Aims and Objectives:
The Intellectual Wings exists to network all the Christian Intellectuals in a given State or a District. It will co-ordinate to unite the Intellectuals in every major Indian Language segment. Much of the thinking or opinions in public space are usually generated by the Intellectuals first and once they make their statement of their philosophy or convictions, thoughts, concepts then they will percolate into the society to all people. Whenever we talk about intellectuals or philosophers the list cannot be complete without the mention of Socrates, Plato or Aristotle! Some of these world’s most famous and influential philosophers of all time belong to the land of Greece.
It is an emphatic truth that Indian languages and cultures have got several Christian Intellectuals that have made their distinct contribution to that language and culture by their innovative thinking, writing and by enhancing the value of that language or the culture that they belong to. As Greece has succeeded in highlighting their Intellectuals to the universe this Wing will strive to identify, network and bring to fore the Intellectuals highlighting their lives, writings and their specific contributions to a language or to a culture.
Lot of good writings in the form of prose and poetry exist in most major languages of India that were authored by the Christian intellectuals. The Apostle Paul’s several epistles are intellectual treatises and so are the philosophical writings of John the disciple as is in the gospel of John. So the Christian thinker who reads these Intellectual writings does get inspired to fathom deeper areas and to present deeper thoughts and ideas in conjunction with their language and culture.
Much of India’s population are not fully literate so this critical mass of Intellectuals that exist do matter a lot in terms of opinion forming and shaping the essence of the Indian society and it’s soul. There is a great need to identify and network them to come into public space and make their statement that can be debated if necessary but surely that it can be heard by all to consider accepting and following.
The biblical concepts and ideas could be developed by these Intellectuals to help maintain the salient features of Indian democracy. Those lives ought to be traced and documented and brought to light as much as possible. Their works should be given due publicity and let them spread into the public space in the larger civil society if they have not spread so far. If they are already well known then ensure that the current generation and leaders do acknowledge their contribution by commemorating them and their special days if any known.
The writings should be brought into public space and their works and lives should be made clear to the society and if any awards or recognition process exists with any central or state or local governments that should be coordinated that these writers get those awards and so on. If necessary efforts should be made to lobby with the concerned government department to constitute such awards to recognize the intellectuals of good wisdom and great contribution to India.
Major activities of the Intellectual Wing
- The working committee of the State Intellectual Wing will meet twice or thrice a year
- Conduct one or two major programs State wide involving the intellectuals
- The State Intellectual Wing President should recommend leaders for the District IntellectualWing. The respective District President will do the needed appointments.
- Every District Intellectual Wing Committee should meet twice a year.
- To plan and conduct intellectual introspection programs state wide, district wide on major issues like: The Church and Panchayati Raj, What is Indian Nationalism, What is Conversion and so on
- Ecumenical and Interdenominational unity should be maintained and this wing should desist from conducting any debates on doctrinal differences or never interfere in supremacy disputes that are detrimental to the unity of the Universal Church of Jesus.
- Interact with the civil society’s who’s who list of intellectuals and deliberate on the issues with them regarding the Christian Community and the relevance of our faith in today’s world.
- Conduct Self Introspection seminars for Christian Community on matters of grave concern like, practice of Caste discrimination in the Church, Laity Formation and Ecumenical Unity and so on.
- The State Intellectual Wing President or the nominee should travel to all the Districts motivating the Intellectuals to excel in their work and life. Brief them about the activities of the National Christian Council.
- Concerns raised by the Intellectuals about their own situation or about any issues raised on behalf of the Christian community or the larger society should be noted immediately. Christian intellectualism should be given due importance and steps should be outlined for preserving the same and to bring any remedies if there is an erosion of the same noticed.
- The issues raised by the intellectual leaders should be represented to NCC and to the appropriate government authorities for bringing in remedial measure.
