Crescens Lemos sdb
MATUNGA, AUGUST 15, 2008: Don Bosco Matunga was all geared up to celebrate the sixty first Independence Day. At 8:40 am the tricolour flag was raised into the skies by Fr. Jude D’Mello, the Rector of the institution. A patriotic song and a dance followed the flag hoisting ceremony. The students of Std IX enacted a play on the theme, ‘Our Right to be Humane.’ It brought to life the need to stand up for the rights of other people and fight against injustice done to them or else no one will be at our side when our rights are violated. Fr. D’Mello in his speech reaffirmed all that was enacted by the boys and quoted a German pastor and a social activist, Martin Niemoller, imprisoned for his criticisms on the Nazi government, who said, “When the Nazis came for the communists,I remained silent; I was not a communist.When they locked up the social democrats,I remained silent; I was not a social democrat.When they came for the trade unionists,I did not speak out; I was not a trade unionist.When they came for the Jews,I remained silent; I wasn't a Jew.When they came for me, there was no one left to speak out” The poem is a popular model for describing the dangers of political apathy as it begins with specific targeted fear and hatred which soon escalates out of control. He reminded the boys of the true meaning of independence and patriotism and the need to assert our individualism. He also focused attention on the need to bridge the increasing divide between the rich and the poor. The Guest of Honour for the function was Mr. Ashwin Doshi; parent of Mr. Yohan Doshi who secured the highest percentage in the S.S.C. examination in the school. Mr. Doshi pointed out that out of the three thousand odd schools under the Maharashtra Board, only 12 schools secured cent percent results, Don Bosco Matunga being one of them. The celebrations concluded with the school anthem.