“‘We, in India, also celebrate Christmas in quite a big way. Christianity was brought to India by Saint Thomas, the Apostle himself, in the year 52 AD. Thus, the faith was embraced by the people of India well before many European nations. Today, the number of Christians in India is about 24 million,’ said President Mukherjee” – Rajat Pandit
When President Pranab Mukherjee crossed the famed Arctic Circle on Thursday evening, becoming the first Indian head of state to do so, there was somebody even more famous eagerly awaiting to greet him with an unmistakable “Ho, ho, ho” deep-throated laugh.
A chubby and merry white-bearded man, clad in a red coat trimmed with white, surrounded with mischievous-looking elves, reindeers with huge antlers and, of course, “jingle bells” playing softly in the background.
Yes, Mukherjee also became the first Indian President to meet and greet the “original” Santa Claus in his “official home” on the Arctic Circle. Accompanied by daughter Sharmistha and his official delegation, Mukherjee crossed the Arctic Circle line on foot to enter Santa’s abode around 8km north of Rovaniemi, which is the capital of Finland’s northernmost province Lapland and a huge tourist attraction for both wonder-struck children and their parents around the globe.
And as one would expect, out came the gifts even if Christmas was still far away, and the snow had barely begun to fall. Mukherjee surprised the gregarious Santa by presenting him with a marble Indian elephant. “Usually, I give presents. You have made my day,” said a beaming Santa.
Then, it was time for photographs with Santa. A smiling President and his visibly excited daughter sat on either side of Santa, who asked them if they would mind if he put his arms around them, and then did exactly that. “Namaste, give my love to the people of India,” said Santa.
Then, it was a free-for-all with the dozens of politicians, diplomats and bureaucrats in Mukherjee’s entourage scrambling to get pictures clicked with Santa like awestruck children. “He was humming Christmas carols quite well,” said BJP MP Babul Supriyo, himself a popular singer.
Mukherjee also took a stroll of Santa’s village, including the main post office that receives millions of letters from children around the globe, including from India. Mukherjee told Rovaniemi mayor Esko Lotvonen that it was “a memorable occasion” to be at the Arctic Circle — in the land of Santa Claus, so near to the North Pole.
“I had the privilege of meeting Santa Claus himself and confirming that he does exist! The people of Rovaniemi are fortunate to have the opportunity to live and work with him. It must feel like Christmas all the year through,” said Mukherjee.
“We, in India, also celebrate Christmas in quite a big way. Christianity was brought to India by Saint Thomas, the Apostle himself, in the year 52 AD. Thus, the faith was embraced by the people of India well before many European nations. Today, the number of Christians in India is about 24 million,” he added. – Times of India, 17 October 2014
Contrary to President Mukherjee’s statement, St Thomas did not come to India nor did Christianity reach India before it reached Europe—it had already reached Greece, Italy, and Spain in the 40s CE. Nor is it true that “the faith was embraced by the people of India” at any time. Mukherjee is only repeating the popular fable that has been repeated by Indian politicians before him to catch Christian votes. This is to be expected of a Congress party man who idolises Chairman Deng Xiaoping and spends public money on a state tour to meet Santa Claus in a Finnish amusement park. Will his next official foray abroad be to Disneyland to meet Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck? Are Indians aware that it is just this kind of false and foolish statement by an Indian head of state that makes India a laughing-stock in Europe? – Ishwar Sharan
Filed under: finland, india | Tagged: diplomacy, finland, india, pranab mukherjee, santa claus, st. thomas, st. thomas myth |
BHARATA BHARATI 
Please watch till the end.
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I never thought #PranabMukerji will do something like this. I feel shame on myself that we have religiously biased President for our nation. Secondly meeting santa clause on official trip!!!!!!
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Shameless president making a fool of themselves even abroad. Is it surprising people don’t respect Indians anywhere. Even a child knows Santas are not real. INSANE!
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His complicity in the crimes during emergency of 75 are documented. Though not well known.
In my town is a saying, trust a thief if you must, but don’t trust a short fellow.
Christians by all known sources reached India in the 14th century. They were booted out of Persia for various justifiable reasons.
India gave them shelter. A new life. They must regard this land as much as they respect their parents. They do the opposite and harm Indians interests in every action they do. Even breathing.
I think it was Solomon or maybe Dhritharashtr who said, “better to beget a thousand serpents than an ungrateful child.”
I doubt whether an Indian soldier will obey this commander in chief. He’ll probably say no. And very rudely.
Word of God?
When I think of all the harm the Bible has done, I despair of ever writing anything to equal it.” — Oscar Wilde
“Christianity is the most ridiculous, the most absurd and bloody religion that has ever infected the world.” — Voltaire
“Millions of innocent men, women and children, since the introduction of Christianity, have been burnt, tortured, fined, imprisoned, [and molested]: yet we have not advanced one inch towards humanity. What has been the effect of coercion? To make one half of the world fools, and the other half hypocrites. To support error and roguery all over the earth.” — Thomas Jefferson
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Not 14th century, 4th century. Their refugee leader (in 345 CE) was a merchant from Jerusalem and is commonly known as Thomas of Cana or Knai Thoma. This is the man Syrian Christians in Kerala later conflated with the brother and apostle of Jesus, Judas Didymus Thomas or St Thomas.
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His complicity in the crimes during emergency of 75 are documented. Though not well known.
In my town is a saying, trust a thief if you must, but don’t trust a short fellow.
Christians by all known sources reached India in the 14th century. They were booted out of Persia for various justifiable reasons.
India gave them shelter. A new life. They must regard this land as much as they respect their parents. They do the opposite and harm Indians interests in every action they do. Even breathing.
I think it was Solomon or maybe Dhritharashtr who said, “better to beget a thousand serpents than an ungrateful child.”
I doubt whether an Indian soldier will obey this commander in chief. He’ll probably say no. And very rudely.
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Speech by the President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee at the inauguration of Muziris Heritage Project in Kodungaloor, Kerala – Business Standard – Kodungaloor – February 27, 2016
Quote
1. I am happy to be here in this historic town of Kodungaloor today to inaugurate the Muziris Heritage Project, being implemented by the Tourism Department of the Government of Kerala, with the support of the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India.
2. If Kerala is God’s own country, Kodungaloor is the town where the Gods gather in unity and harmony. This town and its surroundings have been a thriving centre of Islam, Christianity, Judaism as well as Hinduism. It is heartening to know that the ancient Kurumba Bhagavati temple and the Cheraman mosque, believed to be the oldest mosque in India, are both in Kodungalloor. The two synagogues in Paravur and Chennamangalam, the historical precinct of Kottayil Kovilakam and the Kottapppuram fort with its links to the Portuguese, the Dutch and the Mysore Sultans are also in the neighbourhood. Kodungaloor is also believed to be the place where the Apostle of Jesus Christ, St. Thomas, landed bringing with him Christianity to India much before it reached Europe. …
Unquote
Pranab Mukherjee is a senior Congress politician who got the president’s chair as a boon for faithful service to the Dynasty.
He is not a stupid man and knows very well that St Thomas did not come to India. He also knows that Christianity reached Europe in the 40s CE, at least a decade before it could have reached India (assuming Thomas did bring it in 52 CE). But as a Congress politician he finds it expedient to repeat the dubious tale in his address at the inauguration of the Muziris Heritage Project in Kodungaloor on Feb. 26, 2016.
President Mukherjee is doing vote bank politics. Kerala will be going to the polls at the end of May 2016 and it has a large Christian population that supports the Congress party.
It is very unfortunate for the Indian people that they must suffer this garrulous, politically-biased president at least for a while longer.
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Seems that the Congressman Pranab Mukherjee’s visit to Santa’s fabled land was orchestrated by Congress and his speech was scripted by the missionary elements who are increasingly using 25 December to exhibit Christianity in India and hope to harvest more Indian souls. What a shame at so many levels.
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Most of our big wigs have very little knowledge of Hinduism and of India of yesteryears; they do not have the pride of being the bosses for nearly one billion Hindus. once in the Gaddi, they forget that all their lavish living and showered fame is the pure sweat of the Hindus-about 600 million of them are very poor indeed; yet they have favored them with their votes, hoping that these big wigs will do some good! But, they have cheated them in all manners including their faith!!
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the problem is : who will make the ‘real historical facts’ widely known ? and who is going to heed ?
IS once said he wondered how such fearful and repressive religions came into existence ;
the way out suggested by IS was that the adherents should realize the irrationality of these faiths ;
which means mental evolution to some extent and teaching of rational attitude from childhood ;
“…christianity and islam should be thrown out of our country.” — not just that , they should go off the globe ;
( i saw somewhere on the net : kill islam , or it kills you )
and they sure go ;
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The real historical facts about the myth of st. Thomas are not known by many and it is unfortunate that a head of state shows his ignorance. Both Christianity and Islam should be thrown out of our country. That is the only way in which India can remain a Hindu country.
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“…..I had the privilege of meeting Santa Claus himself and confirming that he does exist! The people of Rovaniemi are fortunate to have the opportunity to live and work with him…….”
the people of Bharata Bhumi are unfortunate to have the opportunity to forget their heroes one by one , who are anyhow confirmed by many to be non-existent ;
his name is Pranav — Omkar ; he is the first citizen of india ; and yes , india is quite the laughing stock !
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India’s political leaders are fond of telling their constituencies and the nation that Christianity arrived in India before it arrived in Europe. This historical conceit is not true. Apostle Paul says in Romans 15:24 & 15:28 that he plans to visit Spain (which apparently already had a Christian community). In Acts 19:21 he travels from Ephesus to Greece—Macedonia and Achaia—en route to Jerusalem and then Rome. This took place in the 40s CE—some historians say he was writing after 44 CE. So even if it was true that Apostle Thomas landed in Kerala in 52 CE—the spurious date is of 19th century origin—Christianity would still have arrived in Europe a decade earlier.
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