OCA completes 100 years in 2010

OCA CENTENARY 2010

AND
BISHOP COTTON SCHOOL
SESQUICENTENNIAL JUBILEE (2009)

While the school will celebrate its sesquicentennial jubilee (150^th) in 2009, the OCA, besides joining in this important event, will be preparing to celebrate it’s centenary in 2010. These historic anniversaries are specially significant for an institution that has enjoyed a character and status unique in this country. The History of Bishop Cotton School is of public interest for the part it played in the development of public school and in the wider history of education in this country. BCS was the first school to start the Prefect system, organized games and the House system in India , almost at the same time as in England .
The OCA is now at the stage of planning for the sesquicentennial and the centenary. We have to ensure that we extract maximum mileage and publicity for the school.
Some Ideas:

(a) First Day Cover and Commemorative Stamp

(b) Special trains from Kalka to Simla, with restaurant and bar.

(d)Golf, Cricket, Hockey, Tennis and Squash Shooting competition between OCs / School.

(e) Dinner and Dance at Delhi/Simla.

(f) Musical Evening At Delhi

(g) Carol/Founders Day Service over AIR / TV

(h) Sesquicentennial Mass PT Display

(i) Premier Film Show at Regal & Chanakya, New Delhi

(j) Army, Navy & Air Force NCC Parade at school/Ridge accompanied by School Marching Band to be covered on T.V

(k) Vintage Car Rally Delhi to BCS

(l) Choir Festival to be covered by T.V

(m) Cycle Rally from BCS to Aitchison College , Lahore , Pakistan

(n) School/OCA Brochures with School History/Articles and Advertisements

(o) Ruskin Bond(I ) & Raja Bhasin(C ) assisted by Col R Dewan to continue their effort to complete the History of the School by end 2006.

(p) School Museum to be ready by end 2006. Memorabilias to be sent to school.

(q) Invitation to old staff to attend. List to be prepared.

4. Cottonian Spirit :

It really makes us all proud to see how closely the Cottonian network functions and how irrespective of the years in school, we come to each other’s help. It certainly gives one a wonderful feeling of BCS Spirit. Take the example of Sudhir Sud (R 1969) or Sapan Walia /or Peter Gideon(R 56-67). Such gestures keep the inner fire alight.

5. Fund Raising

We are looking for some bright ideas as to how to raise funds and obtain sponsors. If we can put our heads together and work out some additional funds for the centennial and sesquicentennial, I am sure we can make our jubilees a great success. We have to get OCA(UK) and OCA(USA) involved.

6. We hope you will flood us with ideas and participation.

7. How much should we contribute? All these matters will come up at our Oct/Nov AGM. We will have to appoint sub committee that function in a time bound manner. What should be the corpus?

8. All the above will have to be approved by the HM, BOG and AGM of the OCA.

Col R Dewan & Maj S S Rai,

Hony Secretary, OCA( India )