AGARTALA

A.  BRIEF HISTORY

The presence and the ministry of Salesians of Don Bosco in Agartala had its beginning with Don Bosco School Agartala (Nandan Nagar). The land for Don Bosco School Agartala was bought in August 1996, and it has an area of 13 acres. Fr. Joseph Pulinthanath and Cl. Amla Vinod (INM) took up residence there the same month. Initial works included doing a survey of the area, making a contour map, and preparations for the starting of the school. Work of a three storey building (the present Peace Centre) began in October 1996 and admissions to the new school were taken in January 1997. When it became clear that the building under construction would not be ready for inauguration of the school in May, a bamboo and tin shed was put up.

In April 1997 Fr. Mudakkampuram George (MC) who was appointed the first Principal of Don Bosco School arrived in Agartala and the school was officially inaugurated on 02nd May 1997 and he continued up to 07th June 2010. Housed in the bamboo and tin shed, the school had 253 students from Nursery to Class Two, seven teachers and two school buses. In 1998, the School was shifted to the three storey building that had just been completed. In 2000, the foundation stone for a well-planned full-fledged school building and campus was laid. The new building was inaugurated in 2004. The first batch of Cl. X students, 13 in number, appeared for their final Exams of Tripura Board of Secondary Education in 2005. The result was 100% pass. In 2006, the School was affiliated to CBSE. In 2008, the first batch of Cl. X appeared for CBSE board exams. In 2009, Cl. XI was started for Arts and Science streams. In 2010, the first batch of Cl.XII appeared for the CBSE exams. The school secured 100% pass in all the exams. At present the School is from Nursery to Cl. XII.

The SDBs cater to the spiritual needs of the three convents (FMA, MSMHC and SSPS or Holy Spirit Sisters) nearby. The School caters to the holistic formation of the students, providing ample opportunity for developing their talents. The well planned out campus and the exercise of Don Bosco’s system of education create an excellent educational milieu.

In 2004, the Salesian presence at Agartala was recognized as a canonical community with Fr. MC George as the first Rector.

In February 2009, a beautiful Church dedicated to St. John Bosco was blessed and consecrated.

On 8th June 2010, Bro. Albert Longley took over as the second principal of the School and was succeeded by Fr. Benny Mushahary on 13th June 2012.

Nandan Nagar was declared as a Quasi Parish in April 2012 by Bishop Lumen Monteiro. Fr. Davis Aricatt was the first Parish Priest. Fr. Joseph Palamthattel (Sunny) was appointed Parish Priest in May 2014.

The following confreres have rendered various services at Don Bosco Agartala:  Fr. Joseph Pulinthanath, Cl. Amla Vinod (INM), Fr. Mudakkampuram George, Fr. Venadt Ronald, Br. Ignatius Toppo, Fr. Marianus Kujur, Fr. P.A. Peter, Fr. Elias Kerketta, Cl. George Shining, Fr. Joseph Puthenpurackal, Fr. Paul Panachickal, Fr. Pascal Dung Dung, Fr. Kunnappillil Thomas, Br. Albert Longley, Fr. Davis Aricatt and Fr. Gabriel Colney

B.    APOSTOLATE / MINISTRIES

Parish

Full-fledged Parish Ministry

School

Managed by the SDB

Peace Centre – Hostel

Managed by the SDB

Peace Centre – Youth Centre

Skill Training, Remedial Classes for school drop-outs, Youth Programs, Biblical, Liturgical, Catechetical Apostolate, Animation Programs, Aitorma and other Publications, Media Ministry (Print, Audio-Video-Film) especially in Kokborok Language, Cultural and Linguistic Promotion, Peace Initiatives etc.

Chaplaincies

FMA, SSPS, MSMHC 

STATISTICS

ST. JOHN BOSCO PARISH

 

Number

Students

Male

Female

Catholics

Others

Salesians

3

 

 

 

 

 

Convent

3

 

 

 

 

 

Head Catechists

1

 

 

 

 

 

Villages

2

 

 

 

 

 

Chapels in the Parish

2

 

 

 

 

 

Domestic Staff

3

 

 

 

 

 

Catholic Families 

118

 

 

 

 

 

CatholicPopulation

384

 

 

 

 

 

Baptism (2016)

110

 

 

 

 

 

First Communion (2016)

13

 

 

 

 

 

Confirmation (2016)

18

 

 

 

 

 

Marriage (2016)

7

 

 

 

 

 

Deceased (2016)

2

 

 

 

 

 

Priests & Religious

21

 

 

 

 

 

Co-operators

29

 

5

24

 

 

Non SDB Houses & no. of sisters

 

FMA    – 8

MSMHC – 7

SSPS      – 4

Parish Activities

Family Ministry with counselling, Teaching of catechism. Animation of women group and Youth group, Evangelization Teams, Reaching out to new areas for evangelization, Parish council once a month. 

 

DON BOSCO SCHOOL

Started

1997

School Board

CBSE

Details

Number

Male

Female

Catholics

Others

Salesians

3

 

 

 

 

Sisters Teaching in the School

1

 

 

 

 

Support staff

21

 

 

 

 

Teaching Staff

67

19

48

18

49

Students

2167

 

 

 

 

Primary Sch. (Nur – V)

1161

694

467

 

 

Sec. School (VI-VIII)

446

265

181

 

 

High School (IX-X)

265

142

123

 

 

Higher Sec. Sch. (XI-XII)

295

176

119

 

 

Medium of instruction

English

 

 

 

 

Library

Yes

 

 

 

 

Smart Class

Yes

 

 

 

 

Internet Facilities

Yes

 

 

 

 

Computer Lab

Yes

 

 

 

 

Science Lab

Yes

 

 

 

 

Playground

Yes

 

 

 

 

Facilities available in the school

Infrastructure: Classrooms, Auditorium, A.C Hall, Digital Classroom

Playground, Canteens, Buses-21, Wi-Fi-Computer Lab, Amphitheatre,

 

PEACE CENTRE

 

Number

Boys/Gents

Girls/Ladies

Catholics

Others

Salesians

1

 

 

 

 

Teaching Staff

7

5

2

3

4

Domestic Staff

6

4

2

4

2

Students (Yearly)

320

160

160

 

 

Hostels

2

100

100

 

 

Class X Failed

80

40

40

 

 

DegreePassed

5

2

3

 

 

Dropouts

0

0

0

 

 

Concession

7

 

 

 

 

Areas of Working

1. Culture and Language

 

1. Publications

 

i.       Aitorma Monthly Magazine

 

ii.     Aitorma Book Publications

 

iii.    Text Book in Kokborok for School

 

iv.    Missal in Kokborok, Religious Booklets

 

2. Aitorma Website

 

3. Annual Aitorma Awards

 

4. Aitorma Pravabati Cup

 

5. Aitorma Channel – You Tube

 

6. Village Programs : Rural Cultural Fair

 

7. Annual Maharaja Bir Bikram Memorial Lecture        

 

8. Documenting Rare Cultural Practices – Audio & Video Digital Library

 

9. Outreach Programs – Cloths & Blankets Distributions

 

10.Annual Kokborok Language Courses for Priests & Religious

2. Youth Training Programs

 

Skill Training

 

 

Hospitality

 

 

Soft Skill Training and Domestic Data Entry Operator

3. Remedial Courses for School Dropout Students (Cl. X, Bengali medium, Madhyamic)

4. Catechetical Aids

 

Songs & Music Production (Logesong)

 

Cassette : Hymns and Music for the Church’s purposes

 

Translation of the English Missal, Catechism, Sunday Readings into Kokborok

 

Lenten Season Book in Kokborok (Holy Week)

 

Prayer and Hymns for the Youth

 

Articles during Christmas in TV and Newspapers

Facilities

 

 

Audio Studio

 

Video Studio

 

Film Making Equiptments

www.subrai.in – Catholic Resource Website in Kokborok

Statistics as in 2017