The chief minister and others in Tripura have praised a Salesian school in a village in the northeastern Indian state after its girls’ band, established less than a year ago, gained national headlines.

The Girls Brass Band of St. Xavier’s Pathaliaghat finished third in the National School Band Competition held in New Delhi on January 21-22.

Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha congratulated the band on their achievement via Facebook. The band was formed in April 2023 at the school 36 kilometers south of Agartala, the state capital.

The band’s climb to popularity “is an incredible story of hard work, discipline, tenacity, and grit,” according to principal Salesian Father Babu Stephen.

The band comprises 25 female students aged 11 to 16 in grades 6-8.

Before the school began the brass band, Father Stephen stated that the pupils were all “absolute beginners, totally new to playing music.” He says it’s “surreal that even before completing a year of existence, the band has already made a mark at the district, state, zonal, and national levels.”

To compete nationally, the team had to win three preliminary stages: the district, state, and zonal. At the zonal stage of the competition, held in Bhubaneswar on December 22, the Tripura team finished first in the eastern area, defeating several teams from Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, and the northeastern states.

The band’s team leader, Athukiri Debbarma, acknowledged their principal for believing in them and “having faith” in their ability. She congratulated the bandmasters, Amrit and Rajesh Debbarma, and the other teachers for their unwavering passion and commitment.