Returning to the ‘Roots’ of our Salesian foundation is going back to Don Bosco and the people who make ‘dreams’ reality.  This is what we at St.Joseph’s I.T.I did this Annual Day – 25^th March 2007.

Calling Bro. Frank Braganza, sdb as Chief Guest of the evening seems a normal, usual affair, but it was not. Brother’s presence brought back brotherhood to the Rev. Fr. Santino Mondini Hall.  A thousand people vibrated love and affection. Once upon a time teenagers, now grown-ups in different ways singing the song of gratitude.  The seeds of Reason, Religion and Loving kindness planted by Bro. Frank in the Workshop and the Playground have now grown into fruit bearing trees.  Families just wanted a ‘touch’ of brother.  Our campus was filled with people who came to see their mentor.  Their body language said ‘Thank you’, because of you ‘Brother’ we are not only bread winners but life givers, what we have learnt from you we now teach our children.  Today if DBMA and DBIT stands tall its all because of the strong foundations that our Brothers have laid. In fact they laid down their lines for this mission of Don Bosco.  Bro. Frank spent 27 years in Kurla.  On this annual day function the ‘Roots’ were UP with delight.

Thank you Bro. Frank for making your presence felt.  It truly was a ‘Return to Don Bosco’ experience.

Bro. Frank Brganza said -

“A COMPLIMENT IS LIKE A KISS THROUGH A VIEL”

The pride of the parent after years looking at their young boy or girl grows up to be a handsome or beautiful young man or lady and still growing knows no bounds.

“A young man is a theory; an old man is a fact”.

Going through my human Central Processing Unit C. P.U. of my brain, and I read only Memory ROM “ Random Access Memory” RAM to trace those beautiful memories down the Memory lane.  Those were the beautiful years when I associated myself with St. Joseph’s I.T.I spend 27 beautiful years of my life here.

GOOD ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS

Keeping tracks of my successfully finished Products, I have found that they have become highly successful and prosperous in life throughout the length and breadth of the country, state, and also highly skilled workers abroad in various designations like Managers, Assistants, Supervisors, Technical advisors, Counselors and so many highly paid posts. 

“Self sacrifice should be our daily duty”.

We built not only technical talents, but also master pieces on the playground of various games like FOOT BALL, Hockey and Basket Ball etc.  Don Bosco, Kurla D.B.Y.C.  for example out of 100 listed boys many reached the senior division, have become professional’s taking part in leagues.  I fill very proud to see Stephen Dias playing for India and so many got jobs through foot ball.  We work not only to produce, but to give value to time.  Seeing these students coming in flying colours, not only bringing prestige to us the Saslesians, but also to our country and “basically the institution where they received their skills”.  They have proved to be the best citizen of the country in their hard work and sincerity. 

“Happiness comes with sowing and not reaping”.

Today the challenges before the youth are tremendous.  Youth of those days and the youth of today make a difference; it’s a survival amidst a struggle of existence. The hidden costs of globalization, liberalization, privatization, marketization, the myth has been spread that our planet and its people are moving towards distributing riches while the truth is exactly the reverse.  There is a collapse in the new economic order.  The underprivileged, poverty stricken and jobless are increasing in millions.  The challenges are dangerous, amidst this its good, to take healthy risks and protect and safeguard oneself with good technical knowledge and impart in today’s world.

It’s nice and exciting to see our MOTHER BOARD (institution) in such terrific giant leaps and bounds.  This institution in Kurla in 1960 ties was only a private, it later got recognized as I.T.I. for fitters and turners, followed by Radio and T.V. Mechanics and then Electronics, later it went in for Marine Engineering and today it is the pride of the state and nation as one more Engineering College (may be some day we will be producing submarines and supplying the country if God’s will).

Had our founded Don Bosco been here today, can you imagine his happiness over the success of this Institution, catering to the lost and standard youth admits the present day crisis.  Still we have a long way to go as challenges are increasing.  The country needs good leaders, dedicated, sincere, honest sacrificing, God fearing, to lead the country and its citizen towards a healthy and successful competition in the change of new order.

May God, and the Blessed Mother and St. John Bosco bless this institution and bring in New Visionaries to protect the nation facing the challenges before us in the 21^st century.

I wish the institution all the best, and a very bright future in achieving new heights and meeting new successes in the path of the coming generations.