Ketan Gala
SHILLONG, NOVEMBER 17, 2009: The National Federation Council meeting of the Don Bosco Alumni, India was held at Bakdil Training Centre, Tura, Meghalaya- Assam from November 9-11, 2009. Mr. Edward Pinto, Mr. Kailash Parekh, Mr. Ketan Gala and Fr. Elias Dias from Mumbai province attended the meeting.
This year the Archdiocese of Shillong is celebrating its platinum jubilee. On this occasion Rector Major Pascoal Chavez visited Guwahati province. Addressing the National Federation Council of the Alumni he said that there are four types of Past Pupils. He explained that it was not on the social, religious, cultural, educational basis. In fact not all the past pupils are on the same level. The first group is those who consider being a past pupil just be default. It happened by chance. For them it is just a memory, nothing more. The second group is those who consider their passing through a Salesian institution a blessing. They consider the Salesian education they received as a moment in which they learnt to be grateful and feel affection towards Don Bosco. The third group is those who consider it not only a blessing but consider being a past pupil a commitment. Hence they feel the need to re- associate themselves with the Salesians. They are willing to commit themselves to this way of life in their social life and they are ready to be present in politics and ready to work for the welfare of all. The fourth group of the past pupils is those who consider a life lived in Don Bosco’s way is a project of life in their family, society, politics and media. Rector major encouraged the past pupils to give the best to those who receive the least.
The inaugural ceremony was held in Don Bosco school complex in Tura. The Provincial delegate of Guwahati Fr. Januarius Sangma welcomed the guests and wished them a pleasant stay in Tura. Fr. K.J. Louis, the national delegate of the past pupil, in his speech said, “The past pupil should fill the whole world with Don Bosco. The chief guest P. A. Sangma, MLA of Tura and an ex- student of Don Bosco welcomed the gathering and said that Don Bosco like Mahatma Gandhi is not a past reality but a reality of the future and the past pupils must work on this.
The first session, the minutes and accounts of the last years meeting were read and passed. Fr. K. J. Louis dealt with world statutes and found some discrepancies’ in its formulation. So the assembly asked him to write a letter and clarify the points. 2011 is the centenary of the Past Pupil Association. In this connection they discussed the world congress in Rome in October and the National Congress in the month of December 2011.
The Council visited Nokrek Biospehere Reserve, Horti Hub Rongram and Fr. George Stadler memorial school, Darenggiri and financed by the past pupil of Tura. The closing ceremony was held at Don Bosco School, Tura. The local beat group entertained the guests. Mr. Edward Pinto proposed the vote of thanks