Monthly Archives: October 2016

Dr. Mathew Zachariah passes away

Dear All,

It is with great sadness I wish to inform all about the passing away of Dr Mathew Zachariah. I received information from his friend in Delhi, George Mathew (see messages below)

While I will share more details about this interesting man, it would appear, or so I speculate, that it was his kidneys that gave way. He had been on dialysis for some years now.

Dr Zachariah had an impact on so many of us. Some of what he taught us then 11 years old has stuck like glue for the rest of our lives. I even today live by the value system that he and some of the others inculcated in us. I am glad he touched my life and owe him a big thanks.

May his soul rest in peace. He was a good man, nay a wonderful man!!

Warm regards

Sincerely,

Vijay (Khurana)

Dear Vijay,
I am sending below the message received from my friend in Ohio. Very sad indeed.
George

—– Forwarded Message —–
From: oommen thomas 
To: George Mathew 
Sent: Tuesday, 25 October 2016 5:48 PM
Subject:

Dear G. Mathew
Very sorry to inform you that Dr. Mathew Z passed away 25th early morning 12.30 their time. All the children wife Saro and his brother Dr.Alex was also there with him. May his soul rest in peace.
Take care. Ani and Leela

img_2601

Dear All,

Here is an obit for Dr Mathew Zachariah that appeared The Calgary Herald.

Mathew Zachariah May 24, 1935-October 25, 2016 Mathew Zachariah passed away on October 25, 2016. He was born in Tiruvalla, Kerala, India in 1935. He spent part of his childhood in Miri, Borneo where his father was an accountant with an oil company, returning to India with his mother in the early 1940’s when a Japanese invasion was imminent. He had and older and younger brother. His father suffered much during the war years in Borneo and died in 1946 on his return to India. In 1942, he was informally adopted by his mother’s older sister and husband, a childless couple, and raised as their son. In the early 1960s he moved to the U.S. as a Fulbright scholar to advance his post-secondary education, and in 1966 accepted the position of assistant professor with the Faculty of Education at the University of Calgary. He became an associate professor in 1969 and full professor in 1973.

Dr. Zachariah holds several degrees, including a BA in economics from University of Madras (1956), B.Ed from University of Delhi (1960), MS in Education, English and Social Sciences from State University of New York (New Paltz, 1962) and a PhD in Social Sciences and Education from University of Colorado at Boulder (1965). A comparative sociologist of education, he made significant contributions to academic services at University of Calgary as department head and associate dean in the Faculty of Education. He retired from the U of C in 2000 after more than three decades of service and was honoured as an Emeritus Professor of Education. He continued his community service activities, despite failing health.

He is the recipient of numerous awards and honours, including a U of C Students’ Union Award for excellence in undergraduate teaching in 1985 and in 1999, a national award from the Canadian Committee of Students in Education for mentoring masters and doctoral students. He received the Alberta Human Rights Award in 1989, as well as the Internationalization Lifetime Achievement Award by the U of C in 2002. In 2004, Dr. Zachariah was named one of 114 leaders in the university community recognized for outstanding achievement. After his retirement, he was distinguished visiting professor at the University of Pittsburgh and Menno Simons College in Winnipeg.

He was a prolific author and published many books, articles and essays to his credit. He has also published short stories and poems. The leitmotif of his life was to be a promote justice and fairness to people denied their dignity and were oppressed by the dominant economic and cultural institutions.

He was the first Canadian to receive the Honourary Fellow designation from the Comparative and International Education Society, USA (CIES). This honour recognized the contribution Dr. Zachariah has made to the development of comparative and international education throughout his teaching career, as well as the impact he has had on various academic and professional organizations.

He was an Anglican all his life and became more active in the life of his church after retirement.

For details go to

http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/calgaryherald/obituary.aspx?n=mathew-zachariah&pid=182160485

You can sign in and leave condolence messages on this site

Vijay Khurana

BCS batch 1991 celebrate and give back to School

A PROUD MOMENT!

The Batch of 1991 celebrated 25 years of graduating from Bishop Cotton School, and installed the tallest flag pole in all of Himachal Pradesh – 110 feet – with the Head Master Roy Robinson hoisting a massive 30’x15′ Tricolour. A band consisting of Jawans of the Assam Rifles played the Indian National Anthem and presented colors.

(Click for a larger view)

Notice of OCA India AGM 2016

NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING (AGM) OF OCA (INDIA) – 2016

  • DATE:  Saturday, 5 th November 2016
  • TIME :  5:00 P.M.
  • VENUE: 1, Aurobindo Marg, Haus Khas, New Delhi

The Agenda and the Program for the AGM is detailed below:

  1.  Address by the Chairman Emeritus
  2.  Address by the President
  3.  To approve the minutes of last AGM
  4.  To approve and adopt the accounts of 2015-2016
  5.  Secretary’s report
  6.  Election of Members of the Exec Committee including Vice-president, Joint Secretary
  7.  Any other points with permission of the Chair.

Program will be followed by High Tea

OC’s desirous of being considered for the post of Vice President OCA India, may forward their candidature to the Secretary OCA along with a vision statement latest by the 1st of November 2016. You may send it by email to oldcottoniansassociation@yahoo.com

AJAY THIARA / Secretary Old Cottonians Association India.
October 17th 2016.

UPDATE 22 APRIL 2017

WHILE WE DO NOT HAVE THE MINUTES OF MEETING FOR THE AGM, WE DO HAVE THESE FOR THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING HELD ON 22ND MARCH 2017:

Read it here

G B Mehra (Ibbetson 1955-64) passed away

G B Mehra (Ibbetson 1955-64) passed away this morning . He fell to cancer which spread over his body these last few months. It then closed the vitals of a life we all cherished and admired.

I will always remember him as a good-natured, warm and affectionate person. He carried no malice and was truly one of those who knowingly never hurt any one. He was a gentle soul. God give him peace.

I understand the cremation is tomorrow, October 16, 2016 at the Lodhi Road crematorium at 12.30PM.

Warmly,
Vijay [Khurana]

UPDATE:

The condolence meeting, the Chautha, will be held on Tuesday, October 18, 2016 at the Sathya Sai auditorium on Lodi Road between 4 and 5 PM

This is for your information. May I please request you to pass this information on to the others as well. My thanks.

 

Anil Johar passed on

Old Cottonian ANIL JOHAR passed away 21st September 2016.

Here are some messages from some of his friends and batch mates

Dear All,

I received the following message from Badal

“Sad to inform you …. Anil Johar…..Rivaz house…..Kicked it on the 21st of September….Kindly circulate”

I gather from other friends that Anil Johar, whom we had located some months ago, passed away on account of kidney problems. He had been unwell for some time.

With his passing away, the image in my mind of three friends, Robin William, Krishen Sikand and Anil Johar, standing so often huddled in some conversation or the other near the tennis court on the driveway leading to the School hospital remains even more firmly etched. All three no longer remain with us and of this lot Anil was the most sensitive, humour filled, naive and “innocent” person. You just could not dislike the guy. May God keep him in his arms. Rest in peace.

Warmly, Vijay (Khurana)


That was really sad -I had planned to meet him in Mumbai on my next trip .

You are so right – Krishan Sikand ,Anil Johar and Robin William was a trio . They used to smoke in those huddled up places.

We are all in the last leg -so enjoy everyday as if it was the last .

Cheers, Sudhir Kashyap


Sad to know that he has passed on. I did speak to him last Jan/ Feb and suggested that we meet up during my visit to Mumbai but he declined as he said he was’nt in a position to meet.

Another one of ’61 batch gone !

Sukhinder Singh


One by one the candles are being extinguished by the wind.

This is why the Dalai Lama once said to me quietly: “It is your duty to be happy everyday of your life.”

Bittu

Bittu Sahgal,
Editor, Sanctuary Asia,
602, Maker Chambers V,
Nariman Point
Mumbai 400 021


Really very sad to hear the sad news of Anil Johar passing awwy.
I have fond memories of him and his jokes.
My condolences to the family, if you have the contact

Moni Kohli


Sorry to hear about Anil I can see him tall and lanky with a great smile may God rest his soul

RS Sodhi


When someone close or a childhood friend dies, we take it as a tragedy and send condolences. But life in itself is not everything. It is a temporary state in the eternity of God’s mind. If an individual has evolved to the point God is satisfied, s/he is freed of the cycle of life and death. Perhaps instead of mourning Anil, we should cheer him on with our hopes that God may call him home for good; and if God is not satisfied, may Anil at least be reborn in a better life.
Ravi (Rikhye) 1962

1966 Batch 50th anniversary / 2016 at Simla

1966 batch 50th anniversary 2016
The class of 1966,had their reunion celebrating 50 yrs of passing out from this great institution called Bishop Cotton..
It was record gathering of 18 of us, from all corners of the globe. We had Seereeram come from Trinidad, JMS Aulakh from New Zealand, Mahi form England and Arun Bumitra from USA.
The four days we spend together were the best in a life time.. It was as if none of ever left school. It was the same bonhomie and gossip.

Photos.
1.Seated.L2R
A Katakam. OmPrakash. Ved Seereeram. AK Malhotra. SK Bhalaik. K Vijay Singh.
Standing. R2L
Andy Mahi. Rajpal Singh. K Uday Singh. JMS Aulakh. Ranbir Brar. Arun Bhumitra.
2.At the NGO Udaan, whereby our class started a project to help speciall abled children
3. Ved Seereeram with wife Carrie, who came from Trinidad.
4.Uday’s house for dinner.
L2R
Japvir. Rajpal. Bhalaik. Kuttu. AK. Uday. DM. Brar. Katzi. Arun. Ompi. Terry. Mahi.
Sitting. Trini. Sherry.
5.Standing in school.
Rajpal. Katzi. Kuttu. Emma. Mahi. Uday.

Vijay Singh

Click for large view of each photo.

OCs of BCS 1965 batch get together at Villa Kalighat (Robin Gupta’s)

Though the day of the renowned Indian public school,modeled on the classic English public schools,Eton and Harrow,is now said to be over;even scoffed at by some;yet something of the fire of youth;some fine principles of loyalty,gentlemanly behaviour;someththing about the art of living with refined and artistic reflexes that we internalised at B.C.S, on Simla’s tree topped hill,still remain in our minds and hearts,and it was time to recall and remember,this afternoon when six gentlemen,belonging to the class of 1965, gathered in the hall at Villa Kalighat to raise a toast to our friend from Western India on a visit to Chandigarh,a B grade city that continues with its refrain about being ‘city beautiful’ with classical French styled buildings and things of that sort.

Robin Gupta IAS (C) Sarabjit Singh (R) Lt General HM Singh VSM (L) GS Gill IPS (R) Om Prakash (C) Ravi Inder Singh (I)[Robin Gupta IAS, (C) Sarabjit Singh (R) Lt General HM Singh VSM (L)
GS Gill IPS (R) Om Prakash (C) Ravi Inder Singh (I) – you can click the picture for a larger version].

Good old gin and lime, soon let loose a flood of memories spanning fifty one years. In spite of modern trends and predictions about the ‘good’ schools of today—run by Birla, Goenka, Sriram, Krishnamurty, Lovely Sweet House and the like–the Cottonians who foregathered today with no transactional purpose; no reason except to re-kindle memory were, in their order of seating at the high table — Ompi, known artist in avant garde circles in Paris who sat next to Lt General H.M Singh, a decorated soldier, Mr Sarabjit Singh, head of Dunlop India stirred ice cubes for Ravi Inder, an aviator of great skill and standing while I sat and exchanged notes with G.S Gill who rose to be D.G.P of Himachal Pradesh.

What astonishes me, each time I meet a class mate from over half a century ago, is the effortless ease with which we continue life’s journey; as if we left each other, at the doorstep of sunset, just yesterday.

Robin Gupta. Villa Kalighat, Panchkula. 8th October 2016.