ASIA/INDIA – The Salesians: a century of mission in Calcutta, alongside children and young people

Calcutta – The Salesians are celebrating a century of mission work in India. For one hundred years, the Salesians of Don Bosco in Calcutta have dedicated themselves to the education of young people, the care of children, and the support and training of the poorest and most vulnerable on the streets of this vast metropolis of 22 million inhabitants in eastern India. Thanks to their tireless commitment, which has shaped the history of the nation – the independent Republic of India was founded in 1947 – the Salesians of Don Bosco now operate 11 provinces, 420 Don Bosco Tech centers, 174 shelters for at-risk youth, and 34 migrant support centers in India.
The Salesian Province of Calcutta is celebrating its centenary in the presence of the Rector Major, Father Fabio Attard, who is expected in Calcutta on February 5, where he will meet all members of the large Salesian family of Don Bosco: religious brothers, Salesian nuns, alumni, lay cooperators and missionaries. The Salesians of Don Bosco first set foot on the Indian subcontinent when they landed in Shillong in northeastern India. At that time, India was a British colony. The wounds of the First World War were still raw, and the Empire feared unrest in its most remote territories. The northeast was considered an unstable border region inhabited by tribal communities and important primarily for its strategic significance in the defense of the Empire.
The Salesians dedicated themselves in particular to the vocational training of unemployed young people, who were often labeled as potential ‘troublemakers’. Through vocational training in crafts—printing, carpentry, tailoring, and mechanics—the Salesians of Don Bosco transformed these young people into skilled workers.
From their beginnings in Shillong, the Salesians of Don Bosco’s provincial headquarters later moved to Calcutta and from there established ten more provinces throughout India. From 1926 to 2026, the Salesians of Calcutta celebrated a century of service, during which they trained educators, welcomed street children and restored their dignity, founded schools, and trained leaders in the surrounding regions. The Calcutta Province of the Salesians of Don Bosco encompasses Bihar, Sikkim, Bangladesh, and Nepal, with 40 houses served by 242 Salesians of Don Bosco working in 32 parishes and overseeing more than 25 educational institutions. The network includes 30 secondary schools and 13 vocational schools, providing access to high-quality education. The Salesians of Don Bosco officially arrived in Calcutta on November 11, 1925. The first project entrusted to the three Salesians in Calcutta was the Catholic Orphan Press and the adjacent Cathedral parish. They soon began traveling to the surrounding areas, learning about the Bengali language and culture. For example, a Don Bosco institution was established and expanded in Krishnagar as early as 1928. The Salesians of Don Bosco were also entrusted with the Saints Peter and Paul Primary School, which was upgraded to a secondary school in 1951. Particular importance was dedicated to the missions among the indigenous Santhal communities. This mission initially focused on a few districts in West Bengal and later expanded to parts of Bihar and Nepal.
Another area where the Salesians of Don Bosco are active in the province is the Nepali-speaking regions of North Bengal, Sikkim, and Nepal. Their connection to the Nepalese people dates back to the founding of the Salesian College in Sonada in 1938. In 1963, the parish of Sonada in the Diocese of Darjeeling was entrusted to the Salesians of Don Bosco.
The religious also extended their work to the nearby region now known as Bangladesh, which at that time was part of India. From 1928 to 1952, they were active in some areas of what is now the Diocese of Khulna . After the partition of India into India and Pakistan in 1947, these areas were incorporated into what was then East Pakistan, which became Bangladesh upon its independence in 1971. In all these areas, the presence of the Salesians of Don Bosco is still valued today for their care of children and their educational work with adolescents and young adults, which has a positive impact on social development.

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