Last day in Delhi

I set out at 07:30 to go to the diagnostics centre to do my blood test. I had to return home and go there again after two hours after my breakfast for the second part. I will get my results today, and hopefully the one month of medication and little stricter diet would have helped improve the situation than what it was a month ago.

I went to see the Regional Manager of ICICI Bank. He had no explanations for the chaos and no solution to my problem. They had even clobbered me for debit cards they claim to have issued, whereas all they had done was freeze the only debit card I had been issued with, completely shutting me out of the banking process. And there was no explanation for this fiasco!

I managed to get them to pay the binder in Bangalore and hopefully this morning I will get my transaction password and also my debit cards to try to get hold of some of my money! I later had a call that the debit card in Annikki's name would be delivered in Mumbai! What's your guess on that?

NRIs - My advice stays unchanged as of date. If you want to safeguard your hard-earned money and live sane - get out of the ICICI association as it will only lead to misery!

Lunch was with Ambassador K. P. Fabian at the Indian International Centre where I met some of the senior most retired IFS and IAS officers who were scattered around as grains of rice in a paddy field. Over lunch we touched on many topics and hopefully something will come out of this association as KP is a person with immense knowledge, a bowlful of sweet contacts of the most senior level and the capacity to get things done. Our association of 25 years can now take shape as we are in a position to help each other currently at a level which neither is interested in the material benefits of such an association.

After a quick cup of coffee and it was off to Gurgaon to meet a friend of 25 years past, Navin Bahl. And what a reunion. It was so wonderful to tie up with someone whoh I had holidayed with in 1964 in St. Tropez. we had lived in a tent together, gone through the hardship of driving through France in a run down Bedford van held together with underwear, and shared many experiences together, which we recalled with such gusto.

It was a shock to know that Navin is the Chairman of a company, Noorjehan, which supplies some of the most exquisite home furnishings to the topmost company in Finland - Stockman, which is the Harrods of Finland. I went around his two factory buildings and witnessed the dedication with which he and his son have built this enterprise. And now they are about to make a grand entry into the flagship of Finnish textiles and home furnishings, but more about that later. Suffice to say that his product may be on the lips of every Finn in a short while!

Before I realised it the time was already 6 pm and I wanted to visit my nephew in Gurgaon.



Ashwin Thomas is the son of my cousin Gita (née Matthan, daughter of my father's younger brother, the late Matthan Matthan). He lived in another sector in Gurgaon.

Driving there was a nightmare as the traffic and pollution is so intense that it makes one sick. But thanks to the excellence of Salegram, we reached there and I was able to spend a short time with Ashwini and his wonderful wife, Mac-fan Meghan (hope I got that right; the name, not the Mac-fan bit!) and their frisky Golden Retriever. A couple of bhajias, a cup of tea and I had to be off, although they were trying to persuade me to stay for dinner. But Salegram had had a long day. I knew the drive back was going to be rough. But Salegram knew the back roads and got me back in record time. I had to do my packing and be ready for a series of appointments in the morning as we had to leave for the airport by 10 am!

And my good internet and Stephanian friend, and one of the persons I most admire on this planet, John Dayal, is dropping in at 8 am! (Of course, I also do have an appointment at the ICICI bank, if it will do any good!)

Visit to my Alma Mater 3

I went to my alma mater, St. Stephen’s College, this morning.



Much had changed and much had not changed. The most important was that it was a no smoking zone! Amazing but simply wonderful. Many buildings had been added, mostly of the same style.

As soon as I arrived I met with four staff members at the gate, all after my time. Then to the Principal’s office. He was not there, but I spoke to him on the phone to get permission to do some unobtrusive photography.

First shot - The Blacksmith, which was now a modern water cooler. However, the significance of the Blacksmith has vanished as water coolers have been installed in all the blocks, making those evening and night visits to it now unnecessary.

The general atmosphere was the same except to see girls trooping around everywhere.

The greatest disappointment was the condition of the JCR.

In 1961-62 the JCR Committee had worked so hard to make the JCR a wonderful place where we could not only enjoy ourselves but feel comfortable in clean and neat surroundings. The place was now in shambles. The small rooms at the back were store houses for all sorts of paraphernalia and one was a carom room. Two TT tables now stood in the main hall. Nothing much else. It just did not feel a comfortable place to relax in during the long evenings.

But the boys there seemed quite contented - so who am I to say what it should be.

I bought a College tie from Balan in the Sports Department. Cost was just Rs. 160, but he could not sell me a college T-Shirt! Meant for students only, I guess!



The cafe had been expanded and modernised. The cane chair s were still there and the fare was a slightly more modern.

I am going back on Monday to attend the Founders’s Day Service. Hopefully I can spend a bit more time looking around.

I rushed back and with perfect timing arrived back just as K. P. Fabian, former Ambassador to Finland arrived at the Guest House. He was looking as sprightly as ever and he is active with an NGO. He also has a great blog where he writes about socio-political issues.

I still remember his wonderful speech at the Oulu University about North - South dialogue, something I should reproduce here on the blog. In today’s context, it has even more significance.

It is 4:30am. Rushing off to Rajasthan now to see the Check Dams Project. So will complete this entry on my return. (more photographs tomorrow.)

My other alma mater is Cathedral and John Connon School, Bombay and here are list of few of those are Alumni of both of these institutions.

Rahul Bajaj, Ashok (Tony) Jaitly, Peter Philip, Sujit Bhatacharya and myself, Javob Matthan. If you belong tonthesectwo Alumni, Please send mecdn email to jmatthan@ gmail.com