Early last evening I took a call from Arthur Jones (L 43-48) who lives in Cambridge to say watch BBC2 at 8 pm & follow Michael Portillo – Indian Railways journey – Amritsar to Shimla.
Very nostalgic as both Arthur & I used to make the journey from Lahore (now Pakistan) along the same route.
Rehearsing through the programme starting at the Golden Temple at once brings to mind, on a visit to Indiaaah, how kindly obliging OC Santosh Singh in Amritsar arranged for Napinder Singh (C 43-50) & I to visit the beautiful Temple & later to watch the Tamasha at the Border Gates at Wahga Wahga.
Then a day or so later to be joined with Nappy’s late wife Parvesh spending the afternoon & lunch with Sukinder Singh’s Sister in Amritsar – onto Ludianah stopping to have lunch at a well known Dubba (restaurant).
That Railway line from Kalka to Simla rests in each BCS schoolboy’s memory forever – through Barog tunnel and for me the Ghurka band playing when the Sesquicentennial Special pulled in and stopped for a puri-tac lunch & on to Simla.
Finally, Portillo talking with OC Rajah Bashin who’s legendary knowledge of the town’s history filled me with proud pleasure. Reminded me once again of Old Cottonian hospitality when Rajah invited Maggie & me to a late reception for the wedding of his niece in the basement banqueting hall of the famous Gaiety Theatre.
Memories – memories how can any Ole boy forget?
Peter Stringer (Lefroy 43-47)
(click for larger view)
Monthly Archives: March 2018
Expedition to Mount Everest in 2018 by an OC
Message received from Sandeep Mansukhani, Rivaz House (1994-95).
OCA India sincerely wishes him ‘best of luck’ for his brave adventure and may God grant him enough courage to complete his unfinished task of conquering the Great Himalayan Peak.
Ashwani Virk- Secretary OCA India
9810194724
“Prayers, good wishes and blessings pouring from all over came as an answer to my survival amidst the disastrous earthquake that hit Mt Everest/ Nepal in 2015 during my expedition to the Summit. It made me realise how blessed I am to have such lovely and caring people around. I will proceed to Nepal on 3rd April 2018 to complete my unfinished climb of Mt Everest Expd (8848m/ 29029 ft). I seek your blessings again. I request you all for any monetary contribution you wish to make to help me in my endeavour”.
Account details are as follows: A/c Name: Sandeep Mansukhani. Bank : State Bank of India. Account no: 34777505766. IFSC Code: SBIN0001282, East Patel Nagar branch
OCA Mobile App launched
Launch of Mobile App of OCA.
Dear OCs,
It gives me an immense pleasure to state hereby that in pursuit of our constant endeavour to establish more elaborately a bond of union among the Old boys of BCS, I hereby officially announce the Launch of a Mobile App ‘OCA’ for our fraternity all across the world. It is available on both IOS & Android Platforms on Apple & Google stores.
I would also take this opportunity to thank the entire ‘Batch of 1983’ to provide the necessary sponsorship for the said initiative of OCA India. OCs Rajesh Bhalla & Mohnish Sharma of 1983 batch deserve a special mention here.
OCA India would also be grateful to its own Secretary Ashwani Singh Virk, for taking up the challenge of developing the said Project and without whose selfless service this Application would not have been made possible.
Justice (Retd.) R.S. Sodhi (President, OCA India)
Links to the App:
https://itunes.apple.com/in/app/oca/id1281952427?mt=8
https://itunes.apple.com/US/app/id1281952427?mt=8
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.instappy.oca
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.creaters.oca&hl=en_IN
OCA Webmaster update 12th Nov 2019: