Saint John Bosco, known as Don Bosco, was born on August 16, 1815, in Becchi, near Turin, Italy. Losing his father at a young age, he was raised in poverty but nurtured a deep sense of faith, compassion, and determination. Ordained a Catholic priest in 1841, Don Bosco became a pioneer in youth education and social upliftment during the Industrial Revolution. He founded the Salesian Society (Society of St. Francis de Sales) in 1859 to educate and care for disadvantaged young people. His Preventive System of education—based on reason, religion, and loving-kindness—remains a foundation of Salesian pedagogy worldwide.
Don Bosco’s mission reached India in 1906 with the arrival of the first Salesians in Tanjore, Tamil Nadu. From there, the Salesian presence expanded rapidly, establishing a wide network of schools, technical institutes, colleges, boarding schools and youth centres throughout the country. The Salesians of Don Bosco are now among the most prominent Catholic educators in India, focusing on the holistic development of marginalized and underprivileged youth. Their work spans rural and urban areas, tribal belts, and regions impacted by conflict or poverty, with a strong emphasis on education, vocational training, and character formation.
Among the many higher education institutions established by the Salesians in India, Salesian College (Autonomous) Sonada, established in 1938 holds special significance. Located in the Darjeeling hills and later expanding to a Siliguri, it serves students from across North Bengal, Sikkim, the Northeast and even abroad. The college offers undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in arts, humanities, commerce, management and science, and is recognized for its academic excellence, community outreach, and promotion of indigenous cultures. It is affiliated with the University of North Bengal and is a UGC-recognized minority institution accredited with an A Grade by NAAC (3rd Cycle). Salesian College Sonada–Siliguri reflects Don Bosco’s enduring legacy in India: education that empowers, uplifts, and inspires a new generation of socially responsible citizens
