DON BOSCO COLLEGE – BYNDIHATI
(St. Anthony’s College-Shillong extension)
Don Bosco College – Byndihati is one of the major initiatives taken after the creation of the new Salesian Province of Silchar (Shillong -INS) in May 2012. Byndihati is located about 3 kilometers from the Khlierhriat parish on the National Highway to Silchar.
On 19th June 2014, Fr. George Maliekal visited Khliehriat parish and celebrated mass at the MSMHC convent Byndihati. After the mass, Fr. George, in the company of Fr. Parackatte Mathew (Parish Priest-Khliehriat) and few leaders from Byndihati scouted the plot of land adjacent to the convent donated to the Salesians by the sister of Bah Bedarius. There was an informal sharing in the group of the idea of starting a degree College in the area. But it was observed that the plot of land possessed by the Salesians at Byndihati was too small for any Salesian work. Returning to Khliehriat parish Fr. Provincial suggested strongly to Fr. Mathew, the confreres and the leaders to make sufficient land available free of cost for a College and the province will see to the possibility of starting the College at the earliest.
On 22nd July 2014 Fr. Provincial was informed that a plot of land, along the NH between Khliehriat and Byndihati was available for the purpose. Fr. George Maliekal, provincial, Fr. Paul Olphindro (vice provincial) and Fr. Thomas Pampady (secretary) who were returning from Mizoram stopped at Byndihati and the plot of land was shown. Since it was dark already, a good survey of the land was not possible.
On 25th July, the same team returned to Byndihati and took a serious survey of the land. A meeting with the leaders of the area too took place on that day. Fr. Provincial concluded the discussion with these points: (1) from the preliminary observation we are indeed pleased to start the College in the location. It is very ideally situated, near the NH, water is available, accessible for the youth of several villages. The nearest College is in Khliehriat, which is 3-4 kms away. There is the absolute need for a good College in the area. Setting up a College will usher in development of the area in many ways. (2) the matter will be discussed in the provincial council to be held at Khliehriat scheduled for 23rd august 2014. (3) proper permission is to be sought and obtained from rector major and the council (4) a lot more discussion has to take place at two levels, at the resources (fund) level and at the academic level (with NEHU and UGC). (5) there is the possibility of starting the College as an extension of St. Anthony’s College (St. Anthony’s College – Jaintia hills campus). The matter is to be studied in depth. (6) with god’s grace and with the collaboration of all concerned we hope to begin the academic session in 2015.
August 2014
At the request of Fr. Provincial, a meeting took place on 2nd august 7.00pm with Bro. Albert Longley, principal and other confreres of St. Anthony’s College. Fr. Saji Stephen, Fr. Joby and Fr. Mani were present. Bro. Albert had done some preliminary consultation with people concerned and the following opinions were expressed. (1) SAC can have a Jaintia hills (name need to be fixed) campus offering initially arts stream and later commerce and gradually introducing new courses. (2) to UGC / NEHU we can name it as SAC – Jaintia hills campus. Once it grows in strength we can have independent College (3) information/ permission to NEHU needs to be given. It is to be clarified if permission for starting another campus is to be obtained from NEHU. (4) There will be no examination centre provided by NEHU as long as it will be only an extension campus. Examinations are to be conducted at NEHU approved centre. (5) Faculty (with UGC norms) and non-teaching staff will be recruited on College posts with pay at par with SAC Shillong. (6) an sdb vice principal, SAC Jaintia hills campus and others will have to be appointed for the campus with the principal of SAC coordinating and visiting at least once a week. (7) all official documents, enrollment of students etc. will be rooted through SAC. (8) gradually, there can be exchange programs on certain credits of different subjects offered to students if we are able to build up the infrastructure. (9) this can cater to the entire Jaintia hills in providing quality education supervised by SAC. (10) the expenses of students/families will be less, College being near to their homes. (11) the evils of youngsters being far away from home can be reduced by bringing College nearer to their homes.
Bro. Albert agreed to make further contacts and find out useful details about the formal process of starting an extension at Byndihati. We need to get in touch with a team of lay people from the civil and academic levels, who can assist us in the process. On 28-09-2014, Archbishop Thomas granted permission in writing to go ahead with the initiative of starting DB College at Byndihati. On 8-10-2014, Fr. Provincial presented at the meeting of the rectors and parish priests of INS the decision of the process and the decision of the Provincial Council to go begin the degree College at Byndihati and Pathaliaghat. There was the unanimous approval by the confreres.
The Blessing and the Laying of Foundation of the College campus at Byndihati was done by Rev. Fr. George Maliekal SDB, the first Salesian Provincial of Silchar Province (INS) on the 16th of May 2015. The work was entrusted to Kong Santa Mary Shylla, daughter of Bah Thomas Nongtdu. The first promise of funding assistance came from a Maltese NGO (through Fr. Cilia Joseph) and the MPLADS Fund from Smt. Wansuk Syiem M.P (Rajya Sabha). There was indeed funds crunch and Kong Santa advanced the funds required for the construction. The construction was in good progress.
Fr. Paul Passah was appointed Principal in charge of the College. On 23rd June 2015 the first academic session of the College was inaugurated officially by Smt Wansuk Syiem, MP (Rajya Sabha) in the presence of Archbishop Thomas Menamparampil (Apostolic Administrator of Jowai) and other political and civil leaders of the region. The classes were initiated at Khliehriat Parish School (Holy Family, Khliehriat). In January 2017 Fr. Joby Manjakattil, Vice Principal of SAC was transferred to Byndihati as the Principal in charge. Later, Fr. Ronald Joseph joined the College community in Khliehriat.
Necessary permissions for the initiative and for the construction were obtained from the Rector Major and the Economer General on 17th July 2015. St. Anthony’s College and the Stephen Hall assisted with funding for the progress of the construction. Meanwhile several funding agencies were approached with applications for financial assistance for the construction of the campus. Fr. Provincial and the team approached the Chief Minister of Meghalaya, the ministers, the MP and others. Some of them made promises but no fund came from any one of them. There were serious difficulties to find funds for the construction. The Province Solidarity made its best of investments to continue with the construction. In April 2017 CEI (Italian Bishops’ Conference) responded to the request for financial assistance for the initiative.
It is planned that the confreres assigned for the College will move their residence to the new Campus in May 2017. A formal request will be made to the Rector Major to approve the new Salesian Community at Byndihati. The Academic Session 2017-18 planned to begin on 1st June 2017 will be held in the new Campus. Meanwhile the construction works will continue. At present, there are about 250 students in 6 departments – in Arts and Commerce.