Mid Terms 50 Years Ago

44 Pages·2016·2.41 MB·English

APRIL 2016
NEWSLETTER OF THE DOON SCHOOL OLD BOYS’ SOCIETY
DOSCOS IN DESIGN SPECIAL
Supporting the Girl Child | Madagascar Diaries | Mid Terms 50 Years Ago |
Architecture of Photography | Batch of 1965 Golden Jubilee | Building a Comic Empire
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THE ROSEBOWL | APRIL 2016
TABLE OF CONTENTS
THE ROSE BOWL: SINCE 1985
Randhir Singh (508 H, 1994)
REGULARS THE HAND GRASP OF A FRIEND THE GOODLY SMELL OF RAIN
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR 03 ONE IN A MILLION 05 OUT OF AFRICA - GAUTAM VOHRA 20
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR 04 RAJASTHAN REUNION 07 MID TERMS 50 YEARS A GO 24
OLD BOYS’ NEWS 06 LONDON REUNION 07
OBITUARIES 07 CLASS OF 1965 GOLDEN JUBILEE 14
MASTERS 08
LEST WE FORGET FOR HARD WORK TO DO DESIGN SPECIAL
OBITUARY: ASHOK MOHAN 12 CHANDBAGH SE CHARCHA 09 CHHOTA INTERVIEW 17
BHAVNANI JOHN MARTYN APPEAL 16 EYE LINES - RANDHIR SINGH 30
TRACING DOON TO SEDBERGH 28 LET'S HEAR IT FOR THE GIRL CHILD 22 GRAPHICALLY SPEAKING 32
DOSCO DESIGNERS 36
HOT SHOTS - AMRISH KUMAR 41
@rosebowleditor [email protected] facebook.com/thedoonrosebowl
EDITORIAL BOARD
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: GOVIND DHAR (192 T, 1997)
CRICKET: DONNY SINGH (878 T, 1982)
DESIGN: RITWIK KAR (689 K, 2015) EDITOR EMERITUS: VALENTINA TRIVEDI (708 K, 1981)
PUBLISHER: THE DOON SCHOOL OLD BOYS’ SOCIETY, NEW DELHI
COVER & BACK COVER PHOTOS: RANDHIR SINGH (508 H, 1994)
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L E T T E R F R O M
T H E E D ITO R
Dear Dosco
The January ‘Doscos in Tech’ issue seemed to shoemakers to fine art photographers, comic book
have hit a high note with many of you writing in writers, furniture makers and interior designers,
with praise and commenting on social media I managed to round up a host of Doscos with
about the stories, the new look and how enjoyable interesting stories to tell. As our Hot Shot for this
it was. A huge thank you for reading, and taking issue, we have Amrish Kumar who went from
the time to write in. The themed issue seems to be being a banker to taking his mother’s fashion label,
popular so I’m going to continue with the practice. Ritu Kumar to the next level.
Coming up I’ve got a nature issue planned (for all In other stories, Gautam Vohra returns to tell
those environmental and wildlife conservationists us more of Madagascar’s waterfalls, three old
out there); a broadcast issue (for those in film, boys publish books (including Kishore Lahiri, this
acting and the media) and a fairer sex issue to newsletter’s former editor) and we hear from
celebrate all the women in our lives from mums, Manu Tandon about mid-terms 50 years ago.
wives, sisters, Welhamites (or Woodstock if We also have a time traveller in Dilsher Virk, who
you were adventurous enough), teachers and traces some of his famous stepfather’s roots back
girlfriends who have had the (mis)fortune of to Sedbergh School in England. The stepdad in
encountering Doscos and their particular brand question? None other than the great John Martyn
of fraternal jazz. This includes bragging, know-it- whose imprint on Doon still resonates to this day.
all-ness, general wizardry and all-round-good-guy-
giri and also any of our annoying traits, of which Particularly close to my heart is the world of
there are only a few I’m sure. If you’re reading comics, and in this issue Aniruddho Chakraborty
this and would like to pen even a page, send in tells us of his struggle to start, and build his
some photographs or point me in the direction of company, Chariot Comics in India. With all the
actors, directors, naturalists and Dosco women money-spinning antics of Marvel and DC, you’d
we can interview – let’s have it. Write to me at think the proposition might be a cakewalk, but
[email protected]. And if you tweet you’d be way off the mark.
about anything Doon, please use the hashtag
#Dosco! Enjoy the issue!
In this issue, I sought out Doscos with a flair Govind Dhar
for design in any form. From architects and 192 T, 1997
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L e t t e r s t o t h e Ed i t o r
Dear Govind Dear Govind, Donny and Team,
Askari would have so valued this letter from you, Placed before me is the Founder’s Day Special
Govind. Given the rare spirit of the school, using Issue of The Rose Bowl, which I have been through
different stimuli to evoke that much-talked about intently, with rapt attention and keen interest. Must
bond, may yield unexpected results. I am sure say, your efforts deserve every bit of appreciation!
the response will be warm and varied if you invite The quality, content, creativity, presentation and
stories from former and current students: to recall every connected aspect are indeed laudable.
moments and events that best reflect that untold,
surprising kinship that remains among the boys, Very well done, indeed! It’s a big 10 out of 10, from
year after year. Moments together that have me. Good chit!
remained with them and will delight even more
when shared. Avinash Singh Alag
160 HB, 1984
Quaint tales will emerge...Askari had several of
those for separate occasions.
New Headmaster appointed at Doon
Warmest regards,
Following the departure of Dr Peter McLaughlin
from the post of HM earlier this year, Matthew
Syeda
Raggett, Principal of the Secondary School of
Wife of late Syed Askari Imam (68 T, 1959)
Leipzig International School in Germany has
been appointed as the new Headmaster of The
Doon School. He studied Maths and Theoretical
Dear Editor Physics at the University of Newcastle and
has an MBA in Educational Leadership from
I wanted to compliment you for your decision to Charles Sturt University in Australia. He taught
send correspondents to those Old Boys who need Physics in the United Kingdom before moving
help to assist them in working out contributions to the Vienna International School as Head of
to the magazine. This decision deserves not
Physics in 1998. He has boarding experience in
only accolades but bouquets!! A most thoughtful
a number of the schools in which he has taught,
gesture for which Jack Gibson would surely have
including Pearson United World College in
given 12½ out of 10.
Canada; United World College in Singapore and
King’s College, Madrid. Since 2009, Mr Raggett
Kind regards,
has administered the senior school and taught
in the IB programme at Leipzig. We welcome
Ashim Kumar Mukherjee
Mr Raggett and wish him all the best in his new
44 T, 1958
position at Doon!
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One in a Million?
All three gents in the photo were the first boys from
their families to go to Doon. All joined in the same
year and were in the same house – Hyderabad or
‘The House of Lords’ as they called it. All three went
onto do their Senior Cambridge in the same year
and passed. None received a Games Blazer and
there was no Scholar’s Blazer then. While Ashok
and Murad live in New Delhi, they both met Naresh
who lives in Canada for the first time since they left
School, at their Diamond Jubilee last year. And guess
what their numbers were: Murad - 95 H, Naresh -
Murad Ali Baig, Naresh Sardana, Ashok Mehta 195 H, Ashok - 295 H. What are the odds?
DSOBS around the World
The DSOBS will be touring Europe and North America this year to meet other Doscos on the
following dates. Don’t miss it.
London - June 25th, Saturday | New York - June 29th, Wednesday |
Toronto - July 16th, Saturday
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OLD BOYS’ NEWS
The late B G Verghese (150 J, 1942) completed a
book just before he passed away in 2014 entitled ‘A
State In Denial - Pakistan's dangerous and misguided
crusade'. The book was launched on March, 28th at
the India International Centre, New Delhi.
Anil Chopra (313 T, 1959)
was invited to participate
in a symposium entitled Sumeet Malik, Arun Jaitley, Finance Minister, Govt. of India,
Justice RF Nariman, Kishore Lahiri at the book launch
‘Sustainability in a Scandinavian
Context’ last year that “immortal” and “locus classicus” being used to
was sponsored by Bentley describe it by chief justices and senior advocates
University,USA at Copenhagen Business School in from the Supreme Court to state high courts.
Denmark. Thereafter, he participated in a talk in Delhi Superb stuff Kishore! No doubt editing The Rose
on ‘Dialogue on Land, Conflict & Investment Risks Bowl early on in your career had some part to play
in India’ organized by NCAER, Delhi and Rights and in this too! Kudos.
Resources Washington DC. His career has been
in the area of enterprise governance and business Shiv Kunal 'Fauji' Verma (182
ethics at Tata Sons, Mumbai. Well done Anil! H, 1976) has also published a
book this year with ‘1962: The
Sanjeev Kassal (295 T, 1974) won the doubles War That Wasn't’  by the Aleph
title at the International Tennis Federation Seniors Book Company. The book hit
(above 55 years) the stands in the middle of
Tournament held in January 2016 and within two
New Delhi this year. weeks the first print run sold
This is his seventh out. The book has been getting superb coverage
ITF title! Astounding and reviews. On April 21st Fauji will be speaking
stuff Sanjeev. Way to the boys at the Doon School Literary Festival as
to go! well. Congrats.
Kishore K Lahiri, (30 K, 1974) joins the illustrious Deepinder Kullar (344 H, 1999) finished 5th with
line of published authors from The Doon School a total score of 10-under-par at the BTI Open
with his book ‘Inter-State River Disputes Act Professional Golf Tournament held in Dhaka from
– Genesis, Evolution and Analysis’ which was March 30 –April 2 this year. This has been his best
released on March 12th by Arun Jaitley, Finance international performance. The high point of his
Minister of India and Justice RF Nariman, a judge game was an eagle on the ninth hole (par four)
of the Supreme Court of India. The book has where a wedge shot of his went directly into the
received high praise being deemed indispensable hole. The field included three previous Indian Open
to water law in India, with the terms“stupendous”, winners. Well done Deepinder!
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APRIL 2016 | THE ROSEBOWL
REUNIONS
An impressive cohort of 30 Old Boys of the
Rajasthan Chapter got together on January
3rd, 2016 at SORA, Clarks Amer Hotel and Brij
Convention Centre in Jaipur. The meet was
hosted by Apurv Kumar (638 J, 1979), the regional
representative of the Rajasthan Dosco chapter.
It was heartening to see the respect and love all
old boys had for iconic teachers Mr RD Singh,
L to R, Sharad Rathke, Asheesh Malaney, Rahul Agarwal,
Mr Yogendra Durlabhji and Mr Ajay Banerji. Siddarth Chaudo, Nimai Swaroop and Avinash Mahapatra.
The evening was also attended by Ravi Bulchandani and
Sunil Munjal
The London chapter of Old Boys held their usual
Dosco Friday on a most fitting day, April 1st in
Shepherds market and despite the cold weather,
it was a fun evening spent over drinks and the
usual Dosco banter. Anyone wishing to join in next
month even if only visiting London, get in touch
with Nimai Swaroop on [email protected]
BIRTHS
Rishi Kohli (280 T, 1991) and wife Lara brought a proud grandparents Bina and Vinod Kohli (173 T,
second baby girl into the world on May 17th 2015 1959) and Sipu and Arjun Sahgal (119 J,1961).
in New Delhi. Aliisa Kaushalya is being thoroughly Congrats to all of you!
looked after by big sister Ameyaa Sarala, and
OBITUARIES
We are sorry to report the passing of Chand Narain 2016 in Indore. Our condolences go out to his
Kapur (121 T, 1943) who left us in September family at this difficult time.
2015. Our condolences to the Kapurs on this
terrible loss. With profound sorrow, we regret to inform you
of the sad demise of Shri Birendra Kumar, CMD
We are saddened by the news of the passing away of Clarks Group of Hotels, father of Apurv Kumar
of Arshad Rashid (Sufi) (233 K, 1954) on April 4th, (638 J, 1979) and Anoop Kumar (203 J, 1984).
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Apurv and Anoop can be contacted at +91 141 We are aggrieved to inform the Dosco community
2550616. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the of the passing away of  Parul Mukherji, mother of
Kumar family. Rupendra Mukherji, 342 H, 1962.
M ASTERS
why he had never married, knowing the answer
in advance. "Well, well," he would say with the
characteristic nod of his head, "I am married to
the mountains and the rivers..." In Chandigarh he
held forth on poetry and Thomas Hardy...it was
something else!”
V Siddharthacharry taught at Doon during the first
half of the 1940s. His son sent in a picture of him
to Rajiv Sarin (44 H, 1974) so we could see how
he’s doing at over 95 years of age. To follow his
progress go to www.acharyavidyakula.org.
A former student of
Mr Siddharthacharry,
Jehangir B Dalal (69H,
1946) had this to say
of the master. “It was
74 years ago when
Mr. Gurdial Singh seated, Shiv Kunal Verma, Vikram Seth he taught me, but the
features of the face
Vikram Seth (250 J, 1968) and Shiv Kunal Verma and the bright eyes
(182 H, 1976) were in Chandigarh recently and remind me of that brief period. He soon left School
had the pleasure of spending a couple of hours to get a job with the government.”
with Gurdial ‘Guru’ Singh. The hours spent were
reportedly “priceless”. Shiv had this to say: “Guru
taught us to always pause long enough to listen to
If you’ve tracked down a teacher
the 'guturr-guturr' of the birds and to identify the
green barbet as it went about its daily business from days of yore, do drop them a
in Chandbagh. He also taught us what hanging
line and get them to write in with
valleys and contour maps were all about. In my
pictures and contact details to
opinion, he is one of India's greatest educationists.
[email protected].
He shaped generations of Doon School boys.
At School we would ask him mischievously,
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APRIL 2016 | THE ROSEBOWL
From the IPSS
C h a n d b a g h s e C h a rc h a
Dear Dosco
Most Old Boys don’t realize that The Doon School was In a declining interest rate and investment return
built on the generosity of a few select donors. Nine environment we may need even more than this
out of ten of the structures in Chandbagh today were already ambitious amount to fulfil our ambitions.
gifted to the school. As we gather momentum towards Today our endowment stands at nearly INR 40 crore
our centenary in 2035 the role of Old Boys and friends meaning we need to raise an additional INR 80 crores
of the Doon School is more important than ever in to hit our target.
ensuring the success and relevance of the school’s
future. The Board Development Plan from 2012 calls Why do we need the money? One important objective
for us to ramp up infrastructure, hire and retain good is to match best practice in the world in separating the
teaching and managerial talent, and for us to provide ability to pay from the question of whether a boy has
our students with the best curriculum for their growth the potential to make a good Dosco. The world leader
and development. in this respect is Harvard and it famously operates a
needs-blind admission policy.
All of this comes at a cost which is why the b oard,
and engaged IPSS, Doscos and Dosco parents have Prospective donors ought to note that donors can
concluded that the school needs an endowment of designate how their money will be spent. A firm
at least INR 120 crores by 2020 to help us build the commitment from the Board to donors is that there will
resources to reach our vision. This would mean that be transparency on funds raised and how it is deployed.
fees and other revenues could be ploughed back into
maintaining the existing infrastructure and platform of The School’s endowment is composed of the following
the School, while endowment monies would help us special funds, which have been topped up by many
achieve the Development Plan. generations of Old Boys and friends of The Doon School.
The Scholarship and Bursary Fund
Current balance INR 18 crore
Only the interest income is used to provide financial
aid to those boys that cannot fully afford a Doon
education. Nearly 140 boys out of 550 receive various
forms of financial aid with a few receiving complete
financial support.
Recently the Old Boys and other donors from the
United Kingdom established DOSCENT (Doon School
English Charitable Trust) UK scholarship with a
corpus of INR 1.5 crore. The scholarship will provide
a completely free place at School to a deserving
candidate from D form (grade 7) to Sc Form (grade
12) and will see nearly five generations of future
Dosco pass through the gates of Chandbagh. The
intention is to continue to gather funds in the UK.
Doscos of my generation will remember what
The hallowed corridors of knowledge examples government scholars set for the rest of us in
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THE ROSEBOWL | APRIL 2016
There has also been a major exercise to strengthen
and restore the Main Building. The classrooms too
are being restored to make them relevant to today’s
generation of boys and academic curricula such
as the International Baccalaureate (IB) and IGCSE. 
Smart classrooms are a standard part of effective
teaching around the world and it should be no
different at Doon.
In 2015, Sunjay Kapur (147 H, 1990) contributed
to supporting a classroom in the memory of his
father, the late Dr Surinder Kapur. The Doon School
A Smart Class in the Main Building after renovation
Old Boys Society too contributed a classroom. The
focus, determination and ambition. Their appreciation cost of supporting a classroom is INR 25 lacs and it
of the many resources of School went deep and was would be fantastic if you, your class, or organization
heartfelt. We would like to have many bright and could come forward and help us upgrade the Main
deserving boys at School now that the government Building in this way. For more details please contact
scholar programme has all but ceased. Rishabh Sharma at the Development and Alumni
Relations Office at School.
The Endowment Fund
Current balance INR 14.8 crore Chhota Hazri Fund
Only the interest income from this fund is used to Current balance INR 2 lacs (started in October 2015)
help the school address its most important and Closely associated with our first cup of tea before
current needs. This is in line with modern thinking PT is the school’s annual giving programme. We
on endowment finance. In a perfect world it would encourage Old Boys to give small amounts annually to
be a self-sustaining corpus, where an amount could help the school address its most pressing needs. We
be set aside every year in order to maintain the real ask for a minimum of INR 5000 from Indian Residents
value of the corpus in addition to the amounts spent. and USD/GBP 100 from those resident overseas.
Contributions to the Endowment Fund helps the Donors who contribute to this fund receive a special
school adhere to the development plan and secure the edition Chhota Haazri cup to thank them for their
school’s long-term future. support to School.
Chandbagh Estate Fund Legacy Giving
Current balance INR 3.22 crore The greatest educational institutions in the world
This fund is for maintaining and enhancing the continue to benefit from legacies. A legacy may
Chandbagh estate. The new masters’ housing, which constitute an immovable assert, a stake in a business
consists of 18 new apartments, is currently under venture, financial instruments, etc. bequeathed in
development and will be ready by this summer. Old one’s will to an institution, made out of a strong
Boys from North America contributed generously personal conviction.
towards the completion of this project.  
School Campus Images courtesy: Rishabh Sharma
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