DIBRUGARH, Oct 29 � �I love Dibrugarh. I love Don Bosco School, Dibrugarh, much more and my students even more. I owe everything of my life to Dibrugarh because the foundation of my life was laid by Dibrugarh,� Purno Agitok Sangma, former Lok Sabha Speaker and former Chief Minister of Meghalaya, who spent five youthful years as teacher, librarian and as the master in charge of the boarders in Don Bosco School here told a large gathering on the second day of the golden jubilee celebration of the educational institute today.
Sangma was also a law student, besides pursuing his post-graduation and a short jounrnalism course during his stay at Don Bosco School residence from 1968 to January,1973. �I cannot believe coming back here after 37 years�, Sangma, who went nostalgic said. The former Lok Sabha Speaker, with all humility and gratitude said that Salesians had shaped his life. He lost his father when he was just 8 years old. �I was a school dropout but the Salesians picked me and helped me all through my studies�, he mentioned. Salesians of Don Bosco (SDB), the priests and nuns coming under the fold of SDB, which was founded by St. John Bosco are called Salesians in short. Sangma mentioned the name of Fr T T Thomas, who he said, was instrumental in helping him in Shillong and then in Dibrugarh.
Sangma attended today�s jubilee function along with his two sons- MLA James Sangma and MLA Conrad Sangma, the leader of the Opposition in Meghalaya Assembly.
Today�s function was also addressed by Prithibi Majhi, Minister for Water Resources, Labour and Employment, former headmasters and principals of the school. Teachers and parents of the school also took part in the stage programmes.
The golden jubilee celebrations of Don Bosco Higher Secondary School was declared open yesterday by Justice (Retd) S N Phukan, a retired judge of the Supreme Court. The traditional lamp was lit, as part of the ceremonial inauguration by the day�s chief guest Phukan followed by Robert Kerketta, the Retired Bishop of Tezpur, Fr James Poonthuruthil, the Salesian Provincial of Dimapur province, MLA Prasanta Phukan and Fr Jose Karamullil, the headmaster of the school.
S N Phukan, in his jubilee message to the gathering, heaped praise on the works of Salesians of Don Bosco, stating that their educational institutions had been continuing to contribute immensely to the country through education. He said that the past students of the School were well placed in the society.
