By Sumit Kujur S.J
Our first journey, after starting our Juniorate
in Kolkata, was to St. Xavier’s College for the novena to St.
Ignatius, praying that our journey around Kolkata might be a fruitful one. Fr
Dean, realizing the need for us to learn about the social structures in India,
gave us permission to attend a course at Udayani. Having learnt
about the Indian social structures, we had an enjoyable City Darshan.
A few days later we had a beautiful exposure programme on Durga Puja under
the guidance of Prof. Deepankar Basu. When the festive mood subsided, a great
international debate on the electronic Media took place at St. Xavier’s.
To our good luck we managed to get a group invitation card. We also received a
group invitation for the platinum Jubilee function at St. Lawrence’s.
Having received a shock learning about the use and misuse of the electronic
media at St Xavier’s, the film festival at Nandan helped us to
relax. With refreshed minds we went and amused the congregation gathered at Shantinir
for the Christmas get-together with our carol singing. To do the same in the mission
stations, Fr. Dean sent us in groups of five to three Mission
stations. Having no idea of factories and industrial
plants, in spite of being surrounded by them, we got an opportunity to
learn about them atbthe Vishwa Karma puja. After seeing the pollution caused by
the factories and industries, we got a chance to visit Kaviguru Tagore’s Ashram
at Shanti Niketan, in order to purify our polluted minds. Fr Dean
wanted us to be like Tagore; so he sent us to the international Book fair.
Fr Saju’s true sense of Art and Aesthetics was revealed on Diwali
when he made us colour our drawings. Fr Rector and his staff felt that it was
time to take a break, so we as a community went to the Bay of Bengal for
a Picnic. But the salty water refreshed only our body. The Dean sent us
to Bandel to refresh our mind and soul as the final countdown
began, and the Juniors seemed to be relaxing. Fr Dean thought of giving us a
chance to visit the tomb of Mother Teresa for a spiritual
experience and then to have a mind blooming experience in the Science
City. Looks like we are now ready for the next journey- the one back to
our provinces and for a much deserved home visit.
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