It is with heavy heart that this morning I write to you, about the sad and untimely demise of a class mate—69—TARANJIT SINGH LEHRA —
 
He died in Coimbatore last night in the hospital where he had gone for a kidney transplant– as he has been ailing for a while now–his end came with a heart attack in the hospital itself.
 
Take a moment and reflect on the guy you knew–silent –strong and a good friend and  bid him adieu in your own way–I have conveyed the feelings of the class to his family who are at the moment still in Coimbatore–trying to get the body onto a flight for Delhi.I shall go for the funeral to Patiala , and sadly bid him fare thee well.
 
Take moment here and think of the following:
 
SUNIL SINGHA–HOUSE CAPTIAN RIVAZ–69—-SUDDEN
Feel him running by you in the Marathon and winning the race—-
 
SUNIL SUD—PREFECT–RIVAZ–69—DONKEY
See him Boxing his way to the Heavy Weight Title—-
 
K.S.SEKHON–HOUSE CAPTIAN–LEFROY—69—MAKHI SINGH
Batting against the Sanawarians in his lazy style—-
 
AMAR RANA–RIVAZ–69
See him dribble past you on the Hockey field—
 
TARANJIT SINGH LEHRA—PREFECT —CURZON–69–PHAPPA–
Waiting for Amar Rana, as the full back with Phachanga Singh and Tali, hovering in the background—
 
JAI SINGH NAT—HOUSE CAPTAIN —IBBETSON—69
Beating every body at every thing form studies to games—-
 
These are friends who are no longer with us and I am sure way–way up in the Happy Hunting Grounds —while you are all thinking,
 
Goodbye our friends its time to die while all the birds are singing in the sky——————
 
I will be happy to convey your feelings to family and in case you want to pen a few words, I would be glad to print your message and give it to the family. His son is also a Cottonian.
 
Robin Nakai

Very sad news. Phapa Lehra was one of the nicest guys that I can remember from the class of 69. Met him all too briefly after school and was looking forward to seeing him again.

Nice euology Robin. What a shame that we have lost another one of the best of our classmates. Do you know when his bhog is and where in Patiala?
Himmet Kahlon

Very sorry to hear of another loss to the fraternity. I did not know him, as he was a little down the years, but reading of the tributes paid, he deserves our respectful good wishes for peace beyond. God bless his soul. My sincere condolences to his family members whose distress is not difficult to imagine. God bless you all too with the courage and fortitude to get along in life sans dear Taranjit.

Gurpratap Singh ( Sahi )
Ibbetson: 1953-56

Sad!
Wish I’d known he was in Coimbatore.  Would have gone and met him at least.
He was a good quiet guy.  God grant him rest and his family strength to bear the loss.

Here are a couple of snaps.  Give it a shot and try and figure out who is who.  The Linlithgow one from 1960 has Pappa in it.  I believe his number was 969 (am sure Robin will correct me on this).  That snap would, if I remember correctly, have the following from the batch of 69:
Pappa – 969
Padu – 983
Nat – 980
Yours truly – 993.
Lefroy House Sud
Bhalaik
Kahalon
Banon 2
DM
Donkey
Let’s ask the others if they recognise anyone else

I believe we [Pappa, Padu, Nat, Indi] were the only four who were abandoned by our respective families in 1959 and left in the capable hands of Mrs.Goss.  I personally have, ever since then, been eternally grateful to my parents for taking what must have been for them, a very tough decision (now that we all have kids of our own, we know that).
 
Indi
[click the images for a full view]
  
Linlithgow 1960 ~ Vth Form 1968 ~ VIth Form 1969

Mehta also joined school in 1959 and his roll no was 970; Nat’s was 948 and Lehra’s was 969. Those of us who joined in Transition (1960) were also abandoned in Linlithgow as we were told by u 59 seniors that Lehra’s nickname is Phappa since he keeps calling for his papa!
HSK [Himmet Kahlon]

Here is another…

Rgds – Rakesh