by JMac for BISMumbai

The clock struck half past noon at Jnana Deepa Vidyapeeth-Pune on 21 January 2020, and in synchronisation with father time, in clockwork precision, MumbaiSalesians' Father Vinod Mascarenhas started the exposition of his doctoral thesis, "The Pedagogy of Paulo Freire and It's Implications for Education in India."

The exposition comprised of three parts - introducing the guide and the candidate, exposition of the thesis particular, and doubt-clarifications by the readers on the panel. About 30 priests, scholastics , nuns, and lay people, including 13 Salesians were in attendance for the occasion.

Fathers Viktor Ferrao and I. Nishat were the readers while Father Kuruvilla Pandikattu was the coordinator and the moderator.

A moment of grace to experience, learning, and be enriched, this defense touched not only upon the pedagogical aspects of Paulo Friere, but also showcased the excellent assimilation by the defendant. Calm and composed, Father Mascarenhas waded through tough clarifications required by the panel, and was equally at ease, responding to questions raised by the audience. Numerous questions on the latest educational policy and other school related queries were deftly handled by Father Mascarenhas, impeccably!