by Father Dinesh Vasava and Cleric Sachin Tribhuvan
GUJARAT, APRIL 2, 2018: The Salesians of Don Bosco in Kapadvanj, on April 1, inaugurated Studio Don Bosco, a new initiative of the AmrutDhara Catechetical Centre, to produce audio-video narrations, jingles, audio-books, podcasts, spiritual audio-video reflections, voice-overs, and backing tracks for vocalists in the region.
The studio will provide individuals, schools and institutions a state-of-the-art facility for professional multi-lingual audio and video recording, editing and mixing. In a well animated inaugural ceremony, Father Ashwin Macwan cut the ribbon and Father Isaac Arackaparambil – Mumbai Salesians Provincial Councillor said a prayer of blessing, while declaring the studio open. Father Lorenzo D’ Souza represented the pioneering Salesians and unveiled a plaque in memory of Father Edward Rathod. Various Salesians along with the young people who helped shape it were present for the ceremony.
In his welcome address, Father Mayank Parmar – Rector of Kapadvanj Don Bosco Society said, “Studio Don Bosco is more than just a long-felt need. It is the hope and advancement of AmrutDhara to reach out through a state-of-the-art infrastructure to the catechetical needs of the Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan region where the Salesians of Don Bosco accompany the young.” Further elaborating Father Parmar added, “Studio Don Bosco is being initiated in a small way with very minimal investment. Hopefully, in the years to come, it will be a full-fledged professional studio that will help produce materials for value-education, life-skills and spiritual animation.”
Father Arackaparambil said, “It has been a long desired dream that AmrutDhara develop in keeping with the times. This Studio Don Bosco will hopefully manage to create a spiritual and social awakening in this our region and eventually contribute with its own audio-visual aids for the themes of social harmony, solidarity and universal brotherhood. My wish is that under the able guidance of our confreres here, this Studio Don Bosco will evolve into a full-fledged media centre that will reach out to many more young people bringing them closer to God.”
Studio Don Bosco is dedicated to the memory of Father Edward Rathod, who wanted to enhance the lives of people, especially the young through music, song and dance when he was a resident at the Kapadvanj Don Bosco Campus. Adept at Bharatnatyam, he animated his companions during his formative years. He was also talented in putting up notice board displays, backdrops and house system boards. He was known, appreciated and popular for his original Gujarati plays, prayer-services, bhajans, katha-recitals. An avid lover of music, Father Rathod also composed Gujarati hymns for the purpose of catechesis and spiritual animation of his boys and villagers; was very popular in the villages of Narukot and in Dakor; and was also a great promoter of vocations to the Church in Gujarat.
Conducting catechism classes, animating prayers and breaking the Word of God were his personal passions. Post-ordination, Father Rathod endeared himself to the people in Kapadvanj with his well-prepared animation-sessions, talks, value seminars and katha-recitals. Managing AmrutDhara - the Salesian Catechetical Animation Centre, for a short time, for the Gujarat-Madhya Pradesh-Rajasthan region, Father Rathod wanted to reach out to the marginalised and the unreached through his hard work and vision to do something great for his people. Unfortunately a road accident cut short this vibrant life in 2001.
