By Jaison Taccode
Moodbidri, Dec 28: A Konkani play book called Yuvajanancho Apostle Don Bosco (Apostle of Youth: Don Bosco) was released by Mark Cyril Pinto, a dramatist, writer and Convenor of Social and Cultural Commttee, Taccode at the end of the Christmas night Mass on December 24.
The writer and the director of this mega Konkani Play is Dr Mark Castelino and this is his third mega play book published in the past three years. At the same time a DVD of this Konkani mega Play was also released by Mr. Brian Rego from Mumbai.
The United Nations Organisation has declared the year 2010-11 (12 Aug.2010-11Aug.2011) as the International Year of Youth (IYY). The Pope has also, keeping in mind the role of the youth in building the present society, invited the whole universal Church to celebrate the IYY.
Though no special lasting remarkable celebrations of the IYY have taken place in India, the Konkan Karavaliche Kalaakar (KKK), Mangalore, Taccode, under the experienced Play-writer and director Dr Mark Castelino have celebrated the IYY by staging a socio-historical, religious, Konkani mega Play called Yuvajanancho Apostle Don Bosco at Puttur Church ground on 24 April 2011 with 100 artists on four drama stages. Don Bosco is the patron of Youth.
Don Bosco was born on 16 August 1815 at Becchi, near Turin, Italy. Due to the local problems of the youth, Don Bosco took up his dedicated service to the youth after his ordination on 05-06-1841. He began to meet the poor street boys and young prisoners in prison and began to develop a soft corner to youngsters. When many parents refused to take back their sons after a short duration of imprisonment (due to petty thefts like stealing bread) the youngsters finding nowhere to go, took shelter under Don Bosco. The talk of the town in Turin spread far and wide as Don Bosco opened the doors of his residence to the prisoners, thieves and problematic youngsters. Through his own efforts Don Bosco began to teach faith and morals to the illiterate youngsters and began to build self confidence in them by allowing them to play football. The youngsters began to receive some ray of hope in their lives as they were accepted by Don Bosco, while on the other hand the youngsters were disowned by their parents. Don Bosco began to teach them slowly various types of trades so that the youngsters could stand on their own legs in the society. When the local Italian government was struggling to house 200 prisoners, Don Bosco was feeding and training 300 youngsters in skilled trades like carpentry, cobbler, tailoring, book-binding, printing press etc. Hence the then government of Italy learns from Don Bosco various methodology and techniques used by Don Bosco in handling and guiding the youngsters. As a result the general public developed a deep sense of respect towards Don Bosco and the Church for not only rendering selfless service to the youngsters but teaching the youngsters various types of trades to earn their livelihood in the society.
There is only one person in the world history who has worked and dedicated his entire life only to the youth and that person is Don Bosco. The various government departments, government organisations, non-government organisations and the society at large should learn from Don Bosco (as the then Italian govt. learnt from Don Bosco) as to how the present society can be built by adopting the various methods and techniques of Don Bosco. If the youngsters are neglected by the governments, the society will suffer very badly because the youngsters form part and parcel of the present society. The youngsters are not merely future of the society but they are the part of the present society. The youngsters are always in need of proper motivation, guidance, and encouragement to build a just, peaceful and harmonious society. The future of the society depends on the present youth. All those interested in guiding the youth including the parents and the school teachers should read this book and watch the DVD.
Though writing a mega Play is not an easy task, it is much more difficult to stage a mega Play with the co-operation of 100 artists on 3-4 drama stages. The author has succeded in both the laborious tasks of writing a socio-historical mega Play and staging it to the public. The author has also succeded in bringing out the DVD for the benefit of those who have not watched the mega Play. Since such historical DVDs are not available in Konkani language the author needs to be congratulated and supported for his contribution to the Konkani language.
Grace Music India has taken up marketing of DVD and the copies of this book and DVD are available at Jerosa Company, Gem & Co., Pauline Book & Media Centre, Hampankatte, Mangalore.