On the occasion of an unprecedented and historic event of the swearing in of the first Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Chief Minister in northeast India ending 15 years of Congress rule in the state of Assam, the members of the Salesian Family gathered to pray and wish their alumnus Chief Minister designate Mr Sarbananda Sonowal, 23 May.
Some 80 Salesian Fathers and Brothers, Salesian Sisters, MSMHC Sisters, Sisters of Mary Immaculate, Alumni Office bearers and Salesian Cooperators were present along with Sr Lucy Rose General Councilor of Salesian Sisters from Rome, MSMHC Superior General Sr Philomena Mathew, FMA Provincial Sr Elizabeth George and SMI provincial Sr Sharlene Pulikal at the meeting held at Salesian Provincial House Guwahati.
The Salesian Family members from Guwahati gathered for the conclusion of the Extraordinary Visitation of the Salesian province of Guwahati by Councilor General for Missions Fr. Guillermo Basanes who was in the province for over three months visiting all 30 plus Don Bosco Institutions in the state.
After a moment of prayer and welcome words Guwahati Salesian Provincial Fr V.M. Thomas gave a briefing on the historic moment for the state on the significant feast of Don Bosco’s Madonna – MaryHelp of Christians, celebrated solemnly world over on 24 May.
“Don Bosco is the reason we are here,” said Fr Thomas welcoming members of the Salesian Family which has world over 30 constituent bodies.
Fr Thomas recalled the presence of Mr Sonowal who addressed some 60 leaders of the province during their provincial chapter on 20 February 2016 where he spoke about the moral values he learned at school adding, “I have become what I am because of the education I received at Don Bosco.”
Fr Thomas also added that there were three Sonowal brothers studying at Don Bosco School Dibrugarh at the same time and the school waved the fees for one of the brothers and educated him free.
Salesian Sister Grace, Superior of St Mary’s Guwahati recalled how Sonowal as Member of Parliament form Dibrugarh was a frequent help for their Little Flower School Dibrugarh.
Fr Thomas who is also the national president of the Conference of Religious India which has over 1.25 lakh religious men and women members said, “This is a historic moment for the state and the Salesian family when one of our own illustrious Alumnus is taking the reins of the state.”
“As a past pupil of Don Bosco I fully believe that Sonowal will build a civilization of love, peace and justice ushering in a new era of hope and development for the aspiring youth of the state,” said Fr Thomas who founded the Don Bosco Institute Kharguli in Guwahati for the leadership training of youth of the state and the region.
"We expect a good relationship with the new government," said Archbishop John Moolachira of Guwahati adding “The church in Assam is praying and hoping that there will not be any anti-Christian violence.” Assam has some 31 million people, but Hindus are about 60 percent against the national average of 80 percent. Christians are a minority forming 1.1 million or 3.7 percent of the total population. Assam has some 600,000 Catholics spread over five dioceses of Bongaigaon, Dibrugarh, Diphu, Guwahati and Tezpur.
Guwahati, Nov. 22, 2025: Don Bosco Institute (DBI), Kharghuli, celebrated its Silver Jubilee with a solemn thanksgiving ceremony and the launch of Building Dreams – Shaping Lives, the autobiography of its educationist founder Fr. V.M. Thomas.
Hon’ble Justice Ujjal Bhuyan, Chief Guest at the celebration, released the volume in the presence of Guest of Honour Devajit Saikia, Advocate General of Assam and Secretary of the BCCI. The event drew a distinguished gathering of judges, government officials, clergy, religious, alumni, and friends of Don Bosco.
More than a chronicle of achievements laid out in 598 pages, the autobiography is a testimony of grace and a narrative of how one man’s...
With the rising tide of digital immersion and adolescent stress, educational leaders from across the North East gathered on October 30, 2025, at NEDSS, Guwahati, to reimagine student health as a cornerstone of national progress. The North Eastern Educational Leaders’ Conference, themed “Student Health, Nation’s Future: Towards Better Learning and a Healthier Society in the Era of NEP 2020,” brought together some 400 voices from academia, medicine, government, and the Church in a day-long reflection on holistic education.
Organised by Education Secretary, Holy Cross Father Dr. Paul Pudussery, the meet was hosted by the Assam Catholic Educational Trust (ACET) in collaboration with CRWI and...
Salesian College Autonomous, Siliguri, hosted its 11th annual inter-school science festival, eComPhyMathix 2025, drawing 447 students from 11 leading schools across North Bengal. The one-day mega event, featuring 13 competitions across five venues, celebrated the scientific curiosity, creativity, and technical brilliance of young minds.
The festival opened with an inaugural ceremony led by Rector Fr. Tomy Augustine and Principal Fr. Dr. Babu Joseph. Organized by students of Economics, BCA, Computer Science, Physics, and Mathematics, the event blended technical challenges with creative pursuits, embodying the spirit of interdisciplinary learning.
From competitive coding in ‘CodeChef’...
Rajahatta, Darjeeling: The quiet hamlet of Rajahatta Khasmahal in the Darjeeling hills is preparing to host its inaugural ‘Doko Trail Run’ on Sunday, November 2, 2025, an event that promises to unite sport, tradition, and regional camaraderie.
Organized by the Rajahatta Explore Group, the event draws participants from across India and South Asia, with registrations now open both online and offline. The registration fee is Rs. 1700. Interested runners may register online via the Explore Group’s Facebook page, or offline at Anand Chettri’s shop in 8th Mile Bazaar or through RJ Samir, Program Coordinator at Radio Salesian.
At the heart of this initiative is Radio Salesian 90.8 FM,...
Seven hundred young participants from across Northeast India concluded their five-day Holy Week retreat with a symbolic Easter morning river pilgrimage on the Brahmaputra river, marking the 18th edition of Youth Pasch.
Organized by Don Bosco Institute (DBI) Guwahati, the annual retreat offers young people a space for spiritual renewal, reflection, and fellowship.
Youth Pasch immerses participants in the Paschal Mystery—the passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus—through engaging liturgies, prayer, dramatic enactments and interactive sessions. This year’s event, held from 16 to 20 April, embraced the Salesian Jubilee Year theme, “Anchored in Hope, Pilgrims with Young People,” under...
Over 600 young people from across Northeast India gathered at the Don Bosco Institute (DBI) Joypur in Kharguli, Guwahati, for the 18th edition of Youth Pasch, a four-day Easter-themed retreat centered on prayer, reflection, and fellowship.
The retreat, which began on April 16, offers a vibrant program designed to deepen participants' understanding of the Paschal Mystery. Activities such as labyrinth prayer gardens, Seder meals, faith-sharing groups, and the Sacrament of Reconciliation create an atmosphere of renewal, trust, and community.
A highlight of the retreat was the solemn observance of Holy Thursday, commemorating the Last Supper of Jesus with His disciples. The ceremony was...
Shillong, April 16, 2025: Educators from four prominent colleges convened at Union Christian College (UCC) Shillong for a dynamic two-day workshop focused on incorporating artificial intelligence into a participatory teaching and learning framework. The initiative aimed to equip faculty members with essential strategies for navigating the evolving landscape of higher education.
The Faculty Development Workshop, titled “AI-native Education - its Participatory Paradigm in Teaching and Learning,” took place at UCC Shillong on April 15th and 16th, 2025.
The program commenced with welcoming remarks from UCC Vice Principal Dr. M.C. Daimary, followed by an address from Jesuit Fr. Dr. Xavier...
"Chai Time - A Darjeeling Tea Planter's Journey from Makaibari to Rimpocha," the latest book from Bose Creative Publishers, was launched at a special event held at Berlin Coffee House in Siliguri, 13th April 2025. Besides a galaxy of eminent citizens, participants from 9 countries joined the event on-line.
Authored by Mr. Swaraj Rajah Banerjee, a fourth-generation tea planter in the Darjeeling hills and former doyenne of the renowned Makaibari Tea Estate, the 583-page book spans 40 captivating chapters. It narrates Mr. Banerjee's transformative journey from managing Makaibari Tea Estate to establishing the artisanal tea brand Rimpocha.
The book details how Mr. Banerjee, after...
Itanagar, 9th February 2025: The Department of Economics at Don Bosco College Itanagar recently organized a two-day national seminar on "Challenges and Opportunities for Socio-Economic Development in Rural Areas of Northeast India." The seminar, held on February 7-8, was supported by ICSSR-NERC and Federal Bank.
The seminar aimed to discuss the challenges and opportunities for rural development in Northeast India. It brought together experts, researchers, and policymakers to share their insights and experiences.
In his welcome address, Dr. Fr. Jose George, Principal of Don Bosco College, thanked the dignitaries for their presence. He highlighted the importance of the seminar, stating...
In a rare case of rags to riches story, an Assamese entrepreneur today heads a trillion dollar company in the U.S. employing over 4,000 people.
The man in the case is Siddhartha Chowdhary, the founder of Credence, a consulting organization based in Washington DC. An alumnus of IIT Kharagpur (1988-92 Batch) he was two terms president of PAN IIT activities for over 5,000 members in the U.S.
Siddhartha affectionately called as Sid was introduced as an unmatched achiever from northeast India at a felicitation held at Press Club Dispur in his home city Guwahati, on 22nd December 2023.
Introducing him was his former principal at Don Bosco School Guwahati Fr V. M. Thomas who said, “Sid...
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