INTRODUCTION:

Christianity arrived here in 1896 with the arrival of the Methodist pastors from America. A significant figure in the early years of Christianity was a famous physician Dr. WHC Bastone. He ran a primary health care centre and his hospital ministry was a grand success in attracting many local families to Christ. Methodist church has a good following in this area. Methodist pastors and the church have contributed very much for the cultural uplift of the area too.

Catholicism is a late arrival in Bidar. It was in the year 1982 that the diocese of Mangalore adopted Bidar as its missionary venture. This part was under the jurisdiction of the Arch diocese of Hyderabad, Belgaum and Bellary. It was raised to the status of a diocese in 2005. The new diocese of Gulbarga comprises of 4 districts of Karnataka: Bidar, Gulbarga, Bijapur and Yadgir. Enterprising missionaries from Mangalore [fathers, sisters and religious brothers] have already accomplished a commendable service here. Now we have an active catholic presence here in the form of parishes, quasi-parishes, new catechumenate villages, dispensaries, a hospital, schools, Technical centres, colleges, social service centres etc. The diocese is growing rapidly under the able leadership of Bishop Robert Miranda who had been here already as a Founding Missionary. Presently the diocese is having 3 deaneries and more than 40 centres with substations and catechumenate villages. There are about 45 priests and more than 145 religious nuns working in the diocese. The highest numbers of Catholics in this diocese are found in the district of Bidar.

There are more 20 women religious congregations as well as 6 men religious congregations working in the diocese of Gulbarga. Salesians have 3 communities in the diocese of Gulbarga: in Yadgir, Gulbarga and in Bidar. All the communities are involved in educational and other social welfare activities like community development programmes, child labour rehabilitation centres, and child line. Although all these communities have been involved in the various social welfare activities, the main focus of our mission here is evangelization. The focus of all our works is the Evangelization or the proclamation of Christ. This is very much true in Bidar.

One can see a pluralistic religious situation in Bidar. Although the majorities are Hindus, there are a big number of Muslims as well as Christians in this district. We can also notice a considerable number of Sikhs in Bidar as they have their third most eminent Pilgrim center in Bidar. While most of the Business is done by the Muslim population, the Hindus hold most of the land in the district. Sikhs too are quite well to do, while the Christians are very poor compared to the above religious groups. Most of the Christians belong to Methodist division of   Protestant Church and are converts from Madigas, considered to be a low caste among the Hindus. Hence they are one of the most backward people of Bidar. It is to the children and youth coming from these communities we should focus our attention. 

DON BOSCO IN BIDAR:

Salesian fathers of Don Bosco entered into Bidar Scenario in 2006 at the request of Bishop Rt. Rev. Dr. Robert Miranda. It was on 18th May 2006, that Fr. Saji [Fr. Manuel Puthiyaparambil] who came here as the first Salesian [member of Salesian Congregation or religious organization having St. Francis de Sales as its patron] to take charge of St. Joseph’s Composite PU College in Bidar. As the diocese was not having sufficient number of personnel, Fr. Saji was sent here to take charge of the above said college and improve its standard and discipline at the request of the Bishop. He was followed by Fr. Michael who came here on 23rd June 2006. Both fathers were staying at Jeevan Jyothi Boys’ Hostel at Shahapur Gate, till the Salesians found a suitable location at Chickpet to build their own house. The house was blessed and inaugurated on 9th November 2008.

All these years, both fathers were very much involved in the pastoral and social activities of the Bidar Team of social workers and pastors. While Fr. Saji took care of the School and the college, Fr. Michael went around many villages, visiting various Women Sangas [Self Help Groups] and centres along with the Fathers and sisters. Fr. Saji too took time to visit some of the centres and took care of the Jesus Youth members most of whom were the nursing students of Bidar.  Later on as the Youth Director the Diocese of Gulbarga, Fr. Michael was able to organize many camps and seminars for the youth especially in various centres of Bidar. He was also very much involved in the various community developmental activities of Don Bosco. As a very experienced person in the field of social work [Fr. Michael had been the member of a social NGO for many years before joining our organization], he was very much involved in the developmental programmes of the centre. He was also the advisor to the director regarding the various activities connected with the Child Labour eradication.

After the inauguration of the centre at Chickpet, the fathers moved their residence to the new place and were able to start a Child Labour Rehabilitation Centre in collaboration with the District Administration in a project supported by the Indian and Italian Governments and the ILO [International Labour Organization]. This residential centre was started in December 2008.

Fr. Varghese Chakkala the present Rector came to the Institute in May 2009. It was this year that the Salesians started a new project called SMILE [SOCIAL MOVEMENT FOR THE INTEGRATED LIVELIHOOD AND EMPOWERMENT] which saw the expansion of their service sector into community development through reaching out to some 20 villages in and around the city of Bidar.

The Year 2010 saw the coming of three more Salesians into Bidar. They were Fr. Maria Vincent, Fr. Christhu Raj and Brother Stanly George. Fr. Maria Vincent replaced Fr. Saji as the principal of St. Joseph’s PU College of the diocese for 3 years and was transferred to Don Bosco, Chitradurga as the Principal of  Don Bosco PU college. Fr. Christu Raj took charge as the Administrator as well as the Principal of the Technical Centre which he was to start. His assiduous and hard work saw the birth of Don Bosco Institute of Technology in 2014 as the only ITI under NCVT approved and accredited by the QCI [Quality Council of India] in Bidar. The Centre is having 4 trades approved by the QCI namely Electrician, Fitter, Welder and Electronics System Management & Computer.

Fr. Michael was replaced by Fr. Maria Anand in the year 2012 as the youth Director of the Diocese of Gulbarga. Fr. Michael is presently the Vocation Promoter for Salesian province in the Region of Karnataka, residing at Don Bosco, Tumkur. Fr. Maria Anand continued at this post for just one year and was given the new role as the Social Animator at Don Bosco, Bidar in 2013. He held this post for one year [2013-14] and was promoted to be the Youth director of the Salesian Province of Bangalore for the Karnataka region.

After serving for 8 months as the Hostel warden for the Child Labour Rehabilitation Centre Bro. Stanly went to Don Bosco, Yadgir to pursue his higher studies. He was also the English Lecturer at Don Bosco Tech conducting English classes as well as classes on Soft skills under the MoRD Scheme. He was replaced by  Bro. Joseph Dantavathi. As a hard worker, brother had already chalked our many innovative programmes for the welfare of the children including summer camps with a lot of creativity. Bro. Joseph was replaced by Bro. Albert who took care of the children at the Rehabilitation centre for one year. He was replaced by Br. John Paul who continued till May 2013.

There were just two Salesian personnel at Don Bosco, Bidar, in the year 2014-2015 namely: Fr. Varghese Chakkala as the Rector of the House as well as the Director of all the Social Welfare Programmes at Don Bosco and Fr. Nilagal Christu Raj as the Vice Rector and the Administrator of the whole Don Bosco Centre as well as the principal of Don Bosco Institute of Technology, the ITI College under NCVT[Government of India]. It was in this year we had to borrow two clerics from the Benedictine order of Vallambrosans to take care of our boys. They were Bros. Jojo and Mathews.

The year 2015-16 saw the coming of three new Salesian personnel to Bidar. Thus Fr. Davis Cherapanath replaced Fr. Christuraj as the new administrator while Fr. Andrew took charge of the ITI as its second principal. Bro. Arunkumar became the next warden of the Child Labour Rehabilitation centre.

In 2016-17 one more new Salesian joined the community of DB Bidar. Fr. Steven Lawrence replaced Fr. Davis Cherapanath as the new administrator and in charge of Chickpet mission. After the serving long nine years in DB Bidar Fr. Varghese transferred to Pavur near Kasaragod.

And 2018-19 Fr. James Paul replace Fr. Varghese as Rector and Director of Social Service Action Movement.

2020 in the month of May, Fr. Steven Lawrence left for Don Bosco Tumkur along with Bro. Sachin who had come the previous year and Fr. Nidhin joined the community.

It was in the year 2022 in the month of May, that Fr. Andrew left for Hassan and Fr. Nidhin for his higher studies and Fr. Praveen k J arrived as the next principal of the school and Fr. Bibin Jose as the Administrator, Fr. Aloysius as the director of the social work and Bro. Rahul as the regent.

In the year 2023 in the month of May, Rev. Fr. Aloysius got a transfer and Rev. Fr. George Kollashany took his place as the Director of Social work.

In the year 2024 Rev. Fr. Steven Lawrence was appointed as the Rector and manager and director of Social work in Don Bosco Bidar and Fr. James Paul after laying down his office went to Don Bosco Bhadravathi. Rev. Fr. George Kollashany left for Gulbarga and Fr. Sonychen Mathew was installed as the new Parish Priest of the Chickpet Mission.

1. THE MILE STONES of DON BOSCO, BIDAR:

Year 2006: The beginning stages of Don Bosco in Bidar: The charge of St. Joseph’s PU Composite college, Shahapur Gate; Scouting around for a piece of land; Involvement in the social welfare programmes of CVTI [Carmel Vocational Training Institute] by Fr. Michael.

Beginning of 2007: Salesians staying in a rented house in Bidar City [a few months]. Year 2007-2008: Buying the land and construction of two buildings at the new Site.

December 2008: The Inauguration of the new Buildings as well as the starting of a Child Labour Rehabilitation centre at Don Bosco as a project received from the District Child Labour Rehabilitation society [Jointly funded by the ILO, Central Government of India and the Italian Government]. There was also the skill training under the same project for the siblings of the Child labourers namely Computer, Tailoring and Electrical and Electronics. These were mainly non-formal in nature.

May 2009: Fr. Varghese takes charge of the centre and the beginning of a Community Development programme called SMILE-1[SOCIAL MOVEMENT FOR THE INTEGRAL LIVELIHOOD  AND EMPOWERMENT].

December 2009: The beginning of a new project called MCB [Missing Child Bureau] May 2009: Beginning of skill training under MoRD(Ministry of Rural Development] [Project under DB Tech India: Registered society of all Don Bosco skill centres in India]; This saw the coming of many more trades to Don Bosco Bidar, namely Sales and Marketing, Computer and ISMO[Industrial Sewing Machine Operator].

February 2010: Cessation of the Child Labour rehabilitation centre project by the Government and ILO , but continuation of the centre by Don Bosco. October 2010: Starting of CHILDLINE 1098 as the COLLAB of the district of Bidar.

April 2011: Continuation of the Child Labour Rehabilitation Project under SCLP[State Child Labour Project] funded by the Department of Labour. October 2011: Starting of SMILE -2 project that included two aspects: 1. Community development programmes in 20 villages and 2. the construction of DB Tech [ITI].

2012: Starting of short term courses sponsored by certain companies like Accenture, Quest Alliance, and Schneider etc. October 2012: Starting of CREAM [Child Rights Education and Action Movement] Project for the starting of Child Rights Clubs in rural schools and Panchayat Task Forces for the protection of Child Rights, in Bidar District.[3 years] & restarting of MCB [Missing Child Bureau].

January 2013: Starting of a Pastoral Project taking charge of a small Mission at Daddapur Village. The first Mission In Charge was Fr. Christuraj [2013-14] and it was taken care of by Fr. Maria Anand [2014-15]. Fr. Varghese takes charge of this mission today [2015-16].

August 2014: Approval of the ITI College by the QCI and the starting of 4 courses under NCVT. November 2014: Inauguration & Blessing of a newly built Chapel at Daddapur.

In all these years the short term courses continued at the centre with good intake from the villages and job placement.

December 2014: The Completion of SMILE-2 project. June 2015: Cessation of SCLP for Child Labour Rehabilitation Centre [all over Karnataka]. December 2015: The Completion of CREAM Project. May 2016: The starting of CREAM II Project. June 2018: The beginning of Adult literacy programme.

In March 2019 we have just six main projects running at Don Bosco, Chickpet, Bidar. 1. Don Bosco ITI 2. Non-Formal short term courses under Quest Alliance and Schneider 3. Child Labour Rehabilitation Centre 4. Missing Child Bureau 5. Child line 1098 and 6.The Adult literacy programme. 7. The Chickpet Mission. We also had the pastoral visit by Rev. Dr. Bp. Robert Miranda at the end of the month.

In April 2019 we had the Faith camp for four days in Don Bosco Bidar. In the month of June 2019 Don Bosco began a new milestone in its history the beginning of the school. In the month of October 2019 we had the veneration of the Youth Cross. In July 2020 we had the blessing of the foundation stone for the new Savio Bhavan in Bidar.

In the month of October 2020 we had the pastoral visit by the Bishop. In the month of December 2020 we had the laying of the foundation stone for the new Church by Rev. Fr. Jose Koyickal the Vice Provincial.

IN the month of November 2021 we had the triple celebration of the laying of the foundation stone for the new school building, blessing and inauguration of Savio Bhavan and the Blessing and the First Holy Eucharist in the newly built Church of Don Bosco.

Daddapura Village

In the month of December 2022 the foundation stone for the village chapel at Daddapura was laid. In the month of April 2023 a two day Faith formation camp was organised for the village children in Don Bosco. In the month of October 2023 the village chapel in Daddapura was blessed and inaugurated by Rt. Rev. Dr. Robert Miranda DD.

In the month of January 2024 we had the blessing and inauguration of the newly built school building in Don Bosco Bidar. In the month of April 2024 we had two days of faith formation camp for the village children in Don Bosco. In the month of May 2024 Fr. James Paul left for Bhadravathi and Fr. Steven Lawrence and Fr. Sony reached Bidar Missions.

Institutions:

Don Bosco School

Principal: Fr. Kallupuraparambil Praveen SDB 9480214660

Don Bosco ITI College

Principal: Fr. Karakkatt Bibin Jose SDB 8147796007