Media Release
Mangalore, Jul 18: The website welcometoreason.com, which provides a platform for showcasing ideas and views on issues of current and abiding interest, has instituted six awards annually through a contest among those writing for the website. This was announced at the media meet at the Mangalore Press Club to mark the fifth anniversary of the website.
Speaking on the occasion, Fr Denzil Lobo, rector, St Aloysius College Institutions, welcomed the enterprise of John B Monteiro in running the not-for-profit website. Referring to the course correction of the website and the shift of focus towards youth and senior citizens, Fr Denzil Lobo said that change is the only constant and John Monteiro has been trying to change the focus of his website in keeping with the times. He said that this age belongs to the youth. The website can be an ideal platform for youth to showcase their ideas and opinions on the burning issues of the day. As for senior citizens, they have time on their hands and a platform for them to get involved with is much welcome. He hoped that these new constituencies selected by the website take full advantage of this platform to air their views, and that the website becomes a vibrant vehicle for intellectual debate.
Fr Denzil Lobo further said: “John Monteiro has floated an award system for youngsters and seniors to showcase their intellectual prowess and sharpen their writing and presentation skills. This year has brought satisfaction to him as an author and journalist, as his book “Corruption – India’s Painful Crawl to Lokpal” was recently published in the USA. I congratulate him on this achievement. In keeping with the intellectual stance of his latest book as well as his website, he has decided to present his books as awards for the contests he is launching. I urge many youth and senior citizens to participate in these contests and build a virtual community of reason and intellect on the website.”
Earlier, Mohan Monteiro, the website editor’s son and an HR professional, spoke about the shift of focus of the website towards youth and senior citizens and announced awards for these constituencies. Giving details, he said that the website will award prizes for best responses from among high school, college students and senior citizens – one prize in each category. There will also be three other prizes for essays/articles submitted by readers meant to provoke reader responses. Topics for reader response will be set on the website on every Wednesday starting from July 17, 2013 and ending on September 18, 2013. Such topics will include: Are suicides criminal? Should rapists be hanged? Is marital tolerance shrinking? How to compute housewife’s value? Is marriage a gamble? Should children be pressure-cooked? Do prayers heal? Will basha deliver bread? Should students have a dress code? Should betting be legal? Mohan Monteiro said that readers should respond before November 17, 2013.
The six first prizes will be awarded the website editor John B Monteiro’s recent book Corruption – India’s Painful Crawl to Lokpal, published in USA and priced at 21.5 dollars. The prizes will be presented at next anniversary function of the website at the Press Club. Details of the competition and the topics will be uploaded on the website www.welcometoreason.com
To reflect the course correction and the new focus, the website’s Home Page has been redesigned. Fr Denzil Lobo unrolled and displayed the flex image of the new look website at the media meet. It being the platinum jubilee of John Monteiro, a birthday cake was cut and offered to those present.
Later, at the St Lawrence Church, Bondel, there was a concelebrated Mass at which Fr Cornelius Monteiro was the main celebrant and Fr Swebert D’Silva, principal, St Aloysius College, delivered the homily.
This was followed by a Hawaiian theme party at the Monteiro residence, Johnlyn Cottage at Bondel, where Dr Derek Lobo, president. Catholic Association of South Canara, proposed the toast to the jubilarian.