Guwahati: A small structure to fuel big dreams.
The Don Bosco Society has installed the replica of the house at Becchi in Italy, in which saint John Bosco or Don Bosco was born and spent his childhood, on the Don Bosco School premises at Panbazar here. It believes the structure will inspire the youth to dream big like the 19th century Italian Catholic priest.
“The house has been designed and built in a way to resemble the one where Don Bosco was born and spent his childhood. The architecture of the house was similar to those that existed in the hillside hamlets of Becchi, Italy, nearly 200 years ago. The house will have 40 paintings depicting different phases of Don Bosco’s life. The paintings will give an idea to the current generation about Don Bosco’s vision of life and education,” Fr V.M. Thomas, the Salesian Provincial of Guwahati, told The Telegraph this afternoon.
The house was built by a young artist, C.M. Jose.
Fr Thomas, who conceptualised the entire project, said the prime objective of this venture was to inspire the younger generation of the Northeast to dream big, like the saint, reported The Telegraph.
“Don Bosco was born in a poor family and had lost his father at the age of two. Poverty came in the way of John Bosco to make a serious attempt at schooling. John’s early years were spent as a shepherd and he received his first instruction from a parish priest. Despite such a tough life, Don Bosco dared to dream big from his small house at Becchi and in the later years, he was successful in becoming a great educator across the globe. Both his house and mother were great motivators for him. So I have decided to build a replica of his house to tell the story of Don Bosco’s life, struggle and dream to the present generation,” Fr Thomas said.
Fr Thomas said the Don Bosco Society has plans to convert the house into a museum in the coming days and a must-visit place for the younger generation. He said the house was also part of his initiative, Becchi to Guwahati, on the occasion of the bicentenary birth year of Don Bosco.
“As part of my initiative to promote Don Bosco’s system of educating youths, I have initiated another idea, Youthopia, to inspire and motivate college students to remain on the right track regarding their career and life. Many college goers are often misguided and suffer from depression because of various external factors. Under Youthopia, we will guide them to take the right decision so that they can channelise their energy and talents in the right direction,” Fr Thomas, a Harvard-trained MBA, said.
Fr Thomas today conducted a motivational workshop for over 100 boarders of Cotton College and Arya Vidyapeeth College at the Provincial House in Don Bosco School here.