Ms Roni Daiho Pao, myself and late Neli K. Phimu, one of the crew of the ill fated Air India (AI) Kanishka plane crash killing all the 268 on board in the Irish shores in 1985 were the first students of the opening day of the Little Flower School (LFS) then at the Nirmalabas school, Gandhi Avenue, Imphal in 1958 (exact year?) from Poumai and Memai (Mao) tribes.
When the school was to shift to the present Kwakeithel, boys of class V were to discontinue prosecuting their next higher class and they spread out in different schools of Imphal. Myself, one Shanti, one Chinese Henry Mao joint the Don Bosco School (DBS) Chingmeirong Imphal, where father late Joseph Edukkadan was the headmaster, a very strict disciplinarian.
Despite my weakness in mathematics, my family desires I should take up a professional course after HSLC examination. In the course of time, myself and a senior brother approach Fr. Joseph Edukkadan for transfer certificate for admission in the Bengali High School, Imphal. But, Fr. Joseph Edukkadan refused time and again.
Then, I was one of the DBS first group to appear HSLCE as full fledged high school and passed out in 1966.
In introspection, I may not have passed the HSLC examination, had I left the school and boarding to stay out without a proper guardian, due to awkward environment of Imphal at that time. As the Meitei youth were in transitional stage of eating pork and dog meat with liquors which were available in plenty and very cheap then in places where there were tribal.
In the boarding, I was one of the unusual. But, Fr. Joseph Edukkadan and old Fr. Wolloston a white migrant from Burma (Myanmar) have soft corner on me. May be, because, I could not speak lies or may be, as I was from one of the first Catholic family in Mao area.
After 3 decades or so, I met my old headmaster at Tadubi and later at the Don Bosco School Maram and had close door meet. Later, whenever, I meet Salesians of Don Bosco (SDB) priests, I enquire of Fr. Joseph and asked to convey my love, regards and to remember me in his prayers.
On 24.12.2014 and in subsequent days, I came across in the Nagaland, Manipur and Hills Hornbill Express newspapers that Fr. Joseph, a great educator responsible for hundreds of successful people in the government, public affairs in Assam, Manipur and Nagaland states left this earth on 22-12-2014 as billions who left before him.
I am not a holy man but, pray that Lord Jesus forgive his sins and sooner admit his soul from purgatory into paradise. Fr. Joseph, when you are in the land of the angels, saints and good people, please look down upon your past and present Bosconians and guide, help not to fall into sins and that, we be worthy of God’s love and be in His grace.
Patrick A Kolakhe Ex-Bosconian Tadubi Bazar Senapati District.
