Government Notification

Hello friends,

Governments of all over the world are grappling with multifarious problems. Efforts by the different wings of the government are frittered away by pull and push in different directions.
To focus resources the different governments had set up a committee of ministers.
After serious deliberations, the ministers have come up with the recommendation that a new logo should be used by all governments which would explain the purpose of the governments.
Prakash Bhatia who is best placed in the matters, being located in the USA has sent us the logo,
We are the first to receive it.
Thank you Prakash.

Radheshyam

Hi, I think the boys may enjoy this. This is pretty accurate

Prakash Bhartia

Chinese Invasion of Tibet

Dear All,
Seasons greetings!
Did you know that one of an ex-Goethalite participated in the Olympic Torch Run in Delhi? Yes, it was our own Mr. Jaspal Singh Bindra, 1976 batch, currently Director, Asia, Standard Chartered Bank. You can see him in white representing the India's financial sector. Congratulations Mr. Bindra from all of us..

Hello friends,

I have received the above E mail with attached photograph.
I congratulate Mr. Bindra for being Director, Asia, Standard Chartered Bank.
However, I regret to sound a discordant note in not being able to congratulate him for the torch run for the Beijing Olympics.
I normally do not like to rake controversy in our blog but this is one point I feel strongly and had mentioned the same in one of earlier posts on 20.04.2008.
I wish Mr. Bindra had followed the example of Kiran Bedi, Baichung Bhutia and a horde of other personalities who refused to make the run.
People say we should not mix sports with politics.
But what is the other alternative? War?
Surely nobody wants a war.
This was the best opportunity for the whole world to register its protest against the dastardly action of raping Tibet.
A defenseless, peace loving race has been displaced from its habitat and overrun by Chinese hordes to populate the area and change its demography.
The Dalai Lama has been trying for the last three decades to work for a peaceful solution but the Chinese will not even acknowledge him, as they do not understand the language of peace.
Our Indian Government abdicated its responsibility with Nehru waving Indian & Chinese flags and crying hoarse “Hindi - Chini Bhai Bhai” from roof tops, cries which stopped only when China attacked India.
We talk of Human rights only when it suits us. Look how we are cozying up with the military junta in Myanmar in spite of continuous human right violations. Why? Because we want their Oil and Gas and China is our competitor there.
The communist’s heart bleed for the displaced Palestinians but wink away the same displacement in Tibet because it has been perpetrated by their big brother and big brother can do no wrong.
No, Mr. Bindra.
Goethals has taught us to value life and not to do injustice.
I cannot congratulate you for your torch run.
I would have congratulated you, if you had boycotted it.

Radheshyam

Socrates Filters

In ancient Greece (469 - 399 BC), Socrates was widely
lauded for his wisdom.
One day the great philosopher came upon an acquaintance
who ran up to him excitedly and said, "Socrates, do you
know what I just heard about one of your students called Plato?"
"Wait a moment," Socrates replied. "Before you tell me
I'd like you to pass a little test. It's called the Triple Filter Test".
"Triple filter?"
"That's right," Socrates continued. "Before you talk
to me about my student let's take a moment to filter
what you're going to say. The first Filter is Truth.
Have you made absolutely sure that what you are about
to tell me is true?"
"No," the man said, "actually I just heard about it and..."
"All right," said Socrates. "So you don't really know if it's true or not.
Now let's try the second filter, the Filter of Goodness.
Is what you are about to tell me about my student something good?"
"No, on the contrary..."
"So," Socrates continued, "you want to tell me something bad about him,
even though you're not certain it's true?"
The man shrugged, a little embarrassed.
Socrates continued. "You may still pass the test though,
because there is a third filter - the Filter of usefulness.
Is what you want to tell me about my student going to be useful to me?"
"No, not really..."
"Well," concluded Socrates, "if what you want to tell me is neither True nor Good, nor even Useful, why tell it to me at all?"
The man was defeated and ashamed.
This is the reason Socrates was a great philosopher and held in such high esteem.

Msgs from Old Boys 19

Msg from Karma Tobgay

Thanks again.
I await your data.
Radheshyam

Hi,
The hockey team is the winner of the Tempa Shield in the year 1964. Some of the boys i recognise as a young boy are Baichung Tshering (captain) K.K.Rai, U.C. (or Charlie) Rai, Pintsum Tenzing, Sonam W.Tenzing, C.S.Gurung and of course Matt Lobo. Maybe he can tell u more about the guys in the photos. As regs Sikkim boys we have compiled most of our data and in fact we were thinking of sending them to u. Don't worry we'll do that soon. Great connecting with you. Regs K.S.

Hello Karma,
Thank you for mailing the photographs.
I'll post it coming Saturday on our blog.
I am sure Mr. Lobo will appreciate it.
Could you tell me which year's team this was?
Its with the help of people like you that the blog has kept going.
I'll require some help from you.
I am seeing that I am not getting the personal data of the Sikkim boys.
I understand, you boys may be having some problem in accessing the web because of poor interconnectivity.
If you would collect all the personal data of the Sikkim Boys, I could send you the hard copy blank forms.
The boys could be given the forms to populate and then they could be returned to me.
I would manually update the data on my computer.
Could you help?
If you agree, I could send you the forms.
Best regards

Radheshyam

Hi,
This is K. S. Tobgay of 1974 batch and from Sikkim. Have been watching this space for quite sometime and I must commend ur untiring commitment to keep Goat information up to date and interesting so Congrats once again. Thought of sharing an old photograph. Think people like Matt Lobo would like it. Regs K.S.

Msg from Richard Johnson

Dear Radheshyam,

I am pleased you think it is a good idea. Given what you said about the number who read the Blog, would you be prepared to send the text of my message out as a bulk email? That may be a better way to 'test the water'... if that is not too much trouble for you. What do you think?

Regards

Richard

Dear Richard,
Its a great idea and would be a store house of knowledge for coming generations.
Let us await the response.
Only problem, I have the feeling is the lack of net accessibility among our boys.
They have E-mail IDs but with no accessibility to the Internet. Hence they can read my weekly E-mails but they are not reading the blog.
I told Sir, Mr. Lobo the same thing.
We are five friends of the '65 batch in Kolkata.
Only I have regular net access. The others have access only occasionally.
If we take this as the sample then among the 800 or so boys whose E Mail ID I have, only about 150 or 200 will have net accessibility.
But, it will increase gradually as boys realize the benefit.

Radheshyam.

The following message was posted on our blog.
Just in case all our boys have not read it I am repeating it here.
We would like your reactions to the suggestion made by Richard

Passing the Baton: messages from 'old boys'Š

Prior to the Centenary Reunion of '07, I wrote to the Core Committee with an idea:

It seems to me that the reunion is a great opportunity for us 'old boys' to pass something on to the current generation of Goethalites. I have visualised this idea as passing a baton in a relay. For me, a relay is a good metaphor for a reunion - it illustrates that we are all recipients of benefits from the school community passed on to us by the School, the Christian Brothers, teachers, other students etc. But the relay metaphor also gives us the responsibility to be prepared to pass something on to the current generation of students.

Basant Lama told me that Dorje Dadul (GMS '63) also had a similar idea and that we could have some time to run such an activity. We did and I believe it was well attended and very successful. Brother Michael Beddoe gave it his full support and opened the session. You will see a few clips of that session on the Centenary Video I posted on 'YouTube' (http://youtube.com/watch?v=oAES0nVBrsc). Matthew Lobo has referred to this session in a previous Blog entry and requested a follow-up.

o My suggestion is that we write a book together called 'Passing the Baton: messages from 'old boys'Š'. Let's not worry about the title, we can change that if we wish.
o The invitation is to anyone who is an ex-student of GMS to contribute.
o Here is an initial attempt to outline the process: (1) Let's take time to discuss the idea on the Blog or via any other means (2) Send me an email to let me know if you would to contribute individually or in a small group - I will ask you for a brief outline by the end of JUNE; (3) I will ask you to submit a short biography of yourself (50 words) with a picture. When did you attend GMS? By the end of JULY (4) Next I will request (by this time we should have a panel together) you to submit your contribution: What is the message (lesson/advice) that you would like to pass on? Express that clearly and we will mark that with a symbol of a baton (see picture above) - then describe the context of that message - where did that message/piece of advice come from? The story or experience(s) whence it came. A few months should be allowed to get the last part of the process together. We may have to 'to and fro' a bit online. It will not be a matter of rejecting any ones contribution, it will be a matter of compiling it in a form and format to publish.
o Your contribution could be a page or several pages. Remember the readers for whom it is meant - students (specifically current students of GMS but it could be read by other young people wishing to learn from 'old boys') within the age group 10 to 18 years - the language must be accessible to this age group and it must be presented in a form that could be engaging - it could be humorous - with pictures/graphics - illustrations- or it could be serious 'pearls of wisdom’s
o It would be unfortunate if we believe that the only experiences worth passing on are success stories - stories of the 'great old goats' who played in Olympic teams and excelled through peak performances. They are important and their successes should be celebrated. But we should acknowledge that everyone has something worth passing on - experiences/lessons/wisdom/faith/survival/healing/family Š
o This is only an idea. It is being floated in this arena to see if there is support for it. If there is no support for it won't go ahead. If there is limited support we may be able to put together a small pamphlet; if there is a lot of support and contributions, we could have a book (that's what I am aiming for), it could even be translated into several appropriated languages - if there is call for that. Please consider the richness of the potential contributions - we are reaching out to a huge group of ex-Goethalites - all over the world and representing a multicultural mix that we can only be proud of and the glue that binds us together is that we all spent a significant part of our lives at Goethals Memorial School in the somewhat remote Hill Station of Kurseong!
o I anticipate my role to be that of the convener/the 'Anchor Man' (I now have the girth for it - can't help remembering Gordon Storey being a successful Anchor Man in a memorable Tug-O-War) - I will start by gauging if there is enough support for the idea by calling for those who would even consider contributing their story to let me know - via email, on this Blog, by post of by telephone. I will let people know what's going on in a regular report on this Blog. If I get a sufficient response to aim for a book, I will openly, in this Blog call for a team to be formed to be the 'reference group' - either in reps for eras of attendance at GMS: Before 60's - 1960 to 1970; 1970 to 1980; 1980 to 1990; 1990 to 2000; 2000 to 2007 OR we could have reps for regions - Sikkim, Nepal, Kolkata, Delhi, Mumbai, Australia, USA, Canada - I have left several out, but you know what I mean We'll invite Matthew Lobo to be on the reference group.
o If the idea gets off the ground, we will need : sponsors to publish the book, at least one graphic artist, volunteers to help with editing, translators if we want to go down that track Š We can fill this section in as we go
o There should be no 'ownership' of this project - all contributors will be acknowledged by name - if any money is made through sales (if that's what we decide) the money should go to the appropriate Christian Brothers' Authority to sponsor 'students in need' to study at GMS.
This project could be a great opportunity for the various 'GMS old boys groups' (I think they are called 'Chapters') to get together with one focus. The thing I like about this Blog is that I don't feel aligned to any group - Radheshyam has done a great job, in keeping it neutral - let's keep it that way. I would make a special plea to all GMS 'Old Boys' to get on board and contribute to: Passing the Baton: messages from 'old boys'Š
Contact Details:
Dr Richard Johnson
Faculty of Arts and Education
Deakin University
221 Burwood Highway
Burwood 3125
Victoria, Australia
Phone: +61 3 92446438
Email: rjj@deakin.edu.au

Msg From Santosh Prasad

Hello Santosh,

Thanks for your kind words.
Whatever I am is because of Goethals.
We had very good teachers and a very good library from where I got into the habit of reading.
Santosh, I do not seem to have recived your PDF.
It would be good if you could send it as it would help in connecting us better.
I am just attaching it again here, in case yu may have missed it.
Cheers,

Radheshyam

Hello Sir,
I am Santosh Prasad and appeared for board from Goethals in 1999.
Thank you for all the effort you have been putting up in binding us together even after the centenary celebrations.You write very well too. We actually have a lot to learn from you.
Thank You once again.
Looking forward to your posts.
Santosh Prasad.

Msg from Willy Wu, N P Singh Re: Sister Irene

Hi Radhesh,

This bad news had really moved me emotionally.
Like many of us who came under her wings in
our early years, she has left a very memorable
imprint in our hearts and mind.
Let us not forget her in our daily prayers.
I'm sure she is with our Heavenly Father.

Thank you and N.P Singh for taking the time
and trouble in updating me. In a way, I was
expecting this sad news, but I just could not bring
myself to accepting it until I know for sure.

Willy.

Hello Willy,
I am sorry to pass this message to you.
I am sure all who knew sister Irene will wish her peace.
Well, so life goes on.

Radheshyam
Hello Mr. Sharma in response to Mr. Willy Wu’s appeal to find out sister Irene’s whereabouts I am sorry to inform you that she passed away in the early 70’s, I cannot remember the exact year. I was in her class that year when she had to leave due to some illness and never returned, later in the year we were informed that she had passed away.
N. P. Singh

Msg from Safiul Huda

Safiul,

I know your piece was posted but that was ages ago, about one-and-half month ago to be precise and I am sure those who read you must have been thirsting for your writing as I was.
You had promised to write of the Oscars but I think you must have become busy with your holidays.
I could not locate it in my mails from you.
If you have already written it, you could send it immediately.
I am sure that too will be enjoyable.
NK told us about your visit to your place. I am sure it must have been very very pleasant.
After all that we ate at school, courtesy Bro Mark, I am sure all our wives must be having an easy time pleasing us as far as grub is concerned.
I am looking forward to your writing directly in our blog.

Radheshyam

Radheshyam:

Sorry about the silence. You must've forgotten -- I have already made
my debut. Remember, you posted my commentary on the elections in the
US. I also sent you, about that time, something about movies and
Oscars, but I did not see that posted.

Attached is something I've written about one of my hobbies, hiking, for
the blog for you to post.

I hope I'll get around to start using gmail next month.

Oh -- I HAVE got around to buying a translation of the Bhagbat Geeta
and I'm reading it. The first part seems be the inspiration for that
Bengali virtue: "Shukhay dukhay obichol." {Rough translation: By
happiness and sorrow be unperturbed}.

I had the good fortune to visit NK's wife and daughter at his
daughter's place in White Plains, NY. It was so nice to meet them.
Shoma [his wife] is not only an accomplished lady but a great cook --
you know how well that sits with ANY Goethalite from our time. She fed
us a veritable feast. It speaks to the credit of NK and Shoma that
they raised in Diya such a wonderful young lady. Open, personable,
very bright, well on track to a success and make her parents even more
proud than they already should be and pretty to boot. NK called when
we were there. I think he was regretting the fact that he wasn't
there. Hopefully, we'll meet up in the near future.

So, here attached is my 3rd contribution to the blog.

All the best.

Safiul

Hello Safiul,

Haven't you come back from your vocation?
I am still waiting for your grand entry in our blog.
I know you must have prepared a good article since you are taking so long.
As you will have noticed we now have four authors.
J K Ghosh has also bought a lap top.
He too should start contributing from Delhi.
Have you started using your G mail account
Regards

Radheshyam


Msg from Saurabh Pramanick

Dear Saurabh,
I'll do it this Saturday.
Kashmir is OK but for South you will have to give your planned itinerary because South is a very big area.
If you were more specific, you will get a better response.
Cheers
Radheshyam


Dear Sir,

An Idea that I have for your Blog. Maybe we can share our travel stories, which in turn can act like a guide to all of us, who are planning for trips and looking for inputs.

At the moment I am planning a visit to Kashmir or the South, and looking at first hand experience/feedback of anyone from our fraternity who has been there. Especially with regard to Houseboats.

Maybe you can post this message also.

Regards,

Saurabh

Dear Sir,

I will give you a brief back ground.. I am a BE and MBA with 9 years experience, mostly in the Petroleum Industry.
It would be better to give a detailed CV, once there is a response..Location preference would be Kolkata, but that is not important.

Thank you for helping out.

regards,

Saurabh
Dear Saurabh,
I'll do it coming Saturday.
Would you like to add anything else with the message.

Radheshyam

Dear Sir,

I am a batch of 89, currently based out of Dubai for the last 1 year..looking to relocate back to India.
Am wondering if you could post my msg in your blog..

Regards,

Saurabh

Msg from Partha Sengupta

Dear Partha,
No problem, I'll rectify your form.
These errors are always occurring in everybody's work. You don't have to apologize. Only those who submitted the forms could have made the errors. Those who didn’t couldn't have.
I don't watch any cricket. I don't like to be made a fool by these people. I don't gain anything if any team wins and I don't lose anything if any team loses.
The only gain I would get with all the tension and excitement would be a heart attack or an upset stomach.
While my son watches the matches in the other room, I work peacefully on my computer with the blog or my shares.
I don't like to be one of the persons who is filling BCCI coffers.
Don't think me a spoilsport. You go ahead and watch, since you enjoy the tension.

Regards

Radheshyam


Dear RS

Very very sorry.
I shall be grateful for your assistance to make the necessary corrections.

Trust you are enjoying the IPL matches especially the Kolkata Knight Riders.
Even though it seems a lot more than brain, I am quite liking them more and
more every day

Warm Regards/Partha

Dear Partha,
Thanks.
I know, for people who do not sit much in front of the computer, it must have been a great effort for you.
I used to have the same difficulty earlier.
But now, having to deal both at home and at work with computers does not bother me. In fact, I feel out of place when I am not in front of a computer.
By the way, there is some slight error in the birth dates you have sent for yourself and Anjana.
Both of you are younger than your children and Anjana is yet to be born. I agree ladies hide their ages but even you are hiding your age and become a seven year old :-)

Radheshyam


Dear RS
At last another Personal Detail Form.
I hope you will forgive the tardy attitude.
Warm Regards/Partha

Msg from Kamal Kallani

Please send me the mail of 19th.Apr. Once again. Thanks.


Hello Kamal,
I had posted the photograph I received from Willy of Sister Irene's Classs .on my post on the 19 th April, "Msg from Old Boys 18"

Radheshyam


Willy was my class friend and I would like to see the photograph. The attachment was of the was as usual, why don’t you give all the details received.

Thanks, Kamal Kallani 1971.

Msg from Gerad D’Souza

Dear Gerad,
Thank you for your kind words.
It was only during the Centenary that I realized how disconnected we were and what a potent force we could become.
I am just trying to harness those forces.
Thanks for your offer also.
As long as I can manage on my own with my son's help, I'll pull along.
If at a later date, I do require help, I'll let you know.
As a rule, we Indians are tightfisted and allow our Rupees to run much longer than Americans run their dollars, even considering that a dollar is worth Rs 40.00 :-)
Yes, Sir, Mr. Lobo, is a great person and a towering personality.
He has been connected to our School and to St Paul’s right from 1942 to 1972 and by visiting us during the centenary, he has shown that he still values the relationship.
We all salute him.

Radheshyam


Dear Radheshyam,
just wanted you to know I thoroughly enjoy your notes and great sense of humor...all the way in Chicago.A group of us from the Class of 1958 have made connections with your assistance and I'll repeat what I've said before
that you are providing us a great service. Count me as one who is very willing to support any financial needs for
this project. God Bless you. Gerry
PS I am also in touch with Matt Lobo who taught me cricket/hockey in the 1956-1958 period. He taught my brother
Ivan D'Souza for several years 1957-60

Passing the Baton: messages from ‘old boys’…

 

Prior to the Centenary Reunion of '07, I wrote to the Core Committee with an idea:

It seems to me that the reunion is a great opportunity for us 'old boys' to pass something on to the current generation of Goethalites. I have visualised this idea as passing a baton in a relay. For me, a relay is a good metaphor for a reunion - it illustrates that we are all recipients of benefits from the school community passed on to us by the School, the Christian Brothers, teachers, other students etc. But the relay metaphor also gives us the responsibility to be prepared to pass something on to the current generation of students.

Basant Lama told me that Dorje Dadul (GMS '63) also had a similar idea and that we could have some time to run such an activity. We did and I believe it was well attended and very successful. Brother Michael Beddoe gave it his full support and opened the session. You will see a few clips of that session on the Centenary Video I posted on 'YouTube' (http://youtube.com/watch?v=oAES0nVBrsc). Matthew Lobo has referred to this session in a previous Blog entry and requested a follow-up.

o My suggestion is that we write a book together called 'Passing the Baton: messages from 'old boys'Š'. Let's not worry about the title, we can change that if we wish.
o The invitation is to anyone who is an ex-student of GMS to contribute.
o Here is an initial attempt to outline the process: (1) Let's take time to discuss the idea on the Blog or via any other meansŠ (2) Send me an email to let me know if you would to contribute individually or in a small group - I will ask you for a brief outline by the end of JUNE; (3) I will ask you to submit a short biography of yourself (50 words) with a picture. When did you attend GMS? By the end of JULY (4) Next I will request (by this time we should have a panel together) you to submit your contribution: What is the message (lesson/advice) that you would like to pass on? Express that clearly and we will mark that with a symbol of a baton (see picture above) - then describe the context of that message - where did that message/piece of advice come from? The story or experience(s) whence it came. A few months should be allowed to get the last part of the process together. We may have to 'to and fro' a bit online. It will not be a matter of rejecting any ones contribution, it will be a matter of compiling it in a form and format to publish.
o Your contribution could be a page or several pages. Remember the readers for whom it is meant - students (specifically current students of GMS but it could be read by other young people wishing to learn from 'old boys') within the age group 10 to 18 years - the language must be accessible to this age group and it must be presented in a form that could be engaging - it could be humorous - with pictures/graphics - illustratedŠ - or it could be serious 'pearls of wisdom'Š
o It would be unfortunate if we believe that the only experiences worth passing on are success stories - stories of the 'great old goats' who played in Olympic teams and excelled through peak performances. They are important and their successes should be celebrated. But we should acknowledge that everyone has something worth passing on - experiences/lessons/wisdom/faith/survival/healing/family Š
o This is only an idea. It is being floated in this arena to see if there is support for it. If there is no support for it won't go ahead. If there is limited support we may be able to put together a small pamphlet; if there is a lot of support and contributions, we could have a book (that's what I am aiming for), it could even be translated into several appropriated languages - if there is call for that. Please consider the richness of the potential contributions - we are reaching out to a huge group of ex-Goethalites - all over the world and representing a multicultural mix that we can only be proud of and the glue that binds us together is that we all spent a significant part of our lives at Goethals Memorial School in the somewhat remote Hill Station of Kurseong!
o I anticipate my role to be that of the convenor/the 'Anchor Man' (I now have the girth for it - can't help remembering Gordon Storey being a successful Anchor Man in a memorable Tug-O-War) - I will start by gauging if there is enough support for the idea by calling for those who would even consider contributing their story to let me know - via email, on this Blog, by post of by telephone. I will let people know what's going on in a regular report on this Blog. If I get a sufficient response to aim for a book, I will openly, in this Blog call for a team to be formed to be the 'reference group' - either in reps for eras of attendance at GMS: Before 60's - 1960 to 1970; 1970 to 1980; 1980 to 1990; 1990 to 2000; 2000 to 2007 OR we could have reps for regions - Sikkim, Nepal, Kolkata, Delhi, Mumbai, Australia, USA, Canada - I have left several out, but you know what I meanŠ We'll invite Matthew Lobo to be on the reference group.
o If the idea gets off the ground, we will need : sponsors to publish the book, at least one graphic artist, volunteers to help with editing, translators if we want to go down that track Š We can fill this section in as we goŠ
o There should be no 'ownership' of this project - all contributors will be acknowledged by name - if any money is made through sales (if that's what we decide) the money should go to the appropriate Christian Brothers' Authority to sponsor 'students in need' to study at GMS.
This project could be a great opportunity for the various 'GMS old boys groups' (I think they are called 'Chapters') to get together with one focus. The thing I like about this Blog is that I don't feel aligned to any group - Radheshyam has done a great job, in keeping it neutral - let's keep it that way. I would make a special plea to all GMS 'Old Boys' to get on board and contribute to: Passing the Baton: messages from 'old boys'Š
Contact Details:
Dr Richard Johnson
Faculty of Arts and Education
Deakin University
221 Burwood Highway
Burwood 3125
Victoria, Australia
Phone: +61 3 92446438
Email: rjj@deakin.edu.au

A Hiking We Will Go

Hello friends,
Safiul has come back after recharging his batteries to give us his beautiful account of the many hiking trips he has undertaken.
His account makes you feel you are part of the trip.
Reminds me of our own trip to Tiger Hill and The Balason valley.
I really liked it.

Radheshyam

Oh to be in England, now that Spring is here.
Oh to be in England, drinking English beer!

But I’m in New England. Furthermore, I don’t drink any alcoholic beverage, beer or otherwise. Yet it is spring and the blooms are everywhere, tulips are pushing up out of the soil, forsythia and cherry are wafting gently in the breeze. So, perhaps for persons such as myself this would be truer:
Phool khiley shakhon mey nayi
Aur dard puraney yaad aaye.”
[Rough translation: Blossoms flower on boughs anew;
And Oh! recall they old melancholies too.]
Actually, such shayeree also is no longer applicable. Sweethearts, who inflicted sweet hurts, are now long vanished from memory.

Nevertheless, winter is over, the skis have been put away and if “In the Spring a young man's fancy lightly turns to thoughts of love”, what’s an old man to do? -- Go hiking!

No better place to do that than here in good old New England. I call walking on paved surfaces walking and walking on trails hiking. Even tiny Connecticut has some 400 to 500 miles [644 to 805 kilometers] of blazed trails. Blazes are painted marks placed on trees in a scheme such that soon after the hiker passes one blaze, the next blaze comes into view. By following blazes a hiker remains on the trail. Surprising how easy it is to get utterly lost by wandering off the trail. Above the tree line [elevation above which trees do not grow], blazes are placed on boulders. Lacking boulders, cairns [stacks of rocks] are built to mark the trail.

Hiking on a trail is at least twice as strenuous [often much more so] than hiking the same distance on a paved surface. If you pack a lunch, water, and extra clothing, as you should, that dramatically increases the expenditure of energy. But the rewards of hiking are not just salubrious. Even in taciturn New England, you’re going to meet the friendliest folks while hiking. That sensation of achievement upon accomplishing a goal with hard effort is also tremendous. Many claim to feel a “hiker’s high”. I’ve not experienced it, or not recognized it as anything other than exhaustion. Although, I have experienced “a second wind”, which is pleasant, but hardly what I’d imagine a “high” should be. I usually pick hikes that culminate in a peak with views [or a waterfall or some feature of note] – and gazing upon that vista, one that few people get to see [because they can’t drive up to it], is akin to “earning it”, or “winning it”, like a prize.

Our “walks” towards the end of the school year in Goethals, by my definition, would be called hikes. I remember most of the boys hated them, because they took away [once a week] regular games. Others, like me, klutzy and uncoordinated, therefore, no jocks, secretly liked them. Around that time, I read a book, written in Bangla, called “Charanik” [rough translation: “Hiker”] by a Bengali who had hiked around Germany in the 50’s when he was student there. By these events [going on ‘walks’, reading a captivating book on hiking at an impressionable age], a seed must have been planted in me. But that seed lay dormant because I really didn’t do any hiking before coming to New England two and a half decades later.

Here was the perfect soil for my hiking seed to germinate. There is a culture of hiking in these parts. There are businesses catering to hikers, books on hiking, hiking clubs. There are a huge number of volunteers who give up their time to maintain trails, to clear brush, cut away fallen trees, repaint faded blazes, reroute trails, fix trail shelters, pick up trash, etc. Aptly are they often referred to as “trail angels.” There are gorgeous hikes in New Hampshire, Vermont and Maine and pretty ones in Massachusetts and Connecticut. The germinating seed sprouted. Soon I converted my immediate near and dear to a family of hikers.

On a hike in Massachusetts 20 years ago, my wife felt utterly exhausted. This was remarkable enough to warrant a doctor’s visit. That’s how we found out our son was getting ready to see the world! Our hiking did not stop, we simply took easier trails. In that sense, my son has been hiking since before he was born. After he was born, before he could crawl, sit up or stand, he went on hikes with us carried in his Snugli. You know how women in North Bengal [Jalpaiguri, Darjeeling] carry children on their back, slung in a sari or kantha [quilt stitched from old saris]? Well, Snugli is a commercial version of that sling – that carries the baby in front snuggled against you body. When he grew bigger, I carried him in a carrier [a backpack adapted to carry a child]. Now, of course, I’m just too irritatingly slow for him to go hiking with. He has been a leader for 3-day overnight orientation hikes for freshmen at his college. As for my wife, whatever her other idiosyncrasies, she’s a great sport when it comes to hikes. She’s terrified of heights. Yet, she has come on hikes where the trail was so steep that iron rungs were planted in the rocks to provide handholds. Below gaped hundreds of feet of abyss.

I’m not very regular in my hiking. But I’m the most regular of the three of us. When I first started, I did as many different hikes as possible. As the season progressed, I would become fitter; more difficult terrain would become a breeze to negotiate – with aplomb and tirelessness, with an impatient quickness. All that’s gone with the wind. Now, the first hike of the week is nice, because I’m rested. The second is slightly onerous. The third is tiring despite being undertaken at a slower pace. Also, I’m growing increasingly paranoid. Lyme, Connecticut, is the town from which Lyme disease, carried by the deer tick, gets its name. Since deer infest the land here, Lyme disease is rampant. So now I mostly hike on one selected trail. I’ve chosen it because it is broad, so I don’t have to brush against bushes or step on grass – and so the ticks that inhabit grass and bushes don’t have a chance to latch on to me. Of course, I could be jumped by ticks in my back yard, but that somehow does not bother me. Now that the bear population is thriving hugely, perhaps deer numbers will be dampened and Lyme disease will become less prevalent.

I hike alone. Usually on a hike, the only companion I have is this lovely lady called mama nature. Some years ago, I was on a loop trail and a part of it had been closed off, so it was no longer a loop. But I refused to get the hint and continued on the closed trail. I crossed a boggy area on logs. Then the brush encroaching on the trail got thicker and finally impenetrable. So I was forced to turn back. As I was re-crossing the boggy area on the slimy algae covered logs, I found myself on my back with a thump. I have a bad back and I fell on it. Lucky for me, in my daypack was a half-full 2-liter bottle of water that cushioned my fall and saved my back. But think how dangerous it could have been. This was before cell phones were ubiquitous. If I had hurt my back and been unable to get up, since it was a closed trail, and in any case unfrequented, it would have been days before I was discovered! So this is another reason why I always hike the one particular, selected, trail – it is popular, there are bound to be hikers that come along sometime during any given day.

Yet another reason why I always hike the particular, selected, popular trail is that at about the same time as my fall, I saw this movie called “The Blair Witch Project.” Have you seen it? It’ll speak to you if you have had the experience of hikes on lonely, leaf covered trails past abandoned homes exactly like the ones in the movie. Once you see the movie, such utterly deserted trails vanishing into the trees will seem, when you are all by your lonesome, scary rather than picturesque. So I started avoiding them. Before I knew it, there I was, mostly hiking on one single, highly popular, wide trail. It became a habit, like taking a certain route to and from work without thinking. [Seems like a winning strategy. Why, just this Saturday (April 19) I took a different trail and did not meet a single person. I have hiked it several times before, but this time, since there is yet no foliage on the trees, only a few yards off-trail, became visible the ruins of a home. The Blair witch swiftly entered the mind as evidenced by goose bumps that appeared on ye olde body.]

The season guaranteed to be tick free is winter. I had not done much hiking in the snow. This winter just past though, I bought myself snow shoes. Just staying outside in the cold makes the body burn calories trying to stay warm. In addition, walking with snow shoes on flat ground is as difficult as a hike up a bare rocky trail in normal conditions. So walking up a trail, huffing and puffing for all I was worth, I felt very much like the little engine that could. But still, I loved winter hiking. Later I bought special cleats, like crampons to attach to my snow boots and liked them better than snow shoes. There is something exhilarating about hiking in soft snow in bitter cold as gently falling flakes surround and cover you in white, not a soul around, utter silence prevailing. It is magical. You gain a new understanding of Robert Frost.

Hiking in New England in the Fall is indescribable. The colors are spectacular, they have to be seen. Whole mountainsides are set ablaze in a riot of colors by nature. There is a catch, of course. Sometime during Fall, hunting season starts and crazed people with IQ’s in double digits are let loose in the woods with guns. They’ll shoot at anything that moves in their line of sight. In Michigan, I saw a cow on the sides of which the farmer had written in large letters “C-O-W’ hoping to prevent some aspiring Daniel Boone from bringing it down as a prize trophy. [The NRA wants to give them assault rifles to accomplish this goal!]

The King of trails on the East Coast is the Appalachian Trail. Pronounced appa-la-chi-yan south of and appa-lay-chun north of the Mason-Dixon Line, lovingly referred all over as the AT. Its southern terminus is on the summit of Springer Mountain in Georgia and its northern terminus is some 2,100 miles [3,379 km] away on the summit of Mount Katahdin in Maine. The Appalachians are worn down, gentle, ancient mountains. The Trail [AT] picks the most strenuous route through them. About the least strenuous segment is the 50 miles [80.5 km] in Connecticut. But even here, when you get on the AT, you realize immediately that it is a different breed of cat.

We’ve walked sections of the AT in Virginia, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine. Currently some 200 people do the entire trail from south to north at one go, camping on the way, carrying their food, clothing and sleeping gear in a backpack. It takes most of them six months. They lose all their body fat and a huge percentage of their body weight despite eating amazing quantities of rich food any chance they get [when they come into a town to restock]. They are called through- hikers. Ten times that number start at Springer. A friend and I are dreaming of through-hiking the AT after retirement [background laughter].

Our best and toughest hike ever was a hike up the AT to its terminus on Katahdin. The latter sits smack dab in the middle of remarkably wild [pretty much guaranteed to see moose] Baxter State Park in Maine. The Park is “limited access.” You have to line up at one gate before 6:00AM [the time it opens] because after the small number of day users [including campers already there] is reached, no one else is allowed in. At the start of each trail is a register wherein you need to put your name before starting and after finishing.

We were the first to sign in. Our trail’s starting elevation was about 1000 feet [305 meters] and it climbed to the peak at 5,267 feet [1,605 meters]. In 5.4 miles [8.69 kilometers]. That’s like climbing from Siliguri to higher than Kurseong railway station, but in one-sixth the distance! It took us six hours! Every other group that took that trail that day passed us. The temperature at the bottom was close to 90 degrees F [32 degrees Centigrade] so that the summit temp in the high 50’s [say, 14 degrees C], with a ferocious wind blowing, felt chilly.

The tree line is about 3,000 feet [914 meters] in this region. The trail is just spectacular. Especially above tree line. Those rocks that looked like scree covering the top half of the mountain turn out to be desk-sized, car sized and even house-sized boulders. Below lies innumerable ponds [in New England, lakes are called ponds], “like shards of a broken mirror” as someone said. Within some you may see a muddy circle in the clean water centered on a black dot. That black dot is a moose feeding.

At the summit you can sit on a cliff that falls 2000 feet [610 meters] down to a pond. Another trail, clearly visible from the summit, can only have the name it does -- “Knife Edge.” It is about two to three feet [slightly less than 1 meter] wide, with sheer rock cliffs dropping thousands of feet on either side. We didn’t even think about taking that. Absolutely fierce winds were a constant and a sudden gust could push a person over in a moment of inattentiveness or carelessness. [Later we did a trail in Haleakala in Maui (Hawaii) which had a short similar section but felt friendly maybe because the sheer slopes had trees and scrubby grass instead of being pitiless, hard, jagged rock.]

We couldn’t enjoy the view for long. Had to hurry back. It took us seven hours to climb down the same 5.4 miles [8.69 km] – remember my wife’s fear of heights? –height is more in your face when climbing down. Every other group passed us. We were the last to sign out. There were thunderstorms complete with lightning drenching the surrounding peaks. This was scary. Soaked, it is easy to die of hypothermia on these mountains, especially when strong winds are blowing, even in the height of summer. Finally we had to use flashlights to discern the trail. Eventually we made it and collapsed onto the car’s seats. Believe it or not, directly we did that, within seconds, came the deluge. Somebody was looking after us that day.

So – go for it, experience the adventure, know that feeling of achievement, see the wondrously beautiful face of creation, push yourself to your utmost physical ability, get the “high”, do it all quietly and without fanfare, taking only pictures, leaving only footprints– take a hike!

Safiul

Indian Cow-An Essay

Hello friends,

English is now considered an International language and you must have a working knowledge of it if you want to do any international business or want any technical or medical education.
Our north Indian politicians have wasted no opportunity in denigrating it and trying to impose a two language formula throughout India. This has resulted in division of India but what do they care as long as they win elections. We have thus divisions on language, caste and sub-caste, religion. They are no better than the British who divided and ruled India for so long.At least the British gave us a corruption free and efficient administration.
I wish I could say the same for our present politicians.

This step motherly treatment of English has resulted in the offering of the sample essay on "Indian Cow" written by a UPSC (IAS) candidate from North India. I would not like to mention the state so that no particular state can takes offence.
Read it. I promise, you will forget your English.

Radheshyam



HE IS THE COW. "The cow is a successful animal. Also he is 4 footed, And because he is female, he give milks, [but will do so when he is got child]. He is same like God, sacred to Hindus and useful to man. But he has got four legs together. Two are forward and two are afterwards. His whole body can be utilized for use. More so the milk. Milk comes from 4 taps attached to his basement. [Horses don't have any such attachment]

What can it do? Various ghee, butter, cream, curd, why and the condensed milk and so forth. Also he is useful to cobbler, waterman's and mankind generally. His motion is slow only because he is of lazy species, Also his other motion.. gober is much useful to trees, plants as well as for making flat cakes [like Pizza], in hand and drying in the sun.

Cow is the only animal that extricates his feeding after eating. Then afterwards she chews with his teeth that are situated in the inside of the mouth. He is incessantly in the meadows in the grass. His only attacking and defending organ is the horns, especially so when he is got child. This is done by knowing his head whereby he causes the weapons to be paralleled to the ground of the earth and instantly proceed with great velocity forwards. He has got tails also, situated in the backyard, but not like similar animals. It has hairs on the other end of the other side. This is done to frighten away the flies which alight on his cohesive body hereupon he gives hit with it.

The palms of his feet are soft unto the touch. So the grasses head is not crushed. At night time have poses by looking down on the ground and he shouts. His eyes and nose are like his other relatives. This is the cow......

We are informed that the candidate passed the exam, and is now an IAS officer.

Taking Credit & Passing the Buck

Hello friends,

It is human nature to take credit for good work done, although not done by you and to pass the blame on others for poorly done work, although you may have been the culprit.
In all walks of like, whether in school, college at work or at home.
All humans have this fault to a lesser or greater degree.

However, this story tells how sometimes, this tendency backfires.

Radheshyam



Mary was to bake a cake for the church ladies' group bake sale,
but she forgot to do it until the last minute. She baked an
angel food cake and when she took it from the oven, the center
had dropped flat.

She said, "Oh dear, there's no time to bake another cake."
So, she looked around the house for something to build up the
center of the cake.

Mary found it in the bathroom... a roll of toilet paper.
She plunked it in and covered it with icing. The finished
product looked beautiful, so she rushed it to the church.

Before she left the house, Mary had given her daughter some
money and specific instructions to be at the bake sale the
minute it opened, and to buy that cake and bring it home.
When the daughter arrived at the sale, the attractive cake had
already been sold.

Mary was beside herself.

The next day, Mary was invited to a friend's home where two
tables of bridge were to be played that afternoon.

After the game, a fancy lunch was served, and to top it off, the
cake in question was presented for dessert.

Mary saw the cake, she started to get out of her chair to rush
into the kitchen to tell her hostess all about it, but before
she could get to her feet, one of the other ladies said,
"What a beautiful cake!"

Mary sat back in her chair when she heard the hostess
(who was a prominent church member) say:

"Thank you, I baked it myself."

Relationship- Wealth & Happiness

Dear Thondup and Friends

This article, (12th April 2008) comes from the “West Australian” and it sent ME a clear message. I think that everyone of us is guilty to some degree of what Professor A. C. Grayling writes about so succinctly.
Share it and hopefully we’ll make living more meaningful and fruitful.
Matt

A WEALTH OF POSSIBILITIES IN PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS
Getting rich does not necessarily mean becoming happy, but to be happy is more than riches, professor of philosophy A. C. Grayling writes from London.


It comes as no surprise to learn from a study published this week that, although Britons are twice as rich as they were in 1987, they are no, happier. The lack of relationship between wealth and happiness has long been common knowledge, and the knowledge itself has long been a source of happiness to moralizers who like the fact that money is not life's answer.

There are, though, two confusions in the idea that anything significant can be discovered by looking for a correlation between wealth and happiness. One concerns the nature of happiness, the other the nature of wealth.

If you could arrange for Britain's population to make a sudden return to 1987 levels of income and possessions, almost everybody would be unhappy. As wealth increases, so do expectations, and so does being accustomed to the lifestyle that the new level of wealth brings. For most people it is likely that wealth has to improve for their happiness to remain constant; if wealth were to decline, so would happiness.

The important point here is that "happiness" is too vague and baggy a notion to be truly helpful. It is like an old pair of knickers that has-lost its elastic and become 1 over-capacious and shapeless. Instead of talking about happiness, one should talk I about satisfaction, achievement, interest, engagement, enjoyment, growth and the constant opening 6f fresh possibilities. Very often the activities that yield these things are challenging, even effortful. A person doing something objectively worthwhile might not describe himself as happy — usually he will be too absorbed to notice —.and only later realise that to be happy is to be absorbed in something worthwhile.

If mere happiness were the point, we could easily achieve it for everyone by suitably medicating the water supply. But it has often been well said that the surest way to unhappiness is to seek happiness directly. Instead, happiness comes as a sideline of other endeavours that in themselves bring satisfaction and a sense of achievement. It is like the dot of light hi a dark room that one, cannot see when looking directly at it, but notices out of the corner of one's eye on looking away.

The other confusion concerns wealth. If a person has a million dollars in the bank and never touches a cent of it, or a huge mansion and never occupies it, it is the same as if he had neither the money nor the house. What this shows is that wealth is not so much what one has, but what one does with it. A man who has $1000 and spends it on a wonderful trip to the Galapagos Islands is a rich man indeed: the experiences, the things learnt, the differences wrought in him by both, are true wealth. If you would like to know how rich a person is, you need to ask not how much money he has, but how much he has spent.

This idea is associated with the wise teaching that the philosophers and poets of antiquity never tired of repeating: that a rich person is he who has enough. If his needs are modest and his habits frugal, then so long as his resources provide enough, he is rich.

But the man is poor who, despite owning millions, restlessly yearns for more because he feels he cannot have enough, and in particular who lacks the things money cannot buy — ah yes, for these unpurchasable treasures can never be left out of the picture: friendship, love, a sound digestion and a reliable, natural ability to sleep at nights, are indispensable to the possibility of happiness, if not directly supplying it.

In thinking about happiness and wealth, one should avoid using the words "happiness" and "wealth", and think instead of more accurate and more substantial words.

To mention satisfaction and achievement is to suggest activity of some kind—- doing and making, helping, learning, changing — which might seem obvious to most, but is chosen by surprisingly few.

English author John Ruskin tellingly remarked "a man wrapped up hi himself makes a very small parcel", and this, alas, characterises too many people.

The true equation between happiness and wealth is this: that happiness is wealth.

Unlike wealth in the form of money and possessions, such happiness can never be quantified, only felt; and if one has it, it does not matter if the level of it always stays the same.

A. C. Grayling is professor of philosophy at Birkbeck College, University of London

Thoughts on Tibet….

Dear Mr. Sharma,

Just thought I’d share my expression of concern over the visible injustice in Tibet....please share it if you think it’s post-worthy.
Warm Regards,

Viraj.

"China's image seems to have taken a few jabs and their much-awaited "coming out party" already has a dark cloud hovering on it. To use an Americanism, “it has started raining on their parade”.

Although the US House of Representatives passed a resolution (413 to 1) in favor of censuring China over its treatment of Tibet, asking the Chinese government to initiate dialogue with His Holiness The Dalai Lama, one has to consider the terms of US-China trade relations. US corporations, the pillars of power and patronage in that country, are heavily invested in China and are expecting large revenue streams. Heavily dependent on cheap Chinese manufactures, especially in slower times, the growing US-China trade deficit becomes a political instrument to China’s advantage.

What’s baffling however, is the obsequiousness of the Indian government in allowing the Olympic torch to pass. This seems a little out of character. Have the temptations of globalization obliterated the ability to empathize? One is inclined to submit to a growing theoretical construct that describes India’s liberalization as “the IMF’s direct rule”. Of course, US policy on world trade, the double standards on China and human rights and the power of foreign direct investment, leaves little room for any major heartbreak over a minor non-entity like Tibet!

Msgs from Old Boys 18

This photograph of 1963 Class has been sent by Willy.
Thanks Willy !!

Msg from Willy Wu

Hello Willy,
Thanks for your greeting.
Thanks for sending the photo.
Sister Irene was also my first teacher in School, of course we knew her as Miss Ackoy.
I had posted your appeal on the blog but did not receive a reply.
I'll just repeat it again

Radheshyam
PS:Errol, could you help me help Willy.

Hi Radesh,

Greetings to you and your wife.
If you recall, sometime back I asked
you if there is anyone out there who
can locate Sister Irene.
To date I've no feedback yet.

I'm forwarding a class picture of her
taken in 1963. I am in the last row,
third from the left ( a cheeky short kid).

I really want to know if she is still around.

Thanks,

Willy

Msg from Thondup Sherpa

Addressed to Sir, Mr. Lobo
17th April 08

Dear Sir,

Thank you for keeping me in the loop on this mail.

If Happiness were to be synonymous with Wealth ( or is it supposed to be otherwise ? ) then I guess Bill Gates, Warren Buffet and the Johnny -Come-Lately(s) from India would have cornered all the Happiness and would have created a worldwide shortage... something like the Mullahs with the OPEC oil. They have all the money and the wherewithal’s to get more of the same BUT are they the happiest folks ????? I rest my case....and excuse me while scratch my beard with my right hand and write a cheque for Osama with my Left. .

As always....

Yours obediently

thondup

A joke from Lalit Narayan

The owner of a company tells his employees:
You worked very hard this year. The company's profits increased
Dramatically.
As a reward, I 'll give everyone a check for Rs 5000.
If you work with the same zeal next year, I'll sign those checks.

Msg from Navnit Baral

Hello Navnit,

Thanks for your mail.
Your point is taken.
In future all mails will go to bcc as suggested by you.
It was dumb of me. not to have thought of it earlier.
Yes, it is a bother having to go through all the E Mail ID's and then read the message.
Thanks for the suggestion.
I don't seem to have received your personal data as yet.
Any problem in sending it?
When you see that politicians making a fool of the people, one cannot help but react. Unfortunately, we who passed out of schools like Goethals cannot be rabble-rousers and stoop to their level. Hence, writing is the only solution. They say, the pen is mightier than the sword. At present, our opinions do not count as we are lone voices, but at some point of time, when people realize the magnitude of the problem being created by these politicians, a revolution will come about.
Who knew, some years back that the Maoists would capture power in Nepal.
But they have been able to depose of the present king who came to power by having King Mahendra murdered (so people suspect). People there did not appreciate the development and see the change occurring.

Radheshyam

Hi Radheshyam,
Thanks for your emails and I really admire you having the time and energy to keep us all in the loop about what’s going on with GMS. I also like that you bring up political issues about the country.

I am Navnit Baral currently from Nepal but currently in Scranton, PA. Batch of 1991.

Thank you for all your effort

PS. Could you add all the email addresses to the BCC field instead of the to or cc.


Msg from N K Sircar

Dear Rad:

Thanks for your message; presently I am in Richmond, BC Canada with BC Ferries Canada, as Senior Chief Engineer attending Dry-docking & Refit of the Large Passenger Ferry mv ` Queen of Burnaby` I am staying in the Executive Airport Hotel Richmond, BC CANADA.

I am in touch with Safiul Huda. He & his wife visited White Plains, New York, USA and had dinner with my daughter & wife. Where my daughter as a Lawyer in USA is working & living in White Plains.

Unfortunately I am in Canada, Vancouver working I could not meet them.

I will meet Huda, when I get some leave, where he or me will make an effort to see each other etc.

Presently I am in Canada, BC, you & all friends can visit me & keep in touch.

God Bless you all

N.K. SIRCAR (1964 passed out from Goethals).


Msg from Keith Hayward
Subject: Money Angel

Subject: She really works!!!!!!!!! If you need money
Well! Who doesn’t need money!!! It’s free to give it a whirl!!!
Money Coming Your Way!

Money Angel
This is a money angel Pass it to 6 of your good friends,
or family and be rich in 4 Days.
Pass it to 12 of your good friends or family and be rich in 2 Days.
I am not joking. You will find an unexpected windfall. If you delete it, you
will never know!
SHE WORKS SHE REALLY WORKS!!

Msg from Edwin Bernard

Dear Edwin,
Thanks for your encouraging words.
All the relevant mail which come to me are collected and posted on our blog http://goethals1907-2007.blogspot.com/
If you click on the link provided, you will go to the blog.
You can save this link also as your bookmark so that you can access the site at any time.
This was started around September 2007 to open up the communication link between our boys so that they could reach out to each other. The link had snapped after passing from school. The centenary acted as the catalyst.
Earlier, we did not have the medium. But now when we have all the facilities why should we live such secluded lives.
Just as an example, with your mail, I have received one from Keith Hayward of my batch and one from N K Sircar of 1964 batch
The blog is developing well with the active co-operation of all our boys.
I have the communication details of two of your batch mates, Dipak Roy and U L Mehta.
If you like I could mail them

Best wishes

Radheshyam

Dear Radheshyam,
I enjoyed reading your note about post 1970 Goethalites!
Although a bit late, here's my personal information filled out
in the form provided.

Can you refresh me how our information is shared among
other Goethalites?

Keep up the great work.

Best wishes.

Edwin

My nomination for the No.1 Goethals Alumni ticket holder… 2008-04-18

From: Richard Johnson

In a previous contribution to this Blog, I talked about people I remembered and the large numbers I unfortunately don’t recall. However, there is one Goethalite we all remember and love – Matthew Lobo, or as Basant still says ‘Sir’. He is the epitome of all that is represented in our GMS Anthem.


My brother was in class with him, finishing their S.C. together in 1949. I have an original copy of this photograph with everyone’s signature on the back. The great thing is that we can all recognise Matt. My brother (Maurice) is in the Front row fourth from the left – he was unfortunately very unwell for a major part of his life and died several years ago. There’s a young Bro. Fitzpatrick –it was great to see him fit and well at the reunion (below).



For most of us, Matthew Lobo was the star at the reunion. Everyone remembered him and wanted to have a few moments of his time. He is the only one I know who spans a few continuous generations at Goethals.


I remember him as one I could identify with – a mentor whom I would like to be like. He was the sort of teacher who you could ask to write in your Autograph Book:
He had and still has the ability to inspire. I still regard him as a mentor and I consider myself tremendously fortunate to be able to ring him occasionally – just for a chat.


Here’s a picture I took of him in the reunion march-past.
Sincere – a true believer…
I remember his humanity and I am still inspired by his social conscience and his work to help others.












I have had the pleasure of meeting his ‘perfect match’ –Myrna (in the picture above with Matt, Rajah and KK). She is a great person in her own right but also a pillar of support and with sufficient generosity to have a husband so loved by so many.
Cheers Matt and Myrna – God Bless… keep well…

Brother Fitzpatrick's (1981) 2nd Eleven Cricket Team

The names are a little fuzzy, but here goes....

Standing (L-R): M.Das (81), M.K. Singh (81), V. Thacker (81), J. Samuel (81), P.Thacker (82), S. Chaudhary (82), P. Bhattacharya (82), Grewal and D.Kejriwal (81).
The others (L-R): Kar, Shrivastava (82), R. Mazumdar (82) and R.Mitra (82).

"We had a fairly decent season; won against NP, beat Mount Hermon's, drew against Victoria and were thrashed by the Paulites! Enjoyed a couple of outings in Darjeeling and of course, Br. Fitzpatrick's excellent guidance and company".

A Modern Parable.

Dear Friends
Thought I would share this with you….. TOYOTA vs FORD
If this isn`t a study in contrast Management, then what is ?

Warm Regards

Partha
email : parthasengupta@pargindia.com

A Japanese company ( Toyota ) and an American company (Ford Motors) decided to have a canoe race on the Missouri River Both teams practiced long and hard to reach their peak performance before the race.

On the big day, the Japanese won by a mile.

The Americans, very discouraged and depressed, decided to investigate the reason for the crushing defeat. A management team made up of senior management was formed to investigate and recommend appropriate action.

Their conclusion was the Japanese had 8 people rowing and 1 person steering, while the American team had 8 people steering and 1 person rowing.

Feeling a deeper study was in order, American management hired a consulting company and paid them a large amount of money for a second opinion.

They advised, of course, that too many people were steering the boat, while not enough people were rowing.

Not sure of how to utilize that information, but wanting to prevent another loss to the Japanese, the rowing team's management structure was totally reorganized to 4 steering supervisors, 3 area steering superintendents and 1 assistant superintendent steering manager.

They also implemented a new performance system that would give the 1 person rowing the boat greater incentive to work harder. It was called the 'Rowing Team Quality First Program,' with meetings, dinners and free pens for the rower. There was discussion of getting new paddles, canoes and other equipment, extra vacation days for practices and bonuses.

The next year the Japanese won by two miles.

Humiliated, the American management laid off the rower for poor performance, halted development of a new canoe, sold the paddles, and canceled all capital investments for new equipment. The money saved was distributed to the Senior Executives as bonuses and the next year's racing team was out-sourced to India .

Sadly, The End.

Here's something else to think about: Ford has spent the last thirty years moving all its factories out of the US , claiming they can't make money paying American wages.

TOYOTA has spent the last thirty years building more than a dozen plants inside the US . The last quarter's results:

TOYOTA makes 4 billion in profits while Ford racked up 9 billion in losses.

Ford folks are still scratching their heads.

IF THIS WEREN'T SO TRUE IT MIGHT BE FUNNY..

Precautions when Driving.

This is a continuation of my earlier article “Precautions at Home”.

I had a Enfield Crusader in Patna for 4 years and a Rajdoot in Durgapur and Kolkata for about 6 years averaging over 20 kms daily. I had to give up my driving about 15 years ago because of Lumbar Spondilytis. I have never driven a car because I could not afford it. When our family feels the need, we hire a taxi. My younger brother also has a “Hero Honda” and my between my sons, the younger has a “Kinetic” and the elder has a “Enfield Bullet”
A two-wheeler is a very dangerous vehicle to drive and unless you are extraordinarily careful, you are sure to have an accident. Between the four of us, we have had a good share of all types of accidents and my attempt today is to help you avoid them.

ANTICIPATION:
Anticipation is very important in driving. Besides learning to use the clutch, brake, accelerator and steering, this is the most important element of driving, rather more important than the others. You have to calculate in your mind and anticipate the following events.

1. When a car is slowing down you must anticipate somebody is going to open a door on either side to get out. So you should keep safe distance on whichever side you are trailing the car
2. When you are trailing a bus to overtake it from the wrong side you may expect somebody to get off the bus right in front of you, especially if it is slowing down
3. When you are trailing another vehicle, you may expect it to stop suddenly, so keep stoppable distance
4. If a bus has come to a halt you may expect a person to pop out in front of the bus to cross the road so you should slow down to a stoppable speed when overtaking the bus.
5. If you are going to pass a tri-junction or a cross road, you must expect some slow or fast moving vehicle to suddenly drive across in front of you. So be careful
6. When you are overtaking a vehicle, you may expect another vehicle to come from the opposite side in front of you to block your path, so be ready to slow down or brake
7. When turning left of right, keep safe distance as some drivers suddenly swerve to overtake other vehicles
8. When you are following a vehicle and you see another vehicle come from the opposite side. You estimate you may be able to overtake the vehicle in front of you and pass the oncoming vehicle. But at the last moment you find you have miscalculated. It is better to wait before trying to overtake
9. When passing schools and playgrounds, you must expect a child will suddenly come dashing in font of you
10. When passing cinema halls and other public functions places also you may expect somebody to suddenly to dash out to go to # 1, especially in India.
11. While driving you see a pile of loose sand or gravel lying or any liquid (not necessarily oil) on the road. You should slow your speed drastically as your tyres will skid.
12. When carrying a pillion rider, be sure the pillion is properly seated before moving forward.
13. When crossing tram tracks of railway tracks, cross the tracks as far as possible at a near right angle as other wise your vehicle will skid
14. Both sides of tarred roads have loose soil and the level sometimes goes 3 or 4 inches below the tarred road.
When again climbing on the road, you should climb at near right angle as otherwise the tyres will skid or wait for both to attain same level

All the above points are equally valid for 4-wheeler drivers also but there is a difference.
The two-wheeler driver will hurt himself besides the opposite party in all the above case but in most cases the four-wheeler driver will hurt the opposite party and will himself be unscathed.
So the above anticipation/precaution is especially important for two wheeler drivers.

My elder son has had accidents because of points 1 and 7.
I was traveling pillion with my younger son Jay when we became victims to point 4
During my driving days I fell victim to 1, 8, 11,13,14. I had been brought down by the tram tracks on Kolkata roads on three or four occasions. Fortunately, the government has now levelled the tracks with the roads. Now there should be fewer accidents in Kolkata because of 13.
A long time back a distant relative of mine had asked his sister to sit pillion behind him while he drove the scooter. Before his sister could mount properly he drove off leaving his sister standing. Luckily she had not attached herself to the scooter or there would have been a big accident.

Because all three of us usually drive at moderate speeds and probably God has been protective to us. we have been spared any major mishap.
My younger brother has had some major accidents because of lack of sleep.
This is a very serious cause, which I have kept for the last.
You should never drive when you are sleepy or have had more for the road than is good for you, for you will not realize it but may doze off in short spans, which could be fatal.
My brother, fortunately, rather our whole family is not into anything stronger than orange juice.
Two accidents he had when first time a Kolkata Corporation truck and second time a taxi hit him while overtaking him from behind.
Well, when another vehicle hits you from behind, only God can save you. He was lucky to be saved after some two weeks of hospitalisation in case 1 and one week in case 2.

When I started riding the two wheelers in Patna, I had read a book on driving.
I don't remember the name.
In the book,the author comments that while driving, you must think the other persons driving around you are madmen,your enemies, out to get you.
It is in your interest that you prevent them from getting you.
When you lie on the street, writhing in pain, or some unknown people are carrying you to the morgue, what does it matter who was to blame for the accident. If you were not to blame, your family is not going to get you back, or you are not going to be rewarded.
Your family will miss you for the rest of their lives.
Don't let that happen.

Radheshyam

Goethals: 1979-82

Posted is a minor collection of random pictures from 79-82 ....... this was a different time for GMS...the rigorous ICSE curriculum put Goathalites under some substantial academic pressure ....the essence of the era is perhaps best captured in the following:

"As November rolled along, I remember our return to School after the Puja Holidays….not a bad stretch, considering that after "Diwali" there were just a few weeks before the finals and then the glorious winter holidays! The prospect of hitting the warm plains always seemed heavenly as the numbing cold set in and dictated the pace of life and limb. The last minute “mugging” in the “bogs” at unearthly hours (that rolled into minutes before the official rising) followed by a skimpy “brekker” and the tedious exam regimen seem unimaginable now"!

Cheers & Good Wishes!

VPT

Precautions at Home

Every day accidents are occurring at home because of some negligence on somebody’s part.
I am mentioning some real life accidents, which have occurred in the lives of persons near to me so that others may take necessary precaution.

1. Do not keep heated oil or any other liquid at a high level.
My elder son’s sister-in-law recently burnt her hand when she tried taking down some hot oil, which she had placed on a shelf above the kitchen table. Somehow the container slipped and her whole right hand from the elbow to her palms were so thoroughly burnt with blistering that it has taken her 3 weeks to recover.
Precautions: If you do burn at anytime and you have cold water nearby, pour cold water on the burn area immediately. It will draw away heat and reduce the affect of the burn.

2. Do not keep hot material, be it oil, milk or water or your frying pan or Tawa on the floor after you complete your heating if you have small children at home.
My younger son was then two years old. M wife was at her parents place. In those days cooking was done on the floor and not on stands. She had just heated the milk and brought it down from the stove when my son came rushing in and fell, his left hand, plump in the milk pot. His hand, right up to upper arm was burnt. Fortunately his uncle, who is a doctor, was there. He immediately applied Xylocaine Jelly on the burn. You will be surprised to note that hardly any blisters formed on the burn. Xylocaine jelly is a cooling agent and is used as local anesthesia while performing minor operations.

3. This occurred many years ago just after our marriage. One of my wife’s school friends was cooking on the floor. With a gas burner. She got up to get something from behind her. Her petticoat caught fire and she received severe burns and had to be hospitalized for one week.
If you are cooking at the floor level, you must be specially careful while moving around, especially if you are wearing loose clothes like sari, petticoat or frock.

4. The tongs, which we use to hold hot materials, should also be good. About 20 years ago, the tongs my wife was using to hold the hot milk slipped and the milk fell on her stomach. She received very severe burns which took a week to heal.

Well, by now you must be wondering my family is very prone to burn accidents.
But be careful, it could happen to you also.
I am just using my 60 odd years experience to just guide you to be cautious.
Next week, I shall tell you of some other pitfalls we fall into which endangers our lives.

Radheshyam

For Those Who Remember Mr. Binod Chettri...........

Greetings Goethalites,

Here's a note I received from Mr. Binod Chettri a while ago : (Mr. Chettri has served the old school for 36 years (and counting).

Cheers for Goethals and for dear Mr. Chettri!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dear Dr. Viraj,

Peace of Christ be with you.
It's a pleasure to greet you when Christmas is here. May the Christmas message of light and cheer be with you. I wish you and your family the best of everything through a Happy New Year.

Let God shower abundance of His choicest blessings to your family and to all your dear and near ones in the ensuing season. Whenever you get time please keep on e-mailing me.
I thank you,

Closing with best wishes,

Yours faithfully,

Binod K. Chettri,
M.C. Member,

Goethals-Kurseong -Staff
Non-teaching :72-88
Teaching :89-to date.

Msgs from Old Boys 17

Msg from Brian Whiter

Hi Radheshyam

Your doing a sterling job and I enjoy reading the messages from the old goats! The only guys I know so far are Marc Sayce and Keith Wallace. They were like towering figures when I was just 10 - 11 years of age. I used to live in Park Circus and left India in 1980. I am blessed with a beautiful wife and 4 lovely children. Life is good and we are conscious of trying to lead a simple, healthy and meaningful lifestyle.
Cheers

Brian Whiter
6.04.2008

Letters sent to Editor,
Telegraph re: Bus Accident

The Editor,
The Telegraph

Sir,

As the slogan behind a bus says "My India is Great"
India is unique.
We punish good people and reward inefficiency.
Some time back his department for spreading panic unnecessarily without firm tests pulled up a doctor in rural Bengal who had first warned people of bird flue when their poultry started dying. I saw no apologies from his detractors when he was found to be correct and lakhs of chickens had to be culled.
Now, the person who is alone responsible for destroying industries in Bengal (which the present Chief Minister Budhadev Bhattacharya is desperately trying to woo back) has decided to reward his protégée by promoting him to the CPM politburo.
This said promotee is responsible for all the deaths caused by private buses on the streets of Kolkata culminating in the overturning of a private bus on VIP road and the death of 30 people.
His policy of unionizing bus employees and not taking action on errant drivers is the major cause of these accidents.
He tries to confuse the issues by saying that private cars are responsible for the accidents.
He hardly has anytime for looking after the transport department for he is too busy seeking land for promoters.
And yet people suggest he should be promoted.

R.S. Sharma
12.04.08

The Editor,
The Telegraph

Sir,

The people of Kolkata are very innovative.
At last they have found a solution for killer speeding buses and minis plying on Kolkata roads.
The passengers of the 79D buses have done a great service to Kolkata commuters by beating up the driver and conductor on 8.3.08. Since, the government has failed to take action it is left to the affected public to take action.
I have a suggestion, which may prevent this beating.
All buses and minis plying all Kolkata roads should display prominently the telephone no(s) in Lal Bazar P S specifically allotted for traffic speeding. Nowadays almost 50% of the passengers carry mobile telephones.
If any vehicle is speeding unsafely, any passenger should be able to inform Lal Bazar of the violation and the position of the vehicle and vehicle number. At least two telephones should go for any bus so that false calls are not given.
Lal Bazar should then inform the nearest traffic sergeant to pull up the vehicle and take necessary action on the driver and the front conductor for it is he who pushes the driver to increase speed.
For any second violation the driver's license should be cancelled and his details with photographs should be sent to all Motor Vehicle offices in Bengal so that he is not able to get a license from anywhere else in Bengal.
Further, all drivers, when applying for jobs should be made to give a declaration that their license has never been cancelled previously. If he gives any false declaration, he should be summarily dismissed, if found out.
Owners also should get the drivers application vetted by the motor vehicle department.

Yours sincerely,

R.S. Sharma
09.04.2008

The Editor,
The Telegraph

Sir,

I agree with Mr. Subhash Chakravarty, our Transport Minister, that neither the bus drivers nor the conductors nor the bus unions are to blame for the Keshtopur 217B bus accident.
He may have not said it, but his silence implied the above.
If anyone is to blame, it is the environmentalist and the NGO's who are always shouting that the canal is narrowing and silting.
If he was allowed, he would have handed over the canals to the promoters to fill and build buildings.
Then even if the bus had fallen, people would not have drowned.
Of course, it is another matter that the people living in low-lying areas like Bangur Avenue and Lake Town would be flooded during he monsoons. But the coffers of Subhash Chakravarty and the CPM party would be filled.
Surely, the people can bear a little disturbance in their lives for the good of the proletariat.

Yours sincerely,

R.S. Sharma
07.04.2008

Msg from Manish & Deborshi

Hello Deborshi,

Let us hope you are the first person who is able to help a fellow Goethalite. Here is your opportunity.
I'll tell you my story.
I had just passed out of college in 1972 from BIT Mesra with Mechanical Engg.
Being idealistic, I never applied in any Government jobs, as I believed all who worked in the Government become crooks.
Seeing the corruption and sloth in Government servants even now, I feel my views were justified.
I was looking for a job in a private co.
I approached a friend of my brother-in-law with my bio-data.
He spoke to his boss Mr. J P Singhi, who was a big shot in Kesoram Rayon. I had never met Mr. Singhi personally.
Mr. Singhi set the ball rolling and I was appointed in Kesoram Rayon, my first appointment.
Later I met Mr. Singhi to thank him. He informed me that he was attracted to my bio-data because I had passed from Goethals.
His son, Rajesh Singhi was studying in Goethals.
So, you see the magnet in the name Goethals.
Mr. Singhi also asked me for a favor.
He wanted his younger son, Ashok to be admitted in Goethals also and asked for my help. He told me Bro. Morrow was the Principal
I was only too willing to return the favor.
You see I had been the Head Prefect in Goethals in 1965, when Bro. Morrow was there and we enjoyed a mutual respect.
I wrote to Bro Morrow and God Bless him, Ashok was admitted.
You see, St. Paul's and St. Joseph's are schools for the upper strata of society.
We in Goethals came mostly from the middle class or upper middle class.
Our parents somehow, managed to pull us through the schooling days.
We did not have the backing of the other schools and each of us who has risen has done so with his own efforts.
So, all those who have risen in life, should try to raise the less gifted and less well off amongst us.
And the first step would be in helping employ them.
I am attaching Manish Anand's mail to see if you can do anything
Radheshyam

MANISH ANAND
YEAR OF JOINING GMS: 1992
YEAR OF PASSING: 2000
CURRENTLY PURSUING: BACHELOR OF FASHION TECHNOLOGY( Apparel Production)
NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF FASHION TECHNOLOGY (NIFT)
BANGALORE

I am now in my final year pursuing my graduation project and will be graduating in May08.
I had been offered campus placements but due to the death of the owner of the organization I was associated with, the company is the stage of selling off. As such the new management has withdrawn all offers to fresh candidates like me. Therefore I’m on the lookout for new companies that could offer me placement. Kindly let me know if i could mail my resume to Mr. Deboshri.
( I vaguely remember him as i was in class 4 then. I think sir must be of the batch of Arup Ghosh, David Lee, Navin Puri to name a few.)

Regards,
MANISH ANAND
NIFT BANGALORE
HSR LAYOUT.

Dear Mr. Sharma,

It is really good to see your efforts. It will be good if Mr. Anand's query is elaborated as I know a few people in the textile industry and may be I can help them network.

Warmest regards,

Deborshi (ICSE 94)
Deborshi Sengupta.
Director - Business Development
Builders Box (India)Pvt. Ltd.
Unit# G5-6.

Msg re: Willy Wu


Hello Charles,

I am forwarding Willy's letter, which will clear your doubt.

Radheshyam

Dear Willy,
Thanks for clearing the doubts raised by Charles Tresham.
I am forwarding your letter to him and to Mr. Lobo with the photograph.

Radheshyam

Msg from Karan Chowdhary

Cheers for ur efforts and goethals