By Fr Felix Anthony –
Miao: The National Youth Day was marked with a musical on the Biblical character Job by school dropout youth in Miao Diocese of northeasrn state of Arunachal Pradesh at Light of the World School Hall in Miao on 11 August 2019.
Around 70 dropouts from the last villages of Tirap, Longding and Changlang districts, bordering Myanmar, came together for a four-day practice to stage a musical on Job, one of the famous characters of the Bible.
Gracing the occasion Bishop George Pallipparambil of Miao Diocese expressed great satisfaction over the fact that more than 50% of the participants have signed up for regular schooling from the next academic year.
“It is a beautiful coincidence that this musical is staged on the National Youth Day. Your performance today is a testimony that one does not become a dropout till he or she gives up in life. Your story is an inspiration to the youth in the last villages of your districts,” said Bishop George. Drawing a parallel from the story of Job who refused to give up in the face of discouragement, he said to the youth that to be victorious one must stand up and not drop out.
Speaking at the end of the Musical, Chief Guest Mr. Somlung Mossang, Hon’ble MLA of Bordumsa-Diyun Constituency, congratulated the youth for staging a delightful musical within a few days of practice. “You have proved nothing is impossible. Many of the dropouts, including the likes of Bill Gates, have gone on to become great. Your performance today is encouraging signs that our youth have the talents to leave their mark behind,” he said.
Additional Deputy Commissioner of Miao sub-division Mr. Tage Rumi too spoke on the occasion highlighting the importance of using the youthfulness to bring positive changes to the society.
The musical event was trained by a team called Upper Room based in Goa. There were animation programmes for youth, singing and drawing competitions, and tree plantations held across the Diocese to mark the National Youth Day, an initiative of the Youth Commission of the Conference of Catholic Bishops in India.
Giving opportunities to our youth is indeed an exercise in nation-building.