The book has a catchy title and promises an interesting exploration of the Salesian mission in Ahmednagar, Maharashtra. This book is the result of the author’s research as part of the Master’s in Theology with a specialization in mission. The aim of the book is to provide a review of the mission in Ahmednagar, which has a rich cultural history. The book has 3 chapters preceded by a General Introduction and followed by a General Conclusion and some appendices and bibliography.

First of all, let me start by saying that the book looks very attractive. The cover is well designed and the overall design is aesthetically pleasing. The author has provided a glossary of words that allows the reader to better understand local concepts and traditions. The first chapter offers an explanation of the term ‘mission’ using etymological, biblical and magisterial sources. The chapter is very short and focuses on the term ‘mission’ itself without going into discussions of related issues. The second chapter offers a history of the Ahmednagar mission accessing historical and civil documents and mentioning Protestant and Catholic interventions. The final chapter highlights the effects of the Salesians on the mission since their inauguration in 1986. The appendices contain maps of the region, historical documents referencing Christian interventions, and finally a useful list of all the parish priests of San Juan el Baptist Church, Ahmednagar, which is the focal point of the mission.

While the author is to be commended for undertaking this important project, I question its real value as a theological and missiological study. While the book has been called “a labor of love” by the author himself and other appraisers, I felt it was a laborious read. The book has numerous grammatical errors and typographical errors that do not allow smooth reading. The language used is quite simplistic and does not adequately convey the message behind the text; this is especially true in the glossary. The table of contents isn’t very helpful, although it does provide chapter headings and subheadings, as it doesn’t show page numbers. There are a couple of methodological errors. The list of abbreviations seems superfluous as the author found it necessary to use the full names in the text and to offer the abbreviation again in parentheses. There is an occasion when the given abbreviation was used for a different term than the one mentioned in the original list.

The book lacks integrity. The author uses the subtitle “A Theological, Historical, and Pastoral Study.” Apparently those are the 3 parts he divides the book into. I don’t think the subtitle is appropriate because these 3 elements are exclusive to each other and not directly related to the main title which reads: “Salesian contribution to the Ahmednagar Mission”. The chapters do not succeed each other and do not form a combined whole. Chapter one deals with the term “mission” without any reference to the following two chapters and explores topics not developed or mentioned in the following chapters. bland and rushed explanation of the term. Frankly, it seems that the chapter is a very brief summary of the Master’s course. Chapter two provides a historical account of the importance of Ahmednagar and details the entry of Christianity into the region, even mentioning the names of a few instrumental people. In my opinion, this chapter delved too deeply into the story and did not fully serve its purpose. The third chapter once again offers a historical account of the Salesian work in Ahmednagar. While the story may be interesting to read for Salesians and those interested in Christian mission in that region, it offers little more to the reader. German Mission and its impact. He does not hesitate to expose the drawbacks of the Salesian mission, a bold move in my opinion considering that, firstly, he is a Salesian himself and, secondly, he has had the experience of working there first hand!

It seemed to me at the end of the book that this was nothing more than an attempt to systematically present the story. I do not think that the author has achieved the objectives that he set out at the beginning, which were ‘to give a comprehensive understanding of the evangelizing mission, also discussing the challenges that the Salesians faced in this mission’ and ‘to shed light on the possibilities of involve the laity in the mission’ (p. 4). Although some suggestions are made to improve the scope and quality of the mission, they are addressed to the Salesians and do not mention milk. All in all, the book is not innovative from a missiological, historical or pastoral perspective, although it is the first attempt to make a condensed presentation of the Salesian mission in Ahmednagar. Those who live and work there may find solace and perhaps even inspiration in these pages, but as a theological work this book is quite forgettable.