Salesian Social Forum Hosts Two-Day National Convention in Hyderabad

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Don Bosco Provincial House, Hyderabad hosted a two-day National Convention of the Salesian Social Forum (SSF), on 10 – 11 August, 2024, under the theme, “Contextualizing the Dream of Don Bosco: A South Asian Workshop by Salesians in India today.” The event brought together about 40 Salesians from the different Salesian Provinces of India. True to its title, the two-day workshop had a programmatic and futuristic thrust, in taking forward the Deam of Don Bosco to make the Salesians of India, ever dreaming anew for and with the poor, with Oratorian temerity.

The Keynote Address, on the “Relevance and Future of Don Bosco’s Vision in the Salesian Social Ministry in India” delivered by Fr Sebastian Vanathian of the Province of Chennai and the Paper, Contextualizing Don Bosco’s Dream in Indian Context by Fr Solomon Kulandairaj (Chennai), during the first session, gave a distinctively futuristic and Salesian focus to the proceedings of the two days. The address by Yogendra Yadav, eminent public intellectual and thought leader, entitled, “Democratic Politicizing, Public Pressure and Social Action India – Post Elections 2024 presented a clear direction, as to the democratic tasks and challenges ahead, to strengthen the democratic process in India.

Dr Vijay Gudavarthy of the Central University of Hyderabad, through his enlightening lecture on the theme, “Economic and Social Policy, Social Justice and Human Development – Progress and Issues towards 2047”, was an eye-opener towards unmasking the hidden agendas behind the doublespeak of the present government, which talked of the aspirations of the poor, but ever marginalized them further, in their agonies, through the state-corporate nexus. The session by Bro Varghese Theckanath SG (Montfort), on the theme, “Contextualizing and making Relevant Religious life and Mission in the Indian Context” challenged the participants, to reimagine religious life and mission, in the context of India of today, which is in the throes of reinventing itself, as a democracy.

The various panels, spread over the two days, highlighted the contextual relevance of Subaltern and Political Movements, Networking with Civil Societies, Advocacy with the Government for the Young at Risk, the Process of Empowerment through Neighbourocarcy Movement, the Dalit and Tribal Empowerment, Issues related to Migrant Labour and the Devadasis and the Challenge of Family Apostolate.

Here are the Key Take-aways of the two-day deliberations:

Intellectual Contribution for Societal Change, by forming a forum of journalists and writers, creating alliances with Salesians beyond the SSF.
The need to interrogate the Culture of Hierarchy in Governance in the Church and the Congregation and take on Synodal Paths.
Perspectives, Capacity Building, and Institution Building towards the Empowerment of the Marginalized.
By Striving as a body, catalytically, to defend the Constitution, aligning with the agenda of programmes planned across India by leaders, like Yogendra Yadav, particularly reaching out to Dalits and Tribals, to raise awareness about Constitutional Rights and Democratic values for SC/STs.
Fr Francis Bosco, the National Co-ordinator of SSF has planned events at SSF centers, including significant days like August 10 (Dalit Protest Day) and Human Rights Day.
To network with the Tribal and Devadasi communities across India.
Various Committees were formed to carry forward the various tasks, and SSF Contact persons were appointed for the same: Fr Amala Vinod for Tribals, Fr Albert Yesudoss and Fr Maliekal Jose for Dalits, Fr Elambasseril Saji for Fisherpersons, Fr Felix Arulnathan for Migrants, and Fr Thomas Pallithanam for National and International Networks. These Committees, along with the contact persons, will work on these issues, across India.

Thanks to Fr Francis Bosco, the National Contact Person of the Salesian Social Forum (SSF) and Fr Thumma Prathap, the Local Co-ordinator of the event and all the Province Contact Persons, whose sustained and meticulous planning and organizational efforts, made the event, a fruitful exercise in dreaming with the poor, to walk ahead, into the millennium.