Tag Archives: Old Cottonians

The whole nine yards – or should it be 256 yards*?

BCS – Life – Golf – The Phoenix 🦅

Esquires:
Chetan “Sunny” Singh ( I -1971)
Gurnir “ Niri” Gill ( L-1971)
Prithvi Prem (R-1971)
Prithvi Nat( I-1971)
Vivek “Bonnie” Bhasin (L-1970)
Sanjiv “Sunny” Chadha (L-1974
Atamjit Singh ( R-1974)
Sharat Bhasin ( L-1975)
Amarjeet Kuki Kukreja ( C-1988)
Hitesh Chauhan (I-2006)
Rajiv Sood (L-1979)
Gurnihal Mann ( I-1974)
Kanav Monga ( I-1989)
Manpreet Minhas ( L-1998)
Jaspinder Kochhar ( R-1998)
Simran Grewal ( C-1998)

When Cottonians meet…
The Sky turns cobalt
The Sun’s warmth is complimented by the brotherhood
bonded 163 years ago
..7000 feet
on the Mighty Divine Himalaya…
And …C O N T I N U I N G…🙏

It is indeed amazing how our togetherness as young lads at our fabulous BCS…be it 3,5,10,11 and even 13  years instilled in us the spirit of A “Cottonian” creating a bond stronger than the mightiest steel. We left to follow our destinies, navigating the jungles of this world.

I at least with butterflies in my gut….
but slowly the power of BCS won over and conquered my nervousness, anxiety, hesitant nature..

Every one of us met many others along the way whom we befriended…
but the umbilical cord of our Alma mater held on ..when crossing a street, running through an airport, entering a restaurant, a corporate office, a hotel, at myriad social events, overcoming tremendously dangerous storms on the high seas, walking 900 km on the Camino to Santiago de Compostela… even navigating between Tierra del Fuego and Argentina, it was the force of our great school that made us survivors…as global citizens…

A car zooms by with a BCS sticker .. you accelerate wishing to catch up with him at the next red light and shout across…
…you  meet another, after years, crossing the street .. familiar face, faint recognition, a few changes…but his BCS vernacular makes you stop and skid in your tracks .. you’re that speed boat that suddenly drops revs from 20,000 to zero! ..
then it all comes back …you become young Cottonians again.

Perhaps I am meandering, slicing, drawing, fading along my trajectory path just as when addressing the ball on the first tee… I shank it with my windmill swing and it’s gone out of bounds “OOB”..the mulligan I took,  signified .. never give up, stand up and rise ….like the Phoenix 🦅 ( tattooed on Sunny Chadha’s left chest )..

Well.. Golf was not a sport during my days though Naldhera Golf Course was close at hand .. they say it is a sport for gentlemen and gentle ladies; a sport that makes you understand yourself, analyse yourself, readjust, compensate your swing so that the next stroke connects with that little white dimpled speck as it shoots off like an imbecile, a missile towards its next destination .. finally arriving dropping in the hole, sort of exhausted, exhilarated, frustrated … but up again …just as our lives….onwards, upwards.

A few days after the Annual OCA lunch diehard Kanav Monga, last Friday 17th Feb 2023 set up a 16 ball rendezvous at the ITC Classic Golf and Country Club. This was the second year of this reunion set up, arranged with the positive stubbornness and insistence of Kanav…
….a day away from the madding crowds, the clanking of horns and the grinding of rusty steel, the roar, road rage, discourtesy of road traffic snarling on the NH8….

It felt wonderful to arrive at the oasis!

A lovely day, a splendid setting; amongst us sweet sixteen, the younger lot connected with their sweet spot! I felt great inspite of not touching my clubs since last September… we 4 x 4 balls had the entire course to ourselves as we enjoyed the tranquility of the surroundings… the company of Cottonian golfers and with talks of bunking, whacking and the chicks at Chelsea, Auckies, Tara Hall …!

The following results were declared :

Congrats Winners!

Simran Grewal ( Curzon 1998) with a gross of 5 over,  shot 77 with 3 birdies.

Straightest drive
Manpreet Singh Manhas ( Lefroy 1998) 13 ft from the marker.

Closest to Pin
Kanav Monga ( I (Ibbetson 1998) 3ft from the Pin

* Longest Drive
Kanav Monga ( Ibbetson 1998)
256 yards

We would like to Thank the following OCs for the donating the prizes:

Prithvi Nat for A M&S Golf Shirt
( nearly packed in presentation paper that stated HAPPY BIRTHDAY)😁

Rajiv Sood
2 prs Golf Gloves

Jaspinder Kochhar
12 year rare JW Black whiskey

We would also like to Thank Sharat for the best one liner..
“ most unchallenging course Man… didn’t lose a single ball”

Y finalmente the Sixteen express their greatest appreciation to young Kanav who besides playing a mean game of golf, a wicked game of Tennis.. eats, thinks, sleeps, sleep talks, walks and never says die…..
for BCS🙏🙏🙏

Vivek “ Bonnie “ Bhasin
Lefroy 1961-1970
18Feb2023

Kindest Regards and Best Wishes,

Bonnie/Vivek Bhasin

Captain Vivek C Bhasin


Captions 1-7 ( Prize Distribution by Senior OC Capt Bonnie Bhasin )

1. Prithvi Nat – Sunny  – Niri Gill – Prithvi Prem

2. Mann-Kukreja – Chauhan-Sood

3.Atamjit – Sunny Chadha – Vivek Bhasin-Sharat Bhasin

4. Jaspinder Kochar – “Spartan “ Minhas – Champ Grewal – Hard Core Kanav

5. Grewal !!

6. Kuki

7. Spartan

The Group Photos have all sixteen mentioned at the top of my write up!!

OC Week 2022 – Info & Invite

Dear Old Cottonians

The Director, Head Master, Faculty, staff and young Cottonians take the greatest pleasure in inviting all of you back to your fabulous Alma mater to partake and enjoy the Old Cottonian Week from 28th October to the 30th October, 2022.

It has been a very difficult two years with Covid and we understand the extreme disappointment of many batches especially starting from the Class of 1970 through Class 1971 who were cruelly denied their golden jubilee celebrations in the appropriate year.

At this OC week you all should come together and celebrate the memories and experiences at your BCS; relive the moments and sing the school song loud and clear for all the world to hear!

Our programme is as follows; we must of course acknowledge Class of 1970,1971,1972,1973 for their golden jubilee and Class of 1997 for their silver jubilee:

Date & Timing
Events:

Friday, 28 th October 2022
9:30 a.m.  Campus Tour for the Batch of 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973 & 1997 (Escorted by the Prefectorial body)

11:00 a.m.  High Tea in the main School Dining Hall for The Batch of 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973 and 1997, Staff – Main School & Junior School, Upper Sixth Form.

11:30 a.m  Soccer Match between the Batch of 1997 and School Team
1:30 p.m  Buffet Lunch in the Main School Dining Hall for the Batch of 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973 &  1997; Staff (Main School, Junior School, Administrative) & Upper Sixth Form.

2:30 p.m  Interaction with the Batch of 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973 and 1997 with the Upper and Lower Sixth Form in the Irwin Hall.
4:30 p.m.  Arrival of the Car Rally: organised by OCA (Northern Chapter)

5:15 p.m onwards  High Tea and Prize Distribution in the Irwin Hall.
8:00 p.m.  Director’s Dinner for the Old Cottonian, Batch of 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, and 1997, Staff- (Academic, Administrative) and Live Music; Courtesy Mr. Jaspal Sawhney (Vice President – OCA India)
Venue: The Lodge
Dress Code:
Gents: Formals-Blazer & Tie
Ladies: Formal-Western/Indian

Saturday, 29 th October 2022
9:15 a.m.  Special Chapel Service in the Holy Trinity Chapel for the Old Cottonian, Batch of 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, and 1997 Main School Boys, Staff Main School & Junior School.
Dress Code:
Gents: Formals-Blazer & Tie
Ladies: Formal-Western/Indian

10:00 a.m.  High Tea in the Main School Dining Hall for Old Cottonian, Staff- Main School &  Junior School, Upper Sixth Form.
10:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.  Annual Cricket Match (T20) between OC Cricket XI v/s Staff

Team Cricket XI.

2:00 p.m  Lunch in the Director’s Lodge Side Lawn for the OC Cricket

Team, Guest, Staff Cricket XI, Staff- (Academic, Administrative) & Upper Sixth Form

8:00 p.m.  Annual OCA Dinner at Marina Hotel organised by OCA-Himachal Chapter.
Special Invitees-Director, Headmaster, Bursar, Admin
Officer, Second Master, House Masters-Curzon, Ibbetson, Lefroy, Rivaz.
Dress Code: Formals-Blazer & Tie

Sunday, 30 th October 2022
09:30 a.m to 1:30 p.m  Cricket Match (T20) between Batch of 1997 XI v/s School Cricket XI.

2:00 p.m.  Lunch (Main School Dining Hall); Batch of 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973 and 1997, Old Cottonian, Staff (Main School, Junior School, Administrative) & Upper Sixth Form.

Guest of Honour: Batch of 1973
We would also appreciate very much an acknowledgment of attendance by those who will make it; we understand the dates are “open house” and many may just shoot up to Simla! The young Cottonians at School very much look forward to meeting all Old Cottonians and look up to you as Global Ambassadors mentors; we encourage you to interact with all the young “guys”. On another note, the Slater’s Debate is celebrating 25 Years. This again will be a fabulous event with 32 school across India from 16th October to 20 th October 2022.
All Old Cottonians are most welcome to attend!

Warmest Wishes
Praveen Dharma
Administrative Officer & Coordinator: OCA

Correction of names on the Honour Boards at BCS Dining, Irwin Hall etc.

Dear OCs,

Greetings..!

We are already aware that the ‘Honour Boards’ at BCS are a source of inspiration and very dear to all of us.

Every time we visit School and see our name/s displayed on those boards, we feel ecstatic and proudly show it to our children, wife, friends etc. Because to be up there sums-up our hardwork, our achievements and entire time spent in school, be it sports or academics.

But if a name is not rightly displayed or mis-spelt, we feel dejected and embarrassed.

Therefore, with due apology, I humbly request you to inform us via email Ashwani Singh Virk <ashvirk@hotmail.com>or WhatsApp (98101-94724), if you have noticed such an un-intended error in your name displayed or any other related mistake on the ‘Honour Boards’ at School so that we are able to request them to rectify the same at the earliest.

Best wishes,

Ash Virk
President- OCA Delhi (NCR) Chapter
(Mob. 9810194724)

Winter Lunch 27th Feb / photo and list of attendees

Group photo OCs who attended the OCs lunch hosted by Mr and Mrs Sunil [Sunny] Chadha:

List of attendees:

  • Mr and Mrs Sunil “ Sunny “ Chadha (host) at his Beautiful Farm House in Satbari New Delhi
  • Capt Sharat & Rupa Bhasin
  • Capt Vivek Bhasin
  • Mr and Mrs Niri & Jyoti Gill
  • Mr and Mrs Prithvi and Jennifer Prem
  • Mr & Mrs Kanav & Kanika Monga
  • Mr & Mrs Kochhar
  • Mr Kochar
  • Mr & Mrs Sangram Singh
  • Mr. Jaspal Sawhney.
  • Mr. & Mrs Inderjit Singh
  • Mr PS Chauhan
  • Mr Sherry Chauhan
  • Mr Rajat Mukerji
  • Col & Mrs Gaby Guron
  • Mr Rohit Kumar
  • Mr Dewan
  • Mr Arvind Mankotia
  • Mr Sanjiv Sood
  • Mr Rajiv sood
  • Mr. Chetan Singh
  • Mr & Mrs Mehtab Wadala
  • Mr Rao

[Need to confirm the remainder]

OCs winter lunch at Chattarpur New Delhi / 27th Feb 2022

Sunday 27th Feb 2022
Cottonians led by Mr. Sanjiv (Sunny) Chadha is organising a winter lunch at Chattarpur New Delhi

After a very successful golf event last Friday 18th Feb ‘22 at ITC led by the generous offer of his residence by veteran Sanjiv Chadha ( Class of 1974), we extend an invitation to Cottonians with their wives and partners for a lovely afternoon :

“FAB LUNCHEON AND GROOVY MUSIC …WITH THE WORKS”

Date: Sunday 27th Feb 2022

Venue: at Sanjiv Chadha’s

Address: follows!( with parking – valet service )

Time : 1200-1600 ( 12.00 pm to 4.00 pm)

Dress : Smart Casual

Charges Per Head: 2800 including lunch booze – the usual

This being a limited event to a


max of 80 it’s first hands up


please!
__

CONFIRMATION LATEST BY: 22/02

This get together will be intimated through various social media platforms..

We encourage all Cottonians to come forward, spread the word and make this a fantastic afternoon..

“ food brings Cottonians together from all corners ..
from Hunger Games of dog biscuits at chota hazari, Chipu’s, hot bread from the bakery, Omelettes at Chota Simla, Malooks or Baljees….it’s the memorable reunion that matters most..”

Contact :
Kanav Monga by Whatsapp on 9810048078. Kindly whatsapp and not call plz

Mr. Sanjiv Chadha by whatsapp on 9810124296

B10, Ansal Villas
Satbari:

https://maps.app.goo.gl/gYiYZEJ5U5p1jRwD8