Getting to know Mahesh...

Last evening I enrolled the first boy during my tenure (though temporary one) at DBNJ, Vizag. He was Mahesh. He would be around 9 to 10 years old. To his misfortune he landed in hands of those who did not know hindi at all... but luckily good hands (Childline). When they brought him to NJ, I managed to strike a good conversation with him and get a few more details but far from anything complete. I even bluffed him telling that the musical programme that evening was to welcome him (it was infact a youth group celebrating one of their member's b'day). He was so thrilled by the 'reception for him' that he would every now and then come into my office with a broad smile. I think he'll stick on. But one never knows...!

Anyway, felt glad that I could make an impression on a child, that too a lost one for something good. Hope to be able to trace back his home in Maharashtra. Furthermore, used my broken and miserable Marathi to ask a few questions but when he answered them, I was at a loss!!

Propelled by the title SDB

I spent the last two days - my maiden days - at Don Bosco Navajeevan, Vizag... that too as the director. On my way to the place, I said to myself ... what a fate. I take charge of a place, built up by someone and I'll be the 'boss' of people who have a working experience of more than half a dozen years in that institute (add to that another half a dozen years of work experience elsewhere). And what propels me straight away to the director's chair? My title: SDB!

God help me!!

Teach us to pray

Lord teach us to pray!! Fr Rinoy began his sermon, asking a simple question: "Did you ever ask anyone to teach you to pray?" Well, certainly I didn't! We often 'teach' others to pray. Seldom do we attempt to learn to pray ourselves. Anyway, what matters most is that we pray... how, where, when is all relative, in the final analysis. The most important however is that we PRAY! As Harold Kushner would say, we pray not that things may be different, but that we may be better equipped to understand the situation and context.

And the best definition of prayer (as said by Fr Stan): Not telling lies to God!

To Vizag for the street children

For the next few days, I will be in Vizag in our street children's home replacing Fr TV Thomas who is in Hyderabad recuperating from his spinal surgery. I was just thinking to myself yesterday, I never got to work in a Street Children home, in spite of my repeated requests to the Provincials... so far. And here I am, in the Philosophate, as the dean, without an assistant and venturing out to help out in the management of the Vizag Shelter Home.

Anyway, I am sure God has something in store for me to learn. Let's see what best I can do.

In an ambulance, to the hospital

This evening I had the chance to travel in an ambulance for the first time in my life... of course, luckily it was not for myself, but for a Brother who broke his leg while playing football. And what a drive it was to the hospital. The lights were not functioning; nor were the brakes in condition. Add to that the traffic jams at Pendurthi and NAD junction; not counting the road construction along the way! But what surprised me most was the callousness of the other vehicle drivers. Very many would not give way, in spite of the ambulance sirens wailing loud and clear. Not an inch, not in any way out of the way!! The silver lining however was several children whom I saw riding pillion, desperately telling their parents who were riding the bike or the scooter and tapping their shoulders to get out of the way. Some sensitive taxi drivers and bike riders immediately would give way and even block others trying to get past ahead of the ambulance.

Anyway, I thanked God for it was not a desperate case that needed to reach the hospital immediately. We could afford to get delayed. But if it were someone who needed immediate hospital care, the ambulance would very well have been his coffin as well!!

And the other thing - almost a miracle - the ambulance driver and attender strongly refused to take a single pie, in spite of driving us all the way to Vizag, to a hospital which we wanted to go - and not to the nearest Government hospital.

Self-worth and formative ambience

Yesterday we had the cultural day in the seminary. It was good. Though as per 'tradition' this was supposed to be a day to showcase talents, in any and every form, I altered it to make it a little more meaningful. When I heard what the impression and learning experience was of the Brothers from this event in the past, I realised, it was purely for entertainment... one full day for real foolery and making mockery of oneself, in order to make others laugh, I was absolutely not for it. Hence I slowly 'tailored' the planning to bring in some sense and sensibility, especially for oneself. Narrowing the criteria of performance to showcase the rich cultural heritage of Andhra Pradesh, I managed to restrict the number of entries and what surprised me further was what happened once the programme began. To my great surprise and edification, the first few who appeared on stage for song, speech and other competitions, were well prepared. Seeing this a few who intended only to make a fool of themselves, silently withdrew their names at the announcer's desk. They must have realised, that not all were foolish like them to get on stage without any preparation. I very well know that in order to gain the approval of some or make the group laugh some would stoop low to any extent. To add a sense of decency, another great help was the presence of the parents and relatives of one of the Brothers. I think their presence with us for the whole programme was very formative. None would demean themselves in front of parents, and especially women folk - this I learnt yesterday morning.

Gives me ideas... perhaps the next time there is a programme of this sort, it would be good to invite someone from outside. Those keen on some foolery and mockery - even of oneself - can have their way during recreation or family circles.

Furthermore, the organising group, Speed n' speed too did a simple but decent job. I was quite surprised to see that they pulled off this event without much confusion and tension.

Faith and presence

In the past week I have had two invitations to attend the Parish feast in two different places: at Muniguda (our own Salesian mission in Orissa) and at Narpam (one of the substations of our Kondadaba Parish, here itself). Both of which I do not intend to attend. Reason: I dislike crowds. I like some peaceful and short celebrations which are more personal than directed to no one in particular. However, I intend to visit these places some other time. But what was brought to my notice was that me visiting these places some other time is totally different from being present when they are inviting us. I really did not know the difference till the person stated that being called for an occasion has a significance greater than just being present. It means strength, prestige, power... and faith too. I really did not understand, till this morning, when one of the old ladies who invited me to Narpam said, the greater the presence of Brothers and Fathers, the greater the witness value to the local population. Of course, there is whole ball game of name, fame and prestige to say that 'so many' attended the feast, but I also realise this aspect of enriching the faith of the people has some truth behind participating in large numbers for feast and other public occasions. However, I now know it, but am not fully convinced of it.

For Fr TV!

Today we finally heard that Fr TV will be on the operation table tomorrow morning at 8.30. It was something that he was postponing for the past year. It finally caught up with him. He has been constantly complaining about his back and didn't want to undergo the operation because no doctor would give the guarantee of a recovery even after the operation. But day before yesterday he was badly off. And Fr KT had to rush him all the way to Hyderabad yesterday morning. For today, I wish the best for Fr TV. I've spent four years with him, and the last three years were quite enriching (the first one was in the novitiate). During the past three years in the Provincial house we were almost like friends. There was much we shared, talked, discussed and worked up. Perhaps of all the confreres in the Provincial house, we two were the closest.

Anyway, may his operation go on well and he be well on the road to recovery.

Sports Day at Kondadaba

The Brothers are all involved actively in the Sports events since morning. The Youth Alive group has done pretty well in animating the day. Though not perfectly planned, they have somehow mastered the art of organising games without much confusion. Will help them greatly in the future too. The Brothers too are alive and very much talented. Surprisingly those who never managed to pass in Philosophy, practically none of the exams he managed to get through, is doing very well in chess. I wonder how this is possible.

I was happy to be with them this whole morning in the playground. I realise spending time with them, talking to them, about things dear to them and getting to know their 'inner circle' of discussions and thoughts bridges the gap between the formators and formees much. I know all this is said by Don Bosco and the Preventive System. It is only that when one experiences it first-hand, does it become so vivid and real. However, I find it increasingly difficult to be all over the place for long. My knee is troubling me much but the desire to be close to them too is too tempting to resist.

Unquestioned integrity and Professionalism

Discussing about the mega debacle of the Common Wealth Games being held in Delhi, there is a lot of talk about the belling the cat. Who exactly and for what reasons, are the present state of affairs, the way they are. Most of the accusation is pointed to the leadership and the corruption prevailing at the top level of administration and organisation. Comparing this leadership with that of E. Sreedharan, the man who is at the helm of the Delhi Metro Project, Rajdeep Sardesai uses a very apt phrase to describe the difference: Unquestioned integrity and Professionalism.

True indeed! In today's world where everything seems corrupted, from the milk sold in the market to the nuclear warheads being engineered, the one thing that really matters most is integrity. In the past few days too, there have been several incidents in the Seminary here where some of the students have questioned several aspects of the community life. However, most of them hesitate when it comes to this aspect of integrity. It has also offered me rich opportunities to show the chinks in their arguments. Brothers come to me to settle their disputes. I resist and desist. The reason (which I make clear to them): when I get involved in giving a solution, that becomes 'my solution'. But on their own when they have to sort out matters, it becomes 'one's own' discussion.