Mumbai over; Murphy's law?

The last day in Mumbai was certainly one of great nostalgia plus quiet excitement for me.

I set off to see Ooky & Rivca. I managed to spend some quality time with Rivca in their lovely apartment, as Ooky was off on his "golf" round. I am so happy that I had some really wonderful moments with Rivca as she is so sensitive, direct and honest. She expresses her hopes and desires and also the pros and cons of life in such a manner that one can see what has been before and where she hopes for life will go tomorrow. She is so childlike!

I was hoping to see Suchita and Vijay, as they live in the same building, but Vijay was on his way to help out Mrs. Sethi (Viney's mom) as Viney and Purnima are away in Papua New Guinea and Australia. I shared a few words with him. I had not disturbed him since our last evening of the Reunion, and I had been right, as he told me that for the past three nights he had slept through each for 12 hours! I do not wonder!

Then it was on to Ubi's across the road to return the Old Boys' Association tie that he had kindly lent me for the Founders' Day Service and to say thank you to my wonderful friend. We shared a few thoughts and to my surprise he told me that my childhood friend, Ravi, whom I had blogged about just a couple of days ago, had been one of his closest friends when they were in Germany. What a small small world.



This visit also got me a snap of Ubi as he had not come to the Evening with the Findians and during his hosting of a party for Annikki and me, along with celebrating Meena Bhatt’s birthday, as I had not taken out my camera.

I rushed back to pick up Annikki and Mika and go to Pappa's (97, Peelukuttychayan, Mr. K. M. Philip, my mother’s elder brother) and Mummy’s (Chinnammakochamma) place for lunch. I had misunderstood the time as 13:30. Suresh (Peter Philip) had said 1 or 1:30.

On the way I saw my first mumbai example of traffic rage when two private car owners got within 10 mm of crashing. They shouted abuse at each other, waving fists through their car windows, but, luckily as all the cars were packed together like sardines, neither cold get out to become physically violent!

At Pappa’s house they were waiting for us, Pappa, Mummy, Suresh & Meera and Anna (daughter of my niece, Mammy (Thambachayan's daughter) & her husband, Anian (K. P. Philip) , who live in Belgium). Anna works for the Rolling stones magazine and seemed clued upon everything! Bright girl.

Mika ate like a horse as the food was delicious. I pecked at everything but ate the sweet heartily - something I should not do.



Pappa, at 97 and Mummy (90+) are both mentally as sharp as I have known them all my life. Pappa goes to play an hour or two of bridge every evening at the Willingdon Club - at 97!!!! He made me promise that we would see them before we left India for Finland, which i certainly shall on the 13th of December.

Then we went back to the Guest house to wait for our taxi. It arrived a few minutes late, but when we went down, there was panic. by some quirk the keys were locked inside the car and we could neither put our luggage in our get in to go to the airport.

The driver, Ramesh, acted quickly. he sprinted off somewhere. Five minutes later he returned with two boys carrying a long strong metal ruler. they inserted this between the window and the body of the car and tried to smash the lock open - but it did not work.

They sprinted off somewhere and were back in two minutes, this time with a very heavy screwdriver and a long strong copper rod. While one guy plied the door of the car open with the screwdriver, the other pushed in the copper rod and cleverly pulled the inside door handle lever and, presto, the car door was open.

An amazing feat in a place where we did not know there was such “talent”.





Later, I asked Ramesh where he had found these guys. He told me he had gone to the Traffic Control point and pleaded for some help from the policeman there. He was assured that help would come in a couple of minutes - and these two guys had appeared out of nowhere.

I wonder what the profession of these guys really is, but obviously the Police know them well and use them!!

We arrived at the Airport just in time to complete our formalities and board the aircraft.

The flight was delayed by about half an hour so we arrived in Ahmedabad about 8 pm and our apartment at 9 pm.

A nice clean apartment and they had very nice simple Gujarati vegetarian meal waiting for us.

We are going to enjoy our stay in Ahmedabad, that I am sure.

We are graced and blessed

Annikkki has been complaining of a skin / allergy discomfort for a long time. And she has been self conscious about it although any skin rash could only probably be viewed with a microscope. She has tried many remedies but claimed that nothing worked. She wanted an allergy test, but I found that allergy tests can only be done on a doctors orders.We asked friends and my cousin gave us the name of a top specialist in Mumbai. A call revealed that no appointments were possible during the time we were in Mumbai.

I told Malathi. She said she would attend to it.





Dr. Ashok with his wife, Malthi and their two boys,Darshan and Disanth (some years ago)

Her husband is the "Doctor of Dharavi". Dr. Ashok Khembahavi works from 10:30 to 14:00 hours and again from 16:30 to anytime the last patient arrives in his small Dharvi clinic, 6 days a week. To get him to join even for a family get together is something historic. Considering that he charges Rs. 10 per patient (€ 0.15) and even that most do not have, so are FREE, shows that he is truly one carrying out a noble profession. And to top it, besides being a general practitioner, he is a skin specialist!

Yesterday evening at around 18:30, this God's gift to humanity, arrived at our doorstep. The minute he saw Annikki, he arrived at his diagnosis. After speaking to her confirmed it. He probably sees more patients in a month that a Finnish doctor sees in his entire lifetime.

I have invited Dr. Ashok, as he is fondly known to his patients, to come and stay with us in Finland, a country that his wife, Malathi adores. He has promised to do that.

Dr. Ashok worked in the Congo for two years. His clinic was set inside a factory compound. He told me about the deadly Malaria mosquitoes of Africa. No wonder, when my friend, Kamu, goes there, he gets back to Finland and is taken directly into the hospital. Kamu is presently in Zambia!)

Such a human being as dr. Ashok is so rare in this Universe. I hope and pray that God preserves him as the people of Dharvi need him more than anything else.

Thank you Dr. Ashok. We are humbled by your visit to us.

A rude awakening....

Annikki went to her Seventh Day Adventist Church in Byculla.

I had about an hour to spare. I decided to visit the grave of my elder sister, Nalini, something I had not been to see since the gravestone was laid there in early 1961.

My taxi driver found the cemetery after asking around a bit. The cemetery office was well managed and run. The office was open. The officers quickly found the location of Nalini's grave on paper. But when the guy took me out, could not find the grave.

We returned to the office to recheck. First, he told me that probably the plot may have been purchased, suggesting that someone else may have been buried over her grave. Then he said that no tombstone had been laid.

I assured him that I was there when she was buried and also I had been there when the tombstone was laid.

He then handed me over to another cemetery worker,. This gentleman took me to another part of the cemetery - just 10 metres from the office. At first, he too could not locate the grave. But suddenly, I recognised the large tombstone my parents had laid for their daughter, my sister.

As I stood in silence, something that had never struck me before, hit me right between the eyes - Nalini had been just 23 when she had died, not even in the prime of her adult life.

I wept at this thought as I had always considered Nalini as my elder sister, the mature one, the old one. And she had always been that to me.

To think that here was I, at an age of 66, looking down at my sister's grave some 49 years after her passing. It was a shock to me just to think she had been just 23 years old when she had left us.

I remember much talk in our home that she would soon be too old to get married. The rush had been on to find her a husband.

And what tragedy had followed.

As the marble grave was raised, almost to knee height on a granite slab, it was not dirty of filthy like many around it at ground level. I thanked my parents for their foresight, something which had not been given by my siblings when they planned the graves of my parents.

Is it a life of coincidences?

Yesterday, I had an email from someone in the USA asking whether I could recall an M. Varghese who had studied and finished from Bishop Cotton’s School in Bangalore in 1956. As I had left when I had completed the IVth Standard in 1953, I did not recall that name.

I replied to the gentleman that maybe he could contact Aditya Sondhi, the school historian (in my eyes), or my cousin, Anand Matthan, who had finished school in 1955. Or, maybe he was thinking of my cousin Varghese Matthan, who would have completed school in 1956 had he not left to join Madras Christian College School in 1952.

In passing, I asked the Old Cottonian whether he was any relation to the fabulous cricketer of that time who used to play for the school. I had watched him many a time, sitting on the stone parapet around the school ground, plucking and eating the fresh bamboo sprouts that lined the first eleven pitch.

I quickly had a reply from him, thanking me for my efforts and that Aditya had provided him with loads of material. Further, he was indeed the cricketer that I was thinking about. And his father had been a friend of my father.

Further, he added, that was I not the same person who lived opposite St. Joseph's College Hostel and who had a quiet shy sister, Nalini, who, obviously had been the heartthrob for many of the St. Josephites - and he listed a few of them to me.

He was thinking that as he had lived just around the corner from where I had, maybe we had played tennis ball cricket together. We did have a team but I do not recall this outstanding young cricketer of our time sharing the field with the likes of me and our rag-a-muffin cricketing friends!

In passing he paid me a nice compliment which I will treasure. He wrote:

You are a Renaissance type of an individual ( passion, vision, empathy & creativity ) & continue your quest of keeping us informed.

Sadly, I am not a blogger about Cottonians as I was there too short a time to write about for 10 to 15 years nostalgically. I do wish there was someone doing just that!

It is indeed a very small world . As I am having a bit of a discussion on Facebook with some Home Educationists, I wondered how all this would fit in with their thinking of isolating the children from the real world of childhood, daily interaction with many tens of children, and the most important cry of our Mumbai School "School First, House Next, Self Last".

But that is another subject that maybe I will take up later.

Suffice to say that when I returned back to the Guest House, my thoughts were on my sister, a shy pretty girl, married at the age of 22 (because many thought otherwise she would be too old to get married), childbirth at 23 and followed by her tragic demise 15 days later of tetanus. Thoughts kept flooding back to my mind and I wondered what a difference life would have been if she had been around.

Finally, in passing, as nostalgia is on my mind. I thought I would share with you a photograph of my family dating back to the early 1980s.



Much water has passed under this bridge!

What a week that was

Twelve years of concentrated effort, whittled down to three years of intense effort and we had one of the best reunions that I can remember, taking all classes in our school into consideration. (I have been helping several classes to organise their reunions.)

The credit goes to the entire Mumbai crew, headed by Capt. Shivi and Piloo. Let us make no mistake about that.

Without their perseverance, persuasion and immaculate planning, it would not have been possible. Many credit me with the success. I refute that completely.

What Annikki and I did was enjoy ourselves connecting people who desperately wanted to be connected. Now they have established their connections, they can continue with this way or they can use the direct channels.

So, as was suggested by some, we can the of our Google Group to do something worthwhile for our communities. I will, over the next few weeks, try to highlight some of the important projects that could merit our support. Some are being done by members of our Google Group, others by members of our School or College, and yet others by persons not connected to either but friends who need to be supported in their efforts.

After the Tuesday Parsee dinner, both Annikki and I suffered total burnout. I managed to meet a young boy, my cousin's son, Aanad Katakam, and have lunch with him on the Wednesday. This youngster is so fascinating and so alive, it brought back much of the youth in me. He is interested in everything . T is the sign of greatness. He could talk to a 66 year old with such confidence and be interested in what I had to say. A mark of the greatness that lies ahead of him.

On Thursday, I went to Chembur to meet Abhijit, who had done the catering and decoration for "The Evening with the Findians". I thanked him for the wonderful flavour he brought into our lives. But on the way there and back i was virtually gassed out of existence. The pollution in Mumbai is so overpowering, I really wonder how one can live in this. Coming from a country where the air is clean and fresh, 365 days a year, this sort of throttled me to a stop. I got home and slept from around midday till the next morning.

Friday I was still tottering, but I stayed away from food and tried to stay close to home, but I had to meet Malathi halfway. She came in from Powai and I went to Bandra Gymkhanna. We spent a couple of hours talking about the past and the future.

While at the Gymkhanna I watched the kids on the tennis courts in what was a coaching session. How different coaching sessions here are compared to in Finland. In Finland, the first emphasis is on physical fitness followed by increase of flexibility and mobility. Then comes a more focused training in the sport of interest. So jogging, muscle activation, etc. are the key aspects of a training session. Hitting the ball would be the last stage of the process.

In a one hour training session, the first 10 minutes is the warm up, the next 15 minutes is the physical fitness part of the training, the next 2o minutes would be the training in the sport, the next 10 minutes would be fun time, and the final 5 minutes would be the warm down.

Maybe I should see some more training sessions before I make generalised comments about training in India vis-a-vis Finland.

I feel well enough to venture out today, so stay tuned for more from the blog.

On to the last day of the 59er Golden Reunion

(Special note: Let there be no mistake, but most of the good pictures I am uploading are by our photography ace - 59er Hasnain Chinwala (Chinnie). It is not any of my expertise. A couple of others have sent me photographs as 64er Rajiv Ved. That is why my blogs remain popular as the inputs are from across the board of my readers. A special thanks to them as they are my co-authors!)

The staff who joined us. Willie planned to be here for our reunion
3 years ahead of the date! John planned his trip to coincide with this.

17th November, and the last day of the Golden Reunion was ahead of me. Chinnie sent me this picture.


Some of the stragglers of the group at Alibaugh at Madhu Kapur's home.

A beautiful picture through Hasnain's camera, taken by the professional cameraman on the spot, of some of those who had stayed on late afternoon at Madhu's home. This scene has brought tears to Annikki and my eyes. Meera, Vijay's wife, brought in Mika for this photograph and he had joined us, willingly.

On the morning of the 17th, I had agreed to meet a childhood friend, Ravi Arapurakal, formerly known as Ravi Abraham. (Thanks to 59er Geeta for putting us in touch.)

We had not met for 51 years. We had played "Cowboys and Indians" and "bang bang" in the compound of the Meher Mansion building (Cooperage Road) as kids and more sedate gamesin his home opposite Dhanraj Mahal, a building I believe which caught fire and has never been rebuilt.

Ravi came over to the Malayala Manorama Guest House. It was just like yesterday as we caught up on our past years. We talked non-stop as we probed each other for the most important events in our lives - our work, our marriages, our children and our roots. Although we are not related, we found that our association by marriage had become stronger over the years, although I had not been aware of it. My nephew, Joseph, son of my cousin, Somakochamma (Mrs. G. K. O. Philips) was married to the daughter of Ravi's sister-in-law. (I hope I have got this right, as we did go through a lot of relationships.)

As Annikki had had a late breakfast, and the delicious Parsi dinner was not far away, Ravi and I adjourned to the Chinese Restaurant in Kemps Corner. I devoured my favourite, a large dish of noodle soup, while Ravi had his favourites, including Chilli Chicken.

Two hours passed by as if it was just 20 minutes. I was to have renewed this old friendship. Ravi is in a fascinating area of work, and hopefully I will be able to use what he taught me in those few hours to make my life better. Thank you Ravi.

Back to the house.

By 20:30 we were at Piloo's mansion for what was the last event of our reunion. A few had left - Viney for Papua New Guinea, Vijay for Delhi, Noel for Pune, but the major lot of my classmates were still there for this event hosted by Piloo, Armeane and his wife Mary and by Adi and Ratan. It was a sit down dinner to be served on banana leaves and it was being prepared by the best Parsi caterer in Mumbai.

I had several soft drinks - Lychee Juice, Orange Juice, Sprites, while some of our friends stayed on course with the hard stuff. Many did not, and the evening was filled with our merriment, not in the least bit alcohol induced.

There was an air of sadness about us as we all knew that in a few hours we would all be going our separate ways. Friendships had been recemented and new ones forged, especially between the girls and boys and among the spouses.

Shivi gave the final farewell toast which I reproduce below:

Good evening.

I will take the suggestion of George Burns who said -- "The secret of a good speech is a good beginning and a good ending and to make the two as close together as possible!"

It is impossible to single out any one person for making our Golden Reunion a Reality and such a great Success. We owe it to each and everyone of you present or not, to your spouses and to your indomitable Cathedral Class of 59 spirit --- May it Rip, May it Thunder!

We have set a huge precedent by our Mother of ALL Reunions -- A Class Act! On your behalf I would like to thank our hosts for the many spectacular events. They came forward spontaneously and generously to make each one unique & a thumping success!

Could we ever forget ---

The curtain raiser cocktail dinner by Ooky Elias & Rivca and Viney and Poornima Sethi, held at the Bombay Gymkhana? Despite rain and cyclone warnings they set the pace by their warmth for the events to follow.

The Elvis Theme dinner-dance creatively set up by Meera and Vijay Nayar which set us rocking under the stars?

The Findian Evening, a treat of delectable south indian dishes by Annikki and Jacob Matthan?

The Founders' Day Church Service so dignified and beautifully orchestrated by our School which was a poignant reminder of our youth?

The Alibaug cocktail lunch at the state of art Kapur Bungalow, perched atop a hill overlooking the whole of Alibaug, which was inaugurated in our honour and in our presence by Madhu Kapur?

The regal Ruia House set in the middle of gardens and fountains where Ashok, Anil & Amla Ruia regaled us with music, games & an amazing 48 varieties of veggie dishes at their dinner?

And finally this fabulous 'Seaside' setting for our grand finale sit down dinner by Piloo, Armeane & Mary Choksey?

In the years to come, we will, I am sure, recall with the greatest pleasure these wonderful moments which took our breath away! Could you please raise your glasses and toast them!

Thank you."

Ooky was more direct in singling out a few others and focusing on me in particular as the one who had brought everyone together by my perseverence, and Shivi and Piloo for keeping this reunion focused and of a quality which will never be matched.

I had to respond to tell the assembled gathering, that although I was the conduit to this reunion, many others, like Hasnain Chinwala, Percy & Frainy Mistri, Viney and Purnima, and many others from other classes had helped with their inputs.

A delicious dinner, which was everything traditional Parsi, with some really wonderful vegetarian dishes to boot. The chicken and fish dishes were just as I had always known them, showing me that the quality of Parsi traditions had been preserved over the last 50 years.

I was greatly saddened that Mary, Armeane's wife, was indisposed and not able to be thanked by us personally for her participation and her hosting of this event.

Many of those who had not sent in material for our book, now seeing that they would be the losers, had rushed home and prepared short write ups and also come armed with photographs. Thanks guys and gals - you know who you are! :-)

And then it was time to leave (as described by Annikki) this paliatial Tata home in the centre of Mumbai, (much like the two palaces at Alibaug) and return to our little "mouse holes" with beautiful memories to take back to our cubicles.

Before I left, I talked with Amla Ruia about the wonderful work she was doing with the villagers. She was ready to ring her local representative in Rajasthan, then and there, at midnight, to allow me to see the work. But the better counsel of her husband, Ashok, prevailed . She promised to be in touch with me in the morning.

Sure enough by 07:30 am I received a text message from her with the phone number of her manager, Bhupendra. Amla had already spoken to him before I could ring.

I am excited that I will see earth shattering work that Amla has performed in Rajasthan. I hope I can spread the message after witnessing it myself what success she has achieved and show her passion and commitment to her cause, which is also my cause, even though I am 7000 km away. If we do not act, and act quickly, there will be a continuing of the chaos and the demise of all around us.

I went to bed that night, happy with the achievements from my work of the last 14 years which had culminated in 7 nights of sheer joy. I slept well knowing that I had a lot on my plate during the next few days before I left for Ahmedabad. It was work I would enjoy doing.

Thank you 59ers for all the joy you have brought to our lives. I rested in peace, knowing that my dear friend, the late 59er Bala Parasuraman, would have enjoyed this and I would record this success in his name.

A day without excitement

On Monday, after a brunch at 59er Viney and 61er Purnima Sethi's place, we set out for Mumbai at around 11 am. When we approached Panvel, I got the shock of my life as this one restaurant wayside village was now a high rise city with the new International Mumbai Airport being constructed at its perimeter.

In the 1970, Thomas Abraham of Southern Investments and also head of the SI Construction company had written a fascinating book about how the cities should be planned. He had created a financially self generating model and also looked at the structure of the city in relation to the different age groups that would inhabit a growing metropolis. Based on this, we had prepared a joint paper called "Rural Urbanisation" which took into account maximisation of the use of the resources and the economics of such a venture.

After the seed capital, Abraham's model was that urbanisation would be financially self generating. But the structure of the development HAD to be controlled.

In today's context only the worst of Abraham's model is in place in that it is self financing but the growth is unplanned and the new metropolises are slums even before the first building is set up.

The skyline at Panvel is proof of this.

We managed to get into Mumbai without too much hassle as the driver knew the routes where the traffic was minimal.

After a rest, I went to see Cathedralite 56er, Shyam Chainani, Honary Secretary of the Bombay Environmental Action Group. It was fascinating to see him work in his childhood home (where his father Chief Justice Chainani had lived) which he has converted into his office hub. He is inundated with material and he is working on several fronts. I wished I could help him as all the causes he is working for are noble ones, but it requires physical presence in Mumbai, or India, to be of service to Shyam.

If any of you are action oriented, please do meet up with Shyam and do what needs to be done. India, and especially the larger cities in India will surely collapse under this unrestricted and unplanned growth now in progress. Already, Bangalore, as a city, is grinding to a halt while all those software engineers sit in their ivory towers oblivious of how they are the one's responsible for this chaos. While their bosses rake in the money, these youngsters labour under the illusion that they are contributing to India's growth, little realising that each one of them is part of the problem.

Dinner, that evening, was with one of my dearest of friends, 56er Ubi and his wife, Bubbles. Also present were 49er Yezad Kapadia from Delhi and his brother, 56er Sorab and his wife. 56er Meena and her husband, Vikram Bhatt, 59ers Harmo, Hasnain, and Shivi and his 61er wife, Suchita, were also part of the guests along with Ubi's youngest sister, Dimple.

It was an interesting evening where all topics under the sun concerning our Alma mater were discussed threadbare. Annikki and I came out "educated" by our peers.

We all agreed that the present Alumni Dinner on Founders' Day has to be changed in format if it is going to be an event worth attending. If it retains its present format with no structure and 750+ attendees, no purpose will be achieved. I certainly would not like to take part in chaos!

Monday was, therefore, a day of relaxation and wonderful food dished up by Ubi and Bubbles.

Politician or bureaucrat

In an article which appeared in Emirates Business, my former Stephanian colleague, Mani Shanker Aiyar, says that "bureaucrats make very poor politicians".

May I disagree and say that "bureaucrats make very dangerous politicians" as would be the example of Matti Ahtisaari, former President of Finland, who bureaucratically engineered his whole political career and after with the grip of a bureaucrat.

Ahtisaari travelled the world at his taxpayers expense, working to one goal. He then weedled his way to a Nobel Prize. He is now scheming to get one of the top European posts, President or Prime Minister.

I say "Beware of a bureaucrat with political ambitions!"

A sabbath day

First, I must share with you the picture taken by Hasnain at the Church of those 59ers who came ON TIME for the photo session.



Annikki will get very angry with the title, as to her the only Sabbath is Saturday! However, I am using it metaphorically, as I could not blog on Sunday because at Alibagh i did not have access to internet.

Mika, Annikki and I chose to go by car. For Mika to step onto the ferry would have been very difficult. We left at 08:30 and reached Alibagh at 11:15, well ahead of the guys and gals on the ferry. We went to Viney's place, where he and Purnima had moved his mother and sister to town to allow us to stay in their home.

Annikki and I fell in love with their home.

Our first event of Sunday was at the home of Madhu Kapur. What a heavenly place, so futuristic that only our Ashok could have dreamt of a house like this one. All our thoughts were of our dearest friend. All of us could feel his presence amongst us.



The infinity pool had my hair standing on end. The bathtub on the verandah in the bedroom was outrageous! The snacks and the food were simply ravishing. It was great to meet Ashok's daughter and her husband and Ashok's son and his wife.

Madhu was a perfect hostess, aided by Suchita and Shivi and Ashok's two children and their spouses. They had all struggled to get the place ready for our get together.

We especially remembered Pamela in London who was celebrating her birthday on this day.

After the lunch and a short rest, we went to the Sai Inn Resort, where many of our colleagues were staying. We had a session where everyone had a chance of introducing themselves. Some of the info was fascinating. How I wished people had sent in this info to Annikki to include in the Coffee Table Book.

Back home to change and then to the Ruia's place for our second major Alibagh event. Another outstandingly beautiful home and beautiful garden, with a lovely lawn and an open air dance floor.

Amla, Ashok and Anil, had done everything themselves along with their team of helpers. All in house! My thoughts here went out especially to Anil, who must have been wishing that his dearly beloved, Madhu, could have been with us.

I saw Amla individually supervise every small detail. What a lady. All the time, even under the greatest of pressure, she looked as cool as a cucumber. She reminded me so much of my late mother, who, even when the world was crumbling around her, would never get flustered. Ashok has been blessed with a wonderful partner.

The evening was great entertainment and fantastic food. Each snack and dish was labelled after a participant - a very novel idea - but just imagine - over 50 different dishes.

The atmosphere was unique as a special Master of Ceremonies kept the evening buzzing with games and music. Ashok had organised for everyone to have their photograph taken and a framed copy with the event to be prepared on the spot.

Jangoo gets a head massage while Robert waits his turn
and Armeane is getting in line!

There was a massage room where many were able to enjoy a foot or head massage by experts. What organisation! No wonder Phoenix High Street is such a success!

The new house and garden are a spectacle. There is a meditation room for as many as a thousand people. A garden unique in itself. Beauty unsurpassed, as we imagined how wonderful this would be when it was completed.

After a superb vegetarian meal followed by a sheaf of deserts, it was sadly time to draw things to a close. We returned, all, to our respective places for the night and ready for another day of comradeship.

What glorious reunion it has been, and one hoped that it would never end.

Alumni Dinner

Apologies - Several of you wondered where my posts had gone after Day 2. By some quirk, they entries had gone into another of my blogs. I have shifted them back to my main blog, so go backwards to read everything after Day 2!!)

After our hasty retreat from the Church, we left home at around 20:45 to go to the Blue Sea on Worli Sea Face for the Alumni Dinner. (Just to tell you that 56er Ubi had brought me an Old Boys tie to wear at the Church. What a thoughtful gesture.)



The Blue Sea Event was a huge affair - with over 600 people attending. I was greeted by the Alumni co-President Viral Doshi who said that he had a present for me and that I should see him before I left.

Annikki was exhausted. I soon found a large round table. 59er David and wife, Jane, and Annikki and I sat down there. We found that this table had been reserved for us 59ers.

It was HOT under the canopy and within a few minutes I was consuming gallons of soft drinks.

People of all years were searching for me. I realised now how widespread my blog was being read. Knowing I was attending, alumni of all years were asking others if they knew me and whether I would meet up with them! Crazy!

Everyone wanted to call me for dinner or give me some present. 64er Rustom sent me a box of dried fruits. 69er Prakash sent me a hilarious "head scratcher" and a car seat briefcase hanger while he sent Annikki a beautiful pair of earrings. Annikki does not wear earrings but she knows what to do with what she got. 54er Sadhana had a key chain for me and gift vouchers for Annikki! A candle holder and candle from......, and so on. Thanks to all of you. But no more presents - Please? This blog is for our fun - not to promote myself!

I met 54ers Ravi Jaitly, Rolf Sonawalla. 54er MP Rahul Bajaj came to greet me. I chatted with 52er Yoku Hamied CEO of Cipla, 57er Shyam Chainani, the well known environmentalist and Roxanne Davur, who is running the Terra Anima Trust for Animal Welfare. I met 63er Ashok Adavani of Business India. 49er Yezad Kapadia was around and wanted to speak more at the Delhi get-together organised by the Delhi Chapter. All the 64ers who I had already met came to say hello and brought more friends.

Many were friends from the past. Many were my heros while at school. Yoku had left before I joined school, but he was active in the Kanga League and I used to go and see our Old Boys Team cricket play. I told both Yoku and Shyam of the wonderful work that they have been doing - one bringing the Indian Pharmaceutical business into the limelight internationally and the other for setting the tone for India in the environmental context. I am sure that Roxanne can do with all the help any of you can give her.

I met 69er Sheeba Eapen, younger sister of late 59er Jacob Eapen. Sheeba is a friend of my Italian contributor, 69er Barbara. Sheeba has promised me some photographs of our 59er and a short write up about him.

It was wonderful to meet up with 54er Zarine Aga and her husband Minoo. Zarine has become a dear friend.

As I wandered around I was stopped every few metres - I was greatly embarrassed by this as I could not respond with my usual "I know you" response. People talked to me about our late cat, my late mother-in-law, Annikki's snowmen and her cakes. People knew us intimately and I did not know them.

59er Farhana brought her son, also a Cathedralite, to meet me. What a wonderful youngster.

Madhu, Ashok's wife, to whom I had given one copy of our Class Directory told me that once she had reached home, she had read the whole book from cover to cover - a great tribute to Annikki and me from a good friend.

Annikki declined to have dinner. she was in great suffering. I made an attempt to eat the wonderful spread of food - but the heat made the food unappetising.

By now the sound in the hall had become unbearable. I wonder what it was like in the dance hall? I decided to call it a day as we had to set off early today by car for Alibaug.

Alumni co-President, Viral Doshi had a special gift for me.



This is the Alumni Tie which is being released for the 150th year celebration of the school. It is indeed a grand gesture and in return I gifted one copy of our 59ers Directory of our Golden Reunion to the Alumni.

They are planning a similar publication for the 150th year celebrations. The stakes have been raised and they have to come with a publication better than what we 59ers have turned out.

Our reunion, the 59ers, is certainly the Mother of All Reunions, the reputation of which will be further enhanced tomorrow when we proceed for a day of fun and games at Alibaug.'

Thank you Alumni for the signal honour -I love you all and I love to blog for you. Keep those emails coming, but do also let me have a photo, so that next time I can identify you and not be embarrassed that only you know me.

So by 10:30 we were in our taxi driving back to the Guest House. Both of us were exhausted, but i decided to complete the entry. Unfortunately some error was being generated, so i could not post this entry till the morning.

Stay tuned for more.

The wisdom of a High Court Judge!

The battle of the elite in St. Stephen's College continues. What a shameful example to set for the students.

Correctly, the High Court Judge hearing the battles asked all these so-called leaders to sit across the table and sort out their issues amicably.

Settle scores yourself: HC to St Stephen’s, Thampu

But childishness and power politics, pride and greed are at the forefront and the world watches the washing of dirty linen in public.

Shame on all of you!

Founders' Day Church Service

Even with the traffic rush, we managed to reach the Cathedral Church by 16:45.

Our Class photograph session was in progress. This year it was different from previous years where the sessions have been conducted in the school premises with chairs, banners, etc.

I do not know what photographs were taken, but no doubt they will reach me soon. I posed for many.

Then it was inside the church, where there were several rows reserved for us 59ers and we there in full force.

I have never attended a Founders' Day Service ever since I left school but have had many moving descriptions of it. It lived up to my expectations.

Principal Mrs. Merea Isaacs, in her welcome address did mention that previous staff had come from various parts of India, but no one had told her that William Shiri and his wife, Pushpa, had come all the way from Canada and Richard Clark from England. John Billington could not stay for the service, but had attended several of our 59er functions, and he too had come from England. Joe D'Souza in his frail condition, had come from Goa!

We 59ers did get a special mention in her speech as we were celebrating our Golden Reunion.

The Church Service was wonderful. It ended with the rip roaring shout that we as a school are famous for.

The exit from the church was slow and the blistering breathless heat was taking a toll on many. As I headed to the snacks section, Annikki decided that she could not stand the heat. So we left directly.

I will blog the next episode after the Alumni dinner dance at the Blue Sea on Worli Sea Face which starts in about half an hour. Knowing Mumbai time, will it be an hour or two away?

What is the mathematical chance of this?

Mumbai is an ENORMOUS City with thousands and thousands of taxis.

I have not been here for 10 years. I found Mumbai taxis to be cheap and efficient.

What are the chances that a taxi driver will pull up on the road, with passengers in the back seat, get out and greet you?

That happened this morning? I felt deeply touched by his actions.

Incredible India, but I have taken note of Ubi's warning - go only where you intend to go in a taxi, never take anything edible from a taxi driver .

Our REUNION Day

Yesterday, for Annikki and me, was a historic one. It was a day that we had worked for for 13 years, ever since I had heard of the passing away of my dear friend and classmate, the late Bala Parasuraman.

The day was one I took easily. 59er Geeta Simoes saw me sitting on the lawn in front of her home and shouted out for me to come in. I declined, so she sent out for water for me on a sweltering day. I was waiting for the decorators to arrive, but it was also time for me to silently contemplate what lay ahead. For over an hour I sat and thought about what I have been striving for, and that it was just a few hours away. The positives and the many negatives streamed through my thoughts. (Thank you Gita for giving us such a beautiful location to host our evening.)

The wonderful support and help of Malathi, over the many months of planning, were foremost in my mind. Even with her busy schedule at work, she was there to help me through these last hours. How can Annikki and I repay this wonderful lady, who through her own work (the way she cared for a young man with no arms and legs in Finland) and that of her husband, Ashok Khembhavi, "the Doctor of Dharavi" make me feel so inadequate?

I went and did some shopping soon after the decorators arrived. I then went home and took Annikki out shopping, just to get the event out of my mind. On our way back we stopped at the roof garden.

I was humbled at the ingenuity of Abhijit and his crew. The ground was too soft to take the load of the chairs. When you sat on one, it sank backwards into the ground and you would topple off. They had the brilliant idea of taking two short pieces of bamboo and tying them under the back legs, distributing the load and preventing the sinking and toppling.

Such genius can only be found in India - this Incredible India!

The florists and the electricians were busy at work. The place was taking a different shape. It was already 15:30 and I was nervous whether they would finish in time. The caterers had arrived and they too were busy.

We returned home. After a shower, I decided that I would not wear the traditional Kerala gear but the more North Indian one. I dressed and was at the site by 17:00 hours. I noted that a huge traffic snarl up was possibly going to occur.

The next couple of hours were hectic as I had to get my Mini Mac working and at the same time I had to answer hundreds of calls from people wanting to know a a multitude things. Abhijit's team were simply wonderful as they did not panic through each major hurdle, showing the experience and competence on every front of organizing an event of this magnitude.

By 18:30, the time I had chosen for us to begin, we were ready to receive the guests except for some things on which I depended on others. But they called and reassured me that they were on their way.

The three ladies who were our hostesses arrived. I took the first sip of our welcome drink - the Coconut Juice served in the Coconut Shell. It was a brilliant thought as it not only set the trend for the evening ahead but it also saved the caterer the job of cutting up all those coconuts and pouring out the juice into glasses! Thank you, Abhijit, for this stupendous idea.

The guests started arriving, slowly, all recounting that the traffic chaos in Mumbai and around was in a stalemate position. But I knew even the latecomers would be in time for the dinner!

Malathi brought me the mundu (dhoti) and I rushed into Geeta's apartment and changed. I looked somewhat like a Malayalee, but I am sure most Malayalees would have thought I was an insult - and I held up my mundu WITHOUT a belt!!

It is hard to say what was the best part of this event, as I enjoyed every minute of it. When I released the book, the Coffee Table publication that Annikki and I had strived to be a fore-runner for other reunions, I was tongue tied for several minutes. My usually nonchalant extempore approach failed me. Several times I had to resort to looking at my notes.

The music of Sibelius and the video clips from Finland through all the seasons, showing the wonderful country that Annikki and I have lived in for 25 years played in the background. I did not let it superimpose itself on the event, as that was not the reason that these people were here. They were here to meet and talk to others.

Slowly the tables were filled and the noise of the chatter was like happy music to me.

The food was served and the very mention of freshly cooked appams had everyone on their feet. Even the late arrivals did not spend much time at the bar - the food was of a quality that matched that of our maestro from Kottayam, the 75 year old wizard, Vasu.

The outstanding preparation was the Pineapple Pachadi, a creation of Abhijit, but it was not the only dish that drew comments from the gathering. They simply loved the food and every single person who attended came up to both Annikki and me and thanked us for opening up the splendour of the Kerala cuisine. (When I had gone to the tasting session where Abhijit had preparaed a spread of over 30 items, the mouthwatering Prawn Starter and the Pineapple Pachidi stood out by a mile, both original creations of Abhijit - and they proved to be the hits of the evening. My intuition and Abhijit did not fail me!)

My heart and soul thanked Malathi and Abhijit and their staff for what was a culinary delight in a surroundings of fairy and Chinese lights, a memory that Annikki and I will treasure all our lives.

I am sorry I cannot post any pictures, as being the host I did not have time to be behind my camera lens. But it has been recorded for posterity on the Class DVD and I did note that my eyes to the world, Hasnain, was busy behind his lens! Chinnie, what would I do without you?

Slowly, as planned, we drew the event to a close by 23:00 hours.

I missed all my classmates who had not been able to attend. I missed all my friends who had not been able to come. I missed my relatives who also had not been able to come. That was my failure.

As Malathi, Annikki and I sat down after the event when all our friends had left, we agreed that 90% of our objectives had been achieved - and both of them were happy. I was sad. Above all, I missed my dearest of friends, Ashok Kapur, and my greatest mentor, 56er Harminder Uberoi (Ubi) who had fallen ill and could not attend.

Friendships have been cemented. Long lost friends found, and new friendships made. Names on the internet have become faces to remember. They are now live persons with whom I can now relate as human beings and not as persons@anywhere.com!

Above all, I would like to thank my three cousin brothers, Rajen, Thambi and Chacko, who have made this trip to India a reality beyond all our dreams. Without them behind me, their tremendous love and care for Annikki and me, all this would have remained just a dream. They way they have taken all their publications to be brand leaders in their categories - the Malayala Manorama, The WEEK, Vanitha, Balrama, the Manorama Year Book, just shows the power of positive thinking and the power of love and affection. Annikki and I owe them an immense gratitude for whatever they have done for us.

But above all, thank you, everyone who attended, for a wonderful evening.

Now the stage is set for the Founders’ Day Church Service and the Alumni dinner. (I still have to buy a tie. Ubi has warned me not to go where taxi drivers take me - my foolishness.!!!)

Reunion Day Two is over - i am feeling deflated already!

Today I wanted to get a coat for the Founder’s day Service and the photographs. i went to Colaba Causeway in the morning to my old tailor in Rajsi and found that they no longer had a tailor. On to Grand Bazaar and I found that was now a Reebok shop.

I went to a Raymond's shop and they did not have my size.

I was walking down the street thinking where I should go, and I remembered that my mom used to take me somewhere in Crawford Market for my school blazers - yes, blazers in plural, as I kept growing out of my old ones. I saw a taxi driver across the street staring at me as if he had seen a ghost!

As his car was pointing in the right direction I went over and got in. This guy was convinced that I was Amitabh Bachan. He was from Benares and spoke a beautiful poetic Hindi, but his fixation about me being someone had him transfixed.

I asked him to go to Crawford Market. Sure enough he took me there, talking non-stop about “my” films.

When I told him I wanted to buy a coat, he told me he would take me to Dadar, which he said was the “home of coats”.

En route, he told me great stories about Kalidas and Tulsidas, stopping to get a pan for himself on the way. I declined his kind offer.

We were soon in Dadar in front of a shop which sold the most exquisitely designed coats, with gold sequins, many Bollywood Style. My taxi driver was sure I would come out wearing a stunner.

The shop owner was quite disappointed when I told him I wanted a blazer type coat. He produced one and it was too short. Then a colleague said that they had two large ones somewhere and came across to help. After rummaging through the shelves they found two black coats, and sure enough they fitted. One was labelled Rs. 3000 and he offered it to me at Rs. 2000. The second one was Rs. 3500 and he offered it to me at Rs. 2500. I had tried on a similar style one in Raymond's and it had been labeled at Rs. 10000.

I bought it without hesitation and decided to head back home, having accomplished my days work. I had more stories and poetry on the way. I was glad to pay this guy Rs. 300 for an couple of hours if great enjoyment and ego boosting. I think he remained convinced that I was Amitabh in mufti, even as he sped off!

Oh, I forgot to mention that Gita rang earlier to tell me that the green grass lawn was bone dry and fit for our party on Friday evening. I activated all mechanisms to get the place ready.

I rested in the afternoon (after a Chicken Biriyani delivered to our residence) and was ready to go our most favourite childhood haunt - St. Jame’s Court, well ahead of time. But as the caretaker of the Guest House had taken his grandchild to the doctor we had to wait till 9 pm before we could leave.

We arrived at the same time as Rivca and Ooky, and as we were walking into the building we saw ELVIS. Togged up and standing at the lift was someone in an amazing Elvis white outfit. We got the shock of our lives - but I quickly recovered as under all the dressing I saw Vikram Savara. It was hilarious.

Rivca, annikki and I went up. As soon as I got to the top floor I alerted the cameramen. The entry of Vicky Elvis was recorded for posterity.

The evening was simply wonderful. Booze flowed freely and I had several Sprites. This evening I focused on my friends from abroad - Arvind, Armeane, David, Hasnain, Peter, Vicky and some old timers who did not quite know everyone there, as Inderjeet.

We had two other Elvis dressers - Shivi and Percy, and both looked great. It was fun to see all of them move on the dance floor, despite the age. Naubir was swift on the floor as well as he twirled our Elvisphile, Piloo. Ketty, who had told me the night before that she was a secret elvis fan, did not take to the floor.

I did not see a under the legs slide attempted. I am sure no one was fit enough or young enough for that type of antics! It was a little strange to see our 59er "Elvis" sitting quietly. He was missing his better half, Purnima, who was not there as she was tending her mother.

It was simply amazing to see our 59er crowd still enjoying themselves in our childlike ways, as it brought home many many memories of our school socials. Piloo recalled the game we had played at a party in my Meher Mansion home. When the music stopped, the newspaper we were dancing on had to be folded in half. Wow! (I wonder who won?)

The "Evening under the Stars" was a 5-star event. The view from Vijay’s place over Marine Drive was simply breathtaking. Unfortunately, my little Cannon was unable to get a good picture of that sight. It looked as if this terrace roof was sitting atop a golden necklace.

Before we knew it, dinner was served inside. It was a simply grand meal. The desserts were great - hot jileebis, rasmalai, cheese cake and blueberry cake. I had much more than I should have.

And after a wonderful evening, it was soon time to go home.

Today is our party. I am in for some tough work all day as I try to get the occasion set in the mood we want. If you are attending, do not be late - 19:30, as the occasion has a different flavour to what you have experienced in the previous two days. The location has not been changed.

The REUNION continues and it is an experience that all of us seem to be enjoying. I hope it is so! But I am already thinking that soon it will end. I am feeling terrible that I will soon part company with so many wonderful people that I love so much. Deflation has commenced!

The REUNON has begun

The cyclone warning in Mumbai after a continuous unseasonal downpour had us all in a tailspin(I do not know the nautical term for this!). But Captain Vijay Shivdasani kept the course of our boat steady, calming many nerves. He has been a wonderful Captain to serve under (A Captain is senior to a Commander!)

I set of early morning to get hold of Gita Simoes as I had to get some papers from her. That done, it was off to Colaba Causeway to meet the boss of Leopold, who is almost the same age as us (65) and was also a kid on Colaba Causeway when we used to listen to the jukebox in the cafe! I had a cup of tea, there, exchanged a few pleasantries with the owner, when he told me the jukebox had been removed in 1964.

Then to the CCI where I met Malathi and her colleague, and then tea with 64ers Rajiv Ved and Deepak Deshpande and their staff member, Richard Smith. Richard had not been there when we 59ers were there.

They asked me to bring the staff members attending our reunion to theirs, which I promised to do.

Then to the school to pay my respects to the Principal, Mrs. Meera Isaacs. She was on the steps of the school entrance seeing an orderly dispatch of the students home as the cyclone warning had meant closure of all schools, colleges and government establishments in Mumbai. I was surprised she knew of me when I introduced myself! We exchanged a few pleasantries and I was quickly off after inviting her to the "Evening with the Findians". She was courteous enough to ask me join her for a cup of tea, but I knew she was busy.

I walked in the rain to Akbarally's and bought myself an umbrella. Then to a Xerox centre to try and print something. Total failure and on top of that I left behind my new umbrella. Dementia has set in!!

Home to have lunch with Annikki and Mika, a rest and then get ready for our do. I got Annikki the medicines for her bronchitis and sinusitus, en route, prescribed by Ashok Khembhai, the selfless doctor of Dharavi!

The cyclone warning was still showing on TV with all people advised to stay at home after 5 pm. But our Captain knew better as he already had info that the cyclone had DIED!!!

Annikki and I reached the Middle School already by 18:05 for the "Breaking of Ice" to find Rivca Elias, Suchita Shivdasani and Jangoo Moos there. We pitched in to help. Got the silver memento, the much discussed keychain. It is beautiful. Changed my name tag from Jacob to "Dead Chicken".

The others started to roll in and the atmosphere was electric. What a wonderful feeling as we hugged each other. In a short time the gym was humming with a noise level of several decibels. The Reunion had begun and everyone knew that now it was for real. My concern - Would they GEL? I did not have to wait long for the answer - they did! The samosas were forgotten as the people spent time talking rather than eating. I had two samosas. Great.

From the Canada, US, England, Mauritius - and of course Finland. But we knew that from Australia, Germany, Canada, US, UK, Israel, people were with us in spirit, as was evident from the three typical messages that Shivi read out. Thank you Sigrun, Mark, Narsys, Sudhir for your wonderful words, which were shared with those assembled.

I was surprised to hear that over the years there had been 4952 messages exchanged by email between our classmates, but Shivi has had many many more! (GREATEST OFFENDER IS ME!)

David had some wonderful photographs from the past - Oh, I would like to get my hands on some of them. David was so thoughtful that he had brought me a book in which my dad is mentioned. Thank you David.

Several seemed to believe that I was instrumental in making this reunion happen. All my protestations were ignored - so I decided to keep quiet till I had MY opportunity to speak at our event.

As promised, with the help of Vijay Nayar's car, I quickly sped William Shiri and his wife, Pushpa, and John Billington, to the reunion of the 64ers at the Royal Yatch Club. There I met Mr. J. P. D.Souza and his wife and also the 64ers that had assembled. Billy Kapur and his wife were there and he promised to drop in at our evening function.

Despite much protestions, I whipped my care back to our reunion, hosted by Ooky and Rivca and Viney and Purnima, but not before they had had a wonderful time renewing contacts with another great batch of Cathedralites and also talking to another staff member many many miles away. Thank you Deepak, Rajiv, Rustom - you are doing a great job.

Back to the Bombay Gym where I noticed the usual Indian Purdah system had set in. The men at the drinks while the women sat in groups. I went from table to table, meeting many whom I did not know, especially the girls. I was just so happy to be there and meet many classmates that I had not known at school. I felt it was time to focus on those I had not had the opportunity to know in our younger days. I felt sad that I had not known them earlier. I loved them all.

But we missed many and tears were in my eyes when I met up with Madhu. She is so wonderful and brave. Everyone in our class loves her as much as we had and still love Ashok. His presence was amongst us as we laughed and joked.

My mind kept going back, not only to Bala Parasuraman, Dossu Pagdiwalla, Jaswsant Ghatge, Michael Colaco, Murli Balani, Pradeep Bhakle, Prem Goel, Virat Gidwani, Jacob Eapen, Flicky Shroff, who had not option and could not be with us, but the others who could have been here for some reason had not been able to make it. That was MY failure!

The food was excellent and I indulged in many gulab jamuuns, which I should not have. As I saw people leave, I was surprised they came to thank ME, also!?

I knew all of them were looking forward to today, where Vijay Nayar and his wife, Meera, will be our hosts.

Thank you Piloo and Vijay and Suchita, who have done such a stupendous job. Thank you ooky and Rivca and Viney and Purnima for the wonderful start to OUR Reunion.

We are going to have several more funfilled days ahead. Many surprises in store - so stay tuned.

PS: AS I look out of my window over the sea, the air is thick with cloud, but it is DRY. The green grass of the garden in front of me looks just perfect. I do hope Gita's roof garden grass is dry and strong, as that will make the best venue for Friday.

Taste of Mumbai

Woke up late yesterday morning so my blog posting was only after 8. I had a whole lot of things to do, so I made my list. Annikki was down with bronchitis and many other disorders caused by fatigue and heat.

After breakfast I set off to Colaba Causeway as I wanted a soft leather briefcase and to repair my hand held passport case. I used the city taxi and the fare was Rs. 70 (Euro 1). I cannot get onto a bus in Oulu for that price!

I then strolled down the street I knew so well and saw my many landmarks. I remembered the Saturday when I listened to Radio Ceylon, answered a question and ran full pelt down to Grand Bazaar to be the first in line for a Rs. 10 grand prize. I won and bought Rs. 9.50 worth of sweets and a plastic jar for my mother (before I had started to study plastics). My mom waß happy with the plastic container but not so happy with the sweets!

I went past my old Irani restaurant haunts which have now become famous for all the wrong reasons. Leopold used to be hang out for us Colabites as it served a great biriyani and also had a Juke Box which pumped out the hit songs of the fifties!

Memories flooded back but I was sad to see that many old shops as my favourite barber shop, Modern Hairdressing, was no more. The bus stand where I used to catch the bus to school, opposite Regal Cinema had been removed.

I went on to Trident where I was to have lunch with Mohamed Noorani. In 1964 Mohamed had been working at Bayer in Leverkusen, and although he was an expert in leather he was then working on Rubber Chemicals. He was assigned to look after me, and we have become fast friends from then. I had not seen him since 1984 and I was overjoyed at seeing him look so young and fit. Waiting in the restaurant was one of my dearest friends - Viney Sethi, whom I had introduced to Mohamed, and they had enjoyed a great relationship since.

The three of us joked and laughed through a very light lunch, as i was still full from the enormous meal I had had at Radisson the previous afternoon.

After lunch I strolled onto Marine Drive and went to the house of another old friend - Vijay Kumar. He used to be the Technical Director of the State Industries Corporation of Maharashtra when this state was the leading industrial state in the country. He was such an honest officer that he could not even buy a ticket to the cinema without thinking twice.

Then fortune struck him in the form of Dirubhai Ambani. Vijay became the advisor to that giant before he became a household name. He served Dirubhai faithfully and he was rewarded in many ways. Vijay, brilliant as he was and with a razorsharp mind, used to use me as a sounding board, and it is no small thing to say that many a Dirubhai venture in the field of Petrochemicals started with a conversation between Vijay and me.

It is a friendship which has stood the test of time, and even though difficult times fell on Vijay after he left Dirubhai (as he knew he would never fit in with the two sons), he was still smiling when I saw him today. He now has to spend Rs. 15 lakhs as his wife Veena is seriously ill and has to be flown in a private plane to Coimbatore to be treated.

Vijay will do anything in his power to look after his lifelong companion.

I heard news of Vijay’s two sons who had become part off our family.

Then it was time to go home and talk on the phone to my dear cousin, Susykochamma (Mrs. T. Thomas) daughter of the late Mr. K. M. Eapen (Eapachayan), my god father.

There is only one person who looks into the mirror and remembers me - that is Susykochamma. When I was born and the news arrived at their home in Bangalore, she was so excited she ran full pelt from the gate to the house to tell her father the news of my arrival into this world. She tripped and fell and injured her nose, but even so she yelled the news through her pain to her father.

That scar has remained till today.

Susykochamma was another one of my guardians while I was studying in Delhi. I loved to go to her place to be with her, although her husband was not a person I cared for much as he was too aggressive. Considering how aggressive I am, we had to disagree on almost everything.

I will not say much about him, known to us as Papachayan. I do not know whether I will meet him. I have not met him for over 30 years.

Susykochamma was not the joyous self that I had known her to be all her life. She seemed depressed and I discovered the many reasons for it. I too felt depressed talking to her and I have promised to myself i will go and see her and meet one of my dearest cousins, an elder sister to me.

It was then time to go to the Chembur Golf Club where the caterer for the Friday dinner had organised a tasting session. I left Warden Road at 18:00 hours, giving myself an hour and half to reach Chembur. It was an eventful journey in that although traffic continued to move, it moved at a snail’s place. At one stage I heard an ambulance wailing like a cat, behind our car. It was about three cars behind, but there was no way to get through, not that anyone would have given way. The cat wailing lasted for about an hour, all the time behind us. Then, when it came to side of our car, it had stopped the siren. I guessed the patient in that ambulance was no more and the emergency was now over.

I thought to myself how ridiculous all this was as I saw an ambulance rushing at snail’s pace in the other direction!

I reached the Club just after 20.20 for the tasting session. The taxi bill for the 20+ km was Rs. 280 (€ 4) which is what I pay for bus ride from my home to the City Centre in Oulu, 2.5 km away.

I will give you the delicious menu AFTER the dinner, but it is going to be wonderful with a couple of creations by the caterer himself. (As it was an air-cooled cab - it was 4 times the normal cab fare.)

I met with the decorators and Malathi, a Finnophile in Mumbai, and my organiser at this end, also joining for the final tasting session.

I went home in a normal cab and the bill was Rs. 70 - just € 1!!!!

I am set for another full day of things to be done before our reunion starts tomorrow at 18:45. I am excited, I have been 3waiting for this day for 12 long years - and the Mother of All Reunions is about to commence. Stay tuned folks.

PS: There was a tropical cyclone warning for Mumbai yesterday and a Police Alert last night. But I have trust in God that he will make the REUNION a total success! As I watch the sea out f my widow - it is quiet.

Last day in Chennai; On to Mumbai

Please accept my apologies - I mentioned Meyer Hillel as a girl - Here is Gracie's email:

Jacob,

Meyer Hillel

He was in my sister Vilma's Class, of 53. In fact, they were born in the same Hospital in Bombay as their Birthdays are in October.

It was a great sadness to hear of his Early Passing away in Israel where he lived and he was a famous Rabbi Spiritualist. He helped many people who were in bad health.

I hope that his sister, June, will write something about him, later.

I believe he was in Blue house. He was in Bombay for his 50th Re-union. I have not spoken to June yet as Mourning and prayers go on for 7 days.

Freddie Sopher was the brother of Solomon Sopher [who passed away many years ago as a result of Leukemia.] He studied to be a Dr like his Brother David in the J. J.Hospital in Bombay. Freddy is his elder Brother and was so well known in Bombay as he took care of the Bombay Jewish Synagogue and was in Fro men's Travel Book. To stop by and meet Freddy. He would take congregants to his home Friday and Saturday afternoon for Lunch and Dinner and Friday. All this for the Sabbath. A good man he was and A Big Heart.

He was a true Jewish Indian at heart. I am not sure what class he was in probably early Forties or late thirties. I still have to find out.

The same with Ruby Hayeem. Both Old Timers!

Ellis leave for Bombay tomorrow. I know he is VERY Excited about it.

Thinking of all of you.

Cheers

Gracie

53er Sen Philip was shocked to hear of Meyer's passing as he had spoken to him just a few weeks earlier. He had mentioned that he was sick, but not that ill.

My last day in Chennai was as hectic as the rest. I left home at 7 am to go to the Osler Diagnostic Clinic where I had had the Executive Check Up done 10 years earlier. It had changed slightly, but it is not like a train station as Apollo. I was the first patient and things moved quickly, but the doctors were late in arriving, so half way through I got blocked. However, once they got there, things continued till they told me I had to go and get something to eat to do another blood test.

I ate at Murgan's Idli Centre, which in Madras is as famous as MTR. The Idli, Masala Doasi and the complimentary Vada, were of superb quality. The place was clean and hygienic. I was served on the traditional banana leaf. So it is not a thing from the past as this restaurant has been using the leaf all the while.

I went back to the Clinic, and they then told me to come back an hour and a half later!

So I went home, packed and came back for the blood test. I had a meeting with the doctor who told me that physically I was in good shape, but he could not comment fully as the biochemistry results would only be with him in the evening. He promised that the results will be couriered to me in Mumbai and that I could ring him whenever I wanted.

We said farewell to Shashank and his wife, Shiri, and Shashank’s mother. Shahsank had made a compilation CD / DVD especially for me. Annikki and I are hoping to listen to it shortly.

Dr. Subramanyam had taken his daughter for a recording session and had said goodbye to Annikki. I am sure we will hear more of this young lady very soon.

We loaded the car and went to the book shop recommended by Abe - Odessy, in Adayar. Annikki found her slim book about Indian Butterflies!

On to Radisson for lunch and then to the airport.

We bade farewell to our driver Thirumeni, who had re-educated us about Chennai. A wonderful personality and extremely caring. A fund of knowledge considering his 28 years as a tourist taxi driver in Chennai.

The Mumbai flight was Air India crew but in an Indian Airlines marked plane. The service was much more streamlined and professional than the other Indian airlines we have flown in so far. And the soft drinks and dinner were free. Nothing to write home about, but still it was welcome to get a meal before we landed in Mumbai.

We had a new driver, Mahesh, us in Mumbai. He spoke Hindi and Marathi. He considered himself a refugee from Delhi, having settled here in Mumbai many years ago.

I dropped Annikki at the Malayala Manorama Guest House and got dropped at the Willingdon Club where the Cathedralite 64ers were having a session. I was welcomed like their family. The discussions were quite expressive at times. This was the first time I was personally meeting another year Group - and it proved to be quite an interesting evening.

Of course, a few of them did not know me, my blogs, my life in Finland nor my work as a social worker. How could they! Hopefully they will read our blogs and see that the actions speak louder than the words that Annikki and I put on the pages of our many blogs.

I was so happy to hear that many present are following these daily updates. I was also so glad to meet a fellow Mac User - I am an avid Mac User, like all Mac users!

It was so nice to meet all these who so far had only been images on my blog. A lovely crowd, and I was able to share a few words with all of them.

I promised to make an appearance at their reunion party on the 11th. It clashes with our own 59er party at the Bombay Gym, hosted by Viney and Ooky. However, they have managed to get Mr. J. P D'Souza and probably Mr. Jagdish Pande to attend, and I hope to have these two teachers can attend Annikki's and my get-together "An Evening with the Findians" on the 13th. Fingers crossed.

Mumbai is pleasant, but there were unseasonal showers late last night. Many of our reunion events are outdoors, so we have to keep our fingers crossed that dry weather prevails!

Today I have a few important people to meet from my pst life in Germany and Mumbai. Annikki can rest till the evening programme sets in. Brief you tomorrow - so till then, stay well.

Each day is more rewarding

As each day in India passes, I feel that I am being rewarded even more. The rain has been hitting Chennai and the friends are thanking Annikki and me for bringing them the relief. The dry spell of over a year has gone and the parched earth is soaking up the rain. Road traffic has been disrupted, but it still continues to flow.

In the morning I decided to visit Vishnu and Veena as I had a great desire to meet his parents before I left. It was a visit well worth making as I have great respect for Vishnu's father who was, like my other very good friend, my uncle, Kuriyan Matthan, a meticulous personality with similar traits. Vishnu's mother was still the same as when I last saw her. Vishnu's uncle, whom we refer to as "Tablet's uncle" was also there and also very much the same as when I had seen him last. Time has stood still and they have retained their youthfulness.

I was able to speak with Vishnu's brother, Gishnu, and also meet Vishnu's sister's son.

Many people do not realise that lesson's are learned from all around you. I have learned much from this family, and although they look at me with great respect, I think it is I that owe them a debt hat I can never repay.

I returned back having been fed Veena's rasam that is my ether of life.

Annikki was ready and I thought we would go to have a buffet at one of the good hotel's in Mumbai. I chose Chola, which is an ITC hotel.

The spread was stupendous and all of us did it justice, especially Mika, who ate two helpings of everything he liked and could lay his hands on. The cost was also high compared to what we have been paying, but by Finnish standards, it was still very very low for wahat we ate!

After dropping Mika back at the room, Annikki and I went to City Centre as she wanted to buy some books. Sunday afternoon, and I understood well that there is no recession in India among the middle class. The shopping mall was packed to the brim that we could not get a parking place. The mall was thronging with people of every shape and size, all dressed well and with money in their pockets. I sat near the doorway and waited till Annikki finished her shopping. She had gone to the bookstall to find a book about butterflies and found two, but one was too enormous to carry back to Finland.

A short rest and it was time to visit my dear friend Isaac Sundarajan and his wife Nalla. Nalla is doing what her heart wants her to do, rehabilitating destitute women. She has chosen a place far from the city centre and is building the infrastructure to execute her work. She is finding progress slow, but I did not see a dampening in her enthusiasm to do what is God's mission for her.

Isaac is jet-setting in his new job as Vice President of a wing of LnT. The two LnT guys in Oulu come under him as also all the guys who were my good friends in Oulu and now back in Mumbai. Isaac has promised that he would soon be back in Oulu and we certainly are looking forward to have him with us again in our midst there, even if it is only for a few days.

Nalla said a wonderful and moving prayer before we left. We could see the spirit of God in her life and I silently prayed that her mission would be successful.

It was along journey to our next port of call.

Abraham Tharakan is 9 years my senior, studied in St. Joseph's College in Bangalore in the early 1950s, stayed in the hostel across from my Lalbagh Road home , and was probably the greatest influence on my life. He told me that we had met once in 1975. I do not fully recall that meeting. In my mind I was meeting him for the first time after we parted company in 1954.

Abe is still the same as I knew him then. A character whose tenacity and will are as tough as then and who is still as gentle as a lamb. He is recovering from a heart by-pass surgery.

I felt terrible that I had kept him waiting for so long, but with the rains, all my well laid out plans were running hours behind schedule. I felt especially sorry for his wife, Annie, as our late arrival had meant she was dragged out of bed.

Many thoughts went through my mind when I met Annie and then the two daughters of Abe. I was glad that he had such a happy family around him and I hoped that our friendship which started 57 years ago would continue in the same spirit.

The daughters told me that he had been interviewed by The Hindu about his blogging. I hope he willlink to that piece when it is published.

I was surprised to learn that Abe had been one of the original promoters of Apollo Tyres before Raunaq Singh had taken over the project. When they started looking at the project, the cost had been estimated at Rs. 9 crores, but with the Oil crisis, it had shot up far beyond the financial capacity of the original promoters, leading to the entry of Raunaq.

Apollo Tyres is on the ascendancy again. The company has been buying projects in different countries. MRF, if it wants to be a leading global player, must watch out. It cannot rest on its laurels. MRF needs people with a greater vision about global strategies to survive in the next decade.

Mammikochamma had recommended a Chinese Restaurant in Adayar called Liu Waldorf, so we stopped there for a light repast as we were still full from our lunch. I remembered having been to this restaurant over 35 years ago when it was the haunt of IIT Madras students. The food was excellent and the prices very nominal. Well worth eating at if you visit Chennai.

Back home to ring Joanna and talk to her and for Annikki to spend an hour on the phone talking to grandson Daniel. Maria spoke to Annikki and to Annikki's delight and Joanna's chagrin (I know this is not the exact word I should use here), Maria decided that she should speak in Finnish to her grandma!

We had tried to ring our other granddaughter, Asha, but no one had answered the phone. Hopefully we can speak to her today!

Now another day has ended and a new one started. It is just near half past five in the morning and we leave for Mumbai in the evening. There is till much to be done as I will try to get my Executive Health Checkup completed where I had done it the last time a dozen years ago. Maybe I will learn what I should not be doing what I am, which of course I know. Indulging my food cravings. But as we are on holiday, i certainly will not change my spots till I get back to my strict routine in Oulu.

Our day in Cochin

I had missed posting my blog entru of our day in Cochin on Thursday October 29th.

We had arrived the previous evening, which we spent at the Cochin Guest House of Malayala Manorama and they had served us a great dinner.

I was up early on the 29th and found only the Malayala Manorama newspaper. I asked Dennis to get me an English newspaper. He got me some local business publication. As I thumbed through it I saw a picture. I glanced at the caption and it mentioned an International Standards Organisation Conference being held in Cochin. Stting in the middle of the photo was my very best friend from my days at the National College of Rubber Technology, London, from the mid 1960s.

I had not met Christie Robert since 1966 when we had finished our course.

I rang the hotel where the conference had been held. I was put through to Christie.

My driver arrived earlier than I had asked him.

I rushed off to the hotel and sat over breakfast with Christie. It was so wonderful to meet up with my old friend and his nephew, who incidentally lives in Lund in Sweden, where another best friend from my days at St. Stephen's, Ajay Verma and his family, live.

Rushed back to the Guest House. Mika, Annikki and I went to Thambi and Bina's (Mr. & Mrs. Philip Mathew) place for breakfast.

What a wonderful garden. Overlooking the river, the view is extraordinary, and the garden is simply marvellous. Annikki and I were in raptures over the garden.

Bina served up a wonderful breakfast of everything we just adore and miss in our lives in Finland. They are a wonderful couple. They are unique. With Thambi's two brothers and their wives who make up the great team that drives Malayala Manorama and all its associated publications.

Then it was off to the airport, but on the way we stopped at Kalamesserry, where my cousin Sarasukochmma and her husband, Annikunjuchayan (Mrs. a& Mrs. P. V. Jacob) live. I had last visited this house in 1958 (51 years ago) when it had just been built. I remember it as if it was yesterday and I was surprised to find that Sarasukochamma also recalled that visit.

The whole of that road is in chaos, so they have decided to sell the house and move to Kottayam, where two of their sons now live.

Then on to the airport. We had some time to spare so we decided to rest at the Malayala Manorama Guest House just next to the airport. What a wonderful building, designed by Nina, who is Apu's wife. Apu, is Sarasukochamma's eldest son.

Not only is the design unique and practical, and especially designed so that our uncles, Peelukuttychayan (97) and Mathukuttychayan (93) can use it when they arrive in Kerala. it is just 2 minutes from the airport.

Our flight was at 14:00 hours, so we were taken to the airport at 13:30 to be greeted by a Malayala Manorama representative who rushed us, with no hassle, through the check in formalities and sent us through the Security right into the waiting plane.

What wonderful organisation. Kudos again to my trio of cousins who run the Malayala Manorama in a manner which is exemplary! Wish India was run like this!!!

A great Saturday

Saturday is Annikki’s Sabbath and a day of rest. I located the Seventh Day Adventist Church in Vepery. We found the road filled with churches - but the Seventh Day Adventist one was the only one open on Saturday.

We arrived in the middle of the Tamil Service, so I dropped off Annikki and went to see Moore Market, one of my childhood haunts. Learnt it had burnt down in 1985 (some said it was a controlled arson) and found it filled with bookshops and pet shops.

A most depressing place except that I found an electronic's shop which put a new cover to my ancient Finnish Nokia phone, giving it a new lease of life for just Rs. 40 (€ 0.60)!

The guy was so nice that he took out the original keypad from my dilapidated old case and gave it to m. He told me that the new one would last only a short time after which I should put in the old keypad which would last me another lifetime!!

The rain was not abating and many Madras streets were flooded. The Toyota Inova with its high axle height was getting through whereas all around us auto rickshaws and cars were stalling - mainly because of the backwash into the exhaust.

When I reached the church, the English service was still on. I sat through a one hour sermon. Maybe it had meaning to the others, but to me the preacher was repeating what I have heard from different points of view sitting in the front pew in St. Thomas Cathedral, Bombay in the 50s when I was a choir boy.

I do not like sermons because of those 5 years where every Sunday evening I had sat in the front row listening the priest or the bishop rant on and on as they had to! They were expected to say something and spend 15 to 20 minutes - so they took up some topic just so as to fill that time. In my 5 years I probably heard just two sermons that held some meaning and had a message which I still remember!

Off to pick up Mika and lunch - Chinese again.

Recharged my Indian phone with another Rs. 2002 of airtime! This time they gave it as something known as "Full Talk" which meant I did not lose 10% as tax.

Then it was visit time and we went to see Ammnikochamma and Kunjuchayan (Dr. Mrs. and Mr. E. J. Lukose) as they had not been able to attend the family dinner. Finished the last two family visits of my generation, Senchayan (Sen Philip) and Kunjumonchayan and Ommenakochamma (Mr. & Mrs. Mammen Eapen). In the last we had the opportunity to meet their daughter and their two kids again. Truly wonderful family. Love them all.

Dinner was at a place recommended by our niece - Cedars, a Mediterranean restaurant. It was an unique experience of wonderful food and extraordinary service.

Service in most Indian restaurants of all types has generally been good - but this was outstanding as the waiter was able to really fulfill our needs in every way and lead us through a gastronomic delight. Not heavy but simply marvellous.

One of our top experiences in India and a change from our routine of Indian / Chinese - Indian cuisine.

Back home to hear a long philosophical chat between our 5 year old grandson in Newcastle and Annikki. Listening to his advice to his Grandma had me in splits of laughter. At one point he asked whether Annikki knew their house number in Newcastle so she would not get lost when she went there. When Annikki told him that she thought it was 36, Daniel told her that she was close - he told her it was 27!!! :-)

Dr. Subramanyam was there when we got home wanting to host us to lunch or dinner, before we left, which I sadly had to decline because of our heavy calendar booking for the next two days.

When I told him that his daughter's flute music was as good as his son's and I asked when she would perform, he confided in me that he wanted to be sure that he did not commit the same mistake twice. He had allowed his son, Sashank, to start his performance career at 12 with his first concert in Australia. He had neglected Sashank's general education and although Sashank had provided for the family for the last 21 years with his brilliance, there was always a nagging feeling that he had denied his son the chance of a general education.

He had made up his mind he would not follow the same course with his daughter. So her career as a flautist was second to her "education".

I may not agree with Dr. Subramanyam as the sounds from his daughter's flute are so unique that she is complementary to Sashank. I wish her a glorious career as a flautist. And she has a wonderful natural personality which will be a great asset in her career.

Many of you have written to me about the behaviour of my siblings and their spouses which i had mentioned in my last posting. It is their loss - not mine! Annikki and I were in no way disturbed by their absence at the family gathering - which showed that they did not belong to the family. Thank God!