Tag Archives: 1970 Batch

CONGRATULATIONS Old Cottonian Raghvendra Tanwar! On appointment as Chairman ICHR

Raghuvendra Tanwar

From Times of India Jan 10, 2022, 20:29 IST

KURUKSHETRA: Raghuvendra Tanwar, professor emeritus, Kurukshetra University (KU) has been appointed as Chairman of the Indian Council of Historical Research (ICHR), New Delhi, for a period of three years by the Government of India (GOI).

Prof Tanwar who joined KU as a lecturer in August 1977 has an outstanding academic record, with two gold medals in MA History. He was appointed an open selection professor in 1997 and has also worked as the KU’s dean of academic affairs and dean of social sciences. He superannuated in February 2015 and in July 2016 was appointed director of the Haryana Academy of History and Culture.

Prof Tanwar was awarded the prestigious UGC National Fellowship (Research Award) 2002-2005. He conducted a major research project on Jammu & Kashmir for the period 1947-53 in 2013-15.

Prof Tanwar is reputed for his study of India’s partition particularly Punjab. This work based on sources across India and the UK is a day-to-day reporting of what happened in 1947 and is widely acclaimed. His research and publication on Jammu & Kashmir while questioning major narratives particularly by western scholars has argued and established how the masses of Kashmir were clearly in support of the accession of the state with the Union of India in 1947.

Prof Tanwar’s most recent study is an illustrated Story of India’s Partition, published by the Publication Division of Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, GOI in English and Hindu. He has several other major publications including an illustrated biography of Bansi Lal and on Sir Chhotu Ram.

Update : Raghuvendra Tanwar to be awarded the Padma Shri!

Family photos Kanwal Jit Singh – from Namrita Singh McGarity [his daughter]

Two of Kanwal Jit‘s elder brothers – Gurcharan Singh and Satinder Pal Singh – [also Cottonians] appear in the first photo below]. Photos clickable for larger view

OC Raghuvendra Tanwar [Lefroy 1970 Batch] – latest book released:

‘Be Clear Kashmir will Vote for India’ Jammu & Kashmir 1947-1953
Reporting the Contemporary Understanding of the Unreported, 1st Edition

By Raghuvendra Tanwar
Routledge
308 pages | 38 B/W Illus.

About the Author

Raghuvendra Tanwar has taught modern history at Kurukshetra University for thirty-nine years, superannuating as Senior Professor in 2015. He has been the University’s Dean Academic Affairs and Dean Social Sciences.

Description

The central point that this volume makes is that much of what happened in Jammu & Kashmir in the critical first few years (1947-53) needs a more careful reassessment. It is argued that there were little voices of ordinary people that should have been heard but were ignored. The political discourse that took centre stage even as it appeared more assertive and representative of mass public opinion was, however, as is now clear only a clever and misleading political move.

Much of the source material upon which the author has based his study has till now remained unstudied and uncited – rare hard to find books, pamphlets, articles in journals, magazines and newspapers, official and party reports and so on. The volume takes the reader back in time to a kind of ring side seat. Kashmir’s cultural and historical legacy, the invasion, the issue of the plebiscite, the United Nations and the ceasefire, the Praja Parishad and most important of all the political scene and its key players – Prime Minister Nehru, Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee and Sheikh Abdullah. Based on the nature of its sources the volume breaks free of a stereotyped approach to understanding the origin of what we commonly term today as the ‘Kashmir problem’.

The volume argues that contemporary views recorded as they are in the heat of the moment with natural spontaneity often contain hidden lines and new light. Not surprisingly contemporary versions tell us a story very different from mainstream conventional writings on Jammu & Kashmir. This timely volume will radically influence the existing discourse on Jammu & Kashmir.

AVAILABLE ONLINE 

OC Capt. Vivek Bhasin’s [Lefroy 1970] visit to BCS

Sent by email to Head Master

Tuesday 02nd April 2019

Head Master
Roy Robinson Esq;
Bishop Cotton School
Simla.

Dear Roy,

Good Evening Sir.

I wish to express my utmost gratitude to you for giving me permission to visit School today 02nd April 2019 to address the Assembly and read today’s lesson from Paul’s Chapter 12.

Further you allowing me to hold a Q&A session with the Upper Sixth. I do hope I managed to give back something, something minutely to the young lads from my global travels and experiences. I trust the spark I lit will be a small positive contribution to their journey today and further when they leave the sacred sanctuary of BCS, entering the “Big Jungle” of a frightening world out there.

It was indeed an emotional reading in the Chapel ; you have been most kind to have always welcomed me to School; also my wife Ann-Sofie, my son Dhani.

You opened the gates to my daughter Radhika and her fiancé Daniel in March 2010; they being BLESSED in our School Chapel prior to their wedding nuptials at Neemrana Fort on 4th April 2010.

You even sent four of your well trained racing pigeons which were released by Radhika on 5th April, the day after her wedding. Three flew back to Bishop Cotton School; one decided to convert to a free spirit and spread good tidings in another free space.

Today I came as a representative of my Class of 1970; we would be celebrating our Golden Jubilee in 2020 and with your kind permission would like to coordinate this in School as per your suggestions and directive.

I was delighted to see continuous improvements in the School, being done with great fervour.

I departed from School today with more humility in my heart, to do good in the world.. always as an Ambassador of Bishop Cotton School.

I would also like to Thank Senior Master Mr Boyd and Mr Praveen Dharma for giving me so much of their time today.

With Warmest Regards and Every Best Wish Sir.

Vivek

Capt. Vivek Bhasin
Lefroy 1961-1970
E: Vivek@SharperEdgeIndia.com
E: +91 98995 61236

—Mr Robinson’s reply–
From: Roy Robinson 
Date: Tue, 2 Apr 2019 at 20:26
Re: Old Cottonian Vivek Bhasin / Visiting BCS 02 April 2019
To: Vivek Bhasin 
Cc:
Mr Anil Mehra 
Mr Davinder Jaaj 
Mr Deep C.Anand Chairman 
Surinder Singh Saron 


Dear Vivek,


It is always a pleasure having you and all well-meaning Cottonians back in school to interact with those currently studying here. 


Warm regards,
Roy

BCS Batch 1970 – Golden Jubilee coming up 2020 – looking for missing batch-mates

BCS BATCH 1970:

This page has been updated and therefore moved to https://oldcottonians.org/event/bcs-batch-1970-golden-jubilee-2020/

We are still looking to contact Anil Mendiratta – if anyone knows of him please email editor@oldcottonians.org THANKS!


Email from Mr. Ronald Goss to Sukhdev Singh Rai:

Hello Sukhdev:

Mrs. Goss and I feel greatly honoured that you still remember us and have been so kind as to invite us to your Golden Jubilee celebrations.  Believe me, there is no place I would rather be, but distance is an insurmountable obstacle for a “buddha” like me who will be turning 90 in another few weeks (3rd May).  Mrs. Goss is throwing a party in our condo to celebrate the occasion , and, O,  how I wish all you OCs could be there to make our joy complete.

Mrs. Goss and I wish you every success as you proceed with plans for your Golden Jubilee.  Kindly convey our very best wishes to all present.  I am sure it will be a grand affair.

I am not very good at it, but I will try to attach a few recent pictures taken at our 60th wedding anniversary on 7 Jan, 2018.  I am sorry I don’t have the facility of sending therm to you on your Whatsapp.

Thank you again.  So wonderful hearing from you.  With all good wishes,

Ronald Goss

(BCS 1956-64)

PS. Picture 1:  Mrs. Goss & me with our daughter Cheryl and her husband Randy,  Cheryl was born in BCS in 1960 and celebrated her 59th birthday yesterday.

Picture 2: Mrs. Goss & me with 2 children, 5 grandchildren, 6 great-grandchildren and 4 in-laws.

Picture 3: With our son Stephen and his wife Laura