Don Bosco – the great Modern Educator
St. John Bosco, popularly known as Don Bosco (Italian for Father Bosco ) was born at Becchi, in Piedmont, Italy on August 16, 1815. From a very young age he was called to work for the poor young people of his time, when Europe was under the grip of Industrial Revolution and many a young person who came to the cities to study or in search of work fell an easy prey to the many social evils of his time.
He lost his father at the age of 2 and was brought up by his mother, who was truly his guide, his model and his educator. From early Don Bosco years of life , he discovered his leadership qualities especially among his peers. At the age of nine little John Bosco was given a mission in a vision. He was to transform the young people “NOT WITH BLOWS BUT WITH LOVING KINDNESS” that was the goal of his life. Overcoming untold hardships and hostility he became a priest on June 5th 1841. His determination to be a priest for young people combined with his dynamic optimism resulted in the flowering of his long cherished goal.