s a l e s i an
Rector Major’s visit to the Glorious
Rector Major’s message to the
salesian family
T he members of the Salesian Family in Chennai
Province gathered around the Rector Major Fr.
Pascual Chavez and his Vicar Fr. Adriano Bregolin on 3rd
February in Chennai to felicitate them. It was indeed a
gathering characterized by the typical Salesian simplicity,
cordiality and family spirit. Present were representatives
from all the nine branches of the Salesian Family in
the province: SDB, FMA, Cooperators, Alumni, VDB,
ADMA, SMA, SMI, and MSMHC. After thanking each
group for the love and esteem shown to him, the Rector
Major shared with them several important thoughts on the
Salesian Family.
He began by defining the Salesian Family as a spiritual,
apostolic movement and went on to explain the significance
of these three words. Don Bosco, he said, is not merely the
founder of a congregation, but rather a patriarch of a large
spiritual and charismatic family, like the great Augustine,
Ignatius, or Francis of Assisi. who founded vast movements
in the world. The Salesian Family, he said, is a large and
dynamic reality, full of life and vitality. We are invited to
12 Don bosco march 2009
grow numerically, spiritually and charismatically. First of
all, we need to grow in numbers because there are so many
young people in India who need us for their education,
empowerment and fruitful insertion into society. If we
are convinced of the value of our vocation, we will invite
others to join us. Each group considers itself responsible
not just for its own growth but for the growth of the
whole Family.
We need to grow in our Salesian charismatic identity. We
should know who we are, where we come from, where
we are oriented. We are part of a spiritual movement;
fruit of the Holy Spirit. We are an apostolic and spiritual
movement, not a social movement. To grow in this
knowledge, we need to familiarize ourselves with what is
laid down in the Common Identity Card and the Common
Mission Statement of the Salesian Family.
For the Salesian Family to become a vibrant reality we
need a change of mentality; we need to shift emphasis from
excessive autonomy to the synergy of a vast movement
of persons; we need to underline not the autonomy of
individual group but the synergy of the whole group. In
the Salesian Family each group is incomplete without the
other. This change of mentality, the Rector Major pointed
out, must start with the SDBs.
 s a l e s i an

province of Chennai
Rector Major visits three unique young people. Created in collaboration with the Sports
Development Authority of Tamil Nadu, the academy has
salesian works world class facilites for training boys and girls in sports

I
and games. The Don Bosco-McFerran Sports Hostel,
n the afternoon of 4 February, the Rector Major visited
attached to the Academy, can accommodate around
three unique Salesian works in Chennai - the Don Bosco
100 students.
Sports Academy, the Don Bosco Beatitudes Centre, and
Anbu Illam (Home of love) which is the Centre for the At the Beatitudes Social Welfare Centre in Vysarpadi, the
Young at Risk. Rector Major thanked God for `the mighty service that is
being done to the poorest of the poor in the name of Don
At the Sports Academy in Wisdom Town, the Rector
Bosco.` The Centre was started by Fr. Orpheus Mantovani,
Major blessed the new football stadium, and presided over
an Italian Salesian missionary, in one of Chennai`s worst
the finals of the Don Bosco-McFerran national football
slums in the early 1960s. It has remained the most visible
tournament. The tournament was started in memory of
expression of the Salesians` closeness to the poorest of
Fr. J. McFerran, an Irish Salesian missionary who was a
the poor. The Rector Major was moved at seeing the
great promoter of sports in Chennai. The Rector Major was
variety of services this centre offers to the down trodden
happy to learn that the Salesians in Chennai have produced
of the city of Chennai and was loud in his appreciation of
several sports persons of international fame. On this
everything.
occasion, he felicitated Don Bosco Sports Achievers like
Ms. Ilavazhagi (World Women`s Champion in Carrom), The services of the Beatitudes Centre has been acclaimed
Mr. Viswanathan Anand (World Chess champion), and by the State and Central governments too. Once, after
Mr. Ravikumar David for his lifetime contribution to visiting this centre, Mrs. Indira Gandhi, former Prime
football in Tamil Nadu. Minister of India, exclaimed, ``What you do here is
marvellous, something very few people will dare to do.``
The Rector Major addressed the gathering during which he
In 1995, the Centre received the National Award for the
spoke of the importance of sports in the Salesian system of
Welfare of the Handicapped, and in 1998, the Tamil Nadu
education. `The playground,` he said, `teaches us that in life
State Award for the Welfare of the Disabled.
we have no enemies but only partners in the game, who are
also our friends and whose happiness is also our concern.` At Don Bosco Anbu Illam at Vyasarpadi, the Rector Major
met the children and young people who had gathered there
The Don Bosco Sports Academy, an initiative of
from various Salesian Centres for the Young at Risk in
Fr. Gerard Nelliyottukonam SDB, is a concrete expression
Chennai. He expressed his appreciation and love for them
of the Salesians` commitment to the total development of
and the Congregation`s commitment to them. Anbu Illam

Don bosco march 2009 13

 s a l e s i an
runs an astounding network of services in favour of the
young at risk, the most vulnerable and neglected section
of the country`s youth.
Conclusion of platinum jubilee
celebrations
T he four-day visit of the Rector Major to the Province
of Chennai in connection with the Platinum Jubilee of
the Province came to a close with a solemn thanksgiving
Eucharist in the Sacred Heart College indoor stadium at
Tirupattur on 6 February. For the entire province, it was a
day of memories and thanksgiving.
The Eucharistic celebration began with a soul lifting
dance by the students of the Salesian Sisters, symbolically
gathering the hearts of everyone into a song of praise and
thanksgiving. At the introduction of the liturgy the glorious
works of the pioneers and builders of the province were
remembered with gratitude.
The Rector Major said he wanted this Eucharist to be
an expression of our gratitude to the Lord who has been
blessing us with vocations, to Our Lady who has been a
mother and teacher to all of us, to Don Bosco who has
fascinated us with his charism, to the first missionaries
who brought Don Bosco to India, and to the Indian people
who welcomed us.
The Rector Major chose the Mass of Our Lady Help
of Christians and used the occasion to reflect upon the
role of Mary in our congregation and in the life of the
Salesian Family.
For Don Bosco, he said, Mary was very much a living
presence from the time of his dream at the age of nine
14 Don bosco march 2009
when he accepted her as his mother and teacher. Citing the
Constitutions, he said, like Don Bosco, `we believe that
Mary is present among us and continues her mission as
Mother of the Church and Help of Christians.` (C 8).
In this Salesian devotion to Mary are highlighted the
``motherly`` aspects, in the sense that she gives an
unconditional welcome to young people in need or in
situations where they are at risk spiritually or socially,
and shows kindness to be the fundamental attitude in our
relationship with them as educators.
The Gospel story presents Mary to us as a true woman,
full of kindness, and attentive to small details. She notices
the lack of wine at Cana, and realizes that there is a danger
of the joy turning to sorrow. Mary`s greatness consists in
her ability to discern not only the distress of the couple
caught unawares, but the presence of Jesus, and to direct
others to him: ``Do whatever he tells you`` (v.5).
Mary appears at Cana both as a believer and as one who
generates faith. the Gospel of John, says that because
of the miracle worked through Mary`s intercession, the
disciples believed in him.
The Rector Major concluded saying that at the school of
Cana, Mary teaches us four important attitudes for our life
as believers.
In the first place, to share the ups and downs of men and
women, to participate in the trials and sadness, the hopes
and joys of our contemporaries.
Secondly, to be attentive to the needs of others, to live
other-centred lives, and not be self-centred. The words,
They have no wine` is a proof of her ability to note what
is lacking.
In the third place, to discern the presence of Jesus and to
turn to him, as the only one capable of responding to our
deepest needs and real life problems.

And fourthly, to be believers who are credible, so that
our own faith may be such as to make possible the faith
of others.
We are urged to take Mary into our own home, as did the
beloved disciple, so that she may be for us, as she was for
him and for Don Bosco, a mother and teacher who will
enable us too to be helpers of the young.
Rector Major visits the Cradle
of Salesians in South India
T he sprawling grounds of the Sacred Heart College in
Tirupattur, the first institute of Higher Education in the
Province of Chennai, were transformed into a magnificent
sea of smiling faces in the evening of 5 February. The
flexo-banners, the fluttering flags, the twinkling lights and
the colourful festoons all around set the mood for the day`s
major event -- a grand reception to Fr. Pascual Chavez, the
ninth successor of Don Bosco, and the celebration of the
Platinum Jubilee of the Chennai Province at Tirupattur,
the cradle of the Salesians in South India.
After the traditional welcome on arrival, the Rector
Major and the other dignitaries went to the chapel for a
brief moment of prayer during which they renewed the
consecration of the province to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
The Rector Major was then taken to the venue of the
meeting, with the College National Cadet Corps giving
the guard of honour.
A hush fell on the mammoth audience as the Rector
Major was led to the colossal stage, accompanied by his
Vicar, the Regional Councillor and all the provincials of
South Asia. And then came a thunderous applause as the
Rector Major stepped forward and waved his hands in a
gesture that said, `I love you; I love you as Don Bosco
loves you.`
Don bosco march 2009
s a l e s i an
The highpoint of the evening, however, was the historic
platinum jubilee address of the Rector Major, who took
everyone by surprise by his ellorukkum vanakkam, (Tamil
for `greetings to all of you!` With the presence here of
the Rector Major, his vicar Fr. Adriano Bregolin, his
secretary Fr Huan Bartolome, the Regional Councillor,
Fr Maria Arokiam, and all the provincials of South Asia,
he said, Tirupattur had become the centre of the Salesian
world for today.
Though it was his first visit to Tirupattur, the Rector
Major said, he had heard much about this `holy land` of
the Salesians, which has rightly been called `the cradle
of the Salesians in South India`. In 1934, the province
was started in this district, with the Provincial House in
Vellore, and was only later shifted to Madras.
The Rector Major remembered with gratitude `the great
pioneers who laboured to build up this province,` starting
with Fr Tomatis and his companions in Thanjavur, and
later Bishop Mederlet, Archbishop Louis Mathias,
Fr. Cinato, the first provincial, and the other provincials
who nurtured the province. The great Fr.Carreno, he
said, deserved a thunderous applause, for the daring
initiative he took in promoting local vocations and thus
ensuring the future of the Salesian works in India. He
also remembered the first Tamil (and Indian) Salesians,
Fr. Ignatius Muthu and Bro. Savarimuthu.
He said this `glorious province` of Chennai has grown,
like the mustard seed of the Gospel parable, into a great
tree with seven provinces today. It is a marvelous gift
of the Lord and we are here to thank Him for it, said the
Rector Major.
Fr. Jefferson, Bro.Anand,
Bro. Selvan, Bro. Jagadish
with Fr. Dominic Matheus
15
 SALESIAN

Salesian Appointed CBCI

Communications Secretary
Fr George Plathottam, 52, has been
appointed executive secretary of the
Catholic Bishops Conference of In-
dia (CBCI) Commission for Social
Communications. He will succeed
former secretary Fr Henry D’Souza,
who has been appointed Bishop of
Bellary. About 170 dioceses make up
the CBCI.
Fr Plathottam of Guwahati province
is one of the founding members of 15
year old BOSCOM India (Don Bosco
Communications) and founder of a
Salesian news agency which is now the
official news agency of the Salesians
in South Asia under the name Bosco
Information Service (BIS).
Currently, Fr Plathottam serves as Direc-
tor of the Department of Mass Media at
St. Anthony’s College which offers two
BA (Hons) courses in Communication
and Visual media studies.
A member of the World Advisory
Board of the Salesian Society on
Social Communication, Fr George
Plathottam has been also president of
the Indian Catholic Press Association
as well as managing editor of South
Asia Religious News for 3 years.
He has also served as President
of the South Asian Catholic Press
Association (SACPA).
Currently pursuing Ph D in North
Eastern Hill University on the theme:
Press and Social Responsibility, Fr
Plathottam holds a graduate degree
with English major from North Bengal.
University. He has a Master’s Degree
in Theology with specialisation in
Social Communications, from the
Sacred Heart Theological College,
Shillong. He also obtained a second
Master’s degree in Journalism and
Communications from Madurai
Kamaraj University, Tamil Nadu.
Founder-Director of Don Bosco
Communications Guwahati, a centre
for the promotion and development
of media and social communication,
Fr Plathottam has authored several
articles on Social Communications,
Church, Tribal Social life and Culture
of the Northeast India. He has
authored and edited books for youth,
scouting, pastoral and educational
purposes and published newsletters,
reviews, and magazines.
Besides being a senior correspondent
of the South Asian Religious News
(SAR News) Fr Plathottam has been
a correspondent also for Union of
Catholic Asia News (UCA News) for
several years. In 1991, he was elected
President of the Indian Catholic Press
Association (ICPA), the President of
Editaids and the Editor in Chief of
the South Asian News (SAR News).
In 1992, he won The North -South
Friendship Prize from Union of
Catholic International Press and the
Government of Germany.
C. M. Paul

Mary Help of Christians appointed Honorary Mayor

On the morning of 24 May in the course of an extraordinary
open and public meeting, the local authorities of Morón de la
Frontiera will proclaim Mary Help of Christians “Honorary
Mayor” of the Spanish town.
The meeting – for which the programme is still being finalised
– will precede the procession in honour of Mary Help of
Christians that will begin from the Salesian Institute and make
its way to the Town Hall Square where the official act of the
appointment as “Mayor” will take place and the presentation
of the Staff of Command of the City be made by the Mayor of
Morón de la Frontiera, Mr. Manuel Morilla. Afterwards the
procession will continue through the streets and conclude at the
church dedicated to Mary Hep of Christians.
The award of the honorary title of “Mayor of the City ” to Mary
Help of Christians is something that the Mayor and Corporation
have been speaking about for four years on account of the great
devotion that the town has to the Virgin Mary.

16 Don bosco june 2008

 SALESIAN

A legend passes away

R Rev.Fr. Ittyachan Manjil, SDB

ev. Fr. Ittyachan Manjil, sdb,
passed away at the Citadel,
Chennai, at about 8:00 pm on (1921-2008)
28 May 2008. He was 87 years old.
He had been keeping very indifferent
health since the death of his elder
brother, Fr. Antony Manjil, S.J., in
March 2008. On 21 May morning
he had a fall while coming out of the
bathroom. As a result he sustained a
severe hip injury and was confined to
his bed. Death came to him peacefully
on the evening of 28 May 2008.
There was a concelebrated Mass for
the repose of the soul of the dearly

He was a talented artist,

cartoonist, actor, and
outstanding in sports and
games. A born teacher, he
could make the intricacies
of Mathematics simple “Tucking up his cassock, he took a broom from one of us and started cleaning
and intelligible to the one of the toilets. We needed no further goading to do our assigned task.”

uninitiated.
departed on the morning of 29 May
at the Citadel. Rev. Fr. Stanislaus
Swamikannu, sdb, Provincial,
presided over the Mass. A good
number of Salesians and lay people
participated in the Mass. After
the Mass the body was taken for
internment to the Salesian cemetery
at Don Bosco, Tirupattur, Vellore Dt.
The funeral Mass was held at 4:00
pm, 29 May 2008. The Most Rev. P.
Sounderaj, sdb, Bishop of Vellore,
presided over the funeral Mass. A
16
large number of Salesians from the
three Provinces of Chennai, Tiruchy
and Bangalore, his own younger
sister, Sr. Mary Manjil, fma, Salesian
Sisters, and other religious and lay
people were present for the occasion.
The body of Fr. Ittyachan was finally
laid to rest at 6:00 pm. 29 May.
Fr. Ittyachan was born on 7 October
1921 at Thrissur, Kerala, of a
respectable Syrian Catholic family.
He joined the Salesian aspirantate in
1946 as a graduate in Mathematics and
Education (BSc., B.Ed.). He made his
first profession as a Salesian in 1947
Don bosco july 2008
and perpetual profession in 1952. He
was ordained a Priest in 1955.
During his lifetime he has held several
responsible positions in the Congregation
and in the Church, as Vice Provincial,
Rector, Parish Priest, Novice Master,
Spiritual Director and Headmaster at:
St. Mary’s Co-Cathedral, Armenian St.,
Chennai, St. Bede’s, San Thome, St.
Francis Xavier’s, Broadway, Chennai,
Our Lady of Lourdes Shrine, Perambur,
Don Bosco Beatitudes, Vyasarpadi,
Don Bosco, Pannur, Thiruvallur Dist.,
Salesian College, Yercaud, Salem Dt.,
Don Bosco, Vellore, Vellore Dt. and

Sacred Heart College, Tirupattur,
Vellore Dt. He also volunteered to
work for five years as Parish Priest
and Headmaster at Don Bosco,
Kohima, Nagaland, during the partial
expulsion of foreign missionaries
from North East India.
Fr. Ittyachan was a versatile genius.
As G.K. Chesterton puts it, “non
tetigit quod non ornavit” (whatever he
touched, he embellished). He had a gift
for languages. He could read, write and
speak English, Sanskrit, Malayalam,
Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Italian and
Angami (Nagaland). He was the first
Indian to learn Angami and celebrate
Mass and preach in that language.
He was a talented artist, cartoonist,
actor, and outstanding in sports and
games. A born teacher, he could make
the intricacies of Mathematics simple
and intelligible to the uninitiated.
When, at times, some students would
be distracted in class, he would not
draw their attention by pulling them up
but would rather turn to the blackboard
a d vt
With best compliments
Montfort Brothers, Staff & Students
St.Peter’s Hr.Sec.School
St.Peter’s Primary School
Montfort Nursery & Primary School
18, West Madha Church Street, Royapuram, Chennai - 600 013.
and draw a cartoon of the distracted
student on it. The mischievous lad
needed no other reminder. He taught
by example and by words. I recall
one of my first experiences as a
fourteen-year-old aspirant at Sacred
Heart High School, Tirupattur. One
evening, five of us were assigned to
clean the toilets. Brooms in hand we
stood before the toilet doors hesitant
to begin the job. Fr. Ittyachan who
was doing his Practical Training as
a cleric happened to pass by. He saw
us standing with brooms in hand. He
understood the situation. Tucking up
his cassock, he took a broom from
one of us and started cleaning one
of the toilets. We needed no further
goading to do our assigned task.
He was a good story-teller and writer.
As students we would eagerly listen
to his unravelling of the plot in all its
minutest details. He published several
books in an age when publishing
books was a rare thing.
Above all, he was a great Salesian
who loved the Holy Eucharist, Our
from
Don bosco july 2008
sa l es i an
Lady and Don Bosco. That he was
elected to represent the South Indian
Salesian Province of Madras three
times at the Congregation’s General
Chapter, speaks volumes for the
esteem with which he was held.
As Fr. Sebastian Karottemprel,
sdb, says, “for me, Ittyachan was a
perfect Salesian and priest. He was
an independent spirit and at times
out-spoken and critical of certain
policies. This trait of character and
temperament did not endear him to
some. Perhaps this fact prevented
him from his being fully useful to the
Church and the Congregation in roles
of leadership”.
In the death of Fr. Ittyachan Manjil,
Salesian India, especially the
Province of Chennai, has lost a
pioneer and an intelligent, resourceful
and indefatigable Salesian.
May the Good Lord grant him
eternal rest.
George Palackapilly SDB
17
 SALESIAN
Anti Christian Violence in Orissa
1. NUN REPORTED BURNT
ALIVE: A Christian woman, pos-
sibly a nun, was reported burnt alive
on 25th August 2008 by a group of
Vishwa Hindu Parishad mob which
stormed the orphanage she ran in the
district of Bargarh (Orissa). Police Su-
perintendent Ashok Biswall has told
this to news reporters. A priest who was
at the orphanage was also badly hurt and
is now being treated in hospital for multi-
ple burns.
2. NUN RAPED: A young Catho-
lic Nun of the Cuttack Bhubaneswar
diocese working Jan Vikas Kendra,
the Social Service Centre at Nuagaon
in Kandhamal was reportedly gang
raped on 24th August 2008 by groups
of Hindutva extremists before the
building itself was destroyed.
3. SENIOR PRIEST AND NUN
INJURED: Fr Thomas, director of
the Diocesan Pastoral Centre in Kan-
jimendi, less than a kilometer away
from the Social Service Centre, and
another Nun were injured when
the centre was attacked. They were
taken to the police station in a dishev-
elled state as the armed mob bayed for
their blood. The Pastoral centre was
then set afire.
4. BALLIGUDA CHURCH BUILD-
INGS DESTROYED AGAIN: On 24th
August 2008 evening lynch mobs at
the block headquarters of Balliguda,
in the very heart of Kandhamal dis-
trict, which had seen much violence
between 24th and 26th December
2007, attacked and destroyed a Pres-
bytery, convent and hostel damaging
the properties. The mobs in Balliguda
caught hold of two boys of the Catho-
lic hostel and tonsured their heads.
5. PHULBANI CHURCH DAM-
AGED: On 25th august 2008 morning
14
followers of the late Lakshmanan-
anda Saraswati damaged the Catholic
Church in Phulbani, the district head-
quarter town.
6. MOTHER TERESA BROTH-
ERS ASHRAM ATTACKED: Mobs
attacked the Mother Teresa Brothers’
residence and hospital in Srasanada,
destroyed once before and rebuilt two
months ago, and beat up the patients.
Fundamentalists have targeted Priests,
religious and also the Faithful in Pob-
ingia also.
7. BHUBANESWAR BISHOP’S
HOUSE ATTACKED: On the morn-
ing of 25th August 2008, violent mobs
made several attempts to enter the
Catholic Church and Archbishop’s
house in the Capital of the State of
Orissa. They could not enter because
of the police presence. They threw
stones at the guesthouse of Archbish-
op’s House, damaging windows.
8. DUBURI PARISH: Another group
of fundamentalists entered presby-
tery in Duburi parish, managed by
the SVDs and destroyed and damaged
property. Two priests of the parish are
missing.
9. Mr. Jamaj Pariccha, Director of
Gramya Pragati, is attacked and his
property, vehicle etc. damaged, burnt
and looted.
10. A Baptist Church in Akamra Jila
in Bhubaneswar is also damaged.
11. Christian institutions like St. Ar-
nold’s School (Kalinga Bihar), AND
NISWASS report some damage.
12. BOUDH DISTRICT [Adjoining
Kandhamal]: Fundamentalists enter
the Catholic parish church and destroy
property. People are fleeing to safer
places. But nothing seems safe.
Don bosco SEPTEMBER 2008
13. Muniguda Catholic Fathers and
Nuns’ residence have been damaged.
14. Sambalpur HM Sister’s residence
(Ainthapalli) has suffered damage.
15. Padanpur: One priest is attacked
and admitted to a hospital. Hostel
boys and the in charge have moved
away from the place.
16. Madhupur Catholic Church cur-
rently under attack.
17. SMALL CHURCHES: Attempted
violence on small churches in vari-
ous districts, including Padampur,
Sambalpur near GM College, Tal-
sera, Dangsoroda, Narayanipatara,
Muniguda, Tummiibandh, Tangra-
pada, Phulbani, Balliguda, Kalingia,
Chakapad are Srasanranda.
18. VILLAGE CHRISTIAN HOUSES
ATTACKED: Houses attacked on for-
est hamlets of Balliguda, Kanjamandi
Nuaguam (K.Nuaguam), Tiangia
(G.Udayagiri), Padangiri, Tikabali.
19. KALAHANDI DISTRICT: Hous-
es burnt even though the district is
more than 300 kilometers from the
place where Swami Lakshmanananda
was killed.
20. Pastor Sikandar Singh of the Pen-
tecostal Mission beaten up and his
house burnt in Bhawanipatna.
21. Kharihar: three Christian shops
were looted and burnt. Pastor Alok Das
and Pastor I M Senapati beaten up.
22. Aampani: Pastor David Diamond
Pahar, Pastor Pravin Ship, Pastor
Pradhan and Pastor Barik beaten up
and chased away with their families.
23. Naktikani: Mob surrounds village
to attack Christians. The government
has sent forces, it is reported.
Dr. John Dayal
 SALESIAN SALESIAN

I
ndia is a vast sub-continent populated
with one thousand million habitants,
characterised by a complex cultural
structure, with thousands of ethnic
and many different languages. In 1991,
Kolkata celebrated the 300th anniversary
of its foundation. As the capital of the
British India until 1911, Kolkata has been
the centre of social, cultural and political
reforms. During its history the city has
produced an almost unparallel cultural
richness, and is still the economic
headquarters for the Eastern region of
India, attracting millions of migrants in
search of employment and new life.
At the same time Kolkata has become
infamous for its poverty, slums and
daily struggle for survival that many
of its people. Amongst the poorest of

these are the children, living alone
and working on the streets and railway
stations. These children scattered in the
train station or in some parts of the city,
have in most cases lost contact with their
families. According to the UNICEF,
there are 100,000 children in the streets
of Kolkata.
The causes of this misery are of all sorts:
poverty, illiteracy, death or sickness
of parents, drunkenness of the father,
prostitution by the mother, conjugal
violence, divorce….. In a constant
struggle to live, these children have to
use any and whatever means possible
to survive: searching garbage dumps,
begging, stealing, sweeping trains,
polishing shoes, performing spectacles
on the streets; and of course, avoiding
all the multiple dangers: threats from the
older children, rejection from society,
rape, sickness, drugs, prostitution, etc.
It is in this situation that the work for
street children began in Kolkata. From a
tiny seed that sprouted in Pilkhana, near
Howrah station, Don Bosco Ashalayam
has grown into a mighty banyan tree
offering shade and succour to thousands
of children. Ashalayam, as we see it
today, is a gigantic family, working for
the rehabilitation of street and destitute
children in Kolkata and the Districts
of Howrah, Nadia, 24 Parganas (N),
Burdwan and Kharagpur, irrespective
of caste, race, religion or gender since
1985. Currently around 600 children are
living in 21 residential homes (5 for girls)
and 3 night shelters (1 for girls) and they
Offering ‘ASHA’
The hopless, rootless and roofless children find
a shelter that makes a lasting impression and a
permanent livelihood in the various premises of
Ashalayam, Kolkata.
are daily in contact with more than 5,000
children who are still living and earning
off the city streets.
The Origin
Don Bosco Ashalayam has its humble
beginning on the platforms of Howrah
station in 1985. Fr. Anthony Thaiparambil,
a Salesian priest, while passing through
Howrah station on one of his several
journeys noticed many children on
the platforms. They seemed to have
made the railway station their home.
They survived by means of begging,
rag picking, checking trains for lost or
abandoned goods and most of the times
for food. They looked helpless and lost.
He decided to do something for them.
He started visiting them regularly. But
the children found it difficult to accept
a stranger because they considered the
ordinary and decently dressed people as
their enemies.
However, after repeated attempts
gradually the children accepted Fr.
Anthony as their friend and began to
Don bosco SEPTEMBER 2008
open their hearts to him. He listened to
their problems and stories. Their first
problem was having a shelter, because
at night they were harassed by adults,
senior street kids and others. Whatever
money they could save was also stolen. A
solution was found and on 8th December
1985, 14 boys walked into a shelter for
the first time. Thus was born Don Bosco
Ashalayam at Pilkhana. And eventually,
the shelter became a home offering hope
to the hopeless and rootless and roofless
children in and around Kolkata.
Don Bosco, the inspiration
Don Bosco (1815-1888) the founder of
the Salesian Society, known as the father
and friend of abandoned youngsters,
welcomed the roaming children on the
streets of Turin, Italy, into his home. The
industrial revolution had caused rampant
unemployment and poverty which left
these children helpless, homeless and
hopeless. Malnourishment and ignorance
minimised the chances of employment or
a bright future for these youngsters. Don
Bosco, a young catholic priest, began an
15
 SALESIAN
oratory for gathering these boys. And
later began to offer these boys shelter,
literacy and trade skills. Gradually many
recognised his work and came to support
him. Slowly the boys’ self respect and
self confidence were built up and they
turned out to be responsible and useful
members of the society.
This was the inspiration behind the work
for street children in Kolkata.
Don Bosco Ashalayam is a
movement which has been
founded to protect children
from the evils of our present
day society. It offers them
possibilities to blossom in
an environment that assures
them security, love, hope and
acceptance. The very word
“Ashalayam”, in Sanskrit means,
“A Home of Hope” and it really
emphasises on meeting the
needs of the homeless and
helpless children.
Ashalayam aims to…
The child on the street is totally at a loss
and the aim of Ashalayam is to make
each one experience the lost warmth
and love of the family. If any child has
a family, every effort is made to help
him/her get back to it and if the child is
roofless and rootless, Ashalayam helps
him/her to form his/her own family in its
own unique way.
In the beginning Ashalayam provided
only Night Shelter to these children,
but gradually the children expressed
their needs and slowly it developed its
own homes, so that they could meet all
their basic needs and rights. Even today
Ashalayam cannot reach out to all the
street children who are working in the
various lanes and by-lanes of Kolkata.
But the Ashalayam family is doing its
best to reach out to the maximum number
of these youth.
A unique approach
To those children who do not want or need
to be institutionalised, they try to reach
their services in a variety of ways: NON-
FORMAL Project, which helps provide
the children living in the slums, bustees
and station-adjacent areas with support
16
for education in formal institutions,
medication and nutrition; NATIONAL
CHILD LABOUR PROGRAMME
(NCLP), a project partially financed by
the Government of India which weans
away the child labourers/prospective
child labourers from the labour market
and tries to provide education to them;
CHILDLINE Project, (a Government of
India sponsored Programme) provides
24-hour service on the streets and
railway platforms catering to the needs
of lost children or children in distress by
way of either restoring them back to their
families or providing other services,
either direct or referral; OUTREACH
AND STREET CONTACT Programme
in the streets and stations of Howrah,
Kolkata, Burdwan and Kharagpur which
reaches out to the children and youth and
tries to wean them away from the streets
and stations to the institutional care of
Don Bosco Ashalayam or refer them, to
partner NGOs; SANJOG project which
tries to remedy the emotional setback
that the children have received from the
society while they were on the streets and
railway stations by constant counseling
and guidance on their career prospects;
VOCATIONAL TRAINING project
which trains the children in various
professional trades like carpentry, bakery,
welding, Tailoring, etc; PLACEMENT
Co
a
ing
nt
rib
om
HOMING
ec
db
SAVING
hil
tc
TRAINING
ree
GROOMING
St
A
WEANING
STREET PRESENCE
SIX PILLARS OF ASHALAYAM
Don bosco SEPTEMBER 2008
AND FINAL SETTLEMENT CELL
which tries to provide assistance for job
seeking, self employment, purchase of
land, making a house, etc.
Methodology
The uniqueness of Ashalayam’s
methodology is the division of its
activities into two broad areas:- Curative
aspect and Preventive aspect.
1. CURATIVE ASPECT: Curing the
children of their wounds (physical,
mental and emotional) and helping them
forget their traumatic past through a
lifestyle with a family-like set-up. For
this the 21 Homes have been opened up
providing the children with proper and
professional mental health support, medical
support, basic education, formal education
and training in professional skills.
2. PREVENTIVE ASPECT: Preventing the
children from landing up on the streets
and railway platforms by reaching out
to them where they are through various
activities and programmes under our
different projects like Childline, Non-
Formal Education Project, NCLP, Outreach
, Street Contact Programmes, etc.
The strategy devised for the socio-
economic rehabilitation of the
beneficiaries is reached through the 6
steps as detailed below:-
Established
member of
the society
ut
ing
me
mb
er
of
th
eS
oc
iet
Street
y
childern
 SALESIAN

The expansion of DB Ashalayam/Homes

of Ashalayam
Over these past 23 three years the
activities of Ashalayam have increased
manifold. Many new projects have come
under the wings of Ashalayam, new units
have been opened and new activities
been developed. Thus the need was felt
to divide all the homes into four specific
units due to the increase of works.
I. Howrah Unit
1. Ashalayam – the coordinating
centre of all the activities and
projects.
2. Asha Anand (1999) – a home
located in Pilkhana, for children
between 10-14 years.
3. Mayeer Asha (1997) – a home
cum training centre for girls in 5. Asha Dristi (1999) – a shelter
Ichhapur, Howrah. home opened for children between
II. Bhattanagar Unit 14-16 years. Other Activities
1. Asha Neer (1992) – children 6. Asha Nayan (2002) – the most • Melas
coming mostly from railway recent home which also has a night
stations, age between 6-12 years. • Night Shelters
shelter of age group between 13-18
• Placement & Final Settlement
2. Asha Nivas (1993) – It is the main years.
centre of Bhattanagar Unit and • Documentation centre
IV. Kalyani Unit
children are between 11-16 years • Home-Link
1. Asha Salven (1997) – for children
of age. of aged group 6-10 years. • MCS (Missing Child Search)
3. Asha Maria (1995) – A family- Website
2. Asha Niketan (1997) – a house
type home for children between 13- donated by Bishop Lucas Sircar. • Annual Summer Camp
18 years. This is exclusively for the children • Computer Training Programme
4. Asha Jyoti (1995) – this is a half- who go to Auxilium School, • Scouts and Guides
way home and children staying Kalyani, aged between 8-24 years.
here are between 4 to 8 years 3. Asha Uday (1999) – a home for
of age. small boys between 6-10 years
5. Asha James (2000) – a family- of age. These once abandoned children, now
type home and children are 4. Asha Dan – meant for comparatively here with Don Bosco Ashalayam, are
between 7-12 years. bigger boys who want to make given the chance to begin a new life
6. Asha Arunodoy (2001) – a family- farming their way of life. through educational and vocational
type home for street and destitute 5. Asha Nirmala (2003) – a home cum training programmes, and through
girls aged between 4 to 14 years. training centre for girls of aged dedicated care and support are assisted
III. Kolkata Unit group between 5-18 years. to grow into mature, responsible and
1. Asha Deep (1994) – a shelter productive citizens with the help of
home and the age group is between Project of Ashalayam
generous individuals or institutions that
5-7 years. Non-formal Education (NFE) – regular
partially support various initiatives.
classes and monthly medical check-up
2. Asha Bosco (1995) – a shelter Therefore we see that in all these
home, aged between 8-12 years. Mobile Health Clinic (MHC) – provide
‘Asha’ (hope) is being offered by the
basic medical facilities
3. Asha Bhavan (1996) – a shelter Salesians to the street children. The
Asha Shramik (ASP) – work for
home for boys of age group 12-15. transformation of these children has
child labourers of the slums and
4. Asha Deepti (1997) – a family underdeveloped areas been the greatest miracle the Salesians
type home for age group 6-18, have worked out with the strength of
Childline – 24-hour emergency phone
initially located in Hastings but from outreach service committed to respond their visionary founder Don Bosco.
2005 it has been shifted to the new to children in difficult circumstances.
premises at Mominpore in Kokata. Remington
Don bosco SEPTEMBER 2008 17
 SALESIAN

“BROTHERS CONGRESS will be a source of

encouragement”
Elaborate preparations are on as the 6th Congress of Salesian Brothers of South Asia 2008 is fast
approaching. The Salesian Brothers are looking forward to a meaningful time together apart from a
time of planning and a time of real soul searching. The Congress that is to be held in the provincial
house in Chennai which looks almost like the headquarters of the Salesian Brothers. As Convener of
the Congress Bro.Meril is doubly active with his visits, planning meetings and the preparations of the
whole programme. In this interview he shares his sentiments of real joy and satisfaction regarding the
preparations for the Congress to Glorious Steve sdb.

1. What did you feel when you heard the news that you will
be heading the forthcoming Salesian Brothers Congress as its
Convener?
It came as a bolt from the blue. I least expected such a responsibility. As I
have always accepted challenges happily and, of course in a spirit religious
obedience and humble resignation to the will of god manifested through my
superiors, I said ‘Yes.’ But when I thought of the volume of work before me I
felt helpless; then it occurred to me that the assignment before me was one
of collective responsibility and nor of one man’s show. Now I am at it.
2. How do you feel as the Brothers Congress is fast
approaching?
I feel very much at ease. I have been an early bird and
I know that things are moving in the right direction.
The Members of the South Asian Commission
for Brothers are of immense help to me and the
local team that our Province has given me takes
care of things at the local level. The feel is one of
confidence and achievement.

Bro. Meril sdb 3. Are you satisfied with the

Congress is to be an
occasion for the Salesian
Brothers to meet to review
their own unique Salesian Call
in the context of the modern
society.
14
preparations?
Very much! We have four preparatory meetings
held in different provinces, the last being in Sri
Lanka; and several rounds of meeting at the
local level. In all these meetings the participants
have felt and have expressed that we were
moving united as one family for reaping a
plentiful harvest. Our final preparatory meeting is
scheduled to be held in Chennai in November
and we have invited our provincial and the
Provincial Council to join in our discussions.
Don bosco october 2008

4. Are all the provinces cooperating to make this
a successful event so as to revitalize the Brothers
Vocations?
Let us feel proud of our Salesian solidarity born of our unique
family spirit. There is much cooperation from every member
Province. The Brothers Congress is the celebration of the
Salesian Family. Of course Chennai, the host Province,
and Tiruchy our brother Province are playing a major and a
prominent role; and, of course, this is to be expected. I am
very happy that the Salesian Provinces of South Asia have
joined hands for the success of this mega event.
5. What would be the expected results of this much
talked about Brothers Congress?
First of all the Congress is to be an occasion for the Salesian
Brothers to meet to review their own unique Salesian Call
in the context of the modern society, and to understand
their own role in the
great Salesian
Photo: Glorious steve
Don bosco october 2008
SALESIAN
Family. We believe that the Congress will be a source
of encouragement for the Salesian Brothers to pursue
their own unique call to be Salesian Brother and to
find happiness and joy; fulfillment and contentment;
achievement and accomplishment. We also hope
that there will be an appreciable rise in the number of
Brothers in the Congregation.
6. What kind of administrative changes do you
visualize as a result of this Brothers Congress?
I feel that the Congregations has come to recognize
the role of the Salesian Brother in the Salesian Family
and a variety of administrative assignments and
responsibilities as animators have been placed on their
shoulders.
If the Salesian Brother continues to be in the
mainstream of the society there will be much joy and
happiness in his vocation as Brother.
7. What is the response from the Generalate
and the Salesian Provincial Conference of
South Asia?
The response from our Rector Major and the Generalate
has been very encouraging. Our Rector Major has been
very prompt with his replies to my letters. I must say
that he has been one of the first to sent his message
for the Congress. He has also delegated the Economer
General for the Congress. We are very happy that a
Salesian Brother has been chosen as the Economer
General of the Congregation.
The Regional of South Asia,
Rev. Fr. Maria Arokiam, has also been of immense help
and support.
8. As you were preparing for the Congress,
what achievement of yours comes to your
mind.
I have loved my call to be a Salesian Brother. Of
course, my parents could not and did not
understand this way of life; so do many
others. But I am very happy that
my sphere of influence over the
youth to whom I am sent has
not been diminished in any
way because I am a Brother I
have changed the lives of the
young whom I have served
with joy and zeal. This would
continue to my last breath.
15