St. Anthony's College - STAC-S - Shillong (Meghalaya)

From 1934 to 2011 is a long glorious march and St. Anthony’s is 77 years old!!! From its humble beginning in a makeshift wooden structure near Don Bosco Square to its present enviable stature of imposing infrastructure and outstanding output, St. Anthony’s College has come a long way telling the story of achievements, growth and consolidation. First ever Five Star accreditation by the NAAC in the North-eastern region, excellent service in reaching quality education to the door steps of the less privileged section of the society, pioneering student-friendly professional courses, ever increasing relevance in empowering the poor sections of the society, - all these have combined to keep SAC imposingly in focus. 

Many are the sacrifices made by dedicated missionaries who steered its course through difficult and frustrating times. Fond memory pays homage to these stalwarts of Don Bosco and does bring to light the earlier days around one. Fr. Joseph Bacchiarello, the pioneering Principal who during the British Raj, rose to the compelling demand for higher education to the deprived indigenous locals and started the college in 1934. Fr. Iginus Ricaldone (1935 - 1952) carried on with the new venture during the difficult times of the Second World War and began the process of expansion. Fr. DJ Wollaston (1952 - 1958) carried out further expansion and consolidation. Fr. Joseph Arokiaswamy (1958 - 1981) was at the helm for nearly 24 years during which the College was transformed into an elegant epic of excellence and himself into a legend of a man.  Fr. N J Kenny , who was associated with the college from 1940, was looked upon as the constant symbol of St. Anthony’s College. He was Professor of English, Warden of the College Hostel, Vice-Principal and a permanent inspiring presence in the precincts of the college until his death in 1995. Fr. Paul Petta (1982 - 1986) began the modernization process of the college and shifted it to its present premises where in 1984 - 85 we celebrated the Golden Jubilee of the College.

Fr. Stephen Mavely (1986 - 2002) was to bring about further expansion and consolidation. Many projects and programmes were launched during his tenure. Graduate Honours programmes in Pisciculture, Mass Communication & Video Production, Business Administration, Biotechnology, Biochemistry, Media Technologies and Computer Science were introduced and this revolutionized the role of the college in professional education. A number of employment oriented short term courses and training programmes were offered mainly by the Pisciculture and Computer Science Departments. The SDS (Student Development Services), another innovative project of the College, was set up in 1995. It was sponsored by All India Association for Christian Higher Education. The SDS Cell provides personal, educational and career guidance to the students and conducts regular MBA coaching programme and Workshops on Communication Skills Development. St. Anthony’s College came to be looked upon as the leading example of daring innovations in the field of professional education. The Diamond Jubilee Annexe, the Anthonian Computer Academy and the complex housing the conference hall, Mass Media Department and the Language lab were constructed during this period and another floor was added to the main block of the College. Fr. Stephen further beautified the campus and sailed the College to its Diamond Jubilee in 1994, and to its Five Star Accreditation by the NAAC in 2000.

One remembers with fondness and pride the teachers who made their destinies the destiny of the college. A few names come to light - K L S Sadhu, J P Khanduri, P N Chaurasia, Peter Marbaniang, G G Swell, Martin Narayan Majaw, Alexander Warjri, Korbar Singh, S N Paul, A B Dutta, K R Mukherjee, S K Chakravorty, D P Chakravorty, G N Talukdar, Jobren Khongwir, S R Bhattacharya and many others. Their story is a story of brilliance, dedication and almost brutal loyalty to the college. Gloriously shining in the light of the college they made the college shine by their excellence. They gave their yester-years of quiet co-operative labour so we can take pride in being Anthonians today. While paying grateful tribute to them and while basking in the luminous halo which they helped to create around the college, let us be inspired by their glorious example.

Nostalgia fills the heart as it moves down the memory lane. But memories of the glorious past alone cannot keep us glorious in the present and take us forward to future relevance. SAC is a dream come true but not an academy for dreamers. We have our dreams but we are basically doers Ever More and Better Ever !!!

Fr. Ioannis Warpakma sdb (2002-2012) inspired with his exemplary simplicity and led with personal discipline and hard work. Fr. Joseph Nellanat, who was in the College since 1987, as the Vice-Principal and Director of the Anthonian Computer Academy left for Don Bosco University Assam, as the Pro-Vice Chancellor. Fr. Joby Joseph sdb, took his place as the new vice-principal of the College. The College took the lead in opening the stream of performing arts and devised the course structure for Bachelor’s Degree programme in Music (B Mus). This innovative project aimed at cultivating and nurturing the love of music which is intrinsic to the culture of the North Eastern Region is recognized by the North Eastern Hill University. The Computer Science Department, besides conducting its regular Diploma and Certificate Courses runs a special six months’ teachers training programme. This is an on-going project for five years sponsored by the North Eastern Council. Highly commendable is the College research programme in Organic Chemistry which has produced works which are published in reputed Science journals both in the country and abroad. The Pisciculture department regularly conducts training programmes in fish-breeding and farming for the locals thereby empowering them for self-employment. Under Fr. Ioannis leadership, the college was the first one under the university to start Post Graduate courses at the college level. The college has two full time post-graduate courses: M. Sc. Biotechnology and Masters in Computer Applications. The college also have ventured into many internationally recognized IT certifications. These include OCA(Oracle Certified Associate), CCNA(Cisco Certified Associate), and RHCE( Red Hat Certified Engineer). It was during the regime of Fr. Ioannis that the college was Re-Accredited by NAAC with the highest grade of A (3.6/4 CGPA), making it the highest in the East and North-East of the country. The college also celebrated the Platinum Jubilee, marking the 75 years of education and service of St. Anthony’s College. The Celebration marked a new beginning in the life of the college. Fr. Pascal Chavez Sdb, the Superior General of the Salesian Congregation was in the college for the celebration. A platinum gift to the college came in the form of the new hostel for the girls: Mamma Margaret Hall, named after the mother of Don Bosco is a home away from home, that can house 120 students. The hostel is funded by DONER ministry and UGC.

This was also the time that the college grew many ways in the areas of organizing workshops and conferences. The college has successfully conducted many National Conferences and workshops including two IEEE sponsored ones. The impact of St. Anthony’s college was not limited to within India alone. The college signed MOU with International Institutes like College of Wooster, USA and University of Santiago, Chile. And exchange programmes with students of these universities are in the anvil.

Fr. George Palamattathil sdb, a US trained Counsellor who joined the College in 2002, is Vice Principal and Director the Extension Centre of the College, Siloam. Special mention may be made of ‘Siloam’, a Centre for Psycho-spiritual experience pioneered by the College. A sprawling 14 acre campus on the enchanting shores of the Umiam Lake is being prepared to house this all important modern project for personal crisis management and conflict resolution. This project is for the benefit of a mixed clientele of professionals and students, youths, couples and families. This Centre, headed by Fr. George Palamattathil, the Vice Principal and Director of the Student Development Services Department of the College, will focus on psychological and spiritual development which would be achieved by pastoral and spiritual leadership programmes, counselling, and therapeutic support.

Br. Albert Longley Dkhar sdb(2012- ). Br. Albert took over as the 8th Principal of the college in November, 2012. Ever since his day in office, the college has seen a new dynamism and creativity in its journey. Br. Albert comes to the college with a varied experience of academics and administration in many institutions of quality in many states of the North–East. The leadership under Br. Albert has not in any way gone lag. The college has planned a new academic block for the department of Fishery Science. The blessing and foundation laying ceremony was done by Rev. Fr. I. Warpakma sdb, the former principal of the college. The new building is named as Fr. Joseph Arokiaswamy Memorial Block, remembering a stalwart in the journey of St. Anthony’s College.

These index of present activities shows the definite direction which the College intends to take in the future. This resume is just to remind us and others what we are and what we do. We still have to look ahead - to more deeds to be done, aspirations to fulfill and pledges to redeem. We shall never stop being relevant to the educational needs of the region. Achievements will not make us complacent and snobbish. We are not in an ivory tower peddling in Erewhonian myths and Utopian dreams but we have our feet firmly placed on the bare earth of realities. With seventy years behind us we certainly have a place in history. But let not our long tradition be a tail that will pull us backward to mediocrity and elitism. We shall not be wrecked by success but we shall strive on, Ever More and Better Ever, to newer horizons of intellectual excellence and social usefulness. Long live St. Anthony’s College!!!

• St Anthony’s College of Meghalaya has been also awarded with the title of being a ‘College with Potential for Excellence’ by the University Grants Commission of India.