St. Anthony’s College, Byndihati is an Extension Campus of
St. Anthony’s College, Shillong. It is situated along the Shillong-Silchar
National High Way (NH 6), about 4kms from Khliehriat, the district headquarters
of East Jaintia Hills, Meghalaya (India).
St. Anthony’s College belongs to Don Bosco Society
(Salesians of Don Bosco). The Society is founded by St. John Bosco (1815-1888),
popularly known as Don Bosco. He was born at Becchi in Turin (Italy). As a
priest he dedicated his entire life for the education and formation of young
people, especially the poor and the marginalized. He designed a unique
educational pedagogy based on the triple pillars of ‘Reason, Religion and
Loving Kindness’. The pedagogy came to be known as the ‘Preventive System’, aims at minimizing the negative influences and adding up positive factors
for the holistic growth of the young people. Today the members of the Society,
spread over 132 countries across the globe, cater to the formation of young
people through hundreds of schools, colleges, technical and engineering
colleges, universities, non-formal and agricultural training centres,
counselling centres, parishes and other multi-form services.
St. Anthony’s College, Shillong was established in 1934.
Today it is one of the premier institutions of university studies in Northeast
India. In 2015 the Salesian Province of Shillong decided to set up another
institution of university education in the region, at Byndihati. It began as an
extension campus of St. Anthony’s College, Shillong; but it is propelled to
stand as a full-fledged College on its own ground at proper time. The foundation
for the College at Byndihati was blessed on 16th May 2015 by Rev. Fr.
George Maliekal SDB (Salesian Provincial of Shillong 2012-18). After obtaining
the required permissions from NEHU (North Eastern Hill University) and other
authorities, the first Academic Session was inaugurated on 23rd June
2015 by Smt Wansuk Syiem, Hon. M.P (Rajya Sabha) and blessed by Most Rev.
Thomas Menamparampil SDB (Apostolic Administrator of Jowai). Initially the
classes were held in the premises of Khliehriat Higher Secondary School (Holy
Family Parish-Khliehriat). The College, affiliated to NEHU, began with the
departments of Commerce, English, History, Khasi, Political Science and
Economics as an elective subject. In the following year the departments of
Education and Sociology were added.
In May 2017, the College was shifted to the partially
completed permanent campus at Byndihati. On 16th December 2017 the
new campus at Byndihati was solemnly inaugurated by Shri Vincent Pala, Hon. M.P
(Lok Sabha), blessed by Most Rev. Victor Lyngdoh D.D. (Bishop of Jowai) and
dedicated to the young people of the region by Rev. Fr. George Maliekal SDB.
Since the first Graduation Ceremony in 2018, every year more
than hundred young people march out of the College, empowered with their degree
certificate, to pursue higher studies or to launch into life with a dignified
career.
St. Anthony’s is committed to providing quality university
education to the young people, making it affordable and accessible especially
to the deserving rural youth. Holistic growth of the young people, moulding
them morally upright, socially responsible and intellectually apt is at the
heart of the educational system of St. Anthony’s.
St. Anthony’s envisions introduction of several new study
programs and life/career oriented courses in the coming years. Further
development of the campus, the needed infrastructure for academic courses,
hostels for gents and ladies, sports and recreational facilities and much more
are in the time line of the College.
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