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Sonada (Darjeeling)
Intl Conference on Darjeeling Tea Begins at Salesian College
News reported by: C. M. Paul
Salesian College (Autonomous), Sonada, in collaboration with Tea Promoters India and Rimpocha Tea, has launched a two-day international conference on “Darjeeling Tea: Leaf, Life, and Legacy – A Multidisciplinary Exploration of Place, People and Possibility.”
The inaugural session featured addresses by Mr. Binod Mohan, President of Tea Promoters India, Chief Guest Mr. Chandra Shekhar Ghosh, Founding Chairman of Bandhan Group, and keynote speaker Mr. Rajah Banerjee of Rimpocha Tea and Chairman of T’Classic Darjeeling.
Over the two days, 34 academic papers are being presented across eight technical sessions. Day one, held in hybrid mode, brought together national and international scholars, industry leaders, and community representatives to deliberate on the cultural, economic, and ecological significance of Darjeeling tea. Afternoon sessions explored themes of environment and sustainability, tea communities, literature, and gender and labour, with 18 papers delivered.
Day two will feature plenary discussions and four parallel sessions covering media and innovation, alternative livelihoods, life in tea gardens, and multidisciplinary perspectives, adding 16 more papers to the tally.
Alongside the academic program, a photographic exhibition on Darjeeling tea, a tea-tasting stall, and publications on tea and the Eastern Himalayas are on display.
Established in 1938 in Gorabari village near Sonada, Salesian College has been a cornerstone of higher education in the Darjeeling hills for nearly nine decades. Having attained autonomous status in 2023, the college marks a historic milestone by hosting its first international tea conference. Since 1963, its students have continued Sunday outreach programs in 24 far-flung tea gardens.
By convening diverse voices to deliberate on the legacy and future of Darjeeling tea, Salesian College reaffirms its role as custodian of regional heritage and catalyst for innovation and sustainability in the tea industry.
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