Some Messages from Old Goethals friends

Hi friends,

It’s been quite a few days since I wrote my last blog.
Actually I was trying to organize my address book.
Some of you have complained that they were receiving the same message multiple times.
This is probably not due to my fault.
Probably when Google fails to send the message the first time it sends it again a number of times.
I have tried to weed out the ID’s, which were bouncing repeatedly so that Google does not have to resend.
I may not be entirely successful.
But I hope the bounces and resends will decrease.
While in the process of weeding if any genuine ID’s have been removed, Please let me know so that I can put them back on the list.
One thing I have noticed is that Yahoo ID’s are the maximum bouncers.

As a Christmas and New Gift, I propose to put up all the messages I have received from our Old Boys.
Many of them are anxious to know about their friends and have asked me for contact details.
I have given the same where known to me.
I hope this post will allow old friends to renew old friendships.
I was going to put the contact E mail ID's in this post but my son has advised me against it as
the ID's may be picked up by spammers.
Anybody wanting anybody's E Mail ID may just send your request .
I'll mail it separately.

Message has been received from N K Sircar of 1964 batch

Good day Ralph
Thanks for your mail, unfortunately I did not receive any attachment.
Somir Sircar- passed out from Goethals in1963, presently living in The Belle Vue Clinic, 9, Loudon St. Calcutta, INDIA).
Nihar Sircar - passed out from Goethals in 1964, was living in Sydney, Australia from 1984-2005) presently living in TORONTO, Canada.
, Home Phone #: 1-416-229-4913, mob/cell : 1-647-839-0560 OR 1-647-839-0614)
Pls put this in the Goethals web site , all the good X boys can contact me.
It has been a great pleasure to all X Goethalites are keeping in touch- we all miss the company and the togetherness. I will be happy to get all the good news from you guys.
Wishing all A Merry X Mass & a Happy New Year.
Keep-up the good work
Bgrds
Nihar Sircar
Chief Engineer

Message from Keith Hayward

Hello Keith and Sylvia,
I'll try to answer the questions raised by you.Bruce Wallace was a day schollar who used to come from Kurseong.
Tony Dayton used to come from Mt Carmel.
He had planned to join theChristian Brothers but God had other plans for him
Both were with us in 1964/65..Both are now in Australia. I have Bruce's E mail ID.It is Tony's ID but I am trying to get it and shall let youknow when I get it.
Among the Brothers, only Bro Fitzpatrick came for the centenary.Regarding the others I have no news.

Miss D'Cruz is now MrsSwyny-Goodwyn.
Her E mail ID is She too came forthe centenary.
Sorry to read about your stroke.But in a away it is good.At least now you have got over the problem.At our age we face these risks. But having survived and having had the bypass, you are now forewarned and can now live your life more peacefully.
We should learn to merge the cultures of the East and West in our daily lives.
Why don't you start doing pranayam?
I have put a post regarding how you should do it in my blog.
I havedealt with it quite exhaustively and you could easily follow and do it.
You just have to spend 30 to 45 minutes and you will feel thedifference immediately in your life.
I too had to undergo angioplasty twice.But now I am regularly doing pranayam and am feeling OK.
Touch wood.
In my next post I shall put all the messages I have received.
You maybe able to interact with a few of the boys, of course, now old men.
Well, bye for now.Do keep me informed of yourself and family.
Best regards and love to all.
And A very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year
Radheshyam & Manju


Hello Radheshyam,

Thank you for your email.
I to also have great memories of the old Goethals days,
i can recall the Brady brothers and Clifton D'Aubney but i cant remember Bruce Wallace or Tony Dayton
Do you know the whereabouts of them and do they have emails or mobile phone numbers you could pass on. Along with the Christian Brothers you named can you remember Brother Corbett, Clancey, Cahill, Principal Fitzpatrick and from the teachers side Mr Mackenzie(he used to hold our wrists so tight when we went for walks to Roly Poly and Kettle Valley also he had very long hairs on his nose and ears).
Then there was Mr MacCormack the Arts teacher who was very nice and Miss D'Cruz she always made me her prefect and we cant forget Blackie the cook.
We left India(Calcutta) in 1964 we lived in England for 10 years i Married my wife Sylvia in 1970 we left England in 1974 to settle in Australia.
Our first two children(daughter and son) were born in England.
We had another four children in Australia(1 boy and three girls).
We have lived in Australia for 33years.
Two of our children are married, three of them are in long term relationships and
our youngest daughter(24)still lives at home with us and is very much single.
I myself had to retire from the work force in 2005 at the age of 58.
i suffered two strokes closely followed by a heart attack then 4 months after that i had quadruple by pass surgery.
It took a good 18 months to recover as much as i have but today i feel really well(touch wood).
The rest of the family are all in good health.
I wont bore you with any more family history for now.
Merry Christmas and a happy and prosperous new year to you and your family,

Keep in touch,

Fondest wishes,

Keith and Sylvia


Hello Keith,

Yes, I remember you very well.
We were together, in the same class.
Gleason, Roger and Sheane Brady, Clifton D'Aubney were all in our class. Do you remember them?
Bruce Wallace and Tony Dayton were also with us.
Yes, I have pleasant memories of those times.
I am living with my family in Calcutta.You will find my address at the end of this message, below your message.
My elder son, Ajay lives with me with his wife. He is working in Cognizant Technology as Senior Associate.
The younger son is in Hyderabad, working at Dell Computers as Area Manager.
I am semi retired.
Officially I have retired from my company but they have retained my services.
Now I go thrice a week and help them where required.
The rest of the days I dabble with shares and stocks from my home computer.
Life passes pleasantly.
God has been very kind to me.
So tell me about yourself and Keith.

Warm regards

Radheshyam

Hello Radheshyam,
Do you remember me Keith Hayward?
I'm sure we knew each other as friends in Goethals.
My older brother is Richard.
We both live in Queensland, Australia with our families.
Where is your Abode?
My E-mail is my Mobile No is (0430069702) my Landline is(0733888983)
Please advise likewise
We have a lot to catch-up with.
With best wishes,
Keith.
The following message was received from Roy Joseph of 1975
Dear Mr. Radheshyam,
I was surprised to hear that Br. Darryl Conrad Michael came from yourclass.
When I was there he was the Assistant Rector (assistant to Br.McGann who was the Rector in charge of the aspirants at Mt. Carmel).
Br. Michael (as we used to call him) was not only a good singer andguitarist but also a prolific music composer. He used to write his ownlyrics.
Br. Michael was also our English Teacher and thanks to him I can stillrecite by heart many portions of Shakespeare's Twelfth Night becausewe covered the same lines so many times in class.
We also had Cry theBeloved Country by Allen Paton as our novel for study in ISC.
Br.Michael made both these works really come alive in his class and notsurprisingly, due to this, I could secure very high marks in EnglishLiterature.
Please keep in touch and send news regularly about our fellowGoethalites (I feel delicate to call anyone a Goat).
With best wishes,
Roy Joseph.
Superintendent of Customs and Central Excise,
Flat No.8, 6th Floor,Ramani's "Sharada Kripa" Apartments,
55-51, Raju Naidu Road,Sivananda Colony,
Coimbatore-641012.TAMIL NADU.

Dear Roy,
Thanks for your mail.
Not everybody who joins the congregation joins the Christian Brothers.
We had two boys in our class in GMS, Darryl Michael and Anthony Dayton.
Both had joined them in Mt Carmel.
Darryl completed his studies and became a brother but Tony couldn't make it.
He is now in Australia, happily married.
We in Goethals have drifted apart and blown to all corners of the earth.
I am just trying to use the centenary to bring us all together.

Radheshyam

Dear Mr.R.S.Sharma,
Thank you for sending the news and photos of the centenarycelebrations at GMS, Kurseong.
You have never met me, as I studied at Goethals some ye
ars after youdid. I was there only for three memorable years which I count amongthe best years of my life, with innumerable pleasant memories.
I studied from Class 9 to 11 at GSM.
Before that, I studied at St.John's School, Chandigarh, which is another school run by the sameCongregation of Christian Brothers, but it is not a boarding schoollike GSM.
At St. John's I evinced the desire of joining the ChristianBrothers' Congregation.
I was asked to join initially as an'aspirant' till I completed my school education.
That is how I leftChandigarh and joined at GSM, Kurseong.
I lived at Mount Carmel alongwith other aspirants.
So I could not join the other boarders for mostof the after-school hours activities.
The Brothers eventuallydecided, after I finished my ISC Exams, that I was not suitable for areligious life and now after all these years I too agree that theytook the right decision.
I am happily married now. I owe a lot to the Irish Christian Brothers for the values impartedto me at school.
I just thought of sharing these things with you.
With regards,
Thanking you,
yours sincerely,
Roy Joseph.

I have received one message from one Sangay Tshering Yolmo.


The message is so full of praise that I am embarrassed to put it up.
God Bless You Sangay for the beautiful message.

The following message was received from U L Mehta of 1961
Dear Mr Mehta
I am really glad to hear from you.
We were together not only in Goethals buy I think also at BIT Mesra, if I am right.
Juneja was also with you.
Where are you at present?
How are you and your family?
Mr. Lobo came for the centenary functions ad then spent a few days with us at Kolkata. He also gave me and my family a day.
A K Shroff, D K Roy, S P Chatterjee also came.
You may have seen the photos.
Mr Lobo has now gone over to Assam to meet his sister.
He will be back by the 18th.
As you may have gauged from the pictures, it was a real happy occasion, the centenary celebrations.
You missed the golden jubilee celebrations in 1957 and now you have missed the centenary.

Best regards

Radheshyam


Hello Radheshyam,
It was a pleasure to see your mail and the nice snaps- old ones and the centenary ones.
I was in Goethals from 1958 to 1961, and so couldrelate to the boys in some of the snaps ... the relay race one was in our time, and Banerjee's face is veryfamiliar.
I was also privileged to be taught for a year (1958) byMr. Mathew Lobo, and he was very good and dedicated teacher. I could recognise him right away. Where is he these days?
senior Storey brothers ... Gordon and Roger werein my class.
Goethals was a great schooling experience, and our teachers
were all outstanding ... Mr. Lobo, Br.Forhan, Br. Corbett, the science teacher ...
Thanks again, & regards,
Upendra Lall Mehta
17.12.2007

This message was received from Mr S Deb of 1969

Dear RD (nee RS),

Thanks for the photographs. You covered it all.

Cheers

S.Deb (1969)
17.12.2007

Message from Pat Pierce

Dear Radheshyam –
many thanks for sharing !
There were 4 of us planning to come, and then ' wives got into the act. '
Anyway, Jimmy ( Keir ) put me in touch with Basant, and, the rest is history.
I'm so glad I made it ! Lovely meeting so many of you young chaps, seeing old friends, and, GMS after 50 years.
Even had 3 days in Darj with Matt & Myrna after Sports Day. What a bonus!
Got to make this a quickie, ( I'm learning from Basant ! ) as I'm unpacking and repacking to go and visit my new grandson, Evan, in Hawaii for Christmas. Leaving early tomorrow morn..
God bless, and a very Merry Christmas to y'all !
Pat Peirce in BC – Canada

16.12.2007

Message from Brian Whiter of 1973

Hi Radheshyam

Many thanks for including me in your email. Great photos.
I am from the class of 1973 and living in Melbourne, originally from Kolkatta, in Park Circus.
I was last in Kolkatta in 2005, to purchase a set of Tablas from Lal bazaar.
I had returned after 25 years and was absolutely gob-smacked by the sconce there.
Anyway buddy, take care.
cheers
Brian Whiter
16.12.2007

Message from Bhaskar of 1971

Dear Bhaskar,

Mr Lobo was our class teacher in class VIII in 1962. He left our scohol before you joined and then proceeded later on to Australia.
Bro Morrow was our class teacher in class XI in 1965.
He was a great person and a teacher.
Whenever I think of a Guru, I think of Bro. Morrow and Mr. Lobo.
I live at 188, Bangur Avenue, B - Block, Kolkata - 700055.
It is on the way to the city, about 6 Km from the airport.
It was a pleasure receiving your E mail.
I am just trying to weave all the Goethals boys together through my blog.
We have all been blown apart to all corners of the Earth by the winds of time.
Receiving your email shows I am being successful in my effort.
If you happen to come to Kolkata, do come home.
Sudan must be a very hot place. I hope there are no disturbances now.
Cheers for Goethals.

Radheshyam
Thank You Radheshyamji for keeping me in your mailing list in connection with our beloved school-Goethal's.
I was in Goethals from 1966 to 1971.
I knew Br. Morrow very well.
I was from Darjeeling later shifted to Calcutta, Mumbai and now I have made Bangalore my home but am working in Sudan for the last five years.
I don't remember Mr. Lobo and am not sure whether he was a teacher during my years in school
Where is your residence since I read that you took Mr. Lobo to your house.
Pronams to you.
Bhaskar
-
Hi friends,

Congrats toall those who went to the centenary celebrations at GMS.
For all those who could not make it I have been able to post some photos and write ups on my blog
Hope you enjoy it as much as I did on taking the effort.

Cheers for Goethals

Radheshyam Sharma
1965 Batch

"If we cannot love the person whom we see, how can we love God,whom we cannot see?"- MotherTeresa

Message from David Philips of 1960

Hi David,
Thanks for your mail Very happy to receive your E mail.
We were together in Sister Felix's hospital when the Asian Flue brokeout in Goethals.
One of our boys Lu died in that flue.
I am trying to weave all our GMS boys together.
Best regards
Radheshyam

Hi Radheshyam,
Thanks for including us with your news from the GMS centenary celebrations, always interesting to read about the ‘Old Place’,
I attended GMS from 1954 to 1960 leaving for the UK in 1961, hope to be able to visit GMS at some point over the next couple of years.
Good luck in all your endeavors.
Regards,
Helen & Dave
David Phipips,
25, Hume Place, Mt. Colah, NSW 2079

Message from Frank Macedo of 1959

Hi Radheshyam:
Great to read your blog.
Keep up the good work and help rekindlememories of the good ole days at GMS.
Frank Macedo
Class of 1959
12.12.2007

Message from Sushil Dixit of 1964
08.12.2007
Hi RS,
For Dayscholars it was Rs.12/= per month only.
Sushil Dikshit
(1964) Dayscholar

Message from Safiul Huda of 1964
Radheshyam:Thanks for the Gita.
For me reading comes easier in book form. [I amsuch a dinosaur -- also heavily technology-challenged].
I have, ofcourse, read various [Bangla and English translation] versions of boththe Ramayan and Mahabharat. Indeed I have them both -- the versions Ihave, though, are not the best in expressing the drama and movement ofthese great texts. So I keep looking.
A short version of theMahabharat by R.K. Narayan the famous, recently deceased novelist, ispretty good, but rather condensed.
One great big gap in my life is that I have wanted to but have nevergot around to reading the Gita yet [neither the Koran, for thatmatter]. Your email was a great and timely reminder. I'll be visitingthe bookstore soon. I think you may've sent a print version too. Butthinking you sent the same email twice, I kept this one.Be well.
Safiul

Message from Partha Sengupta

Hi friends,
One of our school friends has taken all the trouble to have the BhagvadGita put in the computer and sent us copy.
This is such a valuable book, that I am forwarding the same to all of you to make the best possible use of it.
For your peace of mind and for your other friends.
Best regards
Radheshyam

Dear Friends
While in Greenways Shipping, I requested my Secretary, Miss RuruGhoshal to key in the entire English version of the Bhagvad Gita into the computerwhen ever she had some spare time.Ruru took great pains to do this over several months and proof- readthe entire text with another colleague.The attatchment is the result of what was produced and I feel veryhumble on behalf of Ruru and myself to share it with you.I hope you will save it on your desktops to read sometimes and alsoshare it with your family and friends.Best Regards/
ParthaParthasarathi Sengupta

Message from John C Tresham of 1959

Radheshyam,

Always a pleasure to see Br Fitzpatrick looking so well and still going strong.
Br Fitzpatrick was my Class Master, Senior Cambrodge Class in '59 and a very wise and gifted teacher.
He was also the School Principal .
I'm still amazed at how he managed both jobs and still find the time to join the senior boys
in a regular game of football which incidentally he was also very good at.

Congratulations on your excellent blogspot.

Regards

John

Message from Deborsh Sengupta

Dear Radheshyam,

Appreciate your efforts in passing the pics to all.

Thanks once again.
Warmest Regards,
Deborshi
DEBORSHI SENGUPTA.DIRECTOR-
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENTBUILDERS BOX (INDIA) PVT. LTD.
UNIT# G5-6.26,RACE COURSE ROAD.
BANGALORE 560 001.KARNATAKAINDIA
MOB # 98453 58202.Tel:- +91 80 412 26 332/33
Fax:-+91 80 412 26 331.E

Message from John Tresham of 1959
Radheshyam

PS: I hope you have read about my latest love for Politicians, especially of Bengal at ,,Kindly advise if Prakash Bhatia was the P Bhartia I remember. He was in the year below me in the class of 1960. For what has he been honoured by the Canadians?

Regards

John Tresham
Class of '59

Yes, John,
He is the same P Bhartia. Only difference is a Dr. has been added as prefix in his name.
I have attached a write up we made of him and Joe Galibardy in our Centenary Sovenir.
The stamp is in recognition of the many inventions he has made which have benefitted Candian Defence Research

Radheshyam
Thank you Radheshyam. I am pleased to see he has achieved a life of distinction in his field and brought honour to the school.

I remember him being top of the class even in those days. My classmate, Frank Macedo with whom I keep in touch als
o did his PhD in Electrical Engineering while here in the UK and until his retirement a few years ago held a senior position in Ontario Hydro and now works as a consultant to the Energy Commission in the USA.
Frank and his wife are currently enjoying some leave in Goa and will be visiting me later this month.
Your write up was not attached so I would ask that you kindly send it again.
Regards and thank you again.

John
Dear John,

I probably attached the write up in our blog and missed attaching it to the email.
I am attaching it now.
It was good of you to send a copy of your mail to Frank.
I would like to include him and any other old boys whose E mail ID's you may be having in my mailing list to keep them abreast of events and persons.
Our other boys should also know of yours and their activities to make them proud.
And there is no need of the formalities of thanks.
This blog is an attempt to bring all Goethalites closer together again.
We had been blown with the winds and tides, without any moorings.
The centenary celebrations has brought us all together.
I am just trying to keep the spirit going until the next get-together, when I hope the attendance will be even more.
I am sorry Frank came to Goa slightly late.
He just missed the centenary celebrations.
Warm regards

Cheers for Goethals
Radheshyam

Message from Saibal Basu of 1983

Radheshyam
By most accounts the Goethals Centenary was a resounding success!
However, I was unable to attend, living outside India is one reason.
I did register though, hoping to at least obtain the commemorative souvenier and school tie etc.
However, I have received nothing so far.
I do understand that the planning committee has done their very best to plan and organize such a large event and I am not holding them responsible for this guffaw. Such things are bound to happen. If this e-mail reaches the right person could he please look into this matter and respond. My e-mail is ,,and I am from the 1982 batch. Cheers for Goethals and the GMS Centenary Organizing Committee!!Saibal
Hi Saibal,

I understand your grievance.
Of the boys who were in Goethals only those with registration nos upto 400 received the Souvenir in Goethals.The printing job was not complete, hence everybody could not get their copies.
You may rest assured you will get your copy as the next print comes through.Sorry for the delay
Cheers for Goethals

Radheshyam
Dear Saibal.
I recall it was me who received your Registration.
Fact of the matter is that we tried our best and succeeded in printing and bringing out the Souvenir and reaching them to Kurseong in time. (on 02-11 along with me). Unfortunately, however, due to the initial very poor response to our repeated appeals to Register in time fell on deaf ears and there was a rush of last-minute registrations.
However, if I am not mistaken, your Registration should be within the first 400and hence you are entitled to a cop
However, the balance of the first 400 copies have been retained by Kurseong and therefore, although I know the facts and feel for you, there is nothing I can do. I am marking a opy of this mail to Rajah Banerjee, the President of the Organizing Committee as well to Ashok Goyal with whom the balance copies are supposedly lying.
I wish I could have helped you directly because I remember that it was because of my appeal and assurances that you registered although you had informed me that you cannot attend.
Please keep me posted / informed by marking all your mails in this regard to me also so that I can do what ever possible to ensure that you receive at least a copy of the Souvenir, although I cannot give you the same assurance for the school tie etc.
Thanks and Regrets for the inconveniences.
Ranjan Guha Majumder
CE-163, Salt Lake, Sector-1, Kolkata - 700 064
Message received fro Amitava Maulik of 1977

Dear all,

I think with all this centenary activities going on, we have now published our dates of graduation on the net and are now prey to scamsters trying to get our certificate formats so that they can commit fraud themselves.

Read the letter below. I received it recently from a guy named Sanjiv Kumar Jain in Delhi who is pretending to pursue a fraudster with the hope of committing fraud himself.

Amitava Maulik

Dear Sir,
I had got your reference from one of the websites through which I came to know that you had passed ICSE board in 1977.
I am looking for only format of statement of marks of year 1977 of Class Xth of ICSE board, without your name, without your marks to catch imposter indulging in serious fraud affecting lives of new born babies.
Can you take look at format of statement of marks attached with this email and tell me short comings from your 1977 statement of marks certificate if any ?
Your kind help will be highly appreciated in the matter and will help in catching the imposter posing as doctor.
RegardsSanjiv Kumar Jain
It seems that person may not be a fraudster. Here's his reply to my email suggesting that he stop committing Fraud. He went on to provide a lot of documents, which would be hard for a fraudster, but of course not impossible. Anyway, I now believe him, but I have lost my certificate anyway, so I cannot help him.

AM

On Nov 18, 2007 10:18 PM, S. K. Jain < wrote:
Thanks to you for sending it to police. I hope at least now they will file FIR. I am a sufferer and not fraudulent identity. My son had died in this fraud episode.I am on mission to save human lives. Carry on and read it ....And now do not tell CIC is also fraud.RegardsSanjiv kumar Jain
Message from Saibal Basu
Mr. Sharma

My wife has read your very detailed, well expressed opinions and given her comments which I have posted in your blog. Please feel free to comment. Let's hope others join in as well and give their own reasons either for or aginst..
I had given a reply to the above in one of my blog posts

Message from John Tresham

Radheshyam
Thanks Radheshyam. Nice to have some feedback from the boys who were fortunate enough to make it.
John ('59)

Message from Nigel Hildreth

Dear Mr.R Sharma,

I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for all the wonderful articles and information you share with every Goethalite. Today after seeing the pictures that you have taken of the centenary celebrations I was filled with happiness mixed with grief. Happiness 'coz i was seeing my school after so many years and grief 'coz i could not make it for the centenary celebrations. Thanks to you that i got a glimpse of my old school.

Please carry on the good work sir.


Thanking you,


Regards

NIGEL HILDRETH
1989 BATCH

Hi Friends,

I am back from a pilgrimage I have made after 42 years after paying homage to the institution which has made me what I am today.
I have put down my feelings through the photographs I have taken and posted on my blog Hope you enjoy the pictures as I enjoyed the visit.
Radheshyam
Thanks Radheshyam. Nice to have some feedback from the boys who were fortunate enough to make it.

Message from Partha Sengupta
Many thanks RS
I enjoyed your diary and the pictures immensely.
Best Regards/Partha

Message from Umesh Singhania

dear sir,i just love to read ur e mailsur this e mail made me feel as tough i was at gmsi had all the plans to come to gms for the celebrations but coz of some urgent work i had to canceli even had my bookings done in a hoteli will always wait for ur e mailsthax and rgdsumesh singhania
1993

Dear Umesh,You really missed something.Ever since we participated in the Golden Jubilee in 1957, we werewaiting for this event.Now you shall have to wait until 2057, when you will probably be 80 years old.I hope you are able to see it then.This is my small effort to change the world.We from Goethals cannot be politicians as they are a dirty lot.I just run out of terms to describe their nastiness.We can just use our pens to vent our feelings.Cheers for GoethalsRadheshyamPSI just have one suggestion son.English is a beautiful language.Don't use short cuts even when writing E mails or sending SMS.Our school taught us very good English.Let the world know we know our English.Short cuts are for those who do not know English, which they hide withthese devices.No offense meant. Just guiding you as father to son.Do feel free to write to me, anytime.
Radheshyam
:

dear sir,

thank you very much for your mail

i too am from kolkata in lake town

presently i am out of india

i will in kolkata in november end

and will try to meet you


regards

umesh singhania
Umesh,
What happened.
I was expecting you in end November.
Haven't you come to Lake Town as yet.

Radheshyam

Message from Bruce Wallace 1965

Hi RS,What you have posted on your blog is fantastic. Lovedthe photos and the text. Well done.It was great to see you again after some 42 years. Weall haven't changed too much in that period of time.It was unfortunate that we couldn't spend more timetogether. The days passed very quickly and we had tomake an early exit back to Melbourne. I was delightedwith the wonderful turn-up of ex-students(530 Ibelieve) and in particular with the class of '65. The' 65 batch looked great. I don't know when I willnext be in India but I would like to extend aninvitation to you and your wife to visit us inAustralia, we would love to be able to show you aroundour state.'Cheers for Goethals and Do All Things Well'Kind regards,Bruce Wallace
Hi Bruce,Thanks for your comments.It is just a small effort for everybody to remain connected.It was also very great seeing you your family and the rest of thegang. I noticed that you looked very trim.In the photographs you had sent earlier you seemed to have put onweight. And throwing away the spectacles did much to improve yourappearance.I just spoke to K K Rai and Ashoke Oberoi about half an hour ago.K K Rai has built a guest house in Gangtok where he has invited us all.Next time you come to India, you must keep ample time at hand so thatyou can spend time with us.Let me see if we can make the to Australia.Try to locate Tony Dayton and tell him to contact me. If you have hisE mail ID you could give it to me and I shall contact.Jeffery Knight was also to have come.The mails I have been sending to him have bounced.Where is he?It was a great one week.We can never have such a week again when so many friends meet.Chatterjee and my wife were not very well on the 7th after our visitto Mirik. Probably tired out. Now they are both OK. now.DK also has some problems from the area where he had been operated. Hewill be visiting the doctor todayJK went back to Delhi and today he should be in Nainital. He isenjoying his retirement.I have also joined duty.Cheers for Goethals.With warm regards

Radheshyam

Message from Safiul Huda

Superb! Superb! Superb! Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
Now I will regret forever that I did not go. I KNEW this was going tohappen.
I had taken virtually all of the last two years off and Ithought my taking off soon after
rejoining would not have gone over bigwith the powers that be.
But now I feel I should’ve just buzzed offand told them to love it or lump it.
Now I’ll have to live another 25years so that I can attend the next big event – the 125th anniversary.
I’ll be 85 then – won’t look as good as Matt [Mr. Lobo] – but I’d liketo stand with him and be photographed [maybe by then it’ll be“holographed”] together.
Which reminds me –Matt, seems you travelquite a bit, why not plan a trip to the States?
There’s always goingto be a place for you in Connecticut.
This invitation extends to all myGoethals friends from Ms. D’Cruz’s and Bro. Doyle’s classes.
How can Iget in touch with Bro. Fitzpatrick [my dentist is of that name,
so I’mreminded of our Principal at least twice a year] so that I can persuadehim to make a similar trip?
Before I get too deep into my senile ramblings and totally sidetracked,
here’s a 3-part APPEAL to all who receive this:
EVERYONE:1. Some names jumped out at me from the captions of the pictures
andfrom the body of Radheshyam’s text: D.K.Roy, A.K.Roy, RamdhariAgarwalla, Ghosh, P.K.Dev Verman, Ganguly, D.K.Agarwalla, Bhandari,Neogi, Ashok Oberoi, K.K. Rai.
If any of the aforementioned are readingthis, whether you remember me or not, please drop me an email.
If anyof the others know of these persons, their whereabouts, their email orpostal addresses, I’d be much obliged if you forwarded the same to me.
2. There are some others with whom I would really like to touch base –N.K.Sarkar, Hector Keelan, Shane Offrey, Abu Sirkar, Bhandari, theTenzings, B. Tshering, K.Y.Lim, Bernard.
If any of you know theirwhereabouts and/or email addresses as well as of those mentioned in (1)above, I’d be grateful if you let me know.
3. Here is an on-going request of mine which has been studiouslyignored till now but which I will keep nagging you with: if anyone hasall or some of the Annuals for 1955, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959 and 1960,especially the latter, or access to them, please, please let me know.
BASANT:Radheshyam sent the entire text of your speech. I loved it. It wasreally nice.
It made me all nostalgic. I could hear Old Khattoosaying, “Be quiet you datty fool!”
I know he is no more, but he liveson in our memories.
From him I first heard the name Sherlock Holmes.
It was he who sparked in me the desire to read fiction. He was such agreat story teller.
I remember quite clearly the account he gave ofhis trip to Tiger Hill.
You might not remember Shailen Sarkar. I think he may have left after1956.
He was also from Jalpaiguri and so I remember him.
His olderbrother was a fast runner but reminded us of a horse when sprinting
andso was nick-named “tatt-tu”. Anyway, he made up this song about theDhobi
that went “O Dhobi, O Dhobi/Why don’t you turn/Your dhoti intolangoti?”
and sung it to a tune very close to that of “O babu O babu/Ojanaye wale babu/Ek paisa de de.” – do you recollect?
I recall veryfondly the “bati-chhat” [that's in Bangla, English translation:“bowl-cut”]
that the barber would give us and Kapoor’s [drummer]mystification as to why
the bandmaster had to have so many haircutsconsidering he was quite bald!
Much later did I figure out the significance of the name “Blackie” andstill can’t but smile at the irony of us “blackies” cluelessly usingthat name.
The paniwallah’s [then] face is quite vividly etched in mymemory.
Did Sister Felix attend the ceremonies? If the hospi now isstaff quarters, where’s the new hospi?
Brother Fitzpatrick is veryrecognizable – he has just lost some hair.
He looks to be in goodhealth. Where does he live?
How does one get in touch?Congrats on a fantastic speech and on having pulled off an excellent100th Anniversary celebration.
RADHESHYAM:Yes indeed, some of us have fallen to God’s will.
None more sadly forme than Bhatta [S. Bhattacharjee]. Here I was anxiously hoping we’dstart exchanging emails when Jeff told me he had passed away in 1965!
The name D.K. Roy sent a thrill through me. I planned to write and askif this was the D.K. whose younger brother was A.K. Roy. And yourletter revealed yes, indeed it was.
A.K.’s boyhood face is stillrecognizable in his current visage. I can still remember the excellentperformance he turned in for “Where are you going to my pretty maid…”as though it were yesterday.
Ramdhari Agarwalla’s face I can stillsee, but I would not have recognized him in the street.
J.K. Ghosh –are you the Ghosh who was from Cooch Bihar?
P.K. Dev Verman – there wasone picture of him and his brother.
I cannot but help remembering himevery time I hear a song by/of S.D.Verman/Burman or R.D. Verman/Burman.
Ganguly – are you the same Ganguly who ran out of class when Bro. Doylewas on one of his rampages?
There is a Dipak Agarwal in the list ofreceipients. Are you the Dipak who hailed from Gauhati?
You told usthe story of “Madhumati” which was shot in Assam.
It must have had agreat impact because even now songs from that movie are hauntinglyevocative for me. Bhandari – are you the Bhandari with whom I exchangedcoats and when we had a quarrel and returned our respective coats Miss[D’Cruz] scolded us for wearing the other person’s coat?
Ashok Oberoi– only recently did I become aware of the significance of that name.
But I thought it was just coincidentally the same as the famoushotelier's.
Then Jeff, when he was visiting, enlightened me.
So you’rebasically of the same celebrity status as Paris Hilton.
I wouldimagine there’d be a sizeable Oberoi presence in a tourist magnet suchas Darjeeling.
Many of the celebration visitors stayed there I’dimagine. K.K. Rai – remember you very well.
What news of D. Singh?Dorje Dadul’s name has been ever present in my mind, but I have lostthe face.
S.P. Chatterjee – sounds familiar, but my mind may beplaying tricks. Did you join after I left?
My last year was 1960; Idid not come back in 1961. All of you – please write.
Really sorry to hear Roly Poly has vanished.
Surprised to hear thatfor you too it was the first visit to GMS since graduating.
I was quite gratified, actually, to see my name on the old boys list.
I notice that my parents spelled my name Shafiul then.
I also noticethat I dropped the A.R.A. perhaps because when Bro. Kyle used to
callout names for those who received letters he’d go “ Afroze daal currymutton Safiul Huda”
--or some such -- with the long names – remember?I wonder what he’s up to.
Seeing the names of S. Dev, A.L. Alphonso,K.K. Gurung, in the list immediately reminded me of them.
I wasinterested to see the name Agacy [whom I do not at all recollect] there– that’s a famous name hereabouts, spelled Agassy.
S.K. Bannerjee –hewas one year our senior, with my cousin Nazru Huda – and affected [whatI now recognize as] a very American accent. I liked him. Know wherehe is?
Why can’t I place Bruce Wallace? Where is Alan Moses? Remember?“Moses the poses thy toeses are roses?”]
What about Hill -- the oneAustralian and Alan Robinson-- the one Yank?
[Perhaps he lives righthere in the same State as I!] I’d love to be in touch with all thesepersons.
MARY: MATT: NBT:Now that I’ve been spoiled by Radheshyam, I’ll crave equally detailedaccounts of events from you guys, with pictures.
I am especially eager to hear about Mary’s reunion with you, Bahadur [=NBT; sorry, I’m having a senior citizen moment and can’t recollect yourpreferred and current name].
Do you still play the trumpet?That’s it for today. Send any and all info you have.Saf/Safi/Safiul [as in Safiul Huda listed as A.R.A. Shafiul Huda].

Message from Jigme Chimmi

Radheshyam
thank you soo much for the pictures... yes I am sorry to have missed out on the celebrations....
Cheers
Jigme Chhimi

Dear Jigme,
I am really sorry you could not attend the centenary celebrations.
You missed a lifetime experience which you will only be able to recapture in 2057 during the 150th anniversary.
However, I have taken a few photographs which I am posting on my blogg for all those who miised the celebrations.Hope you will be able to relive the past after viewing the photos.
Cheers for Goethals
Radheshyam Sharma
Hope you have all had a wonderful time catching up with old friends and having a blast at GMS.
For those of us who didn't make it - we just cant wait to see pictures/videos of the centenary.
If you have any pictures and videos you would like to share please post on either one of the websites.
If you are having problem please feel free to email me (Thank You...
Please don't be a stranger and even though the centenary celebrations have ended please use the forums or email and keep up with your friends. Sorry for missing out on the festivities..
Jigme Chhimi

All messages above are after the Visit to Goethals

Hello Amitava,

Thanks for the info.
I and four of my friends of 1965 are all leaving by Darjeeling mail today, ie 31st. But you'll get plenty of comapany on that day.
Ranjan Guha and quite a big batch are going on that day.
So just interacr with them

Radheshyam
Hi Mr. Sharma and other schoolmates,I am traveling alone by Darjeeling Mail on Thursday night (1st Nov) byAC 3 Tier, Coach B3, Seat 56.If any of you are traveling, please contact me at 9831024929. It willbe good to connect and travel together, rather than alone.
Amitava Maulik76 December ICSE

Message from A K Roy of 1965

Dear RS,
Some years back the price of fish shot up to unreasonable speculative heights and nobody could think of a legislation to stop this unethical act which created a turbulence in the economy. Then some medical people came up with a solution. They circulated a flash in the media that some of the fish in certain markets had red spots on their bodies and people should shun fish in their diets and opt for eggs, chicken, mutton, etc. as these fish were infected with a virus. The fish market crashed!
Nowadays, the media is circulating stories that the radio waves that are emitted by the mobile phones and the communication towers are injurious to health, especially to the younger generation and that the government is contemplating the introduction of a legislation to curb the use of the mobile phone by minors. If this does instil a terror in the minds of parents the sale of mobile phones might plumet, thereby reducing the volume of SMSs and the unethical practices of the telecom companies and their agents or contractual partners.
You cannot stop the use of technology but you can make the people understand that some of the companies are using unethical means to achieve higher earnings. I hope you can gain access to the government and put in your suggestion that a legislation should be introduced to curb this unethical practice.
Yours truly,
AK
Message from H L Roy 1972
Dear R.S.,

Your concern about SMS ing is also our concern.

You will appreciate that the entertainment media is thriving on this game plan and would continue to do so, unless your proposal that only a single vote would be acknowledged from a mobile set for the purpose of supporting a candidate is introduced by the TV companies.

Lets pray that better senses prevail and wait for the responses on the views that you have forwarded to the print media.

H.L.Roy

Message from A K Roy
Dear RS,
It's the "then & now" effect that struck me when I saw the old snaps. \
Did I look like that? Were those fellows my dearest classmates? Where are they now? etc.
I am sure that your collection is increasing and some day you shall have memories to cheer the ex- Goethalites through your website.
Yours truly,
AK

Message from Saibal Basu 1982
Enjoyed the pictures very much. Appreciate your effort. Can we knowthe names of the two Brothers in the first picture(with the dogs -Daschunds?) seated in the first row? I might have known them whenthey were much older.I recognize Br. Fitzpatrick(I think) in the second picture. He wasthe Principal when I graduated in November 1982.Thanks againX-GoatSaibal Basu
Message from J K Ghosh
Dear RS,

I like to take this opportunity to thank you for the stupendous effort in making a collection of old photographs in relation to GMS Days.

I think that probably I can provide you a few old photographs, but since I have recently relocated, I would request you to allow me a little time so that I can retrieve them from the relevant packings.

Thanking you and with best regards,

JK

Messages from Saibal Basu 1982

R S Sharma
Visited your blog. Iam a 1982 passout. Saw some of my batchmates in the pictures on your blog. Some I have never met since I left Goethals in Nov'82. Thanks for publishing the pictures. I have been living in the US for the past 13 years, therefore, seldom get a chance to go to such re-unions. I was wondering if it is possible to publish the slide show about Goethals on your blog- site so people like us can enjoy the same as well..

Regards

Saibal Basu
ICSE- Nov'1982

Hi Saibal,I am glad I could bring back some memories.Why don't you come over from the 1st to 7th November.It will be a grand affair, I can assure you.You will be able to re-live the past.You will have to register immediately for security reasons as theGovernor of W Bengal will be coming also. The registration charges arevery nominal by US standards. Only RS 1500/- per person + Rs 500/- foreach additional member.You will be issued Identity Cards.For I Cards you will have to send 2copies of passport photos for each person.Only those persons possessing I Cards would be allowed entry to the School.Functions for the old boys are on the 3rd and 4th Nov.I"ll see if I can get the CD to put on the blog.We are taking out a souvenir.If you would like to write anything for it, please send the samebefore the 30th September for inclusion. The souvenir will be acollectors item.I am posting a copy of the invitation on the blog also.Bye for now.Cheers for Goethals!!Radheshyam1965
Dear Mr. Sharma

I visited India for about a month with my family in August 2007. Therefore it would be difficult to get leave again so soon. However, no matter how absurd my attending the Centenary sounds to me I still cannot get it out of my head! Thanks for all your encouragement.

Regarding the souvenir to be published, how could somebody like me get a copy of it even though I may not attend. I am willing to pay. Also, if I would like to contribute for the souvenir and I think I still have some time, whom do I have to send my article to?

Cheers!

Saibal Basu, ICSE Nov'82
Dear Mr. Sharma

Thanks again for the e-mail and enquiring about my request. Meanwhile I have been in touch with Ranjan Guha Majumdar. He has consulted with Rajah Banerjee and other committe members and they are of the opinion that I could register for the centenary even though I am unable to attend. This would enable me to get the souvenir, address book etc.

Also, I have sent a nostalgic article about Goethals to Ranjan for possible publication in the Souvenir. Ranjan has confirmed receipt of the same and forwarded it to the editor of the Souvenir.

I appreciate your invitation to join your blog. I have visited it recently and read some of your memories. I had no idea how convenient it had become for us to travel by train to New Jalpaiguri after the Farakka Barrage was completed. We did not have to take any ferry.

Hope the flood situation is better now. We had floods in 1978 when I was still in Goethals. I made a road trip to Kolkata through a badly flooded countryside. Maybe I will share it on your blog..

That's all for now. Thanks and cheers for our 'dear old school'

Saibal

Message from Edwin Bernard

Dear R.S. Sharma,
Your blog describing your years at Goethals in the late 50's and early 60's brought back wonderful memories. I loved your descriptive writing style as it transported me back to another time, another place. Like you, I lived through all those places and events and interacted with those teachers in much the same way. I could relate. Thanks for sharing.
Edwin Bernard1958-1962

Message from A K Roy

Dear RS,
It was a pleasant surprise to see your mail in my inbox and I enjoyed your website.
I too enjoyed my years of education in the hills. The slides were good and the ex-students forum has taken a step in the right direction. Your contribution too is admirable.
So many events and changes have come about in my life after leaving our alma mater. Anyway, nowadays I am preoccupied with my personal matters and have little spare time. Although the centenary celebrations are drawing me like a magnet I shall not be able to attend. However, if certain circumstances change then I may be able to make it to Kurseong. The mandatory registration is a bar and I hope to take a decision soon.
I am sure your wife and children are happy and eager to attend the gala event at GMS. Your children may be eager to see Prashant Tamang, the Indian Idol and the hero of Darjeeling if he is invited.
Wishing you all the best.
AK

Message from Kaldip Choudhury of 0980

Hi Kaldip,
I'll mention the names of persons whom I remember. I had introduced myself to all of them and they had also done the same but you and the others must forgive me for at this age our memories become slightly week. For the others I will forward this email to Jitendra and Ranjan and the whole group, they will be able to add the remaining names. I will start at the topPhoto # 1 Arjun Biswas and S Kumar # 2 K D Gupta # 3 ?, Partha Mukherjee,? # 4 LtoR,#4,K K Chiramar, # 5 Partha Sengupts, # 7 Jitendra Agarwal # 5, Same in #4, other ?? # 6, Suman Mandal, Manos Choudhry, Jitendra # 7 Mr Day, Atul Chaturvedi # 8 Gasper (legs 11) and D,Silva # 9 U S Chanda, Mrs A K Shroff and A K Shroff #10, A K Roy, A Roy, Ranjan Guha Mazumdar, K D Gupta # 11,Nirmal Gupta, Anupam Dasgupta,Amnath Sinha, Ranjan # 12, Amitava Guha, Partha, Somnath Roy # 13, Suman Mandal, Sanjay,Avjit Guha,Vikas Binrajka # 14, A K Shroff, Nelson Flavien, Gasper # 15, A K Daw, K K Chiramar, ? # 16, Rudra Choudhury, ? #17, Lalit Dhanawat, Peter Remedios # 18, A K Roy, H L Roy, D K Roy # 19,Flavien, Arun Gazi # 20,?,A K Sabui, P Mukherjee, ? # 21, S Dey, Ranjan Mitra, ?, Vivek # 22, Group Photo, You will have to recognize.To find out their last year in Goethals, you will have to double click the photo. You can read the year in the enlarged photo.There were a few more snaps, which I will add in my next blog. Cheers for Goethals.Radheshyam1965

Jitendra, Ranjan, could you please, help with the balance names?

Hi Radheshyam,thanks for the trouble of putting it in the website. Any chance we could connect some names to the photographs - some faces look vaguely familiar
Kalidip Choudhury, '80

The blog journey started from here

Omni Bene Facere

Yesterday was a very enjoyable evening for all the old students of Goethals who could make it to the party at Bengal Club. Boys, now of course old men, form 1953 to 2001 came and reminisced.
What I really liked was a slide show of pictures of the school, boys and teachers taken during different eras.
After yesterday, I opine that anybody who does not visit Goethals during the celebrations from 1st to 7th November will be really missing something.
There were a few of us who were there during the Golden Jubilee Celebrations and we really enjoyed them. Hope everybody. goes. A few doubting Thomases, who were sitting on the fence, took the jump after yesterday and decided to go. I had take a few snaps at the party.
So as not to clutter this E mail,I have posted them separately at my blog I hope they bring back memories of the school.
I shall post further photos as and when I take them.
R S Sharma 1965 batch
19.09.2007