Don Bosco School, Panbazar, Guwahati, joined the rest of the nation in celebrating the 80th Independence Day with patriotic fervour and enthusiasm on the morning of August 15. The colourful celebration was held on the school’s football field and brought together students, teachers, alumni and distinguished guests.

The chief guest, Devajyoti Hazarika, IAS (Retd.), former Commissioner of the Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC), graced the occasion along with School Principal Fr. (Dr.) Alex Mathew, Vice Principal Fr. Bromio Ch. Marak, Academic Coordinator Mollika Sharma, Veekash Agarwal, President of the Don Bosco Alumni, Mukesh Achantani, Secretary of the Don Bosco Alumni, and other senior members of the alumni.

The celebration began with the unfurling of the National Flag by the chief guest, followed by the National Anthem. The chief guest then inspected the parade and received the ceremonial salute from the contingents of the NCC (Army), Sea Scouts and Land Scouts, who marched past the dais with discipline and precision.

Addressing the gathering, Devajyoti Hazarika recalled the immense sacrifices made by the freedom fighters who laid down their lives for the independence and sovereignty of the nation. He urged the students to value the freedom they enjoy and to contribute responsibly to the progress and development of the country.

School Principal Fr. (Dr.) Alex Mathew, in his address, also highlighted the sacrifices and struggles of the countless men and women who fought for India’s freedom. He reminded the students that true patriotism is expressed not merely through celebrations but also through responsible citizenship, integrity, discipline and service to society.

The celebration was enlivened by a series of patriotic songs and dances presented by the students under the guidance of Music Teacher Papu Gohain. The performances added colour and vibrancy to the occasion and evoked a strong sense of national pride among those gathered.

The programme concluded with the distribution of sweets and a formal vote of thanks proposed by Vice Principal Fr. Bromio Ch. Marak. The Independence Day celebration at Don Bosco School, Panbazar, thus came to a close with a renewed commitment to uphold the values of freedom, unity, responsibility and service to the nation.