Homecoming

It is with a deep sense of joy and gratitude to God that I take over the responsibility of THE TEENAGER (TODAY) from Fr John Gilbert who has been its editor for the past three years. Though Fr Gilbert was a “newcomer” to THE TEENAGER when he came in, he did everything possible to bring it to the shape in which you find it today.

On behalf of all you, our readers, friends and well wishers, I express my sincere thanks to him for his valid contributions to the growth of our magazine. As he will shortly be moving to Paraguay (Latin America) to assume his new responsibility there, we wish him all success, and we assure him of our sincere prayers as well.

THE TEENAGER (TODAY) turns 55 this year, and for me returning yet again as its editor is homecoming, and I am really delighted to be part of a great initiative/movement which I am proud to be associated with. Fifty five years is a long time in the life of a magazine, and THE TEENAGER TODAY on its march forward has also earned for itself the unique distinction of being the longest surviving youth magazine in the country.

During the past fifty years that I am associated with the magazine, I have seen many similar periodicals coming up every now and then, only to see them closing the shop within a short time. Some of them were owned by media stalwarts like The Times of India (Youth Times), Statesman (Junior Statesman), India Today (Target)! Yet they could not make it to this day. Like any other periodical, THE TEENAGER also had to face the onslaughts of the electronic media. However, the magazine has outlived them all!

As I take up the reins of the magazine, at this juncture, I salute its founding fathers J. Maurus and Aloysius G. Rego of happy memory, who had a dream and a vision for THE TEENAGER and for the youth of our nation. I consider it an honour to have known them personally over the founding days of the magazine and have lived with them for a number of years, thereafter.

I also remember with gratitude all the former editors of the magazine, particularly Fr Mark Fonseca who took over its editorship from the founding fathers. It was he who helped me “discover” the writer within me and also taught me the English that I speak and write today. I am confident that with their blessings and your constant support, I shall do justice to your expectations of me!