Tag Archives: 1962 batch

Harry (September 5, 1946 – November 21, 2024) – Harjit Singh Bedi – The Man behind The Judge!!

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Harry was the sum of his parts. These parts were many but at the end you had a man of utter simplicity.

That is not the impression he conveyed when I first set  my eyes on him in 1954. He was timid, I thought, until you discovered he was intelligent, dedicated and committed with firm views that he held with a fierce passion. He was not a man you defeated easily on any  intellectual matter. He was confident and assured. He spoke in a soft manner with ideas that were built with a great deal of clarity of thought. It showed in his academic worth and he was always among the toppers in his class.

Harry was obedient. He was shy. He was devout.

In retrospect, Harry embodied all the fine qualities for the professional position he came to occupy. He was no brawn and he was not the daring kind but his sense of fairness, justice and all that was correct and right were attractive attributes.

Here are some comments about Harry by his friends from the Class of 1962:

“Harry loved his dogs and guns. He used to go hunting in the college. days with his dogs and whosoever wanted to join him. He never shot at a sitting bird. The ones that took off were invariably brought down as he was a crack shot. His dogs were always winning prizes. He inherited these qualities from his father who kept a stuffed tiger in the drawing room in his Sector 10 house. Later he would go clay pigeon shooting” – Yogesh Uberoi

“ I think you must be aware that his forefinger had been partially injured when he was crawling out of the side open drain from the swimming pool. The main door from there  was closed. This was in the passage from the HM house to the pool. I was there and we rushed him to the hospital from where he was sent to Rippon. I can’t remember who else was there with me

Somehow we were locked on the swimming pool area, the door to the swimming pool had been closed from outside. we decided to climb on the khud side to get out. The person ahead of Harry slipped & stones were dislodged and they came hurtling down and Harry ‘s forefinger, first digit was cut, and hung by the skin. We took him to hospital & from there he was sent to Rippon hospital ” Ramesh Suthoo

 (Comment: minor addition: The swimming pool was locked and this drain hole offered a short cut from the gym side up to the dorms. The entry from the second flat was inaccessible since an event was in progress that morning. Post monsoon a stone from the khud side dislodged itself and came like a sharp knife on Harry’s finger, a slitter like action, which caused the injury)

“Harry loved music and he played the mouthorgan very well . He could play any tune  popular in those days” Harmeet Mamik

“A very fine legacy. The embodiment of a gentleman OC. We are all proud to also call him our classmate” Mohit Goyal 

“He had a lovely record collection. I often used to visit his house and listen to the lovely music collection. This was when we were at college” RLV Nath 

“Harry always conducted himself within the rules of the school and never strayed, a relatively quiet gentleman and one who didn’t take issue with anyone. He was very conscientious in his studies and if I remember correctly always in the top three in academics. All in all a very fine and good human being. Will miss him” NK Mehra 

[click pictures for larger view]

After Harry cut his forefinger, and it was never adequately restored because Simla did not have the requisite medical facilities for a surgery that required great skill, his parents came up to Simla. He went home for some months for treatment and recovery. He toyed with the idea of using his left hand instead but managed efficiently with his right hand and the little stub of a forefinger. He was persistent in all he did. I can see him struggling to get past the qualifying line for the marathon, with Mr Advani urging him on from the sidelines, with just a few seconds to go and make it in time !! He never gave up, a trait that was inculcated in him. He consequently recovered from the injury rather well with his confidence restored.

Harry was a pacifist. During the phase in the Cold War and, we were old enough to read about international events, Khrushchev had that year made a frightening speech at the UN culminating with an exhibition of shoe thumping in 1960. It seemed that the world was on the brink of another world war. We were worried. Harry, Guzder (Curzon House) and I decided to write to Khrushchev urging him to show restraint. The three of us earnestly sat in a class room with Harry in the centre and a letter was written. Of course the author, the brainy guy, was Harry. We then ambled up to the letter box that stood behind the Headmaster’s office and deposited our earnest missive to Khrushchev. Two days later, during dinner time, Fred Brown flourished the letter and announced with a smile on his face, “Khrushchev, come and get your letter, the postman cannot deliver it!!” A rather sheepish Harry got up and collected the envelope much to the amusement all around.

Harry’s father seemed like a tall strapping man. He looked taller because he wore a “taller” turban with a “tur” , which is an extension of the usual turban but stands flat upright atop the conventional head gear and flutters about like the feathers atop a peacock’s crown. He, consequently, looked imposing (at that age at any rate to us!!) . The parents would come and affectionately hug their pampered boy and pat their hands over his soft cheeks. On their departure, we would then walk up to Harry and stroke his cheeks, perhaps, as affectionately. It was almost like a petting pool. We laughed but Harry blushed though he never responded to our little amusing venture.!!

Harry was close friends from time to time with most of his class mates particularly from Curzon, Ravi Rikhye, Ramesh Suthoo and the others but towards his final years he spent a great deal of time on the bench outside the Headmaster’s office with Amarvir Singh discussing spiritual matters. Those discussions may have even sharpened his instincts for the ethical and the strong desire to never deviate from the righteous and the right. Ethics mattered a great deal to him and it showed in his professional conduct. Harry was never swayed by any external influence or factor in all the decisions he delivered. He was upright, ramrod straight and not amenable to any inducements or suggestions, never delivering any favour no matter how close the relative or friend the person might be. He was in that sense intractable never wavering from what he considered honest, true and correct.

In a school where Hindi was a subsidiary, even neglected subject, Harry excelled. I recall Mr G Shanker informing us that there were only two boys in School who took dictation in Hindi perfectly never  committing even one error, Harry and Amarvir Singh, he announced. Harry never got wrong any word in any dictation placing the right alphabet even for a similar sounding consonant or word. Perfection it was for him. He was conscientious.

This distinguished individual carried all the virtues that your scripture suggests are the qualities of good conduct. Harry fulfilled that bill almost completely though I daresay he was very human and not without his foibles or his faults. However, all that hardly mattered in the balance and he was one of the finest specimens of a good product that Bishop Cotton School saw past its hallowed portals.

Harry made us proud and may he rest in peace. Good bye, Dear Friend.

– Vijay Khurana

JUSTICE H.S.BEDI – A GENTLEMAN JUDGE

Happy birthday, Mr Goss – 94th 

May 3rd 2023

My dear Mr Goss,

Warm and sincere wishes on this your 94th (Ninety Fourth) birthday. My friends, I and our respective families wish you a wonderful day. May the years ahead, and may there be many, many more, continue to bring you good health, great happiness and tons of laughter.

Looking back and from my collection, I am sending as attachments to this mail a few photographs of the way we still remember you. The change, which has surely occurred over these long years, does not register in our mind’s eye. You are still the spritely young man we knew who walked in briskly into the class and went about the assignment without much ado. What was enormously enjoyable was your introducing us to Arthur Conan Doyle and Sherlock Holmes. Those class sessions were inevitably the most enjoyable and certainly the most remembered. It certainly did inculcate the reading habit in so many of us. Sometimes I wish we had started with P G Wodehouse though Conan Doyle is a class apart in an entirely different genre. In those mostly quiet corridors, peals of laughter generated by a Jeeves incident may have had other consequences, I suspect !!

I will not recount your fearful and stern marking record but I think it was all well-meant. No blemishes ever attached to us but it was a good inkling, a warning lesson, perhaps, of how tough life can be. It all began with red ink in the classroom !!

Thank you, Mr Goss.

With great warmth and affectionate wishes from us all, once again

Vijay

Vijay Khurana

My dear Mr Goss,

A very Happy Birthday to you.
I recall our Geography lessons, 39 Steps,  and your being our Housemaster !
Many Happy Returns !
Our best regards to your family.

Govinder Singh
Ibbetson 1952-1963

Hi Mr Goss: I wish you a very happy birthday. May all your wishes come true. Best regards also to your charming wife.
Joe Joshi 1
Rivaz 1954 – 1963
Commercial airline / combat pilot and war correspondent in Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam.
Senior editor of print and broadcast news with worldwide experience.

Joe Joshi

Dear Mr. Goss,
Wishing you a most wonderful and a very happy birthday with all my heart.
Respectfully yours,
NP Pawa

Dear Mr.Goss
Wishing you a very Happy Birthday.
May God give you good health and happiness.Warm regards to Mrs Goss.
With lots of love.
K.Vijay Singh
Lefroy.1958-’66.

Curzon House photos : 1954 & 1962

Dear All,

RS Sodhi has been kind enough to loan me photo album and I am now forwarding for your records, the Curzon House photographs for the for the years 1954 (Amar Singh Gill as House Captain) and the one for 1962 when RS was House Captain. Incidentally Amar Singh Gill became a commercial pilot.

His collection of pictures are in good condition permitting me to replace prints that were faded or defaced. I feel better now !!

Warmly

Vijay

Vijay Khurana

[Click for a full view]

Farewell Chander Mohan Kohli [Moni]

Moni Kohli
1945-2021
It is with profound sorrow and acceptance of God’s will that we announce the death of
Moni Kohli; son of the late Lila Vati and Sardarilal Kohli; Chairman of Elephant Soap
Industries; beloved husband to Sarojini Kohli and loving father to Ravi and Jennifer, Arjun and Stacey and doting grandfather to Avani, Devan and Yara. Moni was a much loved and caring brother to Chander Bhasin, the late Subash Kohli and Sneh Sethi. Moni will be fondly remembered by family and friends around the world, who were ever close to his heart.
Prayers will be held at home at 11:30am on Monday, 13t December 2021, followed by a private cremation ceremony at the Hindu Shamshan Bhumi.
(Current health-related protocols must be observed)
MAY GOD ALMIGHTY REST HIS SOUL IN ETERNAL PEACE.
OM SHANTI SHANTI SHANTI OM

[Link to Zoom prayer meeting at the end of this page]

ZOOM: Moni Kohli Prayers

Dear All,

Chander Mohan Kohli, CM to most in School and then by the name we all subsequently knew him by, Moni Kohli, passed away a few days ago. He was 76.

My earliest memories of Moni are of a wispy, thin little boy. You could almost blow him away ! Along with that puny size came a defiant and determined individual who was never to be taken for granted. Push him even an inch he would quickly take two steps forward. However, what emerged and the most distinctive part of Moni was his affable, warm and helpful character. He was always there to assist and was very supportive. He was a charming man with great empathy and that endearing quality was what attracted his friends to him.

One of my most memorable memories of Moni is when he was displayed along with RLV Nath as the undernourished, half-starved boys at the boarding school. The play put up by Rivaz House was a spoof and somewhat of a satire on the quality of the food dished out by Mr Massey, the catering man. Any successor to Mrs Murphy or the tall, big Maj Davison, would never be able to retain any but an adverse reputation against these specialists. They stood tall when it came to food, quality or quantity.

Well, Moni and RLV arrive on stage naked with just but their shorts. Their upper bodies were painted in a stark white to mark the ribs and other bony body parts. They were the prosecution lawyer’s exhibits, being specimens of starved boys deprived of adequate nourishment. The judge, Dina Nath (Ashok’s older brother) moved his weight from foot to foot imitating Rev Dustan, the Headmaster. The man in the dock was, obviously, Mr Massey’s double with KC Kohli being the lead prosecutor. The moment Moni and RLV appear on stage, the Irwin Hall was in splits of laughter. Post the performance I never saw that bright purple red blush on the face of Rev Dustan ever again. He was livid !!  Truthfully, neither Moni nor RLV were ever deprived after that in the dining hall. They were always adequately served and assisted.

Smoking among boys was happening and well known. Some of the ones who indulged in this habit with a great deal of flair were Ruby Kohli, Gurinder Parkash and Moni Kohli. However no one could beat Moni. He would place the cigarette to his lips, take a deep suck, exhale like the villain did in the movies those days and then send his arm and hand right behind his shoulder until it was the moment to bring it back for the next puff !! What a flourish while he smoked and created those almost perfect smoke rings!! He was, during those moments, the perfect advertisement to foster and encourage teenage smoking !!

A few years ago, my family and I on a holiday in London discovered a rather pleasant and attractive tea restaurant in Leicester Square. We were there almost every evening and then one day the owner, a man of Indian origin, beckoned us inside. “ I see you here every day and today the tea and refreshments are on the house,” was his generous offer. Introductions followed and then I discovered he was from Nairobi. “ Have you heard of Elephant Soap? Do you know Mr Moni Kohli?” were careless questions to a stranger but the response surprised me. He laughed loudly and to my utter surprise said, “Of course, I know Moni Kohli. We studied together in the UK” Truly a small world and then he, Dadu Bhai,  narrated an incident.

Moni was during his years in the UK dating an English nurse. All was well until this young lady’s boy friend of long standing arrived on the scene with iron chains to attack Moni. Imagine the trouble with a small terrified man facing up to an English ruffian. However this nurse and her friends formed a protective ring around Moni. “If you want to get to him, then you must first go past us,” she challenged her lover. Moni had a close shave that day. I am sure that loyalty and protection was earned for all the goodness Moni had possibly bestowed on the lady, entitling him to such high quality protection. It certainly was an amusing anecdote from Dadu Bhai. Moni confirmed the incident when we next met.

Moni’s sensitive caring side emerged when he talked about Subhash, his older brother, who had passed away that year. Moni was deeply upset because this was a special bond. His concern for his siblings was evident when he rang me for some inputs for assistance for his sister in Chandigarh. A most caring man adored by all whom his life touched.

He was also the patriarch of the family and a mantle he handled with great sense of foresight and accomplishment. Elephant Soap Industries is much bigger and has wider interests due to his initiatives.

Some of us watched the Prayer Meeting yesterday to pay our last respects to Moni in his passage from this world. Never have I witnessed such a dignified, filled with grace, and conducted with so much respect that this was certainly the ideal and perfect farewell for a husband and father.

Moni’s father identified and chose for him the perfect spouse in Sarojini. This was the ideal partnership and the perfect marriage. Sarojini has made so many warm and close friends among Moni’s class mates and their spouses. The loss is huge but Sarojini and her family will always find Moni’s friends here in India happy to give of themselves. We offer our sympathies and condolences to Sarojini, Ravi, Arjun and their respective families.

Our warm regards

Sincerely

Vijay [Khurana]

🔽 Updated messages December/10/2023

Dear All Dad’s Friends and Classmates,

I know that some of you will be thinking of him today and have reached out.  In the days following his passing two years ago it meant so much to us to receive your memories of him.  The support that you extend to our family at that time as you always have. Is something that means a great deal to us.  In fact, though in shock, when writing the speech preceding the rituals for his last rites, Bishop Cotton and the community of friendships that came from that was top of mind, and that is why I have shared whatever I thought to pen down then. 

It’s two years today but on behalf of mum and Ravi, I just wanted to write to thank you all for your kindness and thoughtfulness and to remind you that we are there for you when you are in Kenya and you must keep us in mind and save our contacts and whenever we are in India we too will think of you and try to see you and keep the memory of the Dad I loved, and the friend you cherished alive in the continuity of the bond. 

Dad leaves behind two grandchildren from Ravi (Devan and Yara) and two from me (Avani and Kaden Ahaan, born in June this year) and ofcourse, our special mum with whom I share the letters you’ve so thoughtfully written and called us.  Thank you for being such a great  Old Cottonian community..

Sarojini Kohli 
Ravi Kohli 
Arjun Kohli 

Yours sincerely,

Arjun

Vijay Khurana’s message:

Dear Arjun,

Thank you for your mail.

Your Dad was special for not only his idiosyncrasies, which we often teased him about, but his excellent qualities as a warm and affectionate friend. That relationship was close, very close, and sincere.

Moni is hard to forget and just this morning some of us rang each other to exchange our memories of a friend now gone. One of them, Yogesh Uberoi, asked if we had any news from Sarojini or you boys. That’s when I rang Ravi to discover he is currently in India and on his way to Dehradun. Ravi comes back to Delhi on Dec 18, 2023 for just a day but since I am travelling I have passed on this information to a few of his friends who may be able to contact Ravi.

Thank you for extending the invitation for your hospitality and that threatened visit to Kenya never materialised while Moni was alive. We will certainly take advantage if only to bring back, in whatever form, memories of a man we recognised and appreciated in a special way. Yes, please do likewise take advantage. Moni’s family is very much ours in every way.

The grand children need to know who and what their grand parents were. We will assist in that bit of education as best we can!! Please forward family photographs and that would be appreciated

God bless and our warm and sincere wishes for the Coming Year.

Warmly

Moni’s classmates and
other Cottonian who continue to miss the man with a personality that was loveable and certainly unique!!

Vijay

Sudhir Kashyap:

Remember him fondly.

 
May he rest in peace
NK Akers:
Remember him. Was in Rivaz house and senior.
 
May his soul rest in peace.
OM Shanti
BM Singh:
It is with fondness that we both remember him and his warmth and hospitality was outstanding.
Warmly remembered
 
by Ravi & BM
 

Sad news: CM Kohli

C M Kohli [1962 batch]

passed away yesterday after a massive heart attack.
He died in his sleep and was discovered next morning by his wife. Traumatic. He was 75 having celebrated his last birthday about three weeks ago. I spoke to his younger son last evening. Details to follow…
Rest in peace, dearest friend.

Vijay Khurana

BCS Class of 1962 – a profile

I am forwarding the individual photographs for the Class of 1962 extracted from a group photograph taken in 1961. There is no official or formal picture for this group that should have been taken in 1962 as part of the usual year end photographic session. Some individual photographs have been extracted from other group pictures taken in 1962 e.g. Spartan Club members or the Prefects for 1962, for reasons of quality and clarity.

From among them the only person who is no longer with us is Shivraj Singh who died of an anaphylactic shock at a doctor’s clinic in 1963. No details are available. I recall him to be an intelligent person, good at hockey, had a decided stammer and a very even temper. He was in Lefroy House.

I do not have photographs for Vinod Chhabra, Himmat Singh and Simranjit Singh Mann who also joined this class in their final year. Those additions will be made as soon as we can lay our hands on appropriate photographs. Any assistance in that respect will be greatly appreciated from any one endorsed on this mailing list.

Usum who figures in this collection subsequently joined the Class of 1963. Dhishnu’s full and complete name is required / requested

Logically we should have such a profile for each year with a description about each one of them written after 25 and 50 years respectively. Would offer a great collection and this will ensure that each one is remembered. Great for posterity.

Warmly

Vijay Khurana

Dear All,

I have just received a prompt input from Sukanya, Usum’s wife. It is reproduced below:

“If I am not mistaken, Dhishnu supposed to be a guy from Thailand, right?
His name should be Tisanu Thien-ngern.  His father used to be Bangkok Governor for a long time.  Usum always met
him, a lanky and very funny guy.  I knew where he used to live but lost touch of him somewhat.
Sukanya”

That is our Dhishnu alright. I am attaching his photograph again so that Anil can make suitable changes.

This is actually a very useful input and have requested Sukanya to indicate further details about him, if available. It would be wonderful to meet with him again and Deepak Lamba as was the Curzon gang great friends with him.

Thanks, again, Sukanya

Warmly

Vijay

Sukanya is right, Tisanu Thien-ngern’s Dad was a long-time Gov of Bangkok. I remember that name from my time at the Bangkok Post newspaper.
What about the whereabouts of Prayudh, and the Assawamatiyanont brothers — Surachai and Surawat? Kirit Shah is still in Bangkok, last I heard of him.

Adisakdi Thaviyonchai also is doing well with his tractor business in Bangkok

Joe Joshi 1 (R 54 to 63)

Joe’s excellent inputs are appreciated with thanks

Adisak was few years junior to us and in Rivaz. I think SM and Vinod may know more about him

Cheers

Vijay

Many thanks for your prompt reply Vijay. I know Adisak’s home address in Rong Muang Soi 4 Bangkok, and his Thavorn Tractor business address. Kirit Shah used to live in Suriwongse Road, BKK. 
Joe

Many happy returns of the day! UMESH DUTTA

Dear All

Ranjana, Umesh Dutta’s wife put together video clips from friends and family wishing Umesh on his 75th birthday.

I am forwarding the link [Editor: Video embedded below] for you to hook up and watch this excellent compilation of messages from his friends from School.

Ranjana informs me that “Umesh went through so many emotions while watching all the videos and messages. We received almost 60 of them. He laughed, he cried, he chuckled………….. it was so wonderful. He’s already watched them about three times. It is fresh and heartwarming for him each time he watches it. Thank you so much, Vijay. You helped make this a memorable birthday for him. Bless you”

I wish we were present to have him watch through our messages but during these unusual times that was not possible.The accompanying emotions would have overwhelmed everyone present that day.

Our compliments to Ranjana for a brilliant effort

Warmly

Vijay

Crayon drawings of BCS – by Himmat Singh [1962 Batch]

Crayons by Himmat Singh [1952-62 Rivaz House] of our main school in 1958, before the fountain came up. Note the tin shed verandah ,before dorms came up!
[Click the pictures for a larger view]

“REUNIONS”

Came across this poem…. Thought I’d share it..

The heartthrob of the school,

is a man grim and sombre.

That lanky little girl,

is now a weightlifter.

The topper of the class,

is a happy homemaker.

Back bencher of the lot,

is an entrepreneur.

The flamboyant fashionista,

became a dreaded lawyer.

Oft ignored average Joe,

turned a well-known writer.

The one who failed math paper,

is a fashion designer,

And one who often got to stand outside the class, is a respected army officer.

The reunion taught me how,

people came with many layers,

and tell me why should we never,

judge a book by its cover.

Comment: We have seen our fair share of such situations.

Bittu Sahgal become an authority on animal conservation, especially the tiger, though he first started by selling Milton buckets and then entered the printing business!

R S Sodhi became a judge after he could no longer fly planes for the IAF !!

Brandy Gill a corporate honcho who brought Gillette to India (an interesting story there). Tennis, his BCS back ground and his qualifications as a chartered accountant got him there with the aid of a few good women!!

B M Singh, Chairman of the Central Board of Taxes, and his ability to handle people and situations – brilliantly !!

Rajive Sawhney, an ace lawyer he was determined to be. He wanted nothing else and he tore his heart out debating whenever he could. It began early.

CM Kohli, a real estate magnate and smoked every one else out of business !

SM Singh, a brilliant entrepreneur who otherwise was the quietest guy around

N K Akers, a hospitality expert and that affable temperament that fit perfectly. He resides in Cairo and has been there for over 30 years now.

Vinod Pawa, a university professor. Actually that capability would have fit anywhere and done exceptionally well.

Param Inder Singh, vastly successful inventor and entrepreneur in the field medical devices business while he first set out to become an aeronautical engineer

Guljit Kochhar, an expert in the plastic moulding business expanded into plastic products. He currently employs 700 people !! He got into the game only because a programme coordinator suggest he take a trip to see some other parts of the US during a college break !!

Mohit Goyal, became an IT entrepreneur when he flipped a job advertisement page that his father sent him and was attracted to what IBM had to offer on the other side of the sheet !!

Also remember those with warmth and feeling who never really entered life or reached their full potential. Shiv Raj Singh, who died of an anaphylactic shock from an injection straight after school or Ashok Dina Nath in a tragic road accident. May they rest in peace. In a lot of other cases Fate just did not carry them to the destiny that may have awaited them !!

There are so many more. The names listed above are suggestive based on a spontaneous listing and certainly not exhaustive.

Warmly
Vijay [Khurana], BCS class of 1962.

Pages updated 1953 / 1961 / 1962

Himmat Singh sent three photographs of Rivaz House for the years 1953, 1961, and 1962. 
Two observations. With Mr Farhat Paul as Rivaz House Master, all the boys had a handkerchief in their top left coat pockets (see the photographs). He loved these little touches and the expression, “You Fat Cow!!” He bellowed these words and stretched them over a good ten seconds for the impact that he wanted to deliver depending on his mood. His other talents were exceptional but he left in me an enduring interest in history with details of Babur that the Baburnama never recorded !! He embellished every class with fascinating details that made all the Mughal emperors come alive !! He had several other attributes but his large garnet ring, his penmanship, and his well endowed behind I do remember. There was more, much more, to this flamboyant man but I leave that to your imagination. 
I see faces and remember with affection Mohan (M.M.) Sachdev, Ashok Dina Nath, Huppy Grewal, the Gideon brothers, Preharan Singh, Motwani, my dear friend Girish Ghai, the body builder who frequented my house in Bombay on so many occasions. His parents (address 69, Warden Road) were always warm and hospitable. There are others who revive memories aplenty.
Warmly,
Vijay 

The photos/pages can be accessed at: The BCS Batch & House Pages
ENJOY!

BCS 1962 Batch – Golden Jubilee – BCS Visit

BACK TO SCHOOL ~ FUN TIMES!

Dear All,
Mohit Goyal sent this spontaneous comment accompanied by a set of photographs

“What a great reunion, ending with the School song sung after dinner with great gusto by the class of ’62 in close huddle with the entire upper 6th form on the 1st flat! We took that party late into the night in the hotel and needed (at least I did!) most of the next day to recover. But it was all well worth it and many thanks to everyone for making this such a memorable trip. In particular thanks to Neel, D. Singh, Mamik who went out of their way to help with the planning & logistics. Also to the wives who, I think – and hope – have an appreciation of a close bond that has lasted 55+ years.
Here are some photos.
And another lot [EDITOR: added on 20 Nov]
Great memories and best wishes to all!
Mohit”

Mohit’s comments grasp the essence of an event that was certainly an experience of a life time. Preparations began in earnest almost a year earlier. The fact of just getting together was a pleasure that was repeated with “warm up” dinners hosted by:

Peeku & Manjit Kochhar
Neelam & Ruby Kohli
Bunty & Toti Agarwal
Jyoti & R S Sodhi.

These evenings generated sufficient enthusiasm with each dinner actually being an event. Bunty and Toti distributed mementos and Neelam & Ruby adding to the gift box. They even did the entrance of their house to represent the School,and boy, was that an evening !!

I have recalled and mentioned these exceptional dinners but need to give credit to Ranjana Dutta, Umesh‘s wife, for the house scarves that she knitted for each one of us. Thank you.

The numbers of guys committing themselves for the reunion in Simla held strong for a long time until the drop outs at the last minute some for  good reasons but the others were exceptional for the excuses they offered, imaginative by any standard!! The numbers were still significant.

Most of us took the train from Delhi to Chandigarh while RS Sodhi and Manjit Kochhar drove all the way up to Simla. The experience was different with those going by train getting the benefit of being met at Chandigarh station by Suksham, Davinder Singh Jaaj‘s lovely wife. She presented each of us chocolates and a warm hug at the station.

From Chandigarh, we were packed into the cars of Davinder Singh and H S Mamik. The latter, savvy as always with tremendous foresight to boot, brought in any extra car. Both these guys did an excellent job of organising the logistics and hospitality. So this team from Chandigarh consisted of :

Suksham & D Singh
Ritu & Neel Mehra
Mala & Mohit Goyal
Ranjana & Umesh Dutta
H S Mamik and
Ravi Inder Singh

We assembled at the Eastbourne Hotel on September 28, 2012.

That first evening, at our request, the Headmaster, Mr Roy Robinson, arranged for the boys of lower and upper 6th Form to meet with us at 6.30 p.m. He was there on the first flat to receive us and escorted us to the meeting over which he presided. Each of us introduced ourselves to the boys, briefly informing them about our time in school, mentioning our particular achievements and then giving them an account of what we had done after leaving school. Thereafter, Mohit, Umesh and D Singh interacted with the boys wanting to know about their aspirations, their ideas of their areas of interest and their possible career plans. Surprisingly, these boys knew so much more about the opportunities available than we did at their age !!

The boys were also encouraged to ask questions, which they did. It was a good interaction and it went on for more than an hour.
Later that evening we hosted a dinner for Dorothy, the Headmaster’s wife, Mr Roy Robinson and the Housemasters at our hotel. It was a splendid day and we all felt that it had been good, informed and educative.

Next morning, much against the wishes of most, we were requested to attend a special service in the Chapel at 8.30 a.m. You must remember that the effects of the previous night’s drinking had not quite worn off and most of us were, initially, reluctant to attend. However, we were all there in our blazers, ties and presented ourselves as pretty specimens of well turned out Cottonians. Most of us are natty dressers. Justice R S Sodhi read out that famous passage from the Romans leading to our motto. Mohit, who is an excellent extempore speaker, spoke about career choices that the boys could consider. Both delivered their messages with confident ease. Mohit’s talk was wide ranging and informative. The School will want him again when career choices becomes a whole new subject.

September 29, 2012 turned out to be a long and eventful day. We were taken around to view some of the excellent work at the arts and craft exhibition. The standards are just as good as they were but there was more creativity on display with the use of newer techniques. This was followed by lunch, with each of sitting down at our respective house tables. It felt awkwardly familiar!!

After lunch, we were invited as the group to be the Chief Guests for the annual athletic meet, the sports day. Two smartly turned out NCC cadets escorted the Headmaster, his and our group to the podium to inaugurate the event. Justice R S Sodhi led our team by releasing a pigeon as a symbolic gesture. Each of us was then requested to repeat in releasing a beautiful white bird. It felt different to be the guest of honour. Very nice.

The entire afternoon we watched the athletics activity culminating in the tug-o-war. Sitting in pavilion gave us a lovely view of the activity with tea and snacks being delivered from time to time. We were feted and we were treated exceptionally well. At the prize giving function we were requested, one by one, to come forward and award the prize to the winner of an event. The honour for the best athlete of the event, the Victor Lodorum prize was given away by Toti Agarwal who was the best athlete and had won the same prize 50 years ago.! Very fitting. Most of the records that stood in our time now stand demolished. The boys who finish school are just a wee bit older at 17 or 18. Besides our finishing school at an earlier age, we observed the diet and the food was of a higher standard. This is no reflection on Mrs Murphy, who was the head of the School kitchen when I joined in 1953. Her Irish stew and bread and butter pudding are still the best that I have ever had!! Justice Sodhi declared the meet closed.

That day’s dinner was hosted by Dorothy and Roy Robinson in the lawns outside the Headmaster’s Lodge with staff and senior boys being present. By now the familiarity had begun to float in to our interactions with the staff and the boys. They were not inhibited. They spoke to our wives and seeing youth in those conditions, rearing to go and feeling infallible is infectious. You do not advise them, you gently guide and direct them in any small way that you can. Some of the impressions they carry, as we do know, last for a life time. N K Mehra put it best in his very disarming manner, ” I think this was fantastic. We always apprehensive about the wives participating and here it was going great guns”

N K Mehra goes on to add, “After the dinner the boys from 6th form gathered on the 1st flat made a circle, in which we all joined and sang the school song. it was an indescribable event, full of emotions. I think I may have shed a tear.
The night  didn’t end there. After we went back to hotel Manjit Kochhar pulled out a bottle of Chivas regal, the party continued in Mamik’s room till 1.30 a.m. although Toti continued till 4 a.m.”

It was a memorable event, even magical! They all felt that should have spent another day in School and Simla. The writer feels that this was just right. A high is a HIGH, do not blow it !!

—— Letter to the Headmaster ——

Dear Mr Robinson,

We left School at the beginning of December 1962 after the House “chews” with feelings of sadness. Most of us choked on our emotions unable to respond to the farewell speeches that were delivered in our honour at that time. Tearful good byes completed the evening since we knew that most of us, unless we failed, would never return to BCS. Some never did. We turned our backs with relief only when the Senior Cambridge results arrived in March the following year.  So, we left with feelings of deep regret and then with apprehension into a newer world that took away a great deal of the comforts and security that BCS represented. BCS had been home to so many of us for 10 complete years

To almost all of us the idea of coming back 50 years later would have been unthinkable in 1962. It did even seem absurd at that time. So when we returned to Simla to celebrate our reunion, the walk from the hotel to the Main School gate, past the Linlithgow dormitory, the Chapel, the tennis court and on to the view of the Main building, a flood of feelings overwhelmed us. In those few minutes, a thousand memories returned – names, faces, places and events that represented some of the best years of our lives.

We were also apprehensive of the reception that would be accorded to us but on that score you left no doubt. Dorothy, your wife, and you were impeccable hosts as was the rest of the staff. The graciousness, the splendid organisation, the attention to detail and the way in which we were welcomed was amazing. It was nice to feel that we still belonged to the place that had once been our own!! You have our grateful thanks.

That feeling of sadness of 50 years ago was replaced so fully by a sense of pride that even our wives knew that they were on a journey that spoke of a strong bond. The School displayed all the values and the systems we were taught would hold us in good stead in the world outside. You gave us honour, respect and warmth, emotions that we will carry with us for the rest of our lives. This was a rare moment in any life. You just made it different and memorable in a very special kind of way.

Our thanks, once again.

Our best wishes
Sincerely,

N K Mehra
On behalf of the Class of 1962 and their wives