this erosion firsthand: the hate speeches that poison the air, the policies that chip away at our freedoms, the whispers of division that turn neighbors into suspects. As a Catholic deeply rooted in the Gospel's call to justice, I've felt compelled to act. This isn't abstract theology; it's the gritty reality of lives disrupted, communities fractured, and futures threatened. Drawing from Scripture, papal wisdom, and the unyielding spirit of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, I've compiled this personal manifesto – a living document of how I choose to respond. It's not exhaustive, but it's practical, born from prayerful nights and activist days. If it resonates, adapt it, share it, live it. Because in the words of Pope Benedict XVI in Caritas in Veritate, "Love – caritas – is an extraordinary force which leads people to opt for courageous and generous engagement in the field of justice and peace."
Let me walk you through my commitments, section by section. This is how I ground myself, how I prepare my community, and how I stand ready to respond. Join me?
I. I Pray – Without Ceasing, With Purpose
Prayer isn't a sideline for me; it's the oxygen of resistance. Jesus teaches us in Matthew 6:5-14 to pray not for show, but in the quiet corners of our hearts, aligning our will with God's. I start every day like this – not with grand gestures, but with raw honesty. Lately, I've been immersing myself in Luke 4:1-13, reflecting on Jesus' temptation in the wilderness. It's a stark mirror: power, privilege, possessions, position, pride – these are the sirens that lure us into complacency. How often do I catch myself chasing them, forgetting the cost?
From there, I internalize the words that set Jesus' mission ablaze: the Messianic Proclamation in Luke 4:14-20, where he claims liberation for the oppressed. The Beatitudes in Matthew 5:1-16 remind me that true blessing lies in mourning injustice and hungering for righteousness. Stories like the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-36) challenge me to cross divides, while the Parable of the Ten Virgins (Matthew 25:1-13 – yes, those five foolish ones) warns against spiritual laziness. And the Last Judgment in Matthew 25:31-46? It's my gut-check: am I feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, or just scrolling past?
In my parish, we've organized special prayer vigils – not just in our halls, but spilling into neighborhoods and homes. Our churches stay open around the clock, a beacon for the weary. I've joined my Christian brothers and sisters in their spaces, and we've hosted inter-faith gatherings – Sarva Dharma Prarthana – right at the grassroots, where real faces meet real fears. But sensitivity matters: our prayers shouldn't blast like fireworks at midnight, jarring the sick, the elderly, or the little ones next door. No high-decibel speakers after 10 PM, no crackers that choke the air – the Supreme Court has ruled on this, and so has my conscience. Prayer builds bridges, not walls.
II. I Embrace Constitutionalism – My Sacred Covenant
Forget hero-worship or anarchy's grammar; as Dr. Ambedkar urged, I'm all in for a social democracy that lifts everyone. The Constitution of India? It's my only sacred text as a citizen – a living promise of justice, liberty, equality, and fraternity. In this anniversary year, I celebrate it fiercely: studying its pages, tracking every amendment, every policy twist. I promulgate it in my writings, protect it in protests, and promote it in every conversation.
At my institution, we've woven Constitutional Values, Peace Education, and Human Rights into the curriculum – not as add-ons, but as the heartbeat. Framed preambles in the vernacular hang on our walls, gifted as reminders at every event. I defend Article 19's freedom of speech and Article 25's religious liberty with my voice and my vote. Recently, I picked up a copy from #RECLAIMCONSTITUTION (check out www.reclaimconstitution.in) – it's dog-eared now, underlined with fire. Whatever the risks – and there are many – I safeguard these enshrined rights. Because if we lose them, what democracy remains?
III. I Prioritize Dialogue – Open, But Discerning
Dialogue is my lifeline, but not blind naivety. I keep channels wide open with everyone – neighbors, officials, even those who eye us warily. Yet, I won't co-opt or legitimize fascists, fundamentalists, or fanatics who trample constitutional principles. True dialogue demands mutual respect, equity, dignity – no less.
I join their festivals, invite them to ours; we share meals, play cricket in the lanes, recreate under the same sun. Grassroots gems like mohalla committees? I'm fostering them, seeking common threads that bind rather than blades that divide. Vocally, I call out divisiveness, demonization, discrimination, rumors, exclusiveness – they have no place in my world. Networking with secular allies? It's my daily bread: teamwork, subsidiarity, collaboration. Together, we weave a pluralistic tapestry strong enough to withstand storms.
IV. I Study, Document, Write – Illuminating the Shadows
Knowledge is my flashlight in the dark. I study reality through five lenses: awareness, accompanying the suffering, articulating truths, actualizing change, advocating fiercely. Fascist ideology? I dissect it – their strategies at street level, boardrooms, and beyond. Lawrence Britt's "Fourteen Characteristics of Fascism" (ratical.org/ratville/CAH/fasci14chars.html) chills me with its parallels to India today: the cult of tradition, disdain for human rights, supremacy of the military – it's all here.
But I don't silo myself in Christian concerns; I'm shoulder-to-shoulder with Dalits, Adivasis, women, children, the differently-abled, laborers, LGBTQIA+, migrants, minorities, small farmers – all the marginalized. I collect hate-filled patrikas, clip newspaper articles on flashpoints, record inflammatory speeches on video and audio. Then, I write: letters to editors in national dailies and local rags, op-eds that cut through the noise. The Right to Information Act? It's my Excalibur – wielding it to demand transparency from the powers that be.
V. I Stand Up – For Truth, Rights, Justice, Reconciliation, and Peace
Pope Francis nails it in Evangelii Gaudium (#218): Peace isn't pacification or the comfy silence of the privileged; it's prophetic fire for the poor, the silenced. Dignity and common good trump comfort every time. So, I fear only God – no man, no threat. I'm a witness to justice and truth; succumbing to fear erodes my soul and credibility.
I devour recent papal gems like Laudato Si' and Fratelli Tutti, letting them shape my activism. I'm plugged into pro-Constitution crews: PUCL (pucl.org), CJP (cjp.org.in), ANHAD, INSAF, NAPM, AICM, Bharat Jodo Abhiyan – marching, advocating, amplifying. Our churches buzz with secular spotlights: film screenings like Parzania, Final Solution, Ram Ke Naam, followed by raw discussions. I speak out, join dharnas, sign petitions, rally for the voiceless.
Distance from vested interests? Non-negotiable. No corrupt politicians as chief guests; our events spotlight UN themes or social justice. Alumni networks, parish councils, PTAs – they're my think tanks, rotating leadership to stay fresh. I denounce communalism, corruption, casteism, consumerism, criminalization. Workshops on rights, legal literacy, JPCs in villages and parishes – it's all in motion. My name's on the electoral rolls (check eci.gov.in, folks – register now!), and I vote every time.
We mark UN days with fervor: Human Fraternity (Feb 4), Social Justice (Feb 20), Women's Day (Mar 8), Romero's martyrdom (Mar 24), Ambedkar Jayanti (Apr 14), and beyond. Rumors? I squash them – authenticate before forwarding on WhatsApp. I champion RTI, RTE, RTF, the Universal Declaration. Against draconian laws like CAA, NPR, NRC, labor codes, farm bills? I'm unyielding. For Adivasis' jal, jungle, jameen, PESA? Absolutely. No eco-destructive projects on my watch.
Resources like Khoj (khojedu.net) and Ratna Sagar's Yes We Can series fuel our value education. This is my stand – prophetic, persistent.
VI. I Keep My House in Order – Integrity as Armor
Vulnerability invites attack, so I fortify the basics. All documents – land deeds, permissions, registrations, licenses, audits – pristine and updated. Personal IDs? EPIC, Aadhaar, PAN – squared away. Electoral rolls? Verified, no disenfranchisement via SIR slips through. I fight delisting, delimitation, demolitions targeting the poor and minorities.
No laminating official papers unless authorized; duplicates filed, originals in safe deposits. Accounting? Transparent as glass – no bribes, ever. Taxes paid promptly. Compliance with government policies, Charity Commissioners, FCRA, IT – all checked. Medical staff registered, bio-waste handled right. No abuse, especially of minors; just wages, contracts, labor laws honored. Respect, equity, dignity for all colleagues. Protocols for the vulnerable? Ironclad. They hit where it hurts, but I'm ready.
VII. I Pre-Empt Trouble – Eyes Wide Open
Trouble doesn't announce; it ambushes. I provide prior intel to my JPC, alert focal points at the first whiff. Authorities get written notices – proof-stamped. Police? I know my station, request protection only in dire straits (but warily – security can mean surveillance). No panic; fascists love flipping scripts, painting victims as villains.
Phones tapped? I check. Passwords guarded, changed often. Devices? Hack-proof as I can make 'em – no injected dirt.
VIII. I Address Reality – Calm, Collected, Courageous
Provocation? I breathe deep, listen first. Seek allies, shelter the weak – elders, women, kids. Police notified in writing, courteously. Info shared wisely; evidence captured – photos, videos, audio – preserved, not tampered. No exaggeration, no downplay.
Details computerized pronto. FIRs filed accurately, naming names; I write in English/Hindi/regional if needed. Local cops stonewall? Escalate with full docs. Read every statement before signing – date, time, seal. Demand my copy. Always.
IX. I Stay Vigilant – Liberty's Stewards
"Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty," Wendell Phillips said – truer now than ever. Interrogations? Daytime, weekdays only. No official visits to women's spaces 6 PM to 9 AM. Unknown calls? Ignored. No telephonic leaks, no OTPs to strangers. Demand IDs, written warrants, verify authority.
Record visits openly – Androids make it easy. Questions? Get them written, signed. No snap responses; consult community, experts. No inspections sans magistrate's warrant. Spokespeople? One per group, vernacular-savvy. Legal literacy is my mantra – rights known, lawyers networked (ISI's booklets: isidelhi.org.in). HR institutions on speed dial. No ostrich heads in sand; tokenism backfires.
X. I Communicate – Boldly, Wisely
Effective comms? My superpower in training. I share struggles humbly – no shame in solidarity. PR skills honed; social media (FB, X, WA, IG, Telegram) used for uplift, not echo chambers. Fake news? Fact-checked ruthlessly.
My blog? A social soapbox. Media friends? Cultivated – tips on our good works, contact lists gold. Crises? Focal points pinged instantly; packages dispatched (FIRs, clips, tapes) via courier, no delays. NHRC (nhrc.nic.in) or commissions? Complaints registered posthaste.
XI. In Closing: A Call to Caritas
This guide? Crafted in public interest amid relentless assaults on Christians, minorities, the vulnerable. Tailored for us Catholics, but universal in reach. It's my 12th iteration – refined by fire, open to your tweaks (email: cedricprakash@gmail.com). Disseminate freely; credit where due.
It's practical steps against fascism's creep – not exhaustive, but a start. As Pope Benedict reminds us, love propels us into justice's fray. From God, Eternal Love and Absolute Truth.
What about you? Where will you begin? Drop a comment, share your story. Together, we reclaim our Republic.
In solidarity and hope,
Cedric Prakash
(With deepest gratitude to the Gospel's fire and Ambedkar's vision)
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*Human rights activist and writer
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