Monthly Archives: September 2009

BCS Sesquicentennial celebrations – ID tags

Dear OC’s 
We hope that all participants for the sesquicentennial celebrations have registered with either Shimla chapter, Chandigarh Chapter,or Delhi Chapter.  All registrants will be issued ID tags. We have made arrangements with caterers on basis of ID tags issued.
Entry to dinning areas will be restricted to those people who show ID tags only.  Children of OC’s will not be allowed entry into the dining area. 
All OC’s are kindly requested to note the above and to cooperate with us in the above matter. 

Best Rgds,
Jaspal Sawhney

Ode to Bishop Cotton School – Gerald Godinho

From Gerald Godinho’s blog :

Ode to Bishop Cotton School

1.2..3…4….5…..6.7..8…9….10…done.

No. I am not learning to count. It is the number of lashes with a cane that I am getting from the headmaster for heading into town without permission.

This was the very Spartan but strict disciplined environment that produced Ratan Tata,

Editor: Kindly take note that Mr. Ratan Tata [Industrialist and Ex Chairman of TATA Group] was not a student of Bishop Cotton School Simla.

the head of RAW, Benjamin Gilani, Fali Nariman, Ruskin Bond, the King of Bhutan and various ambassadors and Generals and two present members of the federal cabinet.

Ok … I do have rights…ha. The only rule is that the headmaster rules. There is a pecking order here. You see the war memorial and the fountain. Only seniors can enter.

Jerry I think it is time for you to spend some time in a boys boarding school so said my mom. Mom come on I want to go to university. I want to go to that big city…Bombay. I have some friends in Breach Candy, Malabar Hill. It is time for me to party. Well we know who won.

What was I doing in a British boarding school, ensconced by this testosterone, machismo and bravado? What was a 15-year-old Catholic boy doing in a 125-year-old protestant institution? Do I have to go to church on Sundays? Yes, all Christian boys have to. However, you people take the bread in your hand. The Pope is not your boss….

Ok so where are the chicks. I mean girls. We do have socials with CJM and Auckland House.

Therefore, you will be in Lefroy House and this will be your number. It has been the number one house for the last couple of years, in sports and academics. I am sure they see something in me.

I meet my fellow classmates, Ash, Ajoy, Tan, Skinny, and Girish. A total of 11. We are the first batch of grade 11 students. It was the beginning of a life long friendship.

The bell rang too early for me. The bed and cupboard check up was always a scare.

Different ties for different occasions. Different sports throughout the year. The focus was just not on education but making you into a well-rounded person. I do have a round face. I will fit in perfectly.

It has been more than a quarter century since I left BCS. Nevertheless, the truth is that it never left me. It was here that the seeds of multiculturalism were sowed inside me. This coming Sunday, I will be reading at my local church. I learned that at school. It was here that I was taught about Bernard Shaw and read Ayn Rand’s “Atlas Shrugged and Fountainhead”. The right wing thinking and capitalism was tattooed on my conscience. I had never written before. However, here I was challenged to write for the high school yearbook.

I am what BCS made me. A love for God, respect for authority, laws, loyalty to one another. Spiritual, mental, physical and financial discipline was de rigueur.

Debbie is always amazed how I can be friends with Shiv Narang who is half my age and John Mclaughlin who is twice my age. Why does John drive 7 hours from Michigan to have a meal with us? Why do we bond so easily? It was the Cottonian experience.

In two weeks, Cottonians from all over the world will be descending at my alma mater to celebrate 150 years. A stamp is being issued. Dignitaries will be coming. I will be drinking a glass to you people.

I had a tryst with destiny. It was ephemeral. But it changed me.

Did the caning hurt. Yes, especially the person giving it was 6’2’’ and all 200 pounds. I never broke a rule or a law in my life again. I had learned my lesson.

Gerald Godinho
Lefroy 81 83

lefroysmall

Curzon House Centenary Celebrations Invitation


Facta Non Verba

Invitation

To Old Curzonians

We are delighted to inform you that Curzon House of Bishop Cotton School is celebrating its 100th Anniversary on 5th of October 2009. 

Curzon House was formed in 1909 to honour Lord Curzon, Viceroy of India who had helped the school to get back on its feet after the Great Fire.  One hundred years later we can look back at the glorious history of the past and the illustrious boys who brought laurels to the House and went further on to make a mark in the world.

So dear Curzonian, it is time to celebrate one hundred years of striving, one hundred years of achieving and one hundred years of glory. 

We are planning to celebrate the Jubilee on the 5th of October at School.  A wonderful programme has been chalked out and preparations are in full swing to make the occasion a memorable one.

The support that has been received from the old boys of Curzonians is overwhelming.  It is our pleasure to invite you as an old boy of Curzon House to grace this special occasion to participate in the celebrations. It would be a time to look back with pride and nostalgia and to plan for greater glory for the boys, for the house and for the School in the years to come.

We hope to see you on the 5th of October, 2009, to celebrate 100 glorious years of our beloved Curzon House.

Praveen Dharma – Housemaster Curzon  and  Arnav Chauhan –  House Captain

Monday 5th October 2009

Curzon House

Centenary Celebrations

Time

Event

Locality

Personnel

9:30 am

Reception &

Registration

1st Flat

(Near War Memorial)

Mrs. J. Chauhan & Mrs. Rose Lal

Dhruv Sharma, Iqbal Gill & Yash Jaiswal

11:30 a.m 12:30  p.m

Tree Planting by the Curzon House Boys

School Campus

Mr. R. Kaul, Mr. Aseem Kukreti,

Mr. A. K.Chaurasia, Arnav Chauhan, Yuvraj Birdi, Siddharth Panday, Dhruv Sharma, Zorawar S. Paintal

5:00 pm

Variety Show

Activity Centre

Mr. A. Gupta & Mrs. M. Gupta

Siddharth Panday, Yuvraj Birdi, Dhruv Sharma

 

 

Release of Curzon House Book

 

 

 

 

 

8:30 pm

Buffet Dinner

Main School Dining Hall

 Mr. Aseem Kukreti & Mr. A. K.Chaurasia

Zorawar S. Paintal, Darinder Singh, Nipun Bansal & Manveer Parmar

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

9.30 pm

Rock Show

Activity Centre

Arnav Chauhan, Rodingpuia Ralte, Nooraj Batajoo

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

11.00 pm

Close

 

 

CURZON HOUSE SONG

We Curzon boys in brotherhood,
In Cotton’s glorious school.
We trust in God’s unfailing love,
That shields us from above.

To stand upright in life’s long flight,
Our motto steers us right.
We trust in deeds, no words in vain,
And pride and honour gain.

We come from North, East West or South,
Fair, dark or fat or thin.
Curzon is a sporting house,
No matter lose or win.

Of courage and integrity,
We show our lives to be.
The flag we hold aloft is red,
Its brightness ne’er will fade.

OCA [India] North – Sesquicentennial Celebrations info

oca-india-north

Sesquicentennial Celebrations

Dear OCs:

This is to inform you that the Sesquicentennial Celebrations of BCS are taking place from 1st, October till 6th October 2009 both days inclusive as per the programme enclosed.  Please feel free to contact us at the OCA ( India) Northern Chapter for any assistance you may require towards making the Sesquicentennial Celebrations a most enjoyable and memorable experience.

Thursday 1st October 2009 – 7:30 PM:
OC Dinner at Chandigarh, at The Lake Club (Pool Side)
Courtesy of OCA (India) Northern Chapter

Accommodation and Local Transportation at Chandigarh

Adequate arrangements have been made for accommodation at Chandigarh for the night of 1st October, 2009. Some OC’s have very graciously agreed to host visiting OC’s. Tie ups have also been made with some leading hotels in various categories who would provide rooms and facilities at a special tariff ranging from Rs. 2000/- till Rs. 6000/- . To meet your accommodation  and local transportation requirements at Chandigarh you are requested to kindly contact OC Kanwaljeet Singh,  member OCA (India), Northern Chapter Celebration Committee on mobile no. 9988090007/ 9814073289 or  at email address neetuonly@yahoo.co.uk

Accommodation at Shimla

Adequate arrangements have been made for accommodation at Shimla from 2nd till 6th October, 2009.  Some OC’s have very graciously agreed to host visiting OC’s. Tie ups have also been made with some leading hotels in various categories who would provide rooms and facilities at the following special tariffs.
a) Hotel Combermere    @Rs. 4500/- for double occupancy incl of b’fast / taxes per night
b) Hotel Eastbourne      @Rs. 4400/- for double occupancy incl of b’fast / taxes per night
c) Hotel Holiday Home @Rs. 2900/- for double occupancy incl of b’fast / taxes per night
 To meet your accommodation  requirements at Shimla you are requested to kindly contact latest by  29th August 2009. OC Jaspal Sawhney,  member OCA ( India), Delhi  on mobile no. 98110-40347 or  at email address jaspal@eagle-grp.com

Kalka Shimla Train

The OCA (India) Northern Chapter is sponsoring a train from Kalka to Shimla on the 2nd of October 2009. The train would depart from Kalka at approx. 12:00 noon. Food and beverages (non-alcoholic) would be served. The seats would be allotted on a first come, first serve basis according to the following order of priority:
a) Overseas OC’s
b) OC’s who had been a part of the school party during their school days
c) Others
Should you be desirous of undertaking this journey, then you are requested to kindly contact OC Manvir Guron  ,  member OCA ( India), Northern Chapter Celebration Committee on 09876219900 or at email address manvirguron@yahoo.co.in to check on the availability of seats.

Contribution for attending the Sesquicentennial Celebrations:

An amount of Rs. 2000/- is being charged towards attending the Sesquicentennial Celebrations. Spouses would be considered guests and would not be charged separately. The last date for confirming your participation would be 5th of September, 2009. The contribution of Rs. 2000/- if through cheque should be made in favour of OCA India, if through DD, in favour of  OCA ( India), payable at New Delhi,  payment in cash would also be accepted. All payments would be receipted. You are also requested to fill and submit the enclosed registration form along with your payment to complete the registration process.  Kindly contact OC Devinder Singh Jaaj ,  member OCA ( India), Northern Chapter Celebration Committee on mobile  9316534604 or at email address:  dsinghjaaj@gmail.com. 

Souvenir

On the occasion of the Sesquicentennial Celebrations of Bishop Cotton School, the OCA ( India)  Northern Chapter is printing a souvenir. The rates for advertising in the Souvenir are as follows:
1. Title Page  – Rs. 25,000/-
2. Back Page  – Rs. 20,000/-
3. Front Page inside – Rs. 15,000/-
4. Back page inside – Rs. 15,000/-
5. Full page inside – Rs. 10,000/-
6. Half page inside – Rs. 5000/-
The last date for confirming your advertisement would be 5th of September, 2009. The contribution towards meeting the cost of the advertisement through cheque should be made in favour of OCA( India), Northern Chapter, if through DD, in favour of  OCA ( India) Northern Chapter, payable at Chandigarh,  payment in cash would also be accepted. All payments would be receipted.  Kindly contact OC Devinder Singh Jaaj ,  member OCA ( India), Northern Chapter Celebration Committee on mobile  9316534604 or at email address:  dsinghjaaj@gmail.com. 

Note: Keeping in view the enormous expense which would be incurred by the OCA (India) Northern Chapter towards hosting a dinner at Chandigarh, a lunch at Shimla and the Kalka-Shimla train, all OC’s are requested to generously contribute any amount they are comfortable with over and above the Rs. 2000/- participation fee in order to help meet the expenses. The additional contribution may be made in favour of OCA (India) Northern Chapter.

I would also like to take this opportunity to request you to put us in touch with all those OC’s whose contact details have changed, or are not on our records. Should you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Looking forward to meeting you in Chandigarh & Shimla.

Warm regards,
Ajay Thiara
Member Executive & Celebration Committee
OCA ( India) Northern Chapter