By P A Chacko
Dumka, Nov 5, 2023: Capuchin Father Suresh Mathew retires from being Indian Currents editor, leaving behind memories of a man with prophetic touch in the firmament of journalism.
I found it a pleasure to work with him knowing his wavelength for creative media material presentation.
What others have said, on this occasion, about his having been a ‘fearless editor’ is very appropriate. In fact, some time ago, I came across a statement of an Indian intellectual and a non-Christian public personality about Indian Currents. He meant Indian Currents under Father Suresh Mathew. The statement went something like this: “Not much sensible journalistic material is available these days. One of the few readable and bold publications is Indian Currents.”
Given the “godi” media atmosphere prevalent in our time, Indian Currents has shown what principled journalism means. It did not engage any investigative journalists. To my knowledge, article writers have done voluntary service. That meant, most writers demonstrated an investigative touch. Though many writers were Christians, their writings had a prophetic flare too.
In a world of charismatic fervor, when most Christian journals were not bold enough in highlighting human and fundamental rights issues, Indian Currents proved a journal beyond borders. National and international issues affecting human lives were highlighted with a bold and human touch.
I congratulate Father Suresh for walking the talk without sweeping under the carpet the so called ‘inconvenient issues.’
We are living in stressful times. Religious fundamentalism, fascist terror, political opportunism, lynching mobs, rights violations, religious hypocrisy, harsh socio-economic scenario, and the like, are invading our lives, our privacy, our social security, our human and material development. That is where the Church has to be a voice for the voiceless without cringing for favor from the powers that are.
Indian Currents has been living the Gospel values of the Nazarene who inaugurated his Kingdom of fellowship, justice and truth.
I wish Father Suresh showers of graces ahead, as he marches on. I welcome the new editor Father Gaurav Joseph, who, I believe, will prove to be equally bold like Fr. Suresh in keeping up Indian Currents as a creative touch of journalism.
(Jesuit Father P A Chacko has been serving as a missionary in the eastern Indian state of Jharkhand. He is a regular contributor to various publications.)
Indeed Fr. Suresh had taken Indian Currents to a new height with his creative contributions. I wish him all the very best in his new mission.
Several years ago, two courageous editors of The Herald Calcutta, Horace Rozario SJ and C. M. Paul SDB were removed by the “owner” Abp Henry D’Souza, because he wanted only “good news” to be printed. They prefer to shoot the messenger rather than read the message, the writing on the wall. One cannot expect much from the “official ” church media, despite all the hot gas about synodality and “listening to those on the periphery “.