Tiruchirappalli: In an inspiring step toward nurturing critical thought and civic responsibility among young Catholics, the Tamilnadu Catholic Youth Movement (TCYM) conducted the offline session of its flagship initiative, “100 Thinkers Towards Change,” on October 11 and 12 at Mariyagam, the Provincial House of the Sisters of Charity (SCCG), South East India Province.
The two-day session brought together 36 young participants from across Tamil Nadu, united by a shared vision of fostering awareness, dialogue, and transformative action within society. The programme forms part of an ongoing monthly series organized by the TCYM Thinkers Team, under the aegis of the Youth Commission of the Tamil Nadu Bishops’ Council, which aims to mold socially conscious thinkers rooted in faith and justice.
Fr. Kuma Edison, Director of TCYM, inaugurated the session, highlighting the movement’s mission to empower young Catholics as critical thinkers, responsible citizens, and voices of integrity in a changing society. He emphasized that faith and social responsibility are inseparable, urging participants to actively engage in addressing systemic injustices through informed reflection and collective effort.
A thought-provoking session by Fr. U. Jegan Bose, Professor at St. Paul’s Seminary, centered on the theme “Social Justice in the View of Ambedkar.” He underscored that social justice transcends charity it is fundamentally about rights and equality, and ensuring those rights is the moral and constitutional duty of the state. His reflections challenged the youth to become advocates for fairness, dignity, and inclusivity in public life.
The participants also engaged in discussions on environmental activism, examining the initiatives of Poovulagin Nanbargal, a Tamil Nadu-based movement campaigning against ecological destruction and environmental violence. The group collectively reviewed Thudippu, the monthly magazine published by the Youth Commission, exploring how media can be used as a tool for awareness, dialogue, and change.
A Eucharistic celebration followed, during which the participants took a pledge for social justice, symbolizing their renewed commitment to work toward equality and communal harmony. The Mass was succeeded by an impactful address from Fr. Savarimuthu, advocate and theologian, who spoke on “The Saffronisation of the Judiciary.” Drawing from the words of Martin Luther King Jr., he urged the youth to remain intellectually independent, morally grounded, and fearless in confronting injustice.
The session concluded with reflections from TCYM President Jerish, who encouraged participants to carry the spirit of the programme into their parishes and communities. The gathering ended with the resonant strains of the movement’s anthem, “Meendum Meendum Ezhuvom” (We Will Rise Again and Again) a musical expression of resilience, faith, and the collective determination to build a more just and compassionate society.
The “100 Thinkers Towards Change” initiative continues to grow as a platform where faith meets reason and action, equipping Tamil Nadu’s Catholic youth to be both spiritual and social catalysts voices of conscience and builders of a more equitable world.