Christians upset over no public holiday on St Thomas Day

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Christians in Kerala are upset as repeated requests to successive governments to reverse the 1996 order cancelling the public holiday on St. Thomas Day have gone unheeded. Observed on July 3 every year across the world, the day celebrates the life and deeds of St. Thomas. He was one of the 12 Apostles of Jesus Christ, and in the 1st Century A.D., he travelled to India, where he preached Christianity and reached Kerala. The Assembly of Christian Trust Services (ACTS), which has two top Christian Bishops as its chief patrons, expressed their displeasure on Thursday, as on July 3 this year, a few University exams have been scheduled.

General Secretary of ACTS, George Sebastian, said from 1956 until 1996, St. Thomas Day was a public holiday. "However, in 1996, when A.K. Antony was the Chief Minister, his government withdrew the holiday, and we have on numerous occasions requested successive governments to reinstate the holiday, but nothing has happened," said Sebastian. Incidentally, in Kerala, early this week for Eid, the state government declared Wednesday and Thursday as holidays for all educational institutions, and more importantly, what ACTS points out is that the examinations that were listed to be held on Wednesday have now been listed for July 3, when Christians observe St. Thomas Day. (IANS)

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