A play for today's youth

In response, the Konkan Karavaliche Kalaakar (KKK) team from Taccode, under the experienced play-writer and director Rev Dr Mark Castelino have planned to celebrate the IYY by staging a Konkani historical mega play on the life of Don Bosco, the patron of youth, in Puttur on Easter Sunday (April 24, 2011) at 6.30 p.m on four stages with the help of about 100 artistes.

Why the play is staged in Puttur when the writer and artistes are from Taccode which is quite far?

“The Don Bosco Club of Puttur was and is an association of youngsters who work for the allround development of youngsters and I know their service minded attitude for the past 27 years (as I was Assistant Parish Priest at Puttur, 27 years back),” says Rev Fr Mark.
Stating that staging mega plays is an expensive affair, Fr Mark says the cost of this venture would be Rs 1,20,980 out of which the Puttur Don Bosco club would be paying Rs 25,000.

“The whole purpose of staging the present mega play in Konkani languagae is to give something to the society on the occasion of IYY since no one is doing anything for the Intertnational Year of Youth (IYY),” he quips.

Life of Don Bosco

Don Bosco was born on August 16, 1815 at Becchi near Turin in Italy. Due to the local problems of the youth, Don Bosco took up his dedicated service to the youth after his ordination on June 5, 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 disowned their sons after a short duration of imprisonment (due to petty thefts like stealing bread), the youngsters 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 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.

Don Bosco became a ray of hope in the lives of many youth. He then slowly began to teach them various types of trades so that the youngsters could stand on their own feet in society. When the local Italian government was finding it difficult to house 200 prisoners, Don Bosco was feeding and training 300 youngsters in skilled trades like carpentry, cobbler, tailoring, book-binding, printing press etc.

Soon, the government started taking tips, 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.

In fact, during the last years of Don Bosco, he was feeding, educating and teaching various types of trades to 1,000 youngsters.

The purpose

Elaborating on Don Bosco, Fr Mark said that there is no one in the world history who has worked and dedicated one’s entire life to the youth except Don Dosco. “Various government departments, government organisations, non-government organisations and the society at large should learn from Don Bosco (as the Italian government learnt from Don Bosco) as to how the present society can be built by adopting various methods and techniques of Don Bosco,” he said.

If the youngsters are neglected, their families will suffer very badly. Today’s youth need proper motivation, guidance, and encouragement to build a just, peaceful and harmonious society as the future of the society depends on the present youth.
The mega play to be organised by Don Bosco Club, Puttur, will not have any entry fee.

Other plays by Fr Mark

Some of the other Konkani mega plays staged by Rev Dr Mark Castelino, who has vast experience in writing, directing and staging Konkani historical mega plays, include:
* Somyachin Nimaani Baara Voran (The last 12 hours of Jesus) written by Joel Pereira, enacted by Konkani Naatak Sabha troupe and staged by Rev Castelino at St Agnes Special School ground, Mangalore, on March 18, 2007.
* Jesu Bovanrichyo sthriyo (women around Jesus) written by Arunraj Rodrigues, enacted by Mandd Sobhan and staged by Rev Mark Castelino at St Agnes Special School ground, Mangalore, on March 9, 2008.
* Jenthilancho Apostle San Paul (St Paul: An aposle of the Gentiles). The historical, religious, Konkani mega play written by Rev Mark Castelino for the ‘International Year of Paul,’ enacted by Mandd Sobhan and staged by Rev Mark Castelino, at St Agnes Special School ground, Mangalore, on March 9, 2009.
* Kumsaracho Apostle San Juvan Marie Vianney (St John Marie Vianney: An apostle of confession). The historical, religious Konkani mega play written and directed by Rev Mark Castelino for the ‘International year of priests,’ enacted by Konkan Karavaliche Kalaakar (KKK), Taccode, and staged by Rev Dr Mark Castelino, at Holy Cross Church ground at Taccode on Easter Sunday (April 4, 2010). The same play was again staged at Ajekar on May 9, 2010.