Guwahati: Taking a cue from Pope Francis, World Councillor for Salesian Youth Ministry warned university students in Guwahati of falling into the subtle trap of “globalization of indifference.” General Councillor for Youth Ministry, Dr Fabio Attard from Don Bosco Headquarters at Rome is on a five day visit to Assam Guwahati province from March 3.

“Globalized indifference favoring economical approach in favour of rich players at the cost of forgetting the poor is a danger we could fall into,” said Fr Attard speaking to some 150 plus post graduate students of the School of Social Sciences, at Assam Don Bosco University Guwahati, Azara campus, Wednesday March 4.

A Maltese national serving second six year term as General Councillor for Youth Ministry, Dr Attard has visited some 132 countries where Don Bosco Group has over 2,500 schools, colleges and technical institutions besides 16 universities. He encouraged the students saying, “be people of solidarity…. once you are settled in life, don’t say, I’m okay now… Reach out to others who did not have the privileged opportunity you had… Do not be afraid to reach out to your poor brothers and sisters.

Quoting from Adam M. Grant’s book ‘Give and Take: Why Helping Others Drives Our Success’ Fr Attard said, “We cannot be sucked into global indifference, because successful people are those who cared for others.”

“Don Boso,” said Fr Attard, “was a poor guy, who though suffered poverty, was able to take rich decisions for the welfare of youth.”

Dr Attard appealed to students saying, “we need to be people of empathy – being able to enter into the life story of the other person, and yet not to be emotionally engaged.”

Fr Attard further warned of a crippling malaise called ‘loneliness’ and warned saying, “loneliness, it’s a symptom, is a modern pathology called net dependency caused by a lack of real life connectedness, trapping young people to virtual connectedness.”

Recounting his worldwide experience in youth ministry Dr Attard said, “education is the key to the future… It is journeying. I cannot journey unless, I decide to move on.”

The University welcomed Dr Attard who was a lecturer in Salesian University Rome, with Don Bosco medal and scarf in the presence of Chancellor Fr. V.M. Thomas who introduced the visitor to the Under Graduate (UG) students at the morning assembly and later to the PG students in the Conference Hall.

While addressing the UG students Fr Attard shared his mission experiences in the different part of the world and Salesian mission in 132 countries.

“Education is the key to open today the door of tomorrow, the future is yours, if you allow, it will flourish,” he said highlighting the role of education in life.

He added, “Education should help us to be people of solidarity reaching out our hearts to the poor.”

Speaking to some 150 Post Graduate (PG) students of the School of Social Sciences Fr Attard said, “Education should not treat only as a means of intellectual growth and means of job but as an effective tool for character formation founded on moral life.”

Earlier in the day, Fr Attard addressed some 1,200 B.Tech students of the ADBU School of Technology.

He invited all students to be motivated and work for their future and welfare of the community by achieving knowledge and wisdom in the competitive world. END