Egmore Chennai 600008..

From Fr Rector’s Desk

Dear Teachers, Parents, Students,

Cordial greetings from Don Bosco, Egmore, Chennai.

The world is slowly recovering from the effects of the on slaught let loose by a tiny virus, 500 times smaller than the diameter of a human hair – COVID-19. In the course of the last 24 months, this tiny monster brought the whole world to its knees, including the most powerful and prosperous countries in the world. According to the World Health Organization, this dreadful virus infected over 524 million people and took the lives of 15 million, across the world. Again, as per the WHO report, India has had the highest number of COVID-related deaths among all the countries–48 lakhs. This number is, of course, strongly contested by the Government of India, according to whose official version, the number of Covid-related deaths in India is a mere 5.2 lakhs.

While the worst and altogether irreparable loss inflicted on the world by the virus was the loss of so many lives, the pandemic wreaked havoc also on many other aspects of life. National economies were thrown out of gear; hundreds of millions lost their jobs, and millions of families were pushed into extreme poverty. Everywhere the worst affected were the poorest of the poor, those living on the margins of society, and those who have nothing to fall back upon. It also resulted in the largest disruption of education ever despite online lessons and the best efforts of teachers and parents.

As always, when calamity strikes, the best in people and the best of people come to the fore. Various studies have shown that right through the pandemic people showed greater readiness to share and contribute to charity. The way people responded to the emergency was admirable; each one trying to do his or her best. We have seen great examples of human solidarity, sharing, generosity, and self-sacrifice. We saw the true frontline heroes – doctors, nurses, paramedics, and scores of others – risking their own lives to protect the lives of others. We saw individuals and communities, irrespective of caste, creed, or culture, coming forward to help whoever was in need.

“Work from home” became a popular catch word during the lockdown -- but how many could do it? The farmer couldn’t supply us vegetables by working from home; the truck driver couldn’t transport food grains to the markets by working from home; the grocery shopkeeper couldn’t work from home; the garbage removers couldn’t work from home; the migrant workers couldn’t even reach their homes! In short, those who did the most essential things for us, couldn’t do it by “working from home”. They had to get out and risk their very lives, every single day. They are the real heroes who served us in those difficult days. They deserve our eternal gratitude.

We have many good lessons to learn from this pandemic. Let me here point out just three:

1) We humans are fragile by ourselves. Our strength lies in being part of a community.

2) Technology is a wonderful gift, but it alone is insufficient. Friends and good relationships are more important.

3) Life is God’s first gift to us – the gift that makes all other gifts possible. It is timebound; appreciate it, and use it to make a difference in the lives of others.

We believe the worst is over. Now it’s time to look ahead. The lessons learned from the past should guide us on the road ahead. As we embark on a new academic year, let us bring to it our best efforts, turning obstacles into opportunities and adversities into advantages as Don Bosco used to exhort his teachers and students.

God bless you and stay blessed!

Yours in Don Bosco,
Fr. Dr. Xavier Packiam SDB,
Rector & Correspondent