Saint John Bosco, popularly known as Don Bosco, was born at Becchi, in Piedmont, Italy on August 16, 1815. At a very young age, he felt inspired to work with the poor and abandoned boys, educating them with total dedication and personal involvement in their lives and problems. He envisaged a unique educational philosophy, the preventive system of education, founded on Reason, Religion and Loving Kindness. He dedicated his whole life to the young as a caring father, with the sole purpose of making them 'good Christians and honest citizens'. His legacy is today carried on by the Salesians of Don Bosco (SDBs).

We, the Salesians of Don Bosco, formally known as the Society of St Francis of Sales, are recognized in the Church as a clerical religious institute of pontifical right. We are a Religious Congregation of men devoted to apostolic and missionary activities and to the many different works inspired by Christian charity, but especially to the service of young people, in particular, those who are poor and disadvantaged. Our history began, we may say, when little Johnny Bosco had a very strange dream at the age of 9. However, today, the society has over 14,000 members working in 132 countries. Through a global network of educational and social service organization it currently caters to over 9 million young people the world over.

In India, the Salesians of Don Bosco began their work with a trade school and hostel for poor children at Thanjavoor, Tamil Nadu in 1906. The Society today has over 2500 members (Fathers and Brothers). Its services are offered through Don Bosco University, 28 colleges, which include 2 engineering colleges, over 100 technical schools, and a large network of high schools and scores of non-formal technical and agricultural centers, spread across the country, covering the entire spectrum of social development. The society is also involved in literacy centers, shelters for street children and rehabilitation and relief operations. The government of India has recognized the Salesians of Don Bosco as the largest non-governmental provider of technical education in the country.