20100226: Peter on Sigismund

26 February 2010 15:11
Subject: Your email of even date.

Hi Maxie,

Thank you very much for your reply.

This morning Sigismond called me and we had a pretty long chat. The length of his talk and diction was way apart from what I knew of him in H S days. He has extended to me a standing invitation for a visit to his place which I can

plan may be in my next visit to Mangalore. 

Regards,

Peter

quotable Philosophies

Philosophies     Sometimes, when I look at my children, I say to myself, 'Lillian, you should have

remained a virgin.'

- Lillian Carter (mother of  Jimmy Carter)

<><>  

The secret of a good sermon is

to have a good beginning and a

good ending; and to have

the two as close together as possible.

-  George Burns

<><>  

Santa Claus has the right idea.

Visit people only once a year.

- Victor Borge

<><>  

By all means, marry. If you get a good wife,

you'll become happy; if you get a bad one,

you'll become a philosopher.

- Socrates

<><>  

I was married by a judge.

I should have asked for a jury.

- Groucho Marx

<><>  

My wife has a slight impediment in her speech.

Every now and then she stops to breathe.

-  Jimmy Durante

<><>  

  

Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass

all four essential food groups:

alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.

- Alex Levine

<><>  

My luck is so bad that if I bought a cemetery,

people would stop dying.

- Rodney Dangerfield

<><>  

Money can't buy you happiness.

But it does bring you a more pleasant form of misery.

- Spike Milligan

<><>  

Until I was thirteen, I thought my name was SHUT UP.

- Joe Namath

<><>   

I never drink water because of the

disgusting things that fish do in it.

- W. C. Fields

<><>  

  

We could certainly slow the

aging process down if it had to

work its way through Congress.

- Will Rogers

<><>  

Don't worry about avoiding temptation. 

As you grow older, it will avoid you.

- Winston Churchill

<><>  

Maybe it's true that life begins at fifty.

But everything else starts to wear out,

fall out, or spread out.

- Phyllis Diller

<><>  

By the time a man is wise enough to

watch his step, he's too old to go anywhere.

-  Billy Crystal

SAC - An update

.....sent in by Peter L. Fernandes from Mumbai, on 26 February 2010 at 00:28

Daijiworld Media Network- Mangalore (VA) 

Mangalore, Feb 25: St Aloysius College (autonomous) has been declared College with Potential for Excellence (CPE). 

Of the 149 colleges selected for the honour during the third phase, St Aloysius College features for excellent infrastructure, quality education and socially relevant outlook to education. 

During each plan, the University Grants Commission (UGC) accords the status of "College with Potential for Excellence" to recognize the potential and merit of educational institutions and to encourage them to excel further. Consequently, the selected university/college gets fillip for further research and infrastructural development.

Under the jurisdiction of Mangalore University, only two educational institutions, including St Aloysius College, have received the special recognition, where as in the state 21 colleges are recognized as CPEs.

Earlier, the college had gone in for a re-accreditation with UGC's National Accreditation and Assessment Council (NAAC) in December 2009, and the NAAC, on the inspection and recommendation of its peer team had accorded the college with a rare "A" grade with 3.48 points.

Hi

Dear Adolph,
 
I don't know if you remember me. But I remember you very well. You had great hair. Special hair cut where the hair stood up like porcupine quills. I hope you have all that stuff on your head even now.
Please write to me. I hope to see you at the reunion on June 19 and 20.
 
Sincerely 

Raphael Maliakal

Cricket match at SAC.

As for having cricket match (pavoos permitting), I think even that is not impossible.

First, let's get Francis' email ID to initiate discussion and make two teams under

his guidance so that we can save time when at SAC.

The ball is now in your court!

All the best,

Peter

Yoga for all

Thanks for Norman Lobo S's email address. I wrote to him today.

I am glad you are working on your yoga. I hope all our class mates will follow your lead.

I have not heard about the cricket match yet. I was hoping Francis will lead that effort.

Sincerely

Raphael Maliakal

20100224: email addresses... updates

Between Raphael & Peter

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

 

Raphael: 4:03 AM

Peter, This list does not have Norman Lobo S and Leslie D'sousa email addresses. Weren't you planning to meet them a week ago? Thanks

 

Peter: 08:24:22 +0530

Hi Raphael, In line with what I had written to you last week I did visit Norman J.  on Monday and Leslie yesterday and had interesting long chats about SAC good old days. However, Leslie was unable to give me his e-mail ID immediately for his own reason but promised to do so today.

As for Norman S. at Malad I will be meeting him this evening and will pass on these 2 ID'S no sooner I receive them. Don't worry Raphael,

I will be on this happy trail!

 

Raphael:  6:24 PM

Thanks Peter for doing the leg work.

 

Peter: 22:50:38 +0530

Well Raphael, it was more of a work for my car's tyres than for my legs which also took me to Norman S.' house this evening!

Thanks for your appreciation, anyway.

 

Raphael: 7:39 AM
Now we need to get an email address for Norman S.
Are you ready for Kyranna's drill?

 

Peter: 03:40

In fact,  I had conveyed Norman S.'  e-mail ID in a separate letter yesterday night itself.  doreenlobo@yahoo.co.uk  ; Ph. No. : 022-28880152

As for re-living Mr Kiranna's PT classes (we should thank God for one of our own old teachers is alive today), I enjoyed thoroughly your sense of humour in your earlier exchange with Fr. Walter too.

Yes, I have started brushing anew my yoga exercises. With 3 months to go for the drill at SAC venue, I think I should be fit for the D-day.

Thanks for your kind reminder, anyway!

Inclusion of new Email ID's.

Hi Maxie,

 

We have now two more email addresses of our classmates - 

that of  Leslie D'Souza and  Norman S.Lobo received

recently. 

 

In addition, Adolf Lobo's ID omitted through oversight in Harry's

list of 23rd Feb. needs also to be included in your Blog.

 

Leslie D'Souza    -   mariejd12@hotmail.com

 

Norman S. Lobo  -  doreenlobo@yahoo.co.uk 

 

Adolf Lobo - lourdes_judy_lobo@hotmail.com  

 

 

With thanks and regards,

 

Peter 

 

 

Email ID of Norman S.

In fact,  I had conveyed Norman S.'  e-mail ID in a separate letter

yesterday night itself.

        

                        doreenlobo@yahoo.co.uk

 

                        Ph. No.  :   022-28880152

 

As for re-living Mr Kiranna's PT classes (we should thank God for

one of our own old teachers is alive today), I enjoyed thoroughly 

your sense of humour in your earlier exchange with Fr. Walter too.

 

Yes, I have started brushing anew my yoga exercises. With 3 months

to go for the drill at SAC venue, I think I should be fit for the D-day.

 

Thanks for your kind reminder, anyway!

 

Peter 

Updates.

Dear Leslie and Norman,

 

Upon visits to your places and obtaining your email ID's to our blog,

am enclosing last 2 days' emailed letters, for your information.

 

We'll all be happy to receive from you letters conveying your views

from time to time.

 

Regards,

 

Peter

 

 

 

----- Original Message -----

From: Peter L. Fernandes

To: harry saldanha

Sent: Tuesday, February 23, 2010 1:46 PM

Subject: Re: [St Aloysius College - sslc class of 1960] 20100217: email addresses... updates

It seems Adolf Lobo's name and email ID has

been omitted through oversight.

 

Yesterday I had been to Norman J.'s place and

today intend going to Leslie's both at Bandra.

Plan to meet Norman S. whose place  at Malad

closer to me, tomorrow.

 

Regards,

 

Peter

 

 

----- Original Message -----

From: harry saldanha

To: Walter Andrade ; dr.bailurta@gmail.com ; pub391@rediffmail.com ; Stan Coelho ; vcurrie@gmail.com ; Leo Cunha ; Rex DSouza ; pgferns@mtnl.net.in ; njlobo@hotmail.com ; terencemathias@yahoo.com ; icnazareth@yahoo.com ; hectornoronha@yahoo.com ; mfjpkamath@gmail.com ; raphaelmj@homail.com ; hrtsaldanha@hotmail.com ; saldanhamary@hotmail.com ; oswald_sequeira@hotmail.com ; as.talwar@ntlworld.com ; c-veliat@sophia.ac.jp ; cbpais@hotmail.com

Sent: Tuesday, February 23, 2010 9:10 AM

Subject: FW: [St Aloysius College - sslc class of 1960] 20100217: email addresses... updates

 

---

Andrade Fr Walter <walterstevesj@gmail.com>
Bailur Dr Trilochan A <dr.bailurta@gmail.com>,
Bhat Prabhakar U <pub391@rediffmail.com>,
Coelho Stan <stan_coelho@yahoo.com>,
Currie Victor" <vcurrie@gmail.com>
D'Cunha Leo <leocunha@airtelmail.in>
D'Souza Rex <rexnd@dataone.in>,
Fernandes Peter L <pgferns@mtnl.net.in>
Lobo Norman J <njlobo@hotmail.com>
Mathias Terrence <terencemathias@yahoo.com>,
Claud Nazareth <icnazareth@yahoo.com>
Noronha Hector <hectornoronha@yahoo.com>
Pereira Maxwell <mfjpkamath@gmail.com>
Raphael MJ <raphaelmj@hotmail.com>,
Saldanha Harold <hrtsaldanha@hotmail.com>,
Saldanha Patrick <saldanhamary@hotmail.com>,
Sequeira Oswald <oswald_sequeira@hotmail.com>
Talwar Arun S <as.talwar@ntlworld.com>
Veliath Fr Cyril <c-veliat@sophia.ac.jp>
Pais Claud     Cbpais@hotmail.com
 



--
St Aloysius College - sslc class of 1960

---

Your E-mail and More On-the-Go. Get Windows Live Hotmail Free. Sign up now.

__________ NOD32 4888 (20100222) Information __________

This message was checked by NOD32 antivirus system.
http://www.eset.com

Re: [St Aloysius College - sslc class of 1960] 20100217: email addresses... updates

Well Raphael, it was more of a work for my car's tyres than for

my legs which also took me to Norman S.' house this evening!

 

Thanks for your appreciation, anyway.

 

Peter

 

 

----- Original Message -----

From: Raphael Maliakal

To: pgferns@mtnl.net.in

Sent: Wednesday, February 24, 2010 6:24 PM

Subject: RE: [St Aloysius College - sslc class of 1960] 20100217: email addresses... updates

Thanks Peter for doing the leg work.
 
Sincerely

Raphael Maliakal

 

---

Date: Wed, 24 Feb 2010 08:24:22 +0530
From: pgferns@mtnl.net.in
Subject: Re: [St Aloysius College - sslc class of 1960] 20100217: email addresses... updates
To: raphaelmj@hotmail.com

Hi Raphael,

 

In line with what I had written to you last week I did visit Norman J.

on Monday and Leslie yesterday and had interesting long chats about 

SAC good old days. However, Leslie was unable to give me his e-mail

ID immediately for his own reason but promised to do so today.

 

As for Norman S. at Malad I will be meeting him this evening and 

will pass on these 2 ID'S no sooner I receive them. Don't worry Raphael,

I will be on this happy trail!

 

Sincerely,

 

Peter

 

----- Original Message -----

From: Raphael Maliakal

To: pgferns@mtnl.net.in

Sent: Wednesday, February 24, 2010 4:03 AM

Subject: FW: [St Aloysius College - sslc class of 1960] 20100217: email addresses... updates

Peter,
 
This list does not have Norman Lobo S and Leslie D'sousa email addresses.
Weren't you planning to meet them a week ago?
 
Thanks

Raphael Maliakal

 

20100224: between Raphael and Walter....

On Wed, Feb 17, 2010 at 7:05 AM, Raphael Maliakal wrote:

Dear Walter,

Many of our classmates would love to sit on the benches and attend a class during our visit to SAC. It is a Saturday and we may need to make arrangements. Class can be in Kannada, English, Math or Science (subject does not matter). One or several of us can be the teachers, unless one from the school can be arranged.

We also would love to go on to the top of the tower. We used to do it on Rector's Day and get sugar cane. I am sure the current Rector or Principal will oblige if you make the request.

Thanks
Raphael Maliakal

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

Walter responds to Raphael

Date: Wed, 24 Feb 2010 16:26:15 +0530
Subject: Class of 1960 reunion

Dear Raphael,

Thanks for the mail.Arrangements will be definately made for us to sit in the same class which we sat 50 years ago, near the school office.
Mr Kairanna, our PT master is still around and we will persuade him to come and take the class.
Arrangement to go the tower will also be made as I'm in St Aloysius College Jesuit Community, working in the college as Finance Officer.
Thats all for the present.

With good wishes,

Fr Walter Andrade SJ

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

From: Raphael Maliakal to Walter (copied to all)
Date: 24 February 2010 12:39
Subject: Be ready for Surya Namascara

Thanks Walter.
I am sure all of us will enjoy that experience. I am not ready for SuryaNamascara now but I will practise and be ready for the drill.
Sincerely
Raphael Maliakal

Leslie's Email ID

Dear Peter,

Thanks a ton for Leslie's email address.

Your mail was very interesting and exuberant indeed.

With pleasure now I will add the new address to our emai;l bank - like I have just recently added Cladie's too.

Maxie

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

 

From: Peter L. Fernandes to Harold RT Saldanha
24 February 2010 08:54
Subject: Leslie's Email ID

Hi Harry,

 

Had been to Leslie's place yesterday and had a long chat with him reminiscing our good old days at H.S. I marvelled at his memory of our companions and their interactions during those days and how some of us used to play cricket near H.M.'s room after the school hours until sunset etc.

 

He was recollecting about an adjacent hall which was built in the campus during his College days of which the students were a part and wondered if it existed as of now and if it could be made available for our RU.

 

Leslie's email ID is:   mariejd12@hotmail.com

 

Before this, on Monday I had visited Norman J. also at Bandra. Both Norman and his wife were so hospitable and we 2 chatting about our High School days - I began to think if this feels so good what would be our Reunion altogether 3 months later. 

 

Well Harry, we are thirsting to hear more from Mangalore HQ including you.!

 

Peter!

20100224: Claudius Pais on the scene...

Dear Claudy,

Wonderful to hear from you...

So we have three of you from our batch of classmates so far located in Canada - Terrence Mathias and Oswald Sequeira in Toronto, and now you in Vancouver. Do share with us your coordinates: address, telephone numbers, email addresses, website, blog...whatever!

From info gathered so far - and apart from you three, we have Raphael in the USA (Boston); Arun in the UK (Cardiff); and the rest of us in India.

About me... after school leaving in 1960 I spent the next ten years in Bangalore doing College at St Joseph's, then did Law and practised Law in bangalore Courts. Since 1970 I have spent the last 40-years in North India serving in the Indian Police Service till 5 years ago - mostly in Delhi, with short interludes elsewhere too... like Sikkim (4-yrs as the its first Supdt of Police); Mizoram (2-yrs as its Asst Inspr.Genl); and Podicherry (3-yrs as its Chief of Police). I retired from Delhi 2004 November, as its Joint Commissioner.

Currently I live in Gurgaon (almost next to Delhi's international airport), in the house I managed to construct and move into (in 2005) just in time to surrender the Govt accommodation that had sheltered me for 35 years in one place or the other.

Like you, I now try to keep myself occupied (not busy) with one thing or the other, travel a lot - for lectures, consultancy, hobbies(choir), and pleasure... but mostly because of children who are based abroad: both my girls in the USA (Connecticut and California), and my son in London (from where I am keying in these few lines to you at the moment).

Well, since you relatively are a late entry into our little cocoon of email circuit, you may want to catch up on what's transpired in the interregnum since Harry our Central force in Mangalore started placing individual calls to each of us - at which exercise he has been relentlessly on followed by Arun in England, I believe since last September/October. I received my call from Harry in November.

To the extent possible, I have tried archive all the mails and interesting stuff that was exchanged between the lot of us in a Blog I maintain, accessible at http://sacclassof1960.blogspot.com/

By clicking on links in the index provided in the leftside column, you will be able to read how it all started, or whatever other stage that interests you, and view photographs old and new that some have shared...

Welcome to our "class of 1960" blog. You yourself can also post whatever you'd like to, directly on to the blog by just emailing the content to mfjpkamath.gorilla@blogger.com

With warm regards,

Maxie

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

From: Claudius Pais to Maxwell Pereira

On 24 February 2010 06:48,

Hello Maxie,

It was nice to read your email. Yes, Harry is doing lot of work by contacting our classmates. I live in Vancouver, Canada at present, am retired, but am busy as ever doing various things. So where do you live at present.

I am sorry to say that I cannot make for the class reunion, due to the distance, and my prior committments. But when I come to Mangalore next will certainly make it a point to meet all our classmates who live in Mangalore.

So long Maxie, you take care and best of regards.

Claudius Pais

Re: Response from classmates.

Dear Peter,

Thank you for your post.

To put the record straight, I am not upset. But like everyone else I suppose (and hope) that a little more participation from everyone to supplement the effort of our core team in Mangalore would be welcome and healthy.

On what you have said in your email, you do have a point. However, I for one have deliberately not excluded the ones departed - especially since we have decided to track down their families or next of kin to include them to some extent in our REUNION get-together. Surely, a suitable communication channel with them would be necessary? And towards this end perhaps it'd be nice to collect the means for such communication, preferably through email or telephone!

As regards those whose whereabouts are still to be traced, well... we hope we'll eventually succeed, and extablish communication with them too.

I was happy to see one more email 'id' (that of Claud Pais <Cbpais@hotmail.com>) listed in Harry's mail this morning to Fr Walter - with no message however, but only the list of total email addresses. (Thank you Harry).

Don't ypu think it'd be just wonderful if all the 20 whose email addresses are with us now on record start active communication with each other.... rather than the majority remaining just silent and passive fence sitters?
With warm regards,

Maxie

On 23 February 2010 18:34, Peter L. Fernandes <pgferns@mtnl.net.in> wrote:

Hi Maxie,

I can understand you are upset 'cause you do not get the desired

response from all.

But wait a minute. You say that the batch in original is numbered 52.

Now, should we not take out the number of those who have gone up

for their heavenly reward and also those not traceable and therefore

beyond reach? That will leave our group to a little more than half our

original size in so far as communication is concerned. Out of the rest,

I admit it is regretful that there are still a handful who have not revealed

their email ID's. We can still try and obtain them.

Thereafter, we will have the realistic number to tackle for response.

Regards,

Peter

Google Alert - Maxwell Pereira

Friends,
I have just been alerted by Google about an article in today's Deccan Herald that mentions my role in the infamous 1984 ant-Sikh Riots following indira Gandhi's assassination.
Those of you interested may read it at http://www.deccanherald.com/content/53799/echoes-injustice.html
The article Echoes of Injustice by Prasanjit Chowdhry should also be accessible at the link rovided below by Google with the very same title of the article.
I hope you guys don't mind me sharing this with you.
With regards
Maxie
--------------------------------------------
From: Google Alerts
Date: 21 February 2010 02:27
Subject: Google Alert - Maxwell Pereira
Google Web Alert for: Maxwell Pereira

Echoes of injustice
But his account is replete with accounts of how police, save some gutsy officers like Maxwell Pereira, became complicit in acts of butchery. ...

Flipkart.com: Transformations Of Policing: Books:
The Other Side Of Policing by Maxwell Pereira. Rs 325...

Innovation in our Blog.

Hi Maxie,

I am happy that going by your instructions,

I find that it works!

Thanks,

Peter

Re: for your eyes only...

Hi Maxie,

You are truly tech-savvy with innovations in 'our' blog and just adorable!

Peter

P.S. Testing your instructions.

Testing Gorilla@blogger.com

From: Raphael Maliakal to all

Date: 20 February 2010 13:53
Subject: Testing Gorilla@blogger.com

This is a test. As a St. Thomas Christian from Kerala, I need proof to believe. Let us see if this email will make it to the blog.

Sincerely
Raphael Maliakal
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: Raphael Maliakal
Date: 20 February 2010 14:27
Subject: FW: Testing Gorilla@blogger.com

Test worked for gorilla.blogger. But I tried to post a comment but it did not work for me.
Regards

Raphael Maliakal

Dear Raphael,
The Comments box directly under every entry on the Blog is in public domain and accessible any public member. If you follow the instructions as they appear when you click on 'Comment' after typing in whatever the content of your comment - especially the name and email address of the commentor as prompted by the Blog, there is no way you comment will not appear.
Regards,
Maxie

20100220: ...more bet. Raphael & Peter

From Peter - To: Raphael

Thursday, February 18, 2010 7:18 PM

Subject: Hi from Borivli

You are right. Sudhir & Vasant have not been traced. I hope someone in Mangalore or Bangalore will track them.
Francis was very active in arranging cricket after school. I hope he can get a match going during reunion.
I am glad that you are in touch with Trilochan.
Have a holy Lent.
Reunion is on a weekend. I had asked Harry to arrange an early Sunday Mass by Fr. Walter that will not interfere with the other activities. I did not hear anything about it from Harry. I hope Sunday Mass by Fr. Walter can be worked into the weekend program without upsetting the non-Catholics.
Sincerely
Raphael Maliakal

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Peter to Raphael
Fri, 19 Feb 2010 22:23:07 +0530
Subject: Hi from Borivli

Hi Raphael,
Your thought about having a Sunday Mass celebrated by Fr Walter is on practical lines. The non-catholics though at liberty to join the Mass, I am sure most of them will attend it, being a good beginning for Sunday's programme.
As for tracing addresses of some of our listed classmates, in order to get results at all, I feel someone at the scene should work at it.
Peter
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: Raphael Maliakal to Peter (copied to Arun & Maxie)
Date: 20 February 2010 15:44
Subject: Hi from Borivli

Let us hope Harry and Walter will make the Sunday Mass a reality. I have sent an email to Fr. walter to make arrangement on Saturday to open a class room for all of us to sit. Also for us to be able to go up on the tower like on a Rector's day.
I also thought some of us can be teachers for the day and teach the class of 1960 some Kannada, Math and science and may be Hindi. Maxwell speaks Hindi that sounds more like Panjabi because he mixes a lot of "Bloody" in it.
I hope this does not go on the blog. I write these things without much thought. It is like "thinking out loud". It is possible for our friends to misinterpret it.
Now that Maxi has provided an email address for publishing letters directly to the blog, I can use that vehicle to do that. I tested it and it works.
Letters written to share thoughts should not go on the blog in my opinion.
We will make you the "Special Envoy" to facilitate the Reunion.
Sincerely
Raphael Maliakal

Note from Maxie:
(...with due apologies Raphael... but then, it is stuff like what's in this your email that makes interesting reading, enough to liven up the blog! Please do not mind my posting it here to share it with the others. I am sure no one will misunderstand. On the contrary, eveyone will bloody well like it... !!!!!)

Testing Gorilla@blogger.com

This is a test. As a St. Thomas Christian from Kerala, I need proof to believe. Let us see if this email will make it to the blog.
 
Sincerely

Raphael Maliakal

for your eyes only...

Friends,

I have had a few queries and a request from some among you, on how to post stuff directly on to our Blog. In this connection, I would at first like to run you through a few preliminaries and basics:

i) Access: Hitherto, as you know, you can access the Blog at the weblink url: http://sacclassof1960.blogspot.com/

ii) Index of Posts: Once you have clicked on this link and accessed the Blog, you can find in the column on the left side the list of postings chronologically and datewise - links to which you can click on any to read its contents. (I have tried to ensure the order in which the emails from each had come in, while posting them here on the Blog). For older posts, you just have to click on the year and the month, and the lists of posts will open out to you to click on further

iii) Comments: When you have read a particular entry on the Blog, for real interaction, reaction and response that you may get the urge to do, just click inside the provided empty box below the entry/post you have just read and click on the link for "Comment" immediately below, In a jiffy you will find the comment you typed appear printed online on the Blog.

iv) Followers: Above the "Index" of posts on the left side of the Blog, you will find the link "Followers". The advantage of being a "follower" on record of the Blog - as Raphael, Arun and Leo will tell you.. since they are the only three who have so far become followers - is that u get intimated directly from the Blog whenever there is a new entry thereon without you taking the trouble to access the Blog yourself. Hence I urge each of you to immediately become a "follower on record" of the Blog. it is your blog, so be a part of it, follow it, digest it or contribute to it, and enjoy it.

v) Direct Post on Blog: Lastly, if u are interested in posting something afresh, something new directly on to the Blog (...and not through me), I have now configured the settings to receive your post direct on the Blog as an email. Just write it out as you write your normal email, and mail it to mfjpkamath.gorilla@blogger.com - and your post will appear on our Blog as of the same date and time you sent your email. (Do keep this direct posting email address as private and confidential, as we would not perhaps like strangers piping in, disturbing our private and exclusive status on our Blog, and generally writing in something not palatable to us).

Gorilla Story: Now some of you may wonder at the strange email address with an insert of the word 'gorilla' in it. Well, there's a small story behind this. It was Raphael who during our reminiscences while on my visit to his at Boston, that fondly remembered that dreaded school peon "Gorilla" who rang the school bell - when we were in Middle School, to announce school starting and finishing time, as also between all lesson periods for the respective teachers to visit classrooms and commence the day's lessons. Raphael told me he met our 'Gorilla' some time after we left school, and found what a humble and gentle soul he was, against the ogre we had made him out to be in our minds! I cannot remember his real name - perhaps Raphael told me, if so... I have forgotten. But then, I thought this nickname of 'gorilla' that we had adorned our school peon with would be the appropriate and ideal password for us to access the SACsslcbatchof1960 Blog in fond memory of this custodian of the school bell that regulated our entry and exit everyday at school.

With warm regards to all,

Maxie

20100220: email addresses... updates

From: Peter L. Fernandes to Maxie
Date: 20 February 2010 12:08
Subject: email addresses... updates

Hi Maxie,

I for one, appreciate the wield of your final baton to evoke response from those silent so far. I hope and ardently wish it works.

Secondly, Arun did request me to try trace the whereabouts of our unknown classmates before going to Mangalore early this month. Unfortuntately I could not make much headway in this regard in the limited time and I had written about this to him immediately on my return last week. For your information.

Regards,

Peter

Ten Commandments ...for Seniors

These 'Ten Commandments' specified "for those above 40 only" were sent to me by my younger brother Manohar. They are beautiful, with sound advice for the likes of us. Put on the speakers when you view this lovely power-point presentation on your computer, and enjoy.
Some of you may remember Manohar - he was two years junior to us in school at St Aloysius, also a classmate to Leo's brother Joe and Cyril's brother Basil.
Manohar and Basil (...if I recall, perhaps Joe too) went on to be together in the first batch of St John's Medical College. After his post-graduation in surgery, Manohar practised for a while in Bangalore, but traipsed off to open a clinic of his own in the Gulf - in Muttrah, Muscat in the Sultanate of Oman - where he continues still - perhaps for 33yrs now. He has three children all in the USA - both his girls are doctors, and son who is the youngest is a lawyer in New York.

 

keep the volume on

20100219: Terrence on Winston

From: Terence Mathias to Maxie

Date: 19 February 2010 17:48
Subject: 20100218: Remembering the dear departed - Winston

Dear Maxie,

Many thanks for Vincent's pictures. I knew him very well. I met his lovely wife a couple of times when I visited Fr. Mullers Hospital. May his soul rest in peace.

I believe that his son is married.

The idea of our classmates telling the rest what they did after school, I thought was a good idea. No compulsion, only if they want to. (....I totally agree with you! /Maxie)

Terence

20100219: Action for Reunion.

From: Walter Andrade - To : Peter L. Fernandes

Friday, February 19, 2010 11:55 AM
Subject: Action for Reunion.

Dear Peter,
Thanks for both the mails. I will mail you little later on our Reunion.
Sorry that I could not spend more time with you when you came here to meet me a few days ago.
With warm regards and prayers,
Fr.Walter
---------------------------------------------------

20100218: Remembering the dear departed - Winston Farias

Dear all,

We have been talking about not forgetting those of our classmates who have passed on to the nether world before us - especially at the time when we meet for our Re-union that is proposed in June. Our friend Arun in the meantime has already set in motion some action on this front, while he has been busy otherwise with many among us on various matters concerning the organizing of the re-union meet.

According to insights Arun has already shared with me, he has requested Peter Fernandes and Fr Walter to initiate some action to contact the families of those of our classmates who are no more......
i) to collect at least two of their photographs:
a) a youthful photograph of the individual nearer to the time 50 years ago as perhaps when we knew him, and
b) a latest photograph nearest to the time of his demise; and also,
ii) to invite the surviving spouse or at least one of the next of kin for a families meet meal (lunch/dinner) at the time of our reunion.

In the line of this action, Arun has now secured for us two photographs of our classmate the late Winston Farias obatined for us by his nephew in England whose father (Arun's cousin) happens to be a neighbour of Winston's family in Mangalore. Good work Arun...

The photographs with Arun's modest forwarding line is appended.

With warm regards,

Maxie

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Arun Talwar to Maxwell Pereira
Date: 18 February 2010 18:53

Hi Maxie,

Got these pictures last night!!. Will call and speak to you later tonight.

love

Arun

20100218: between Raphael and Peter

From: Raphael - To: Peter
Thursday, February 18, 2010 8:04 AM

I am glad that you are doing your part in getting the Bombay crowd excited about the reunion. I hope Hector, Prabhakar, Leo and others are doing their part in Bangalore. Let us hope Harry, Walter and Stany will work hard as hosts. Redmond and Sijismond are also playing their part. I expect all this will make the first reunion of ours a memorable one.
I talked with Terance who is in Toronto, canada. He is excited about the reunion and is planning to come. Maxwell and Arun have been key to get this moving. We got to get Bailur, Sudhir, Vasant, Francis and others to get involved.
Sincerely
Raphael Maliakal
-----------------------------------------------------------------

From: Peter - To: Raphael
Thu, 18 Feb 2010 09:31:51 +0530

Hi Raphael,
Thanks for your prompt reply.
Let me understand this: Have Sudhir and Lionel Vasant been traced? Please let me know the latest.
As for Trilochan Bailur I had a pretty long chat with him personally in his clinic a fortnight ago,
And regarding Francis, I can make it a point to meet him in my next visit.
Regards,
Peter

20100217: ..between Raphael & Peter

From Raphael Maliakal to: Peter Fernandes

Sent: Wednesday, February 17, 2010 9:51 PM

Subject: RE: Changing dates

Suggestions are always welcome. It is best to suggest than keep quiet. I hope you can pull some strings and get the silent members get interested in the reunion.
Thanks
Raphael Maliakal
------------------------------------------------------
Date: Wed, 17 Feb 2010 23:19:27 +0530
From: Peter Fernendes
Subject: Re: Changing dates
Hi Raphael,

I like your openness and sportive spirit.

To tell you, I am very much on the move these days. In my limited sphere I do keep in touch with everyone possible. Next Monday I intend to meet Norman and Leslie at Bandra. In fact, being in Mumbai I should have done that much earlier.Thereafter, I will be visiting Norman S. at Malad which is closer to my place.

You know Raphael, taking into account each one's innate nature I doubt if everyone would be explicit of their opinions on the internet to the extent we expect. Maybe they respond only to phone calls. However on the whole, I think we can safely presume all are looking forward to our great Golden Reunion.
Well, what we need badly at this juncture I think is a coordinator to follow up that Registration Form is filled up - a sure indicator that they are interested.
Regards,
Peter

20100217: email addresses... updates

Just a thought:
Maybe it's a good idea I circulate once again the email addresses so far on record concerning our SAC sslc batch of 1960.
Possibly considering our grey hairs and senior status, some may say indeed it's not bad that at least 19 of us have admitted to the world and declared that we can and do communicate electronically using our email 'id's - irrespective of the fact whether at all in reality many of us do so or not!
I have only one comment: IT IS A SHAME THAT THERE ARE ONLY 19 EMAIL ADDRESSES FOR A BATCH THAT NUMBERED 52 !!!
And it's a bigger shame that many among the 19 are still fighting shy to ever use the email addresses in reality through the electronic medium
As always,
Maxie

For the record, let me reproduce the existing 19 email addresses:

Andrade Fr Walter <walterstevesj@gmail.com>
Bailur Dr Trilochan A <dr.bailurta@gmail.com>,
Bhat Prabhakar U <pub391@rediffmail.com>,
Coelho Stan <stan_coelho@yahoo.com>,
Currie Victor" <vcurrie@gmail.com>
D'Cunha Leo <leocunha@airtelmail.in>
D'Souza Rex <rexnd@dataone.in>,
Fernandes Peter L <pgferns@mtnl.net.in>
Lobo Norman J <njlobo@hotmail.com>
Mathias Terrence <terencemathias@yahoo.com>,
<icnazareth@yahoo.com>
Noronha Hector <hectornoronha@yahoo.com>
Pereira Maxwell <mfjpkamath@gmail.com>
Raphael MJ <raphaelmj@hotmail.com>,
Saldanha Harold <hrtsaldanha@hotmail.com>,
Saldanha Patrick <saldanhamary@hotmail.com>,
Sequeira Oswald <oswald_sequeira@hotmail.com>
Talwar Arun S <as.talwar@ntlworld.com>
Veliath Fr Cyril <c-veliat@sophia.ac.jp>

20100217: Action for Reunion

On Wed, Feb 17, 2010 at 8:49 AM, Peter L. Fernandes wrote:

A meeting to be held soon at Mangalore HQ will go a long way to prove that

it believes more in action - term it leadership, core Committee, whatever.

Kudos and Cheers..

Peter

20100216: Walter Andrade - Harry's appeal....

From: harry saldanha <hrtsaldanha@hotmail.com>

Date: 16 February 2010 03:25

Hi,
could you please include Fr.Walter in your messages.
His email ID is walterstevesj@gmail.com

"walk down memory lane"

From: Peter to Maxie

Date: 15 February 2010 18:15

If our School Reunion is all about reminiscenses and nostalgia,

dear Maxie, your "walk down memory lane" fits in the bill.!

Peter

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

From: Maxwell to Peter
Date: 15 February 2010 22:33

ha ha...

the credit for the byline "walk down memory lane" should go to Leo, and not me!

Cheers...

Maxie

20100215: Peter follows suit with his comments

Date: 15 February 2010 17:22

Hi Maxie,

 

While I appreciate Leo's painstakingly written comments on the tentative Reunion Programme to Arun and I do endorse them,  I fully second the views expressed in your letter.

 

Let us go to basics. In the first letter shot from the HQ it was clearly indicated that any phone calls (queries also I suppose) in the matter should be addressed to Harry - the Convenor.  The Q. is whether this was actually done or not. Unfortunately, as I heard from Harry himself in my last month's visit, it was not so. Feelings apart, getting the act together at this juncture is of primary importance. And here we stand.

 

An event like this needs a leader and a core committee to get into action. Arun, one of the "great Four" floated a Form to be filled in, 2 months ago. If I am not mistaken only less than 5 have done the needful so far which conversely amounts to lack of interest?

 

I feel the need of the hour is: 

1. Ascertain from the Forms filled in, how many can and will attend.

2. Have an approximate budget for the expenses for the centrally drawn programme after amalgamating all suggestions.

3. Inform each one about their approximate contribution and programme details. 

4. Get batchmates' personal final confirmation before paying the advance payments.

 

With warm regards,

Peter

20100215: Raphael is quick to react...

Date: 15 February 2010 17:07

I am glad to see something concrete in writing. Leo has done a great job. I am sure Arun and Maxie had major input.

As Maxi put it we need Harry (Stany and Fr. Walter) to give his (their) blessing to the agenda or modify it to make it more suitable for execution. Cyril and Walter can say a prayer to keep the monsoon at bay for a day or two. I am also looking forward to have a cricket match (Tennis ball underhand bowling).

Where is our skipper Francis Mascaranhas? I have not heard from him. When I met him 10+ years ago with Harry and Stany, he was writing the Bridge column for some news papers. I would like Francis to arrange the cricket match.

I can play whist. But if we do not have enough teams we can go for Court, 28 or Rummy or Scrabble.

I am confident that we will make it a great reunion. I like to hear from those who have been silent. We got to do this together. This is a unique opportunity and we should make the best of it.

I agree with Maxi's idea of splitting the expenses in an equitable manner.

Sincerely
Raphael Maliakal

20100115: more from Leo to Arun

a walk down memory lane
(maxie's comments in bright green)

 

dear arun

 

  i hv been very forthright in my views.  i hope u r not offended.  that is not my purpose.  lest i be branded an armchair critic with no positive inputs, may i offer just one humble suggn:

 

i will call it "a walk down memory lane"

 

day 1, jun 19th:  we meet at the old sac primary school, (maybe 0900h or so,) bang opp maxie's old abode.  greet all, introduce spouses.

(there's merit in this suggestion - would involve though, arranging of common transport from venue of majority stay to the place where lunch is organized - Mangalore Club?)

 

 we trace our path from there on, thru our middle school, all the way to VI form.  peep into all the classes we sat in, if there's a window.

(great... exciting....)

 

  we are sure to come up with amusing anecdotes of events, misdemeanors, canings, scoldings, et al, at each stage, as we go along.

(...surely, this is gonna be fun. has any one thought up what day of the week it will be? ...and what if classes are in progress in the classrooms?)

 

   if we hv the energy we then see jubilee hall, labs, grounds, chapel, tower(?)  other places of mutual interest.  this will easily take up the whole first morning, be an icebreaker, create a bonding twixt a group that has been asunder for half a century!!  also gives us the exercise to metabolise our very first luncheon.

(pre-arranged visit to the TOWER is a must, the view would be breath-taking; hopefully it'll be aclear day, and no rain to dampen our spirits)

 

  the group photos can be put off to the second day, so we catch the stragglers who invariably run late.  and there will be some, believe me.

(the advantage for group-photography on the first day is that the studio would be able to provide individual copies of the same on the next day. This would be convenient to all those who leave town immediately after the event. A matter that can be decided even on the day we first meet, according to majority covenience)

 

  reunions are about nostalgia, reminscing.   about old gone-bys.  .... and thinkin 'bout things ......

(....agreed)

 

  we boarders plan a similar stroll for the boarding house.  so it shd work well for our class too.  if i think up any more suggns i will gladly offer them. 

(...the boarding house complex is no longer housing any boarders. It is I believe part of some department of the school or college. The badminto courts area is now an amphitheatre with the slope between the college labs and the courts converted into tiered seating like in a stadium - it's become the venue for many public functions of the school and college; I was invited to one such in Dec 1999 celebrating the 200th Anniversary the Release from Captivity of our Mangalorean Ancestors from Tippu's dungeons!)

 

arun, may i urge u once again to put up our current program to all classmates thru email/blog, asking for comments/views on program content, as well as timing/dates.

(Arun's earlier mail with the tentative itinerary is already there on the Blog - and now it is again there with your comments in your today's earlier mail)

 

   mention clearly all views may not be entertained due to majority constraints, but u will do your very best to accomodate.  it is earlydays, we can still rejig our reunion with such inputs, so we attract doubtfuls.

(...what is paramount is for someone to take on the responsibility to contact each classmate individually with the request to place on record his/their individual views/comments, ensure that they do oblige, and then compile the same).

 

  i also want to assure u here, i will abide by all general decisions, and will not be offended, even if all my suggns are overruled by our group.

(... I endorse this committment on my part too)

 

         all for now   ...........     leo

20100215:from Leo to Aun, with Maxie's post script

(it is evident Leo's mail is after the telecon he had with Arun)

dear arun

nice talking to u. as agreed, i am mailing my mind:

as i sit to write, i recall i've sent a few earlier mails giving my thoughts for our reunion program. frankly i hv little to add to what i already said. also, these r only my opinions, likewise each other mate will hv his own. so why don't we put all such views together to finetune our program? it's what democracy is all about.

frankly i was disappointed we changed from january. june is monsoons, grey weather. it is never possible to please all; others may back out of june. but, hind sight aint worth a damn, as billy carter once said. so we'll look ahead.
far as i know, this is being planned/organised by our kodial chapter. which is how it shd be, since it is the venue (of our alma mater too,) and where most alumni reside.

i do not hv a clue of where we stand today in terms of ayes, nays, maybes. and who come with/without spouse. once this is known, we work on the nays/maybes. this seems to be the only logical modus operandi to me.

let's walk thru the prog below. i'll give u my candid opinion:

SATURDAY THE 19TH. JUNE 2010

11: 00 am Meet at SAC for group photographs - one with the wives and one without.(pavoos permitting)
good start ......... how about we start earlier, say 0900 or 1000? at our age noone will sleep late. also monsoon morningss are realtively clear, it generally rains afternoon onwards. except for some spells which go nonstop for days.

12: 00pm
Head for the venue by coach - singing all the way starting with our school
anthems - "comrades raise a joyful chorus and Bhuvana salahuwa karuna nidhi".
where is the venue??

1:00pm LUNCH
TOAST TO OUR DEPARTED FRIENDS AND OBSERVE A MINUTE'S SILENCE.
GRACE - Fr. Walter Andrade SJ
Lunch to be served
sounds fine

Each classmate by turn gives a brief resume of what he has done since leaving school.
I don't know about this. those wh hv done well in life may like to crow. but the less fortunate will cringe. so, instead of each one going to a podium and speechifying, we must find a more tactful way about this. this in my opinion will turn off quite a few. even i who hv not done badly, wd hesitate to talk about myself. is this really necessary??

Anthakshiri ( divided into two teams - after the 1st team has sung the last
syllable the 2nd teampicks it up with another song (English, Hindi, Konkani, Tulu, Coorgi, Kannada and Malayalam).
sounds okay .... when do we get a chance to be ourselves, just to chat, joke, reminisce, with old friends in old spots?

4:30pm Tea

6:30pm DINNER
Toast to our good ladies.
Bingo.
Quiz ( 2 teams - questions relating to our school days, Mangalore etc)
very, very early indeed. which self respecting mangy will dine @ 1830?? he needs his spiritual uplift in the form of a few hydrocarbons afore tackling the carbohydrates.

SUNDAY THE 20TH. JUNE 2010.

12:00noon ASSEMBLE AT THE VENUE.
this venue has me foxed, is it sac?? and what do we do untill midday?

LUNCH.
Karaoke
( songs from our good old days)
sounds fun .......

4:30pm TEA
Whist Drive.
I don't think more than a few will be up to whist. why not make it card games. mates choose any old mangy games like court, 28, et all. that's what we did @ sigi's

7:00 pm: DINNER
Each one to relate the most embarrassing moment of their life or a joke
(including the wives).
sounds fun

Lucky dip.
More singing and dancing.
Vote of thanks.
Auld Lang Syme.
I don't know about this, hvn't stepped out in years. ballroom stuff is all i may just about handle now. i hv OA in both knees and am the one of the youngest (1945.) i don't know the state of my elders.

summary: now u hv my views. similarly run this by other mates, ask for their opinions/preferences. when u hv heard from all, a committee can club these responses, arrive at a compromise program that wd be the optimum.

but the inportant thing is u hv carried everyone along. this will create a sense pf participation which may persuade a few doubtfuls.

each mate will hv his own friends/memories, wd like to relive them by visiting memorable spots in school, or even the city, with those who shared those times.

e.g., my 7 yrs were in the boarding. i'd like to spend time investigating each nook n cranny of the bh with my mates. this was home to me from 1953 to 60. others will hv their own preferences.

also let us not have all meals together. we cd break for a few meals. esp if we are at sac, where each of us may like to hv old favs at restaurants of yore. few restaurants are still there. this will also help personal choices, as some may even like to visit homes for meals.

i want to stress, i am not being critical. my aim is to get the maximum participation so i see as many classmates as poss this june.

cheers ....... Leo

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

Maxie's post-script:

Dear all....

Leo has taken pains to comment on each item in the itinerary (for the re-union) drawn up by Arun - good for you Leo, and thanks. Your mail puts the whole thing in perspective...

I go along with all your views as they exist now, or as will be decided on when views of all others (hopefully) are received. I really don't care what the nitty-gritties of the itinerary are, as long as the re-union affords me an opportunity meet face to face as many of my batch of 1960 - at least 9o% of them after 50yrs.

But the moot question: "How to elicit these individual views from the lot of others".

Why are the majority of our mates dumb-struck and totally silent? This, despite getting every mail generated from whosoever it be, being endorsed to every available email address of our mates.

Apart from just a handful whose numbers can be counted on the fingers of one hand, not one of our other mates - especially the ones based in Mangalore, has opened his mouth or moved his hand to voice his/their opinion in the past two months - since the initial initiative through a joint email from Harry, Waltie, Stany & Patrick. Why is it that even these gallant four are totally silent now? All the mail since their initial one, in my collection - and I have it all on the Blog - is from only the ones currently based outside Mangalore and none from within.

Is it that the exuberant joy and reaction exhibited by all those outside Mangalore, to the Re-union, has alarmed the ones stationed in Mangalore so much that they are not sure what they have let themselves in for? Is it that as things stand it is only the ones from outside Mangalore are keen on the Re-union while those is Mangalore are wary about it - and only interested in "wait and watch"?

I do appreciate Arun's initiative in drafting the tentative itinerary, and the reactions to the same (full or partial) so far from Leo, Raphael and Prabhakar; but untill and unless those in Mangalore speak their mind, and especially Mangalore being place for the Re-union someone in Mangalore takes the lead and holds the reins firmly in his hand to say, "...this can be done, and this can't!", I'm afraid this much hyped Re-union will just not come to be, and we'll all end up disappointed without it being a reality.

So I am constrained to speak my mind and appeal to Harry (since I consider none other than Harry in Mangalore is better placed or better suited) to take the lead, and commandeer the help and assistance from whichever members to form a local core team that he may constitute for the purpose. He may then spell out to all what's in store; whether or not at all we can hope to have a re-union of sorts.... where as many of us as possible can meet for the primary aim of just meeting; for the sheer joy of just seeing each other (for many of us after fifty years).

And we need not be sticklers or fussy about whatever itinerary Harry and his team draw up - if some part of it does not suit individuals, so what, and so be it - I do not know 'whist', I would gladly try and revive my memories of other card games like 'court' and '28' that Leo has suggested, and so on. It is not necessary that I have to force myself to play 'whist'. Also, like Raphael has suggested, Rex may consider organizing a scrabble competion too for the lot of us.

I take it, Arun's mention of the 'venue' that's foxed Leo, apparently is the Mangalore Club? At least that's what I had gathered from my interactions with Arun - from where I had also gathered that Arun has already asked Harry to book the place well in advance for the decided dates; and, if I am not mistaken both Arun and Raphael have asked Harry to also book rooms there for their stay. From some previous knowledge and past experience, I believe the Mangalore Club venue is indeed a nice choice and ideally suited. I believe it will also be easier to cater to individual needs of veg or non-veg and the like through the Club's facilities. Commuting to and from this venue will only be for the 'locals' and for those not staying at the Club. Possibly some of us may like to stay with relatives or friends in the vicinity if that's considered more convenient - even though in the overall interest it'd be wonderful if all stayed under one roof at least for one night.

Someone in Mangalore also needs to form a sub-committe only to track-down and contact the families of the dear departed from our batch. It would be a graceful and much-appreciated gesture on our part, especially for the families of those no more from among us, to know that we have not forgotten our departed colleagues. This contacting of families needs to be done now!

Lastly, and this is very important, it is possible those based in Mangalore are wary of the additional expenses they may have to burden themselves with; undertandable and natural. The Re-union is going to cost money, with huge additional travel costs too for those making it to the 'do' from abroad or other distant destinations. Classmates like Raphael, Arun and Terrence have already indicated that they have booked their flights. In this connection, my second appeal to Harry - to please draw up a tentative estimated expense list and the respective 'share' for each of us to contribute.

It has already been mentioned that some among us may not be well to do enough to be inviting additional burden of a re-union on their family budget. Such of them if they truly exist, may indicate their position confidentially and only to Harry who may then share with the core team only the total sum (without disclosing the identities) that needs to be raised to ensure that lack of funds is not the excuse for anyone to stay away from the re-union. I am sure we will all have no objection to trust Harry's word for it.

I could go on and on, but I think I have said enough. It might appear there is still ample time to plan and act, I believe the available time is not enough, if we are really serious about the re-union and to make it a memorable event for all of us.

I reiterate, my appeal in the end is to all those based in Mangalore or its vicinity, for if they do not take the reins and start calling the shots, we might as well not have the re-union.

Do pardon me if I have over stepped in whatever I have stated here.

With warm regards to all...
maxie