Month: September 2015

Youth Meet for “Better Youth, Better World” was held at Salesian College of Higher Education on 27 September to commemorate the Bi-centenary of the birth of Don Bosco. About 500 young people from 42 centres (hostels and villages) participated in the event. The Chief Guest at the Cultural function Dr. E. Thomas Kikon, Addl. Director, Dept of Geology and Mining Govt. of Nagaland urged the youth ‘to be the change they want to see in others’. Appreciating the contribution of schools, hostels, colleges and churches, he said such institutions are the best means to disseminate human values.

The day was inaugurated by garlanding of the statue of Don Bosco by his Lordship Rt. Rev. James Thoppil, Bishop of Kohima who later presided over the Eucharistic Celebration. Bishop James in homily exhorted the youth to share responsibility in building society. He said the youth must learn to accommodate one another, respect the differences in other persons and communities to form a peaceful society. Rev. Fr. Nebu Mathew, the Provincial Economer of Dimapur Province, hoisted the Youth Meet flag. In his message Fr. Mathew said Youth must work on their intellectual, human and character formation to be a good citizen.

Fr. Sebastian Jose the Vice Rector of Salesian College while welcoming the youth said the youth are a gigantic force which can transform and regenerate our society. The day was marked by animation programs on the theme “Better Youth, Better World”. Prizes and certificates were given away to the winners of Bosco Quiz 2015 and enterprising leaders of the various centres. Fr. Christudoss, the Youth Director while thanking everyone said, ‘youth you are the agent of change. Carry this message to your home and society.

Maram, 15 September 2015:

Scaling academic heights and excellence in all round development of a student and its performance, Don Bosco College Maram has achieved another milestone which no other college has achieved in Manipur. Scoring the highest ever NAAC accredited colleges points till date in the State, the college since its inception in 2001 has become a brand of producing the highest numbers of toppers in Manipur University. A household name for management, discipline, academic results, social/public services, infrastructure, good faculty, extra-curricular activities and others, the missionary managed institution is among the best in the North East today.
Known to many for usually sweeping graduate level rankings and breaking all previous records, the recent inspection of the NAAC team and grading has brought laurels to the District and the State too. Going by records of recent NAAC assessment result, DM College of Arts scored 2.47 with B-grade while DBC Maram scored as high as 3.35 CGPA with grade-A which is highest in Manipur till date. Only two colleges in Manipur have ever scored A-grade from NAAC, the other being S.Kula Women’s College, Nambol. However, DBC Maram score of 3.35 CGPA isthe highest in Manipur till today and second in Northeast India. The college was formerly graded with 2.49 CGPA by the NAAC during 2009 June assessment. Improving itself in all fronts, the college which was inspected by NAAC team this year on 6th to 8th August, 2015 has many reasons to celebrate and duly credited for its outstanding performance for the past many years. Kudos to Don Bosco College Maram!!

Golaghat, 7 September 2015:

             On this day the official inauguration and blessing of the Don Bosco College Golaghat was held with much celebration. It was a long cherished dream to have a degree college in Assam and is finally realized in this bicentenary year of the birth of St. John Bosco.

           Dibrugarh University Vice Chancellor, Prof. Alok Kumar, a past pupil of St.Anthony’s College Shillong, was the chief guest. Bishop Joseph Aind presided over the function. The press with other dignitaries were also present along with student representatives from Don Bosco School Rangajan and Sacred Heart School Golaghat. Fr. Cyprian the financial administrator of the diocese together with the priests from neighbouring parishes showed their support by their presence. There were also confreres from Silchar province at the function.

          The parishioners under the guidance of Fr. Anthony Toppo, accorded the traditional welcome. Fr. Dilip Bara Pancratius, Rector of Don Bosco Golaghat, gave a short history of the college and appreciated the efforts made by the province.  Rev. Sr. Mary Antony CSJB, Provincial of Indian Province in her message laid down the road map of collaboration by her assurance of providing teaching faculty members and also of starting a hostel for girls. Sr. Jyoti Kerketta MSMHC, representing Rev. Sr. Daisy Jacob MSMHC, Provincial, Tinsukia Province, also spoke, in a similar vein, of being partners in this noble venture.

Most Rev Joseph Aind, Bishop of Dibrugarh was extremely happy for having been able to see the long cherished dream of having a Catholic College in his diocese. While appreciating this relevant undertaking on behalf of the youth of the diocese, he imparted his wholehearted blessing for the college and its inmates, and wished that the college might become a centre of development and growth of the people.

Prof Alak Kumar Buragohain, the Vice Chancellor of Dibrugarh University, in his speech, highlighted the contribution made by Don Bosco to the world and to youth. Speaking personally he said he lived a contented and joyful life as a teacher. Though the Vice Chancellor now, he always liked to be referred to as a ‘teacher’. He addressed the Don Bosco College staff as his colleagues, and said they would be true teachers only if they could bring out the latent talents in each pupil. He praised Don Bosco as The Teacher of Youth, but added that his own aptitudes and talents were discovered and helped to develop by a priest who was a teacher himself. We have Don Bosco today because of that teacher; Don Bosco himself in his turn became a teacher and today we ought to imitate his great example of dedication to the young.

Representatives of Don Bosco College Kohima presented a song; and Bosco Institute of Jorhat put up a street play on the theme ‘say no to early marriage’ – so that girls could be better educated.

Fr. Jose Palely, the principal, gave the words of appreciation. A colourful Wall Magazine prepared by the first batch students was inaugurated by the Vice Chancellor. This was followed by a good meal for everyone.

I am very appreciative of the work put in by Fr.Dilip, the rector, Fr. Anthony Toppo, Fr. Bimal and Fr. Palely. God bless you confreres! I must also praise you for the fine spirit of cooperation among all in the campus, especially the DBTech trainees, and
from the public.

Dimapur 7^th September 2015:

In an unprecedented move..around 120 of street children in Dimapur city came together in Don bosco Institute for Development and Leadership , Don Bosco Dimapur for the seminar on Drug addiction. It was organized by the Salesian Clerics of Salesian College. Dimapur.

Speaking on the occasion the Youth Director of Salesian College Youth Centre Oratories,  Fr.Christudoss, underscored the need to cultivate  good habits, positive thinking and having noble ambitions in life. He further stressed  the need to  grow up to be someone important to contribute to the growth of the human society around. Thereafter,  there followed the video  presentation for 40 minutes of  Harmful effects of  Drug addiction and the sharing of the lives by Ex-drugaddicts being helped out by  various NGOs in and around Nagaland.  Further, the brothers explained the video well  in the local language to them. The street children aging 6 – 15 years of age understood the import of the video presentation.  Many of them are seriously in drug addiction for many years.  This is really a great step towards creating a positive awareness of the serious  harmful effects of drug –addiction in Dimapur.