Venerable Uktara Bethany College, Namsai, Arunachal Pradesh (Estd: 2014)

The origination of Venerable Uktara Bethany College, Namsai Arunachal Pradesh has an astonishing narrative. It can be labeled as God’s intervention on schedule to the plans of humans. The dawn of the higher education in the “Land of the Rising Sun” dates back to 2012 when Rt.Rev George Pallipparambil, the Bishop of Miao Diocese requested the then Superior General Rev Sr Wilberta to take up the mission of establishing a Degree college in Manmow, Namsai. This opportunity was willingly consented by the Bethany Congregation for establishing a unique mission of catering the youth of East Arunachal. The vision was soon made possible as Mr C K Manpoong – the former MLA of Namsai brought to the notice of the Bishop about the availability of the land at Manmow, in fact his own residential land. The congregation took up the challenge through the Province and the then Provincial Superior Sr Noeline was asked to look into further details of taking up the cause of Higher education. To verify the viability of the mission, Sr Noeline along with her councilors undertook many visits to Namsai which was quite remote at that time. Sr Noeline, having completed her term as the Provincial Superior was soon requested by the Superior General Sr Wilberta and the newly elected Provincial Superior Sr Joy to initiate this mission.

For operating this maiden project, the Bethany Charitable Trust®was registered under the Registration of Societies Act 21 of 1860 on 13th September, 2012 in Guwahati. Subsequently the initial procedure of obtaining NOC from the government of Arunachal Pradesh to open Venerable Uktara Bethany College as well as Land Possession Certificate (LPC) for 15 acres from C K Manpoong also was obtained. The new enterprise commenced on 27th March 2013 as the foundation stone was laid for V U Bethany College by Bishop George Pallipparambil, Bishop of Miao Diocese in the presence of Mrs and Mr C K Manpoong, the land donors, Mr Athitheva Namchoom, the Joint Secretary of Bethany Charitable Trust, Fathers and sisters from the denary and Sr Noeline the pioneer member of the mission.

On 16th July 2014 the new venture was actualized with the inauguration of the Academic session of BA and BCom Semester-I by Mr Ravi Jha, IAS – ADC Namsai from the District Administration and Fr C C Jose, the Vicar General of Miao Diocese. The official Inauguration of the college was held on 2nd August 2014 by Shri Nabam Tuki, the Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh as the chief Guest, along with Bishop George Pallipparambil and Sr Rose Celine, the General Councillor as the Guests of Honour, Sr Joy BS, the Provincial Superior, Sr Edleburgh and Sr Mary Diki the Councillors, Shri Chowna Mein, the Deputy Chief Minister, Shree Kamlung Mossang the Minister, Shri Zingnu Namchoom and Shri Honchun Ngandam the MLAs, the Fathers and Sisters, well-wishers and more specifically 54 students of the First batch of VU Bethany College.

‘Excellence in Transformative Education’ being the motto of the College we strive hard to achieve the goal - The Fullness of Life for all. The college has been the luminary of the East Arunachal in academics under Rajiv Gandhi Central University, Doimukh Itanagar. The three batches of Graduates have upheld the Alma Mater in excellence achieving 6 Gold medals and 32 ranks in the university and today it secures a second position in academics out of 42 colleges under this reputed university. The students are accompanied and shielded with the Core Values of the Bethany Educational Society. To promulgate the potentials in students the College has introduced various programmes like Departmental Seminars, Field Trips, Survey system, exposure programmes, College week with various competitions, literary and Cultural activities, certificate courses, Graduation Day and awards to the toppers, internship programmes for Commerce departments, NSS programmes, awareness campaigns in the villages, blood donation camps with the district medical camps etc. For Catholic students, Gospel leadership training is given under the banner of ‘Bethany Champions’. Faith formation of Catholic students is done through catechism classes and the sacraments. Value education classes are held for all students. Mentoring hours are held weekly and each student is availed with a lecturer for guidance.

The institution has completed 6 years of its existence with a total number of 340 students on roll and 16 faculty members for BA and BCom streams belonging to seven districts and 16 tribes. It’s an abode of cultural confluence that makes the institution unique and rich in many ways. The learning of our students is aligned to the multiple performance with knowledge and skills. The vision of our Superiors General Sr Wilberta and Sr Rose Celine, Provincial Superiors Sr Noeline, Sr Joy and Sr Sandhya at present has blended with the hard work of Sr Noeline, the first Superior and the Administrator, Sr Teresa Martis, the first Principal, Sr Janet the Vice Principal and now the Principal, the band of sisters who collaborated at different times with Gods graces have left footprints on the sands of time. Let Bethany College Grow, Flower and bear Fruit in plenty!

Sr Janet Mendonca BS
Principal

 Sr Shwetha BS
Manager