Two stalwart Cathedralites check-In

Two stalwart Cathedralites, one in Canada and another, now holidaying in New Zealand, check in...

Hi Jacob

Writing for Peter (Vaney) and I to say we've made a note of your e-mail address (Jacob: jmatthan@gmail.com). Really appreciate all the work and effort you are putting in to keep us updated of old Cathedralites' news. Hope you never tire of this.(Jacob: Not likely, considering the fun I have been having!! And blogging is quick and easy.)

We are keeping well. We both enjoy retirement and no time to be bored; there is so much to be part of in Vancouver. We have six grandchildren (ages from 18 years to 2 months), 4 little ones here and 2 older ones in Calgary. It doesn't often happen the entire family gets together, when we do those moments are very precious. Also have lots of friends all over the world and it feels good to keep in touch with phone calls, snail mail or e-mail.

In frequent touch with Willy and Pushpa Shiri, and three (née Hayeem) sisters (Jacob: Sophie, Vilma and Gracie) as well as other school friends.

Your e-mails/blogs are always most welcome.

Regards and love to you and Annikki,

Sheila (née Contractor)

And from my very very regular 49er correspondent, Yezad Kapadia.

To place Yezad, whom I refer to as Yesh, I reproduce below page 6 from the Annual Prize Distribution and Speech Day Programme of 17th February 1950. Many thanks to 55er Doreen Heimlich (née Feinbush) for sending this to me.

Yezad won the Baria Medal for School Captain and the MacDonald medal for Leadership. (Click on the picture to see an enlarged version.)

Annual Prize Distribution Programme 17th February 1950 page 6

While looking through this programme, I noted that my earlier correspondent, Sheila had also won three prizes that year, the Standard IX progress prize, the Housecraft Prize, as well as the Upper School Open Prize for Best Prefect.

Annual Prize Distribution Programme 17th February 1950 Page 10
Strange that two of our very best from the school from the same year should write to humble me on the same day. I am greatly honoured!!

Dear Jacob,

Thanks, Jacob. It was at my instance that Naval (Patel) sent you the mail. I remember Omar Kureishi and his other brothers from Barham House.

Currently I am having a good time in New Zealand with our daughter, Jeroo.

Yesh

Look carefully and you will note that on Page 6, Naval Patel won the Old Boys' Prize for Science, the E. J. Kail Prize for Senior General Knowledge, the Hudson Prize for Mathematics and jointly won the Moos Prize for Astronomy with J. Hayeem (?). Wow!!

Great to hear from all these outstanding Cathedralites!!

Prakash updates from Mumbai

Dear Jacob,

Greetings from hot, sunny Mumbai.

My weekly update.

Monday - a vegetarian Thali Dinner at Golden Star Restaurant opposite Charni Road Station. This Gujarati cum Rajasthani Restaurant serves a variety of 9 vegetarian dishes, Free Mineral Water ( I may add) and unlimited quantity, with different rotis, theyplaa, bhakri,puran poli. If you are good hearty eater you could enjoy this meal, not oily but very filling.

Tuesday 16th March - Business India , Man of the Year Award 2004 celebrations at the Taj. This Award is in its 23rd Year and the Panel of Judges was chaired by Kumarmangalam Birla, Business India's Businessman of ther Year 2003, 61er Ashok Advani, and several leading business house heads. Ashok must be commended for the consistency of this major Award, 23 years in a row. His publication Business India is in its 27th year now.

The Taj Crystal Room was packed with many late comers standing at the periphery. The Businessman of year Shri S Ramadorai of TCS gave a short but very appropriate acceptance speech, in the midst of a distinguished gathering. In his speech he thanked his wife, mother in law, son, colleagues and staff of 27000 people in TCS and peers who all had faith in him in a business that was not so known in the early seventies. The TCS group then played a short film made on the achievements of TCS and how it has branched out into other activities and is not only a IT Company. (Jacob: Many 59ers started in TCS at its beginning - Adi Cooper, Ooky Elijah Eliias - when it floated Tata Borroughs.)

S. Ramadorai's ex boss Shri F.C.Kohli (Madhur, Sanjay & Anirudh Kohli's father), the grandfather of IT In India, was also felicitated and praised with a momento for having the vision & persistence in this industry.

The ceremony was followed by a well laid out dinner at the Ballroom where a Jazz Trio played some classics.

I had the fortunate experience of sitting with Rati & Nadir Godrej, Joanne and Vinod Nayar (Jacob: 58er Vinod did his HSC from Cathedral and is the elder brother of 59er Vijay (School Captain 1060) and 62er, former outstanding squash champion Anil) and dynamic Mohit Burman of Dabur, whose company has recently introduced Pomegranate Juice, discussing our pets, kids and the budget.

I have been telling Mohit to introduce Papaya Tablets, which is very popular with the elderly and those whose diet consists of red meat daily, (through his great pharma company Dabur).

Kaamna Bhojwani, daughter of Indira and Ramesh Bhojwani (Jacob: I wonder if this is the 61er) of the famous Chidakashi Jewellers got engaged last Saturday to Rohit Dhawan with a dinner at the Starters and More Restuarant. Rohit works with Google and Kaamna is with Sun Micro Systems and will be living in sun filled California.

Another Cathedralite, Kunal Kohli, recently won the Filmfare award for Best Director for a Hindi film recently.

Saturday 19th - My cousin Sabrina Jhangiani celebrated her 50th birthday with a few close friends and relatives who made her dress up as a Blonde in the 60's, fish net stockings, straw blonde wig, oversized owl glares, a mini mini skirt and ciggarette to boot, while she was given a lighted Magic Wand (shades of Sabrina the witch). One wall was covered with pictures, letters, school magazine article featuring Sabrina.

"Our Dog & Baby Club" at the Oval is drawing new members every week. Started by Cyrus Broacha (Son - Mikhail, German Shepherd - Rufus) and Prakash Thadani (Cigar - Doberman + Wymirana), this group brings their pets to mingle and socialise& play in the Eros end side of the Oval maidan daily at around 6 pm. and we discuss ways and means to look after our pets and kids with interactive play, sometimes homemade snacks being brought and an occasional birthday celebration.

Gayatri & Gautam Parulekar (Ceasar- Black Doberman) who recently returned from their honeymoon in Thailand could not stop raving about the under water sea walk, the incredible variety available for shopping and food, in the country which has bounced back after the Tsunami tragedy.

Donatella Versace was in the news in each and every publication for participating in the Lakme Fashion week along with Sandeep Khosla, Abu Jani and Abhishek Bacchan. Lakme, the cosmetic branch of Hindustan Lever Ltd., (Unilever group) is looking out for new young talent in the Fashion business, be it clothes, jewellery, clothing accessories. Their Lakme Fashion Week showcases some of the leading, designers merchandise, styles, their whims, their fancies and, not to forget, their "EGOS ".

More news next week when The Afternoon Despatch & Courier celebrates its Anniversary on Friday 25th. The entire Nanabhai Lane in Fort will be transformed into a fun street, with food stalls, live music, games, and events pertaining to our beloved MUMBAI.

I don't know if you have read anything about the undercover STING operations started by India TV. They caught on camera a Bollywood Movie Actor Shakti Kapoor, a well known villian in the movies, making a blantant pass at a young aspiring actress to sleep with him and he would promote her and help her get parts in coming movies. (Jacob: Investigative journalism is my forte, but not in the film world - as there is too much dadagiri involved there.

This was then played out on TV and has brought out angry reactions from all those in the Film Industry. So many journalists have taken the cue stressing that the CASTING COUCH does really exist, and both male and female youngsters are exploited but only those who play along the game, really succeed. Others who were also caught unaware on tape have also spoken up and the entire scene seems so hypocritical as many in the industry feel it is their right to sleep with anyone who is willing to join this industry (Bollywood).

More news later Have a great week. Moving into my newly renovated office in Fort this week hopefully,

Sincere regards,

Prakash

Sad day for Cathedralite Pakistan and Indian Cricket lovers

Even as India won the Second Cricket Test match in Kolkotta by 195 runs, news was on the way to me from my regular Cathedralite correspondent, a great cricketer in his day, Naval Patel, that 44er / 45er Omar Kureishi, the best known cricket correspondent in Pakistan, had passed away in Karachi. Unlike A.F.S. Talyarkhan, who never wanted to share the mike with anyone, the Asian Cricket Commentators and the cricketing public owes much to Omar Kureishi.

Pakistan's seniormost cricket columnist Omar Kureishi died in Karachi on Monday following a massive stroke. Kureishi, 80, is survived by his wife and a son.

Just last August the Interntaional Cricket Council honoured Omar by selecting him as the representative of the media on its 50 strong Awards Voting Academy.

The 50-member Academy, which includes a minimum of two representatives from each of the ICC's Full Member countries, comprises four groups:

• The captain of each country (10);
• All members of the Emirates Elite Panel of Referees (current officials who have officiated in a series in the voting period) (7);
• All members of the Emirates Elite Panel of Umpires (8); and
• An invited group of `Legends and Media' (25).

And our own Omar was both a Legend and the Media.

One has only to read his piece from the Dawn written in the year 2000, The heart has its reasons to understand his depth of knowledge about issues as well as cricket. In this article he says:

" It is a fantastic sight and social scientists would be hard pressed to explain how a country that does not provide safe drinking water for half its population, where so many live below the poverty-line and where there are no schools, to speak of, can afford to indulge in an activity that is a luxury by any definition. I have often been asked to rationalize this cricket madness. I am not able to do so beyond saying that like a love-affair, the heart has its reasons."

And in that piece he also wrote:

"What gave Indian cricket its greatest impetus and created public involvement was the Quadrangular Tournament played at the Bombay Gymkhana between Muslim, Hindu, Parsee and European teams, later it became the Pentangular with a team comprising The Rest and the venue of the tournament was shifted to the Brabourne Stadium. Though it was a tournament structured on communal lines, it is quite remarkable that not a single untoward incident ever marred the proceedings. There may have been communal riots raging but it was peace and harmony on the cricket field. It was this tournament that became the nursery of cricket on the subcontinent."

On her recent visit to India, US Secretary of State, Condoleeza Rice stated that she would have to learn the game of cricket. Cricket is the game of Gentlemen and Gentleladies - and not those who are warmongers and killers. IMHO (In my humble opinion) Condi has no place amongst this august gathering of people from around the world.

In his Orbituary today in The Daily Times 2nd Editorial it is written

"In the glorious 50s and 60s, when the Pakistan cricket team was just budding, we would tune in to our radios to listen to Omar Kureshi alternating with Lata Mangeshkar, the ball-by-ball ankhon dekha haal sweetened by the Nightingale of the East. Especially memorable was how Omar would follow the bowler to his mark, trace his steps as he bounded to the delivery crease, and then raise his voice to a crescendo as the ball hurtled towards the batsman. We would sit at the edge of our seats in excitement and trepidation, and Omar would tell us all. He would describe how the batsman fended off the delivery, or attacked it — hooking, pulling, cutting or driving. And then he would trace the fielder’s lunge at the ball, his despairing chase as the ball sped towards the boundary. His English was unmatched. His evocation of the play matchless."

As India basks in its victory today, let us spare a moment to think of one of us Cathedralites who contributed so much to the game by his very Cathedralite nature.

Long live Omar Kureishi in our hearts as a symbol of cricketing friendship between our two great nations..

First day at school

What do Dr. Raja Ramanna and I have in common?

The late Dr. Raja Ramanna, the eminent scientist and accomplished musician was a good friend of my father, the late Kuriyan Matthan. Dr. Ramanna was an old boy from Bishop Cotton's Boys' High School, Bangalore, and the Madras Christian College in Tambaram, Madras.

My father was also from both these institutions, although several years senior to Dr. Ramanna. My father was also the Chairman of the School Old Boys' Association for several years. They met regularly to share their exploits of their school days. Further, they shared the passion for the piano and music.

But Dr. Ramanna was not just an old boy from Bishop Cotton's (also like me as I was in Bishop Cotton's before my Cathedral days). Like me, he started his schooling at the Good Shepherd Convent in Mysore. Besides these two common characteristics, there may have been a vast degree of intellectual difference between the two of us!! :-)

This is my class at the Good Shepherd Convent from 1948.


Jacob in his kindergarten class photo
I am that neat looking fellow sitting on the ground, third from the left.

I still remember my first day at school. I was not fortunate to have such an outstanding kindergarten teacher as our own 54er Gracie Hayeem. The young lady you see in this picture was very pleasant and friendly.

However, when my mother took me from my childhood home and its wonders to school, I was petrified. When she left me in the class, I howled and looked around. I did not notice a single face that I knew, which made me even more miserable. I ran out of the class to catch hold of my mother's sari tail. But she was nowhere in sight. The teacher loomed after me.

I ran, looking in all the rooms for my mother, and suddenly I spied my elder brother sitting in a classroom. I dashed in and sat next to him, sobbing at my misfortune. He sort of wanted to disown this little crybaby. However, my teacher walked in just then and said I could stay in this class as long as I wanted!! Much to my brother's distaste.

I stayed till the break. Then a little girl that I knew and a dear friend, Dinky Wilson, who used to play with us at home, came from my class and asked me to join her. Dinky was a real tomboy and one of us. She climbed trees like all of us and played cops and robbers with us. I was glad to have found my playmate. Since then I always looked on Dinky as a dear friend.

Her father, Inspector Doug Wilson, was more than a family friend. One of these days I will tell you the story of he saved our family from being lynched in Bangalore in 1947 in the post Independence riots.

Dinky and I used to walk home from school everyday. Our friendship continued later when both our families moved back to Bangalore. I used to visit their home in Church Street off Brigade Road at every opportunity and we played cricket in their compound.

I have lost touch with Dinky, whom, I believe is somewhere in Germany. I did meet her father, mother, Margret, and elder sister, Beverley, in Bangalore when they stayed with my parents about 12 years ago. I know that Mr. Wilson passed away, but the fate of the rest of that wonderful family (Doug, Marge, Abner, Beverley, Cedric, also better known as Mitty, Dinky and the youngest, Zena) remains unknown to me presently.

Anyone like to fill me in on their present whereabouts?

60er discovered

When I unearthered 62er Monty, I was pleasantly surprised to hear that he was married to someone I remember very well, a 60er, Cynthia Abbott. (I always thought Cynthia was a 61er.) Monty sent me a great picture of the two of them when they attended the wedding of their eldest son last year. She is still as beautiful as I remember her!!

62er Monty Wilson and wife 60er Cynthia (née Abbott)

Monty wrote:

Cynthia, (nee Abbott) was also in Cathedral girls school 1960s class... same year as Audrey Adams, Stanley Adams, Morris Belcourt, Desmond Guage, Michael Colaco, and that gang.

I did not know Cynthia in school. We met by accident (destiny) in London, England through a mutual school friend, Vernon Williams... who was also in the Catherdal church choir with me.

Feel free to give my email to others that ask for it.

Your Blob brought back wonderful memories from the far corners of my mind of Mr. Morecroft, Thompson, Oliver, Pharoah etc..

Keep up the good work of collecting all this info... and keeping in touch with Cathedral alumni.

FYI... Clive Ciel, last I heard, was in London, England.

Monty

I remember Audrey Adams, Stanley Adams (vaguely), Morris Belcourt (see photo of hockey team of 1959), Desmond Guage (cannot place him exactly), Michael Colaco (see Prefects picture for 1959, seated on extreme left as he was Wilson House Captain) who was not a 60er. He was senior to us by a year as younger brother David was my classmate. I also remember Vernon Williams from our choir days!! We were all sopranos.

For Monty's benefit, however much it hurts deep in the heart of a Savagite, I put up here the picture of the 1956 Champion House - Wilson.

Champion House 1956 - Wilson

New 62er Monty Wilson

I am pleased to welcome 62er Monty Wilson into our midst. Here is te email I received:

Hello Jacob,

What a lovely surprise to hear from an old school mate!

How did you get to know about me? Who gave you my email? Not that I mind at all... I just want to keep in touch with old friends. Was it Wendy Wood the head girl in 63? I met Wendy in Toronto last summer (2004). I live in the Toronto area.

Some of the UK old school friends I stay in touch with are: Romesh Velu (64), Cecil Colaco (63), Vernon Williams(62), Joan Edwards(61). Sorry to say my good friend and classmate Alex Colaco (62) passed away in 2003 in the UK.

I was in the class of 62, Wilson huose.

I was (still am) keen on playing cricket (I can remember the surprise and dismay on his face when I clean bowled Jusudin (a good batsman and friend... don't know his whereabouts) on the first ball of the game between our classes 11a and 11b in 1961!

I am in Saudi Arabia on a project at the moment. Will be back in Toronto next week.

Attached is a picture of me at Niagara Falls... I'm on the right.

Who was your sister?

Keep in touch.
Monty

Recognise this 60er?

I am not using italics as someone had difficulty reading it. Here is a quiz?

Hi Jacob,

I was really amazed with the contacts you have established with so many Cathedralites who have left and settled down all over the world. It was last year I had come across the "Catalumni" website that took me back to the good ole school days.

Although your name did ring a bell, I couldn't picture you. (Jacob: Not recognising a 6 foot dead Chicken. WoW!!! ) After all, it was almost 45 years since I had left school and reading one of your articles in which you had mentioned names such as Zayani, Mr. Thompson and "Seventh Heaven" immediately brought back vivid memories.

I was more of a sportsman than a studious person. Representing the School in practically all the outdoors games from 1956 thru 1960 had been my main forte. Anyway, I want you to add my name in your list as this would enable me to find some old friends I never got to meet after leaving School in 1960 for Pakistan. Now I'm working in Saudi Arabia as a project administrator of one of America's renowned construction companies. Haven't thought about retiring as yet! (Jacob: Hope you send me some of your photographs in the various sporting groups..

I had visited the School in April last year and tried to obtain any kind of record which could prove my identity which I required for a property case pending in the Bombay High Court but was unsuccessful. The Admission Books were dated back to 1953 - the year I had enrolled. Unfortunately the book which was to have contained my name was not found. The only register that was available contained the admissions starting from July 1953 onwards! I had enrolled prior to July 1953.

Lets hope that someone out there reading your blog might recognize my name and get in touch with me.

My school name was SHEIKH ZAHUR and now have reverted to my original name which is Mehfooz Ahmed.

Stay in touch and thanks,

Sheikh Zahur
Barham - 1960