Don Bosco Club, Old Kathalcherra, Dhalai District was established in the year 1981 by a group of Darlong Youth of Old Kathalcrerra who were the past students of Don Bosco, Shillong.
The motto of the Don Bosco Club is “Love and Friendship”. The members of the club worked as the Catholic Youth Association under the then Kumarghat Parish and now, Kathalcherra Parish. In the beginning the club members were working for the parish but later and now, it is exclusively working for the Old Kathalcherra Darlong village only.
In the year 1992, under the Secretary of Pu Zirkhama Darlong and its new committee the Don Bosco Club started the Youth Day on 2nd January of the year. Beside this, Don Bosco Club encourages the village youths in social activities including welfare of the village, church activities including evangelization, cultural programme, games & sports helping the village council and any activities for the village/villagers.
“Don Bosco Thalai Day” (Don Bosco Youth Day) which is celebrated on every 2nd January of the year is the whole day and night programme. On this day, young and old participate in the Don Bosco Thalai Day with pomp and gay. Sport and games like Football, Volleyball, Race, Traditional Games are introduced on that day. On this day Dr. Vincent Thansanga Darlong sponsored prizes for the best Youth (Male & Female) of the year from 1992 to 2018 and from 2019 Pu Biakruala Darlong is continuing the sponsorship till his sons becomes a priest (now he is in the Novitiate).
On 2nd January, 2017 the Silver Jubilee of Don Bosco Thalai Day was celebrated and the chief guest was Shri Jitendra Chowdhury, the then Hon’ble M.P of East Tripura Constituency. On that day he donated Rs. 10,00,000/- (Rupees Ten lakh) to build the Don Bosco Club. Every year on this Don Bosco Thalai Day the Officers, Religious, Village Committee, Parents, Students and Villagers get together from morning to till night starting with oath taking and end with cultural night.
The youth of Don Bosco Club are excellent in football, volleyball and cricket. Some of the achievement of the club are as championships are:-
Rajendra Memorial Football Tournament-1977.
Ruhidas Bosak Memorial Volleyball-1989.
Manu RD Block level Volleyball Tounament-2002.
Longtharai Valley Sub-Division Football Tournament (5 times champions)
Young Darlong Association (YDA) Trophy Football Tournament 2004 and 2014.
The Don Bosco Club of Old Kathalcherra always looks after the welfare of people particularly for children who needs financial help for their further studies or for better treatment. The club also looks after the welfare of the village to be free from drugs and unwanted things not to occur in the village. The club also extends all possible help for the Church activities and village Council.
Rev. Fr PJ Joseph, SDB the Director of Peace Center, Agartala has released 2 cassettes in Darlong called “Awngsuakro” (which means speak out / Proclaim) through singer Ms Zarmawi Darlong and the second one was “Insiamfel Anhunta” (time to change) in the year 2001 and 2005 respectively in collaboration with the Don Bosco Club, Old Kathalcherra.
This year the 33rd Don Bosco Youth Day was celebrated and the Chief Guest was Shri Paul Dangsu, Hon’ble MLA of 48-Karamcherra Constituency, Sri Dangsu has donate a stage which was built in the village play ground.
Paul S. Darlong
