Dimapur, Aug. 28 (EMN): Patkai Christian College (Autonomous) celebrated its 48th foundation day at the Bundrock chapel-cum-auditorium on August 28.
An update from the college stated that Patkai College was established in 1974 as a liberal arts college on 1000 acres of land donated by Chümoukedima and Seithekema villages. The college is being sponsored by the Nagaland Baptist Church Council (NBCC) and Manipur Baptist Convention (MBC).
Commemorating the day, a rooster and a kilo of salt were handed over to representatives of the two donor villages, marking a customary practice of the Angami Nagas. It stated that Patkai College has adopted the practice since its establishment, adding that act of acknowledging the donor villages has now become a tradition.
Rev. Dr. W Pongsing, chairman of Patkai’s Board of Trustees, shared a sermon on the topic “New life in Christ” and urged the students to incorporate spiritualism in addition to their academic education.
On the occasion, the founder and principal emeritus of the college, Rev. Tuisem A Shishak, shared briefly about how in the late 60s, two church bodies — one in Kohima (NBCC) and another in Imphal (MBC) — and a church in Buffalo, New York (USA), prayed for establishment of a Christian liberal arts college.
“Their prayers were answered when Patkai Christian College was established on August 28, 1974,” he said.
Rev. Shishak mentioned that Patkai College started off with just 20 students and two faculty in its first year with bamboo-thatched huts as classrooms amidst the jungle.
“In those days, people referred to Patch as a jungle college,” he added.
Earlier, the principal emeritus also dedicated a pulpit, which was donated by Rev. Judson Rungsung, former principal of the college.