Msg from friends 58

Msg from Charles Winchester

Hello Radheshyam,

Due apologies for the prolonged silence laddie - hope this finds you well in 2010. I write in appreciation of your faithful and regular weekly e-mail messages - thank you. Your blog provides some welcome relief from my aches and pains - you do this old fellow a great service my boy. Greatly miss my growing years in old India (1930s and early 40s) and I find myself going back to the Darjeeling District link on your blog - my short but memorable years at St. Paul's, Darjeeling - great school that - well rooted in the traditions of Eton and Ox-bridge. My later years at St. Paul's School,(Lonsdale Rd.) London, do not hold the same nostalgia - something about India and the Himalayas I'm sure. To think that the old school is closing in on year 200 - a jolly good thought for this old chap!
The Darj Dist link has brought me in contact with Old Paulites of my vintage in the UK, Australia and Canada. I am in touch with the young man Dr.Thacker - pukka chap and a true Paulite of the older tradition - I've come to understand that St. Paul's has been a family tradition with the Thackers for three generations - serious business that.
Terrible what's happening Down Under - attacks on young law abiding students - shameful - Aussies need to reinstate the old sense of fair play and stop this tamasha.
I see your family is growing lad - congratulations and may the Lord grant you and yours a wonderful 2010.
An old topeewala,
Charles Winchester (The Third), Christchurch, NZ.
PS- A word of thanks to my grandson Andrew for composing this on the e-mail - computers aren't really my cup of tea - I prefer sipping on my Darjeeling while the lad types away! Many Cheers.

Charles

Dear Charles,

Thank you for your letter and to Andrew for making it possible for you to send it.
Yes, I find it truly gratifying to see all our boys connected and helping each other.
You cannot completely avoid the aches and pains of old age but you could try some ayurvedic herbal medicines we in India use.
One is Aloe Vera Juice. Both my wife and I take 15 mm with a cup of warm water, early mornings and nights.
If on some days the pain becomes excessive, you could take a tea spoon of Turmeric powder in a glass of warm milk (add sugar to taste) for a few days.
A tea spoon of Cinnamon Powder with a tea spoon of honey is good for the heart and for digestion This too could be taken regularly on empty stomach early mornings.
An if you do pranayam, there is nothing to stop you from hitting a century. Andrew will not have to write your mails.
Cheers,

Radheshyam
PS: I am forwarding your letter to Dr.Viraj also

Msg from Anupam Goswami

hi sir

wish u a very very belated happy birthday.may god shower u wid its best blessings.
i hve certain inetrsting videos and photographs one being the bomb blast site of karol bagh in delhi.i was jst a block away when the bomb went off in karol bagh,delhi.i saw death real close tht day.bt smehw i was pulled out of the jaws of death.maybe my time hasnt arrived yet.
i managed to capture a video.i am forwarding u the video.u can send it to everyone if u thnk its nt too violent--
waiting eagerly fr ur next post.
Anupam Goswami
X-GOAT
2004

Msg from Ralph Reeves

Hello Radhesh,

Belated wishes on your 63rd birthday. Many Happy Returns of the Day and hope you had a good one too. Thanks for the regular news you do not fail to give us over the years now and truley appreciate your precious time. Keep them coming. Don't forget the flowers for the better half. Today is Valentine's Day - Feb. 14th.

Cheers
Ralph - Batch of 1968


Msg from Ranja Guha Mazumdar

Dear Friends,

Regarding Sikkim trip, please note the following :

1. Remember we are departing on Friday 12-03-2010 by Darjeeling Mail (Sealdah Station)

2. Arriving NJP on Saturday 13-03-2010 at approx 5.00 am (morning)

3. Trying to make arrangements in NJP / Siliguri for suitable toilets so that we can freshen-up and complete our morning chores before having our breakfast and moving on.

4. You are advised to carry a small hand--bag / backpack containing your toilet necessaties and maybe a change of clothes since the luggage will be loaded at NJP Station and it will not be possible to unload again at the place where we will be using the toilet. This will be a short duration halt and we should avoid wastage of time in unloading and re-loading luggage,

5. I am in constant touch with Sikkim and Siliguri for suitable conveyance etc. Although a suggestion has come that we should travel comfortably in separate vehicles, there is also an overwhelming opinion that we should try and remain together from Sealdah to Sealdah as far as possible. Keeping all sentiments in mind and also the security aspect, most suitable arrangements gopt conveyance from NJP to Gangtok is being considered including newly acquired SNTC Mini buses

6. Reportedly, since Govt. Circuit Houses / Guest Houses in Sikkim / Gangtok are scattered, arrangements are being made for our lodging in Hotels owned by Ex-Goethalites.

7. Please remember to carry sufficient warm clothing since Lachung / Yumthang is expected to be cold.

8. Please carry at least one set of FORMAL Clothes s (along with formal shoes)

9. WE have requested Sikkim Chapter that we would like to pay for all our transportation, lodging and flooding Therefore, be sufficiently equipped although ATM’s of almost all Banks are available in Gangtok.

Will mail you all with more details later.

Thanks N Regards

Ranjan Guha Majumder

Msg from Saibal Basu


Mr. Sharma

The debate has ended with status quo which in effect means that my almost 12 year old son continues to be a day student who needs to be continuously nudged and sometimes pushed to complete the simplest of every day tasks especially those associated with personal hygiene. One silver lining is that he is usually more responsible with his homework.

I know you probably remember that at GMS every minute of our lives were pre-programmed and timed. You could take only 30 minutes to get out of your nightwear, complete your daily ablution and get ready for breakfast - which lasted another 30 minutes. Games in the evening are at a set time and no matter what (i.e. even if it's pouring) you got to change for games . We were allowed to get 40 minutes after games to clean-up, change and get ready for evening studies. Dinner was at 7.30 PM and lasted for only 30 minutes. With this kind of a daily routine our lives were very disciplined with our daily regimen emphasizing efficient time management. We were responsible for studying , prioritizing our tasks (homework, tests etc.) and using our limited time efficiently since no extra time was given for exam prep. (except during ICSE exam). These skills that we developed early in life really helped me later. I am afraid that my son will only be learning these skills the hard way and much later perhaps when he goes to college.

The daily dose of mandatory physical activity was such a blessing. Although I am no great athlete I have concluded that sports and games develop motor skills that not only do the obvious i.e. help to tone and condition our body but also develop a sense of physical self awareness. I feel that people who have participated in regular physical activity in their early years are more physically self aware and therefore less accident prone. I am convinced that physically inactive or insufficiently active children will grow up into adults who will have poorer motor skills. This will result in poor health but could also lead to impairment in one's ability to physically protect oneself while facing life's common hazards such as slips, falls, bumps etc. In short more aches and pains caused by stupid reasons such as bumping into hard objects, failing to catch oneself while falling, or falling in a way that results in more damage than warranted, failing to anticipating hidden dangers from slippery floors, icy pavements etc. etc. If I were to put my son in a boarding school I would ensure that physical activity is an inherent part of student life there.

Obesity and middle age diseases like diabetes, heart disease are rising rapidly among children in the U.S. The two most important reasons are a unhealthy diet that mostly include consumption of large quantities of high calorie sugary drinks (sodas like Pepsi, Coke etc.) a high fat diet and little or insufficient physical activity. My son is afflicted with the latter both at home and at school. Since he like many others need to be transported to every activity by the venerable automobile (even to a soccer game in the neighborhood or to just stroll/bike in the park) it sometimes becomes a logistic nightmare requiring parents to juggle work, grocery shopping, children activities all in the same day. With the availability of video games of all kinds some mimicking actual sports (Wii etc.) it's a perfect recipe for children to just stay indoors and the cold winter months don't help much either. So there you have it. A deadly mix of diet, weather, popular culture and the American suburban lifestyle contributing to children who will grow up to be more disease and accident prone!

See how I have diverted you to the topic of childhood obesity in the U.S. from a comparison of day and boarding school students. Like I said the debate ended with status quo which means everything that I have just talked about will come to pass not only for my son but for thousands more unless U.S. primary, middle and high schools obtain funding and include daily mandatory physical activity in their curriculum. That would a great stimulus for producing healthier and happier kids in the future.

Regards

Saibal

Saibal Basu is of the 1982 batch.
He was one of the earlier writers to me when we started this blog.
At that time their family was having a discussion as to which schools were better, boarding or day schools. Saibal, having studied in Goethals, favoured the boarding schools while his wife, being a mother, and not wanting the child away from her sight, favoured the day schools. They asked me for my opinion.
I had written a long missive explaining my views which you may see at http://goethals1907-2007.blogspot.com/2007/11/boarding-school-or-day-school.html.
Last week, I had asked Saibal whether they had buried the hatchet and the problem was solved.
The above is in reply to that.
It explains vivdly the anguish of us Indians who have been brought up in another culture to adjust to the western culture.
Women adopt faster, it is in their nature.
That is why a girl marries into a new family and molds herself according the the needs of her new family.
Truly, hers is a life of sacrifice.