Chief guest, guest of honour, Don Bosco Wokha Salesian Fathers & Sisters, and others during the concluding programme on August 19.
Wokha, August 19 (MExN): The centenary celebration of ‘Don Bosco- 100 years with the people of Northeast India’ which commenced from August 16 concluded on Saturday at Don Bosco Higher Secondary School Wokha.
The grand finale celebration was held with Dr Chumben Murry, MLA & Advisor, Department of Law and Justice, Chairman DPDB Wokha, as the chief guest and Ajit Kumar Ranjan, Deputy Commissioner Wokha as the guest of honour, according to a press release from the Organising Committee, Centenary Celebration.
On the occasion, Dr Murry applauded the students for their presence in full traditional attire and urged them to continue with the habit of promoting one's own culture and tradition. He also asked the students to be respectful to elders wherein he citied Japanese culture and discipline and encourage the students to embrace it, the release stated.
He mentioned that through the tremendous efforts of the pioneers of Don Bosco, many people have lived their dreams while also appreciating the Don Bosco family for their sacrifice and effort in establishing institutions in Northeast India despite hardships and challenges.
Noting that Jubilee is a time to retrospect the past, introspect on the present and prospect for a better future, he called on the students to inculcate cleanliness and hygiene, stating that it is a way of bringing reformation and change in the society. He also urged the students to live by the rules in the community, and to develop themselves with education of both the mind and soul.
Further, Dr Murry also reminded the teachers that they are pillars of the society, and encouraged them to facilitate the overall development of the students.
Similarly, DC Ranjan exhorted the students, urging them to be grateful to the pioneers and encouraging them to learn from each other.
Stating that education is building one's own character, he urged the gathering to cultivate independence and entrepreneurship mindset. Wokha, being the land of plenty, many avenues are available to the educated youths he said while adding that an Entrepreneur Task Force in the district has been set up to promote entrepreneurship through the implementation of various tools.
He also said that mobile and electronic applications should lead on something positive and creative and urged the students to use them as a way of nurturing knowledge.
Earlier, delivering the welcome address, Rev Fr CT Varghese, Rector and Parish Priest, expressed gratitude to all those who attended the celebrations and reaffirmed the commitment to work for the Wokha people through various actions plans of the school and Parish.
Meanwhile, highlighting the history of Don Bosco in North East India, Rev Fr TC Joseph, Principal DBHSS Wokha, said that initially 11 Salesians came to the region to start the mission of Don Bosco.
He said that despite challenges, the pioneers sacrificed and contributed much for the last 100 years, “and God could work so many wonders and unimaginable for the progress and developmental growth in northeast India especially in education and skill development sector,” he msaid, maintaining that “Don Bosco name remains a magical name in Northeast India and it has transformed the whole society.”
Further, he exhorted the students stating that they must learn and also appreciate the good in their culture. He mentioned they the students must not lose their identity with Western education and all other imitations of different cultures which may cause loss of values of one's own culture.
Students should be given the chance to know and identify their own culture, he said, urging them to learn and appreciate their own culture without forgetting their roots and serve the society in the best way possible.
The release also informed that during the inaugural programme on August 16, Dr Thungdeno P Murry, Medical Officer (Ayush) PHC, Chukitong, and alumni of DBHSS, was invited as the special guest. She urged the students to live by their dreams and cherish every moment of their student days, and also encouraged them commit to their career through the guidance of their teachers and the process of learning.
During the week long centenary celebration, various activities like cultural show, modern dance, weaving, knitting, flower making, cross stitching, handicraft making, choral competition, earring making, quiz competition, spelling bee, storytelling, yodeling, fire making, top spinning, cosplay, etc were also conducted, the release stated.
