Tag Archives: Nostalgia

THANK YOU (1961-1970)

When I was five on the Howrah -Kalka-Howrah mail
so small so timid so afraid
so “mouse”
my trunk was packed
my bedding roll
my attache case
I said a million good byes
I wept my bedsheets
as the Howrah – Kalka mail
went “ khatkhat khatakat”towards the hills..
shunting at Delhi Station
connecting with bogies of Bombay Madras School Parties;  200 Cottonians, as we were boarders at EXCEPTIONAL BCS!
…what I remember most at Delhi station was…
my father’s brothers with families
my maternal grandmother, my youngest mum…
they all came to the station to meet me and spend hours on board
with food, cuddles and love..
Most are in Sacred Heaven..
I  bitterly regret, emotionally regret…
I never thanked them enough..
I was but five years and right upto my last years in school
at age fifteen
they were always there at Delhi in March and
December…
always.
It just showed how close families were at that time..
they took time to come and meet me, console yet encourage me
and later
my brother Sharat joined me .. he was five too and I then nine ..
I cannot thank you enough…
please accept with folded hands and great
humility,  with bowed head, with flowing tears “Thank you for being there for that little boy of five
who was going to BCS for nine months…
who returning to Calcutta for three months..stopped at Delhi..
who never expressed his thankfulness… nor gratefulness”
I can never forget ever forget … NEVER EVER
My Father now 99 amongst the stars
My Mother now 91…
Your decisions to send me to Simla were
carefully weighed
you had the foresight
and understood
Simla was fresh clean crisp
Bishop Cotton School
The finest..
… I would look back at those 10 years
and understand
the reasons
why I arrived at different points on our planet… the force of my parents, my closest others..
and …
with the force of BCS within me.
🙏 THANK YOU

Vivek”Bonnie”BHASIN
Lefroy House
1961-1970

Kindest Regards and Best Wishes,

Bonnie/Vivek Bhasin

Curzon House – old photos received

A whole bunch of Curzon House photos found and passed on to us via Vijay Khurana.

here are some of these. click each for a full view:

CHRISTMAS GREETINGS [and the exchange of emails with Mr and Mrs Goss

16th Dec 2022

Dear family and friends.
Ron and I found the isolation over the past three years very tough. Especially Ron who felt that three years of his travelling life was taken away. Ron is 93 and a half, and I turned 83 last month. We did take a short cruise from Vancouver to Alaska on Sep14th, hoping the worst was over.  We welcomed the trip, but found that things were not the same. Almost everyone was dining alone, so one couldn’t meet new friends.  We returned on Sep.26th. The next day Ron went down with Covid, and I followed a few days later. Ron got a mild attack, but I had a high fever for a few days, lost my sense of taste and smell, and was left tired for quite a while. We are both on the mend but unfortunately old age is taking its toll, and Ron has been suffering with spasms in the neck and pains in his thumbs due to calcification and degeneration.
However, isolation also had its blessings: Ron really appreciated the online prayer services conducted by the Rev Tim and his assistants every weekday, a true source of peace and inspiration. Ron was also able to read some excellent books, best of all “The Other Side of Morning” written by Stephen, his first novel which is doing well in the book stores and has garnered some excellent reviews.
We are looking forward to spending Christmas with both our children Stephen and Cheryl, the grandchildren, and great- grandchildren.
We would like to take this opportunity to wish each one of you a very Happy Christmas, and a New year filled with God’s blessings for good health, Peace, and happiness.

Ronald and Yvonne, Mum and Dad, Grandpa and Gammy


21st Dec

My dear Mr & Mrs Goss,

My thanks for your mail and your Christmas Greetings. Warmly reciprocate the sentiments and on behalf of us Old Cottonians, my family and I we wish you a very happy Christmas and all the very best of health and happiness in the Coming Year.

I am truly sorry to learn that the Covid virus interrupted so much of your lives with illness and its attendant side effects.

I recall that you are inveterate and long established cruise travellers. The last figure was over 90 cruises or so which is a certainly a number not many of us have the stamina and / or the funds to undertake. Remarkably active for your respective ages and we now begin to discover what the years do to you as 70 year olds. You are well over that number !! You have kept yourselves in excellent shape and I will not attribute that to the genes alone. A well measured active life makes all the difference as so many of us are now discovering. The frequent complaints you encounter from friends these days is knee aches, arthritis, gastro changes, damaged lungs, cardiac ailments and most don’t even know about memory loss until you realise that he is using the wrong name to address you !!  I have often been called, “Vinay” instead of ‘Vijay” by nameless old friends !!

I had the pleasure of reading Stephen’s book. It was a pleasure and this writer is gifted. My compliments.

May I please request you to send us some of your latest photographs. Speaking of photographs, Mrs Goss you will probably have overseen the largest number of children for any matron of Linlithgow given the long years you spent there. The number of boys who remember you is particularly large. Incidentally did you know that Kanhaiya Lal fell to an incurable case of syphilis and Jaktu died of a cardiac arrest ?

It will also interest you to know that Linlithgow has been disbanded and children are inducted into School in a higher age category. During the 1950’s boys as young as 4 and 5 years old joined School and were parked at the Linlithgow dormitory under the care of some of the finest matrons who played mother with huge success. They are still remembered with a great deal of affection – and love.

Warm and sincere wishes for a Merry Christmas and a laughter filled and happy 2023. Add another cruise!!

Very sincerely

Vijay

Vijay Khurana


22nd Dec

Dear Vijay
Thanks for sharing the email from Mrs Goss. Teaching, I think, is a noble profession, as the teacher inspires and influences the lives of hundreds of youngsters.
I take this opportunity to wish all OCs and Mrs and Mr Goss, a Very Merry Xmas.
I hope it brings love and cheer to all your families, and spreads goodness all around.
Warm regards from warm Singapore
SM Singh
Curzon 57-64


Best Regards
SM Singh


Thank you Vijay for sharing Mr.and Mrs. Goss’s email with the warm Christmas greetings.

Many good wishes and greetings for Christmas and the coming year to you ,Mr. and Mrs. Goss
all OC’s current Cottonians , Teachers and staff..

May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face;
the rains fall soft upon your fields and until we meet again,
may God hold you in the palm of His hand.

traditional Gaelic blessing

Warmly
N.K.Akers


My dear Mr & Mrs Goss,

Thank you for your quick reply.

I am taking the liberty of circulating your mail. There is so much about the Goss family in your mail. There is, at the same time, a large body of interested former students who are eager to learn, “Where and what are Mr & Mrs Goss doing these days “ !! Some have already sent you individually addressed greetings for the Season.

You certainly chose one of the colder countries to migrate to but climate has hardly been a deterrent for those choosing Canada. It would appear that it is the preferred choice still and now a more welcoming destination than the United States. All I can say is please keep yourselves warm!!

Jagtu died of a cardiac arrest and this is a well known medical issue with hill folks. I did not know Kidaru and I daresay he is unlikely to be around. Changes take place all the time. Those who journey back to School with a certain feeling of familiarity and even ownership find it hard to assimilate the changes that have occurred. It goes against the grain, as it were, to their entire system. The patronising cry of agony is, “ How dare they do this, it was never the case when I was here!!”

I have not been able to retain any kind of contact with Mr Das Gupta  and I fear he may have passed on. He was in a fairly fragile state when I last contacted him which is a long while ago.

Finally, we wish you a lovely and pleasant cruise, free from the mundane daily chores of cooking and cleaning. You deserve the break and you have found an outlet that you are familiar with. Besides, you seem to enjoy it enormously.

I will write to you separately about the wedding.

Once again, good wishes for Christmas and the very best in the Coming Year.

Warm regards

Very sincerely

Vijay

Vijay Khurana


A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all .

sudhir kashyap


Merry Christmas mr mrs Goss R S Sodhi


Dear Vijay
Thanks for sharing the email from Mrs Goss. Teaching, I think, is a noble profession, as the teacher inspires and influences the lives of hundreds of youngsters.
I take this opportunity to wish all OCs and Mrs and Mr Goss, a Very Merry Xmas.
I hope it brings love and cheer to all your families, and spreads goodness all around.
Warm regards from warm Singapore
SM Singh
Curzon 57-64


Best Regards
SM Singh


Photographs with Tilli & Vijay Pawa – NP and the Pawa brothers passion for music

Dear All,

Since NP has now begun to regularly interact and I was browsing my files, I came upon two photographs from 1964 which I forwarded to NP & Vinod Pawa. These pictures feature Tilak (Tilli) Raj Pawa & Vijay, the latter was NP’s younger brother. (Please note the pictures are from Partap Grewal’s collection!!)

I received the following response from NP which I reproduce below since it would interest many to know about a talent that the Pawa Family nursed in School, became a lifelong passion. “Music is still a good part of my life and it keeps me going”

[click for full view of photos]


“Thank you for the photos.
My brother Vijay was walking along side me for years until he passed away. Tilak on the other hand and Vinod Pawa were involved in my interest in music. Unfortunately Tilak has left us to take his place but deservingly  in heaven. Around 1964, while I was in Japan for business training, the three of us got together with a Chinese friend (drummist) and a German fellow to play base and an American playing the lead guitar. The six of us for some reason called ourselves ‘The ‘Five Beat Tops’ and played at events and at  a competition where we won a runners-up trophy. I guess Danny the American joined us after we had picked a name for our band. Tilak played the second lead on his guitar and I the rhythm. The three us brothers sang mostly Beatles’ songs and had a blast. Music is still a good part of my life and it keeps me going.

Thank you for your interest and friendship.

Sincerely,’

Np “

NP has just sent me additional pieces of music and the links below are included for your listening pleasure. Keep them coming NP ! We were and continue to be music lovers and a familiar voice is a very welcome pleasure. Thank YOU !!

 By The time I Get To Phoenix

https://youtu.be/e8_MEylGzRk
 Walk Away

https://youtu.be/adKI0ySaVUM

Warmly

Vijay [Vijay Khurana]


When you are passionate, then you are, well, just passionate. !! NP just sent me this following number to be added for your listening pleasure

When You Say Nothing At All

https://youtu.be/mOsodhWNAbE

School Song played on the Organ

Dear All,

I am forwarding, as an attachment, the School song recently played on the organ in the Chapel. It is nice and it is different.

Warmly

Vijay [Khurana]

Thanks Vijay.

Great to hear the school organ again. I’d have loved to hear the same with the microphone(s) placed towards the back of the chapel. We’d get the effect of the high ceiling and size of the chapel along with the memories of being there.

Regards
VK Pawa

Video by the talented Badal Singh [Inderjit Singh Badal / Lefroy 1951-63]

Badal Singh circulates his very special collection of photos in a very special way. Here is one, which we are sure many many OCs will enjoy very much!

It would be great to have as many old photos from your BCS days as well as any new photos of yourselves / family / old school friends and captioned with the dates and people who appear in these.

Memories are made of the good days and good times spent with friends and loved ones so lets share the love!

My Song Book – Long play A & B [N.P. Pawa / 1960 Rivaz]

Dear Vijay,

I hope you will not mind me sharing my song books – therein with songs of love, heartbreaks, songs of interdependency and redemption. I hope in these dark days the pages will serve to provide some light.

Song Book Long Play – A

https://youtu.be/rB_emn3aocw

Song Book Long Play – B

https://youtu.be/PvwbA_C7lEM

Thank you so much..
Gratefully,
NP

My dear NP,

Thank you for your mail.and the accompanying pieces of music.

Your modesty and your humility are unfailing hallmarks of your character. That is the way I remember you as do, I am sure, the others from those days at BCS. I can see those signs by the way you have fashioned your message. None of us will ever mind sharing your works!! Thank you.

What was a hobby has turned into a wonderful passion and that is obvious. The absence of professional equipment to support your endeavours is no loss for the manner you have brought out each piece. All the music, including your favourite, Elvis’s tunes, are compositions that are soft, soulful, intense and take you away from the turbulent world that surrounds us today. The range of offerings, and I mention this for the benefit of those who will listen to these compositions, include not only the more familiar ones like Eric Claption, Bee Gees but not often remembered names like Frankie Laine, Leonard Cohen, Richard Marx, EO Excell & John Newton. NP has dug deep into the music world to compile and render these songs.

Finally, it would not be quite the same thing listening to the original which is an obvious thought. That would mean physically fetching and searching for each piece. A bit of a fag but no great discomfort some would say. More importantly sung by a voice and a person we know so well gives the whole effort a soul, an enthusiasm that is a personification that is intimate and familiar. That is something you simply cannot replicate because you are one of a kind, NP. Thank you, again.

Do please stay in touch and it is a pleasure to hear from you.

Without your permission, which I take for granted, I am circulating this to a whole bunch of OCs and some music lovers who know and certainly remember you.

With my warmest regards

Sincerely

Vijay .


During School NP had a great voice -from the Choir and also some of the songs on stage at Irvin Hall

He has still got the same voice but more mellow and matured

Cheers

Sudhir


sudhir kashyap


We grew up with many of these songs in the 1950s. I remember NP as an awesome singer with his base voice — just fantastic.
Joe Joshi 1


Well Done NP , you were great then and still great now ….. your music with the accompanying Rivas house band was a big hit in those days …. it gave us all a great sense of freedom and entertainment …..
Jagtiani was another wiz kid  , he could take a mug a tin can. A bucket and make them talk like drums
Great percussion wizard
You guys produced magic
Sheer talent ….. remember it’s now or never ….. I still picture the relay batons
That were used to produce the opening lines
And the come September beat we all learned to hammer out on glasses, table tops , tin cans almost everything was used …..
Very talented and very entertaining fuckers …..
Thank you for the music 🎶 🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶

Badal Singh


Hi Badal,

I am very happy to hear from you. It is comforting to know that you appreciated the songs and thank you for remembering ‘It’s now or never’. I still do this number sometimes when I visit the assisted living centers to entertain. Due to COVID it has been quite a while since I last did but replaced the personal appearance with videos instead. The hobby has become useful to bring some joy to the residence there especially when noticing the tapping along even of those who are living in diminished memories.

Thanks also to the never never forgotten Sudhir and Joe Joshi. Thank you for the cheering and your encouragement.
At home my brothers Vinod and Pawan are lovingly propelling to keep me going.

Greatly appreciated.
Np


Dear Vijay,

I am so overwhelmed with so much of your kindness and compassion. Your comments are meaning the world to me and raise literally my being. I am so happy that you have taken me into your confidence. Yes I would like to keep in touch and share music that are still coming my way. You are truly inspiring and we are so fortunate to have you navigate our lives and steps in the right directions. What a stepping stone – what a blessing.

Sincerely,Np


Colts Cricket Team 1961 / and the exchange of emails about

[CLICK FOR LARGER VIEW OF THE PHOTOS]


At the request of some with fading memories, I am forwarding the names of the team members of the Colts Cricket team 1961. I am unable to name the Thai boy standing. Please assist.

Standing (L to R) Partap Grewal, Rishi Rana, Brandy Gill, Unknown, S S Chauhan, R Bhatnagar
Sitting (L to R) R L V Nath, Vijay Amin (Desai), Gurinder Parkash (Capt), Ravi Inder Singh, Ruby Kohli.

There were unconfirmed reports when this team was constituted that Ruby Kohli threatened the coach with his knuckle dusters which ensured his inclusion as a fielding specialist. Sounds appropriate. I am not able to confirm this report but any comments will be welcome !!

This and other photograph are from Partap’s collection and I will be glad to circulate them to remind you that you were a sporting group about 60 years ago !!

Warmly,

Vijay

Vijay Khurana


Was it Krishna Pong of Ibbetson house?

Neel Mehra


Neel

That sounds accurate because we know he was from Ibbetson. I am waiting for a second confirmation before making the label change. Any other inputs ?

My thanks

Warmly,

Vijay


Dear All,

I refer to my mail below.

Two things happened. First BM Singh informed me that the label to the picture was incorrect because he was in the Colts Cricket team in 1961. I lost a bet in the process and a bottle of Scotch is owing to him. It had no fewer than six guys from Curzon in the team that year!!
Second, the missing name for the Thai boy who was in Ibbetson was Krishna Pong. He never returned to School the following year and the game of cricket never took root in Thailand!. So the team line up for the year 1960 Colts team was:

1960 Colts team
Standing (L to R) Partap Grewal, Rishi Rana, Brandy Gill, Krishna Pong , S S Chauhan, R Bhatnagar
Sitting (L to R) R L V Nath, Vijay Amin (Desai), Gurinder Parkash (Capt), Ravi Inder Singh, Ruby Kohli.

The Colts team for 1961 is sent as an attachment to this mail. I am also forwarding a picture of the First XI Cricket team for 1961 where Gurinder Parkash feature prominently. He could not have been in both teams in the same year. So that resolves the issue as well!!

Colts team for 1961
Standing (L to R) Sunny Brar, Ajit S Padda, BM Singh,  Govinder Singh, R Bhatia & PPS Sidhu,
Sitting (L to R) JPS Kniggar,  S S Chauhan, Brandy Gill (Capt), R Bhatnagar, Anupam Sachdev.

A request since such pictures generate so much interest. First, if you have any photographs, please scan them and send them over. Alternatively, send me your pictures and I will be happy to scan them and return the originals to you.  I have a large collection with Anil Advani holding a lot of material on the web as well. This exercise is worth the effort though it should happen at the initiative of the OCA for every passing year. That would make it a phenomenal collection for history as well.

Secondly as the years ago by such archival material leaves a huge gap in identifying  guys in the picture. It becomes harder with each passing year. That is truly sad because there was honour in representing your School and every person and name needs to be remembered for his contribution. It is sad to leave blank names for guys who were once in our midst and we now label them as “unknown” This is likely to happen as some of us also move along and get phased out by the laws of Nature. Any assistance in developing and building this collection at the earliest will eliminate such missing names to the extent possible. Your assistance will be hugely appreciated by all of us.

I look forward to hearing from you. Thank you.

Warmly

Vijay

PS Kuttu Singh. You might consider publishing this in The Patina Times that you edit