SCHOOL HISTORY

Alfred George deRozario is one of the distinguished members and well-known personalities in Bihar. Alfred George deRozario was born on 6th of November 1939 in King George’s Hospital, Visakapatnam, Andhra Pradesh to late Joseph Francis and Rita Vivienne deRozario. He was born just before his father was transferred to Adra from Waltair. Alfred’s primary school education till 3rd std was in the Junior Railway School at Adra. During the period of 1954-64 he and his sisters were sent to his Grand Parents at Mahi, South India to live with them and to continue their education there.

He joined Mahi de Labourdonngis college at Mahe where he did his matriculation conducted by the Madras University in 1959-1960. In 1958 while he was still at School he was nominated the Students’ Pupil leader and he also served in the social service camp at Mahe organized by the Bharat Sevak Samaj now a registered Social body. He did his college education in St. Joseph’s College, Devagiri, Calcicut. In college he was elected Jt. Secretary of college union. He was also active NCC(R) cadet at Devagiri, Calicut.

After the retirement of his father from the Railways in the year 1964, Alfred George de Rozario returned to Bihar to join the engineering profession at IISCO at Burnpur. But unfortunately he was over age and hence he came to Patna and Joined St. Michael’s High School as a Teacher on the 28th of June 1965 where he taught English language and literature in standard 7th ,8th & 9th till mid 1982. In the meantime he obtained his Masters Degree and also his Bachelors in Education from Magadh University, Body Gaya. While at St. Michael’s High School, he keenly took part in extracurricular activities of the school like dramatics, elocution, bridge club etc. His ever willing help won him many friends who loved and respected him. He was always willing to take on extra work that came his way. In 1982 he left St Michael’s to join as Principal of Don Bosco Academy a school he and his wife Dorothy founded.

In 1995 he was nominated to Bihar Legislative Assembly to represent the Anglo-Indian community in the then undivided Bihar (including areas now under the State of Jharkhand). He was also single handily responsible for reviving and or establishing several Anglo Indian Branches of the All India Anglo Indian Association in Jharkhand while he was the nominated representative to the State Assembly in un-divided Bihar –at CKP, Dhanbad, Ranchi, Jamshedpur. In fact in 2005 he was the UPA’s Government choice for the Anglo Indian Nomination to the Jharkhand State Assembly. Today he is the All India Anglo Indian Association’s Official representative for Bihar And Orissa.

Over the past three decades Alfred George deRozario has been the Pillar of the All India Anglo Indian Association – Danapur Branch. He has single handedly been the guiding force for this branch being in existence and transformed it into a vibrant one.

Alfred George deRozario is one of the distinguished members and well-known personalities in Bihar. Some of his accomplishments have been: –

1. Member of the Bihar Legislative Assembly (MLA) 1995-2000
2. Vice President of the YMCA 1993-1997
3. President of the Anglo Indian Association-Danapur Branch 1989-1996 & 1997-06
4. Secretary of Heads of ICSE / ISC Schools Bihar 1991-1993
5. Chairman of Heads of Christian Minority Schools, Patna
6. Member of the Governing Body Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations, N.Delhi
7. Member of Patna University Syndicate 1995 – 2000.
8. Nominated as a Member of the Council for the ISC Examinations, New Delhi.
9. Nominated by the Government of Bihar, as a Member of the Committee set up in the State Education Department form issuing No Objection Certificates (N.O.C’s) to new schools applying for affiliation to the CBSE / ISCE, New Delhi.
10. Nominated by the Government of Bihar as an Ex-Officio Member to the Inter- State Board for Anglo Indian Education, New Delhi
11. Member of the Committee for Minority Development, Govt. of Bihar.
12. Official All Indian Anglo Indian Association State Representative for the Anglo-Indians in Bihar and Orissa.
13. In 2001 – He received the National Child Care and Development award from Global Assembly of Educating for the survival and developing children in the 21st century.
14. In 2002 – He was given Recognition in the field of Education by the Indian Institute of Business Management, Patna
15. Member of CAPART – (Regional Committee at Patna) – Council for Advancement of People’s Action and Rural Technology. CAPART is an autonomous body functioning under the aegis of the Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India. Today, this agency is a major promoter of rural development in India, assisting over 12,000 voluntary organizations across the country in implementing a wide range of development initiatives

Dorothy Joy de Rozario completed her education at St Joseph’s Convent, Patna and then completed her Teachers Training from St Mary’s, Teachers Training College, Allahabad. She began her teaching career at St Joseph’s convent, Patna and then joined St Michael’s High School, Patna . In 1978 she left St Michael’s to take care of the then infant Don Bosco Academy.

In 1992 Dorothy de Rozario ventured on her own and set up the Don Bosco Primary School at Patna – an Anglo-Indian undertaking educating girls and boys from the Lower Kindergarten to Standard-III. Today the school is a leading Primary school and educates over 2300 children besides employing a number of Anglo-Indians as teachers and other categories.

In 1972 they set up a small hostel for school going children in the name and style of Don Bosco Hostel. In 1973 they ventured to open an Anglo-Indian Co-educational school – Don Bosco Academy. Initially it served as a feeder school for the other but few, established schools of the area.

In 1992 Dorothy de Rozario ventured on her own and set up the Don Bosco Primary School at Patna – an Anglo-Indian undertaking educating girls and boys from the Lower Kindergarten to Standard-III. Today the school is a leading Primary school and educates over 2500 children besides employing a number of Anglo-Indians as teachers and other categories.

In 1981 they handed over the control and management of Don Bosco Academy to the Don Bosco Anglo-Indian Educational Society, (Regd). In 1983 Don Bosco Academy obtained affiliation to the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations, New Delhi. The school has since then grown by leaps and bounds and today educates over 3500 students on a day scholar basis, besides employing a number of Anglo-Indians as teachers and in other capacities.

In 1997 Alfred George deRozario established a new school was set up at the famous – McCluskiegunj by the same name – Don Bosco Academy, which is also affiliated to the Council for the ISC Examinations since 2000. This school has provided the impetus for revival of the “dead” village, The concept of ‘Home Hostels’ was introduced – Anglo-Indian families were invited to set up hostels for students studying at Don Bosco Academy. It was a very successful experiment. Those Anglo Indians who took advantage of the offer have done very well. Anglo-Indians were given a three year virtual monopoly in the home hostel venture, before others joined in. McCluskiegunj today has turned around. Prosperity has arrived. It is said – it was Don Bosco Academy that saved the village McCluskiegunj from becoming a ‘Ghost Town’.

Alfred and Dorothy de Rozario’s tireless efforts, patience, generosity, kindness towards the up-liftment of the Anglo-Indian Community can never be discounted. . They have made every effort to preserve the Anglo-Indian Culture and Language, provided employment and Job Opportunities for the Anglo-Indian Community, ensured a high quality education to each and every Anglo-Indian Child and has always taken care of the needs of the Anglo-Indian senior citizen. No member of the Anglo-Indian community has ever left their door step without being given a patient hearing, advice if required and received assistance in any form if requested for. Their efforts in keeping the community a cohesive, vibrant and meaningful community, well respected and a force to reckon with in Patna and Bihar is well known and can never be matched for a long time.

One of the 1st batches of DBA – 1975-76 at 149 P.P.Colony, Patna

History of www.donboscopatna.com : Check out here how this site has evolved from very modest beginings !!