Tribute to a wonderful teacher

In Indian custom one must show respect for our Gurus.

There is one guru who has shown respect to every student that has crossed his path.

Pushpa & Willie Shiri

He taught at our beloved Cathedral School. He was an active member of the school in many ways, besides being the Wilson House Staff Head, he was always active as a leading cast member of our school operas, and he sang with a strong tenor voice in the St. Thomas Cathedral Church choir, where he satisfactorily drownwed out all my musical off-keys as I sang as a soprano in the pew in front of him!!

Today, I would like to publicly honour him on his 80th birthday on behalf of all those whom he educated, not only in his subject, Physics, but about life itself. I always remember him standing in front of the class with his unique bow tie as he unfolded the mystery of science to me and my fellow clasmates, and as he walked around the laboratory helping us to do our practical work. I still remember the very first experiment he assigned us - understanding what was "specific gravity".

To him, I owe my career as a Polymer Technologist. The very foundation of Physics that he laid firmly in one corner of my brain was the basis for my successful life, as Polymer Physics became child's play for me.

William Shiri taught Physics in Cathedral School through the 60's till 1962 when he migrated to England. Wife Pushpa was a Class 2 teacher in our Junior School between 1955-62.

Willie was in England about the time I was studying in London but, sadly, I did not meet up with him there. I was surprised to learn later that he did keep track of me through common friends. Pushpa and Willie, with their two daughters, Nina and Kiron, were in Hertford (Herts) between 62 and 68. Pushpa became a peripatetic music teacher in England, visiting three different schools.

They moved to Montreal, Quebec, Canada in 68 where both Pushpa and Willie continued their teaching careers, Willie his usual Physics and Pushpa as music teacher. Pushpa continued her a peripatetic music teacher in Montreal for a few years, then switched to class-room teaching.

They moved to Brampton, a suburb of Toronto in 90 after both of them retired. Their daughters finished their studies in the UK, (Kiron went back from Canada to Sussex to do a degree there).

In June 2000 they moved to a condo apartment in Mississauga, Ontario.

Willie has been a wonderful correspondent ever since we discovered each other in 2000. Not only does he keep me abreast of all the Cathedralites that cross his path, staff and students, but he sends me many interesting, amusing and morally uplifting emails about the beauty and sanctity of life.

I could go and on about this wonderful man, but I guess I should save some data for his 85th and then his 90th bithdays.

Happy birthday, dear dear friend and master. Thank you for being where you were and where you are now.

Nothing exciting can happen to a Cathedralite...

in the Arctic - Right?

Wrong!

I was sitting quietly at my computer clearing my email when the phone rang. It was my foster daughter from South Finland, daughter of 54er Sadhana Madhusadan (née Shah). Gopa had not called me for some time, so we chit-chatted for a while and caught up on the news.

Then she said there was a fellow Jhath-walla - a Cathedralite, who had come to visit her. Would I like to speak to him?

"Sure", I said, as who would not like to chat with another Cathedralite.

His name - Ravi Khote (79er) and he was with his wife,Rita (non-Cathedralite). That did not ring much of a bell, although I do vaguely remember a Khote who was a few years senior to me, but nothing I could recall.

We exchanged pleasanatries and found that we had common friends. Rags, as Ravi is known, is in theatre, composing, music and acting. When I asked whether he was in multimedia - he said it was "multiple media"!

As we talked he said he had two fathers, which puzzled me a bit.

And then he asked me whether I knew a Farookh Metha?

Now, did I know a Farookh Metha?

You bet I did.

Not as a Cathedralite, as Farookh would have been in school before I joined as he is about 8 years senior to me (possibly a 52er) but because of another event in my life.

When I ended my education and my career in England, Annikki and I decided we would sail back to India. Since the Suez was closed, the route was around the Cape. We boarded the ss Victoria of the Lloyd Tristino line at Venice.

1969: Susanna, Jaakko and Jacob on board the Victoria


1969: Susanna, Jaakko and Annikki on board the Victoria


I think it was at Barcelona - another Indian family joined the boat.

As both the men liked to play table tennis, we got friendly.

His name was Farookh Metha. I learnt a lot about Farookh on the trip. Although he whipped me in the finals of the on-board table tennis competition, we were good friends.

I do not remember his wife, Bhakul, but I knew he was travelling with her and their children. One of those was a 9 year old boy - none other than Rags Ravi Khote, as he had kept the name of his late father. Bhakul had been married to Harim Khote who had passed away.

Yes, we had travelled together around the Cape, crossed twice across the Equator and into India, 36 years ago!!

I had met Farookh a few times after our journey on the boat as we had a few common friends. It was certainly a great thrill to hear first hand of a wonderful personality who is still hyperactive that I had got know on our journey to India.

Who says nothing happens to hibernating Polar Bear Cathedralites stuck up in isolation near the North Pole!

Ashok Kapur's YES bank IPO

Check out the Economic Times for the news today "Yes Bank IPO to hit market in May" where one of the two promoters is 59er Ashok Kapur.

59ers Ashok Kapur, Ramesh Mirchandani and Pilloo Tata (née Dastur)

Let us wish Ashok all success with his IPO which hits the market on 9th May 2005.

Wish I had a few quid to invest in it in the names of my grandchildren!

Happy birthday Ashok

I hope all of you will join me in wishing one of our greatest 59ers, Ashok Kapur, a very happy 62nd birthday,

Ashok and me in Bombay sometime in the 1990's

Ashok lives in Bombay with his beautiful and charming wife, Madhu.

Ashok was and is a great sportsman - playing hockey and cricket for the school and being involved with a lot more sports as badminton, squash, etc.

Soon after he left school he joined the National Grindlays Bank and was sent for training to the Banks training centre in England. That was the time I was also in London and I remember visiting his room in his Blackheath hostel.

On returing to India his growth was meteroic and he served National Grindlays in Calcutta, Delhi, Bombay and reached the top. I remember visiting him when he served in Calcutta, one of my very few visits tpo that city, and I even stayed with him. That was before he was married.

He left the bank to further his personal role in Indian banking, and has been involved with some great banking developments till today. He is the Chairman of a new bank in which he is one of the major shareholders.

Happy birthday Ashok.

And the thanks today from an another 60er

Jacob,

I want to thank you for reuniting some of us 60ers through your efforts without which it would have been virtually impossible.

Its been hectic for me during the last week receiving calls from David Keidan and Nusly Pocha who were good enough to fill me in with all the news that I've been longing to hear even though it took almost over 40 years! It felt as if I was back in school again.

What a wonderful feeling to be a Cathedralite!

Thank you and God bless.

Say hello to the family for me.

Sheikh Zahur
Class of 60
9th April 2005

Two 60ers from North America check in

I had this email from a 60er, Ravi Modak, Savage-ite.

Hi Jacob,

Whatever are you doing in Finland? Nokia?

I trust you'll remember me - your newsy news was passed on to me by my brother Sanjay.

We live in Tupelo, Mississippi - home of Elvis Presley - only claim to fame! Run my own business in Industrial Food flavour mixes - R&D.

Saffron International is it's official name for Spice And Food Flavour Organization.

When you have time let's hear from you.

Best regards

Ravi Modak

I remembered, as besides school, Ravi as he used to come to church on Sunday with his parents. I do not quite remember his younger brother Sanjay. So I replied:

Hi Ravi,

Police Inspector's Modak's son I presume?

What about your mom and dad. I have thought of them many times.

Started Seventh Heaven for my 59ers and it proved a great success as a web page. Have transformed it now into a blog which I update every couple of days. Separated my blogs into my various interests. Great feedback from Cathedralites of all ages.

When you have some time to waste, go to the Cathedralite blog and start at March 1996 entries and you will see a lot about many Cathedralites you will know.

Best regards

Jacob

Quick reply from Ravi:

Dear Jacob,

Ta for your prompt response and all the news!

Yes - Police Modak's son. I will be visitng them next week in Poona where they live - my wife Melalie is there - we shall meet as ships passing in the night. Running a business means at least one of us should be here at all times if possible.

Class of 1960 had a grand reunion in 2000 which was also the 140th year of Cathedral. Nusly Pocha (medical Dr.) if you remember him did a grand job of arranging it.

He tried a rerun for last year but gave up - a bitter pill for him to swallow.

I have some years to retire but my business is such that not only is it fun but it has its monetary rewards as well. As long as I can taste and smell, I shall continue.

Blog sounds interesting - will look into it. If you travel to the US please contact us.

Regards to you and your family.

Ravi

To which I replied:

Hi Ravi,

Give my very best regards to your parents whom I remember very well.

I was wrong to say Inspector Modak - if I am not wrong he was Commissioner Modak!!

Know about your successful reunion - have many photographs from it.

Lots of Cathedralites settled in Pune - all year groups from 54 to 69ers!! Many in touch with me.

Regards

Jacob

And this was Ravi's reply:

Dear Jacob,

You're right - he was Commissioner and later became Inspector General Maharashtra (now upgraded to Director General). He did a 2 year stint deputised as I.G.P. Jammu and Kashmir back in 66-67. It was fun going there for the summer hols from IIT Bombay.

Can you by any chance find a list of the 60's group in Poona?

If so would appreciate a list and their e-mails.

Thanks and stay in touch.

Ravi

Must say it was lovely to tie up with an old friend. But then I had an email from another 60er who I always thought was one of the great Cathedralites in the same mould as Pamela Ballantine:

Hi Jacob,

It was wonderful that you contacted Monty out of the blue. I enjoyed reading the
link Monty sent me re your Blog articles. Where do you get the time to keep such
an amazing site?

Keep up your excellent work.

Thank you for being so complimentary, but unfortunately I cannot remember you from
the photograph, please send me a school picture so that I can refresh my mind.

On Sunday past we went to visit Bill & Pushpa Shiri (ex school teacher) and had a wonderful trip down memory lane, (albums were out). We took down a few names and phone numbers to contact. (Christine (née Brown) & Cliff Haamill. Mr. Chinwalla and Mr. Gregory. It will be fun speaking to them over the next few weeks.

I am in contact with Joan (nee Edwards) & Kevin Dean, also Vernon Williams. If, you do not have their contact information let me know and I will forward to you in my next e-mail.

About 7 years ago I went back to school, received my AMI Diploma and have been a Montessori teacher for the past 5 years. The career change has made a difference in my entire life, working with children 3 to 6 years of age. Sometimes, I wish I had made the career change many years ago, but I know it is only forward that I must project myself!

Imagine you must be enjoying your retirement and no doubt your home in Finland must be "a perpetual inn of past happiness" with old friends visiting. If you have time keep in touch.

Bye for now,

Sincerely

Cynthia (née Abbott) Wilson

To which I was pleased to reply:

Dear Cynthia,

In the blog entry for 13th December 2004 you will see three people circled. The one who is sitting next to Abe Hayeem is me. Go on to the entry of 28th January 2005 and you will see a picture of me 8 years on when I got married to the most beautiful girl in this universe in a small town called Shrewsbury in England where I was working as a Research Scientist after completing my second degree in London.

I was in the Cathedral church choir (1954 - 1959) - when I moved to do my University education (St, Stephen's Ciollege in Delhi), Savage House Captain in 1959, School hockey goalkeeper two years running (1958 and 1959) and one of the few who got appointed as Prefect already in the 10th Standard (1958).

Sadly, I was one of the few who cannot claim to be a full-blooded Cathedralite as I never got lifted by the seat of my pants by Pop and given the bacon slicer treatment, although I got dangerously close to it on quite a few occasions.

Beautiful women - and I do not ever mean just physical - beauty matures with age, and that is what I find in common between you and Anikki!! Your character, loving spirit, just shines through and I am sure that Monty and your children are enjoying just that.

I remember meeting a lady I have known since I was a small child, Margret Wilson from Bangalore, mother of Abner, Beverley, Cedric, Dinky (my classmate) and Zena in Bangalore when she was over 80 and she was truly beautiful as her eyes were always smiling. You will find a mention of that family in my blog entry of 17th March 2005 - My First Day at School.

Elizabeth, my sister, was Blue House Captain in 1962 (I think). I do not know whether you remember her. Very bossy girl. Still very bossy!!

We have around 1800 Cathedrlaites (from 1945 to 2005ers) reading the blog which I started way back in 1996 and have had it going in fits and starts. It has survived the test of time by its popularity, namely due to the inputs from around the world. Willie has been a regular contributor as also Hasnain and of late, even Chris. I checked my records and did not find Joan Edwards or Kevin Dean on the list. Joan Twist, now Joan Croft is on, but she was much senior, a 54er. Also Joan Myers, a 56er, now Densham, is on the list.

Please let me have their contacts and I will put them on my now very occasional mailings. Or you can just direct them to my blog which I update every couple of days.

I am an expert on Montessori education as Annikki finished her course and had a final result of 98%. Because she did not type, she would read out her tutorials to me and I would type it out on my computer - so I learnt all about Montessori teaching through that process. She read a couple of score books when doing that course. Many have asked me to put her tutorials online as it is really a truly Finnish piece of work - Finns only like to do things to a perfection!!

Love to the family.

Jacob - more commonly known as "the Dead Chicken" a truly earned nickname!!

So that was why I was called "Dead Chicken" - in the grave most of the time!

67er Shobha sends out ALERT

67er Shobha Jhunjunwala (née Agarwal) sent me this important alert.

From: Shobha Jhunjhunwala
Date: Apr 4, 2005 8:54 PM
Subject: Fw: Passport holders attention..

This is frightening.

See you passport stare back at you, on the internet!

Delete it please. I did.

I was rather shocked to find a website that holds everyone's passport details along with photograph. Anyone can access other people's personal info. Which is of course a major worry in terms of identity fraud, etc.

You can remove your info. I suggest you do the same.

Act as soon as possible and please forward this important info to family and friends. The website is

HumNRI

Shobha

Thank you Shobha for warning me.

By the way, Shobha, I am waiting for the photo's of the 67er men and also the picture captions for the photographs you sent me.