NEWS
Salesian Contributions to the Ahmednagar Mission: A Theological, Historical and Pastoral Study
The book has got a catchy title and promises an interesting exploration of the Salesian mission at Ahmednagar, Maharashtra. This book is the fruit of the author’s research as part of the Masters in Theology course with a specialization in mission. The aim of the book is to offer a review of the mission at Ahmednagar which has a rich cultural history. The book has 3 chapters preceded by a General Introduction and followed by a General Conclusion and a few appendixes and bibliography.
First of all, let me start by saying that the book looks very attractive. The cover is well designed and the layout in general is aesthetically pleasing. The author has provided a glossary of words which allows the reader to grasp the concepts and local traditions better. The first chapter offers an explanation of the term ‘mission’ by using etymological, biblical and magisterial sources. The chapter is very brief and centres around the term ‘mission’ itself without entering into discussions on related themes. The second chapter offers a history of the Ahmednagar mission by accessing historical and civil documents and making mention of Protestant and Catholic interventions. The final chapter highlights the effects of the Salesians in the mission since their take-over in 1986. The appendixes contain maps of the region, historical documents making reference to Christian interventions and finally a helpful list of all the parish priests of St. John the Baptist Church, Ahmednagar, which is the focal point of the mission.
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While the author ought to be commended for undertaking this important project, I question it’s real worth as a theological and missiological study. While the book has been called by the author himself and other appraisers, ‘a labour of love,’ I felt it a labourious read. The book has numerous grammatical errors and typos that don’t allow for smooth reading. The language used is rather simplistic and fails to appropriately convey the message behind the text; this is especially true of the glossary. The table of contents is not very helpful though it gives the chapter heads and sub-heads, since it does not display page numbers. There are a couple of methodological errors. The list of abbreviations seems to be superfluous since the author felt it necessary to use the full names in the text and offer the abbreviation again in parenthesis. There is an occasion where the abbreviation given was used for another term than the one mentioned in the original list.
The book lacks integrity. The author uses the sub-title “A Theological, Historical and Pastoral Study.” Apparently, those are the 3 parts he divides the book into. I don’t feel that the sub-title is appropriate because these 3 elements are exclusive of each other and are not directly related to the main title which reads, “Salesian Contribution to the Ahmednagar Mission.’ The chapters don’t follow one another and don’t form a combined whole. Chapter one deals with the term ‘mission’ without any reference to the next two chapters and explores themes that are not developed or even referenced in the following chapters. It offers an insipid and hurried explanation of the term. Frankly, it seems like the chapter is a very short summary of the Master’s course. Chapter two offers a historical account of the importance of Ahmednagar and details the entry of Christianity into the region, even making mention of the names of a few instrumental persons. This chapter in my opinion went too deep into history and did not serve its purpose fully. The third chapter once again offers a historical account of the Salesian work at Ahmednagar. While the history might be interesting to read for Salesians and those who are interested in the Christian mission in that region, it hardly offers anything else to the reader. The author makes a critical reflection at the end on the Salesian mission and its impact. He does not hesitate to expose the drawbacks of the Salesian mission, a bold move in my opinion considering that first and foremost, he is a Salesian himself and secondly, he has had firsthand experience of working there!
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It seemed to me at the end of the book that this was no more than an attempt at systematically presenting history. I do not feel that the author achieved the objectives he set out at the beginning which were to ‘provide a comprehensive understanding of evangelizing mission while also discussing the challenges the Salesians faced in this mission’ and ‘throwing light on the possibilities of involving the laity in the mission’ (p. 4). While there are a few suggestions made to improve the scope and quality of the mission, they are directed towards the Salesians and make no mention of the laity. All in all, the book is not groundbreaking either from a missiological, historical or pastoral perspective, although it is the first attempt at making a condensed presentation of the Salesian mission at Ahmednagar. Those living and working there might find consolation and perhaps even inspiration in these pages but as a theological work, this book is quite forgettable.
