Opening Doorz

By Our Correspondent | Opening Doorz Editorial | February 20, 2018

“To me, Don Bosco Shelter has been the driving force which has helped me turn my life around. I often visit Shelter when I come back to Mumbai for training and spend time with the Priests and the children. I would like to come back one day and teach the children the skills required for my job. What I have achieved in life, I would want them to achieve as well.”

— Bajrangi Shankar Sahani, now 29-years-old, who was rescued by Shelter Don Bosco when he was five years old.

Name: Bajrangi Shankar Sahani
Age: 29 years
Place of birth: Delhi
With the centre from: 1993-2011
Family background: Father was a government worker and mother was a housewife

Bajrangi has dealt with many misfortunes, right from being persuaded by his friends to leave his home and having to live at the station with no money, to attempting to end his life over a failed love affair. After completing his ITI diploma from Don Bosco, he is now working as a senior technician for Audi in New Delhi. The job has not only given him a fancy pay packet but also recognition and a sense of achievement which until a few years ago he would never have imagined.

Troubled times…
When Bajrangi was a young boy, his friends persuaded him to leave his hometown and take a train to the city of ‘heroes’—Mumbai. Attracted by Bollywood celebrities and the rosy picture of stardom, Bajrangi and one of his friends stole a large bag of cash from his house and hopped onto a train to Mumbai. However, during the train ride, they faced a rather unhappy situation—the bag they had stolen was stolen from them!

The duo arrived at Dadar Railway Station in Mumbai, penniless.

Feeling defeated and lost, and unsure of what lay in store, the two boys sat at the platform pondering over what was to be done in this new city. It was here that Fr. Anthony found them. After listening to their story, he told them about how Shelter could help them and convinced them to visit the place and see for themselves.

Working towards transformation…
When Bajrangi first joined Shelter Don Bosco, he did not take his education seriously. He would constantly skip class to hang out with his friends. While he was in Std X, he fell in love with a girl but the relationship did not work out and they parted ways. Disappointed with the break-up, Bajrangi fell into depression and even attempted to kill himself at one point! But Shelter came to his rescue and nursed him back to health, showing him the path forward.

The recovery also brought him back to his senses. He enrolled into the ITI programme at Don Bosco during which he realised the importance of education and worked hard to earn good grades. After receiving his diploma, Bajrangi started working in the technical field.

Saying thank you…
Bajrangi has dealt with many misfortunes, right from being persuaded by his friends to leave his home and having to live at the station with no money, to attempting to end his life over a failed love affair. But Shelter has supported him throughout due to which he has emerged stronger than ever. At Shelter, he got not just an opportunity to complete his diploma and thus get a job, but they also gave him the love and guidance he desperately needed during his teenage years.

“To me, Shelter Don Bosco has been the driving force which has helped turn my life around. I often visit Shelter when I come back to Mumbai for training and spend time with the Priests and the children. I would like to teach the children the skills required for my job. I know that this is a respectable profession one that also allows me to meet with different types of people. What I have achieved in life, I would want them to achieve as well. I’m sure my story will give them hope,” signs off Bajrangi.

(From the book Forever Grateful to Don Bosco: Success Stories of the Young at Risk)

Also Read: The story of Sandeep Dobe