(Salesian College, Sonada) – The institution, Salesian College (Autonomous), Sonada, hosted a two-day International Conference on 27–28 March 2026 on the theme “Darjeeling Tea: Leaf, Life, and Legacy – A Multidisciplinary Exploration of Place, People and Possibility.” Organized in collaboration with Tea Promoters India and Rimpocha Tea, the conference brought together scholars, industry leaders, missionaries, and community representatives to reflect on the cultural, social, and ecological significance of Darjeeling tea.
The event featured 34 academic papers presented across eight sessions, addressing key themes such as sustainability, worker dignity, fair trade, alternative livelihoods, and climate resilience. Particular emphasis was placed on the need to empower tea garden families through fair wages, access to education, and responsible reform within the tea industry.
Beyond academic reflection, the conference also highlighted the long-standing missionary presence that has contributed to the social transformation of tea garden communities in the Darjeeling hills. Participants shared stories of the work carried out by Jesuit and Salesian missionaries who, through education, pastoral care, and community development initiatives, have helped uplift generations of tea workers and their families.
The Jesuit presence in Darjeeling dates back to 1888, when Belgian Father Henri De Pelchin and his companions established St. Joseph’s School, North Point. Over the decades, Jesuit and Congregation of Jesus (CJ) missions extended their work among tea garden communities, promoting education, adult literacy, and social development. Initiatives such as night schools, skill-training programs, and women’s empowerment projects helped reduce social inequalities and opened new opportunities for families in the region.
Alongside this mission, the Salesians of Don Bosco have played a significant role in community outreach since the establishment of Salesian College Sonada in 1938. What began as a seminary evolved into a center of education and social engagement, particularly from the 1960s onward. Since 1963, students of the college have regularly conducted Sunday outreach programs in remote tea gardens, accompanying children and families through educational support, youth animation, and community initiatives.
Today, the college coordinates 24 youth centers in tea garden areas, where leadership training, sports activities, cultural programs, and youth festivals foster community participation and personal development. Additional initiatives have included road repairs, drinking water projects, milk-feeding programs for children, healthcare camps, anti-drug awareness campaigns, and vocational training opportunities.
Women’s empowerment has also been a key focus. In collaboration with Tea Promoters India, workshops on healthcare, parenting, domestic violence awareness, and self-help groups have supported hundreds of women in tea garden villages, strengthening families and local leadership.
Speakers also recalled the legacy of Salesian missionary Father Luigi Jellici, whose pastoral work in Balasan Valley transformed small Catholic communities into vibrant centers of faith and social service. Known locally for his humility and dedication, Father Jellici supported the education of up to 1,200 students from tea garden families, many of whom later became teachers, healthcare workers, and community leaders.
The conference thus highlighted how faith-inspired education and social engagement have contributed to the empowerment of marginalized tea worker communities, demonstrating how higher education institutions can integrate academic research with concrete social commitment.
For Salesian College, the gathering was not merely an academic exercise but a continuation of its Salesian educational mission rooted in the charism of St. John Bosco, which promotes integral human development, social justice, and community engagement.
By convening diverse stakeholders—from scholars and entrepreneurs to missionaries and local leaders—the conference positioned Salesian College as a platform for dialogue and advocacy in the Himalayan region. Participants concluded with a call for collective stewardship of Darjeeling’s heritage tea economy and proposed making the international conference an annual initiative, strengthening collaboration between academia, industry, and local communities.
Sources: C. M. Paul
ANS – “Agencia iNfo Salesiana”