Message received from Pawan Kumar Pawa [aka AKOO]:
Avnesh Pawa
Extremely devastated to inform the untimely demise of my cousin Avnesh Kumar Pawa in Singapore.
School Prefect Rivaz House.
1970 Batch
He was a very good soul if you could recall him being room mates with Dosco Sweety Bawa & Jaggu in the Spiders Cottage near the School Gate & next to the Advani’s residence.
Our deepest condolences to the Pawa Family, all of Avnesh’s Friends and Loved ones.
To commemorate the life of our beloved Father
Mr. Jagdeep Singh Bhasin (Father)
Please join us for Kirtan and Antim Ardaas on Friday, 28th June, 2024 at Gurudwara Sahib Patshahi Dasvin, Sector 8 Chandigarh from 12 pm- 1 pm followed by Guru ka Langar
Grief stricken:
Ruhie and Ankit Chaturvedi
Naina and Himmat Jakhar
Abhaysher and Aishwarya Singh Bhasin
Grandchildren
Anaya
Naunidh
With great sadness we inform that Jagdeep Singh Bhasin passed on at his home in Panchkula 24/6/24.
BCS Lefroy House Batch 1970.
26th June update about Kirtan & Antim Ardaas
JAGDEEP Singh “ Father “ Bhasin
Lefroy House
Class of 1970
With great sadness, we announce the loss of our beloved class mate, Jagdeep Bhasin.. In loving memory of Jagdeep,we are grieved to announce his passing away on
24 th June 2024..A life so beautifully lived deserves to be beautifully remembered. He was that tall strapping “ gentle giant” amongst us; we guys were always kept in suspense when he vanished out of the school gates for brief interludes; his return was revealed by him reciting his myriad escapades in, around and outside School.. For some of us who lived with him “
PK, Chops, Nagu Chief, Mousie” we were his mini gladiators as he practised his wrestling bouts but never hurting us …being a great fan of Dara Singh…
Father lived his life in the tri-cities of Chandigarh, Mohali and Panchkula… he lost his wife early in his journey but remained steadfast to bring up his lovely daughter and son…he was a genuine soul; the Almighty has welcomed him into his garden of eternity ..
Please join us to mourn the passing of Jagdeep Bhasin fondly known as “Father” to his school mates.
Aum Shanti Shanti Shanti
– Vivek “Bonnie” Bhasin (BCS Class of 1970)
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!
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
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.
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.
CONGRATULATIONS!
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
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)
- Picture 1
- Picture 2
- Picture 3
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
From Rajiv Pandit Sharma and Vivek Bhasin ( Fellow Brothers of the Class of 1970 who have lost a precious brother Krit Tippakorn Rivaz House).
Vivek
I am so sorry to inform you that we lost our dearest brother, Krit, whom we knew for most of our lives. We are surely poorer today without him
He passed away this morning at 11am California time.
Please inform our friends as you best see fit.
Each one of you becomes more precious with passing time.
Rajiv
********************************************
I have many many Brothers in my life…. My brother Sharat Bhasin is my closest brother.
My brothers from the Class of 1970 are my other most closest brothers.
Krit Tippakorn was also my closest brother.
They say I can write wonderfully and express my love for all my brothers and my love for Bishop Cotton School. The years we spent there growing up to become men, passionate about our lives and doing the best we can well, honestly and diligently.And with love.
Right now I am unable to do..
Krit was a precious part of my life and we got even more closer as the years since we passed out from school stretched further away.
Krit once told me how he met a Buddhist Monk walking across the border in to the US from Mexico. Krit recognized this traveler as one of his own and spent a few minutes talking to him. This monk as a young boy escaped Tibet with His Holiness The Dalai Lama and arrived at the Refugee Camp in Chota Simla; where we Cottonians used to go and help doing social service on Sundays.
Krit made two important journeys to India after he left School in 1970:
The first one in Year 2000 when he arrived from Los Angeles into Delhi ( and I from London); he stayed with me and we traveled up to Dharamsala to meet Abhai Mankotia our brother School Captain Class of ’70 and spent a few days at Udechee Huts; we went on to BCS and arrived during the OC week.
(The third trip was planned between brothers Rajiv, Krit and me to travel to Brasil in 2013).
My last conversation with Krit took place exactly 48 hours ago. All he did was whisper in such pain… ‘Vivek‘ he said….’All I can remember right now is our days in BCS…and what an idea to give money to School for the Climbing Wall Mi Hermano…..and what a wonderful epitaph alongside it on the 2nd flat….TO SCALE THE HEIGHTS TO GLORY‘
Good Bye our wonderful and precious brother Krit; the whole school prayed for you in May this year when I attended Chapel Service; again during Speech Day.
(I now realise that Miracles seldom happen)
EDITORs comments added on 14 July:
From emails received from Dr. Rajiv Pandit Sharma [Ibbetson 1961-1970] who is a professor of Psychiatry and Neuroscience at University of Illinois; we understand that Krit was diagnosed with Pancreatic Carcinoma in April 2011. The tests showed that it a was very serious situation. Through the first phase, attempts at chemotherapy and radiation were successful in containing the growth. He picked up some weight, the pain was controllable, and by the grace of God, he was able to see his son married, the birth of a second grandson. His brother Thanasak visited him in May 2011 and again in December 2011. He was also able to go to Thailand and spend some time back at home. He knew that the chances of recovery were slim. The pain reemerged in March 2012 and was unremitting after that. Two weeks ago he was beginning to bleed, OC Rajiv Pandit visited him during this time. Apparently there was nothing much anybody could do. Krit fought this with great courage. BCS was the part of his life that he cherished the most. It was always amazing how this gentle soul settled in Thailand, growing up in BCS, and finally successful in USA, could love our school so much.
We salute Krit and wish his family well.
Dear All,
Here are some photos from the Cottonian Polo Team vs Hawaii Polo Team match, which was played in Hawaii.
Best wishes
Vikram Sodhi
C 62-71
CLICK THIS COTTONIAN POLO TEE-SHIRT TO VIEW ALL THE PHOTOS:
With a sad heart, we pass on the terrible news that Amar Rana [Rivaz 1970 batch] passed away in USA the first week of October 2008.
Amar Rana, seated 4th from bottom right.
Click the picture for a full page view.
A message received from the family today [15th October 2008]:
Amar Shumshere Jung Bahadur Rana [1955-2008].
In loving memory of Amar, we are holding a small get-together of family and friends in Delhi.
Please join us for a
Farewell High Tea
between 4 – 7 pm
at B-167 East Of Kailash, New Delhi
on Sunday, the 19th of October 2008.
your presence will be greatly valued.
Shashi Prabha Rana
Kavita Singh
Rachana, Dipankar & Aisha Bhattacharya.
RSVP: +91-9873134944 / 9818052044 / 9871673191
