Read the latest Doon School Weekly (PDF). The issue includes an interview with Founders Day Chief Guest, Commerce and Trade Minister Kamal Nath and a first person account of Founders Day 2005.

Posted at 2:42 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Recent commentary on India’s educational system has focused on issues of “exclusion”. World Bank and UNDP reports focus on low enrolment data. Socio-economic reasons lead to early age school dropouts.

Recent commentary on India’s educational system has focused on issues of “exclusion”. World Bank and UNDP reports focus on low enrolment data. Socio-economic reasons lead to early age school dropouts. The gender gap in education is widening with a bias against girls. Children with disabilities aren’t accommodated in public schools.

The inherent assumption in this is that exclusion from education has a “negative value” associated with it. Therefore, by default, education itself has a “straightforward positive value” associated with it. Educational Regimes in Contemporary India probes this assumption in detail.

The book is an anthology of pieces contributed by a variety of educational scholars and edited by Radhika Chopra of the University of Delhi and Patricia Jeffery of Edinburgh University. The first section, “Changing Contexts of Education and the State”, examines the contemporary educational scene in India and its evolution from the post-independence era.

The second, “Teaching and Learning Regimes”, contains rich ethnographic case studies of student-teacher relations in six contexts: The Doon School, military schools, a girls’ madarsah in Delhi, Government elementary education, the Ustad-Shagird relationship, and adolescent women in a Delhi slum.

The third, “Different Transitions, Different Adulthoods”, examines whether the value accruing to individuals who acquire an education differs by variation in socio-economic context. Cited cases include young dalit males and children of immigrants.

The book makes four important contributions to existing literature on education in India.

First, the authors do not employ a strict economic human capital “input-output” approach in their analyses. Through detailed ethnographic studies, the book takes a close look at the processes that occur during schooling. Inputs and outputs are easy to quantify and measure.

However, “processes”, the question of how inputs are transformed into outputs, are not. How does the process of education occur? The authors probe the “educational black box” with interesting results.

Second, present-day commentary looks at educational outcomes in a quantitative dimension: enrolment rates, graduation rates, test scores, and, in some cases, earnings after school. The popular perception of the purpose of schools is perhaps solely to “train” people for market use.

The studies in this book, however, look at educational outcomes in a qualitative dimension such as self-esteem, aspirations, values imbibed, citizenship roles, and so on; after which, the editors arrive at the conclusion: “In practice, education is profoundly ambiguous in its effects.” This assessment challenges the assumption that education has “a straightforward positive value”.

Third, the book evokes a series of critical questions. Are all schools equal? Does the education that children receive in different schools facilitate the desired goals enshrined in policy documents? What values are children being taught in school?

Who determines the values taught in schools anyway? Whose socio-political interests are served in perpetuating particular types of educational systems? What political contestations occur within the playing field of the school? Who determines which outcomes of schooling deserve the highest weighting?

Fourth, educational theories developed within a Western context are tested within the Indian milieu. This contribution is particularly important given that educational policy within India is framed in conjunction with many international aid agencies.

The outlook of development practitioners is often framed within a Western understanding of the purposes, processes, and outcomes of education. Case studies specific to India will illuminate the way education policy in India is both construed and constructed.

Yet, from a policy development perspective, the book would’ve had a stronger impact had it addressed the issue of generalisability of results from each case study. Would, for example, the findings from one urban slum be representative of all urban slums in India?

Would the experience of students in military schools in Maharashtra be the same as in military schools in Andhra Pradesh or Bihar? Or would situational, geographical, contextual factors translate into different results? Still, this one critique does not diminish the many contributions of this book.

Chopra and Jeffery make an important point. Schools are perceived to be the great levelling mechanism—our only defence against social inequality. Yet, far from being “social equalizers” (in the words of American philosopher Horace Mann), they are mechanisms which reproduce social inequality. That’s food for thought.

EDUCATIONAL REGIMES IN CONTEMPORARY INDIA

Edited by Radhika Chopra and Patricia Jeffery in collaboration with Helmut Reifeld
Sage Publications/Thousand Oaks
Price: Rs 380; Pages: 346

Posted at 8:56 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

AT 31, executive director and chief operating office of the Escorts Group, Nikhil Nanda has a tough task ahead of him. Nanda’s new job profile, which includes looking after the tractor, construction and auto component business, means “three CEOs are reporting to me.”

The Wharton Business School graduate adds, “I want to focus extensively and more closely on the three businesses, want a significant position in the market share and cut unnecessary cost. I want to be more proactive and there are lots of challenges and lots of pressure, but I am enjoying it.”

Nanda in fact seldom worries about the long work hours. “I am young, I have to get Escorts where I want it to be and I can’t afford to waste time. My grandfather, the late H P Nanda, told me when I was 12 that unless I learnt to be passionate about my work I would never succeed. My other grandfather Raj Kapoor used to tell me that I should always look in the mirror and tell myself I can do it, that is half the battle won.”

Work, thereafter, has been part of Nanda’s upbringing and life. Growing up in a film family (mother Ritu Nanda is Raj Kapoor’s first born) had its “pluses”. He adds, “I was never fascinated by glamour.” For someone who’s dabbled in a bit of modelling in his teenage, movies are just meant for weekend entertainment. “Those were youthful actions,” he sounds embarrassed while recollecting his modelling experience.

Talking about father-in-law Amitabh Bachchan, he says, “Well, I’ve never seen him as a living legend. He is a friend, father figure, workaholic and warm human being. I am blessed to have him as my father-in-law. I loved him in Black, but I don’t understand much about films. I enjoy watching them just as any other person would.”

In fact if you believe him, Nanda is not a tech-savvy person. He would rather write on a notepad, send snail mail and sees the mobile as an intrusion in his private life. “I hate it when the mobile interrupts a family moment. These moments are very sacred to me, but work comes first. I am a very old-fashioned guy, I don’t like surfing the Net or figuring out the new gizmos. I am happy with what I have and hold.”

Family comes first. On Sundays family lunches are a must and nothing short of an emergency will drag Nanda out of home. “My daughter Navya Naveli is eight-year-old and my son Agastya is five and they need me more. On weekends, I devote all my waking hours to them, Shweta and my parents. Only very rarely do I go out partying or watching films. Sunday is the only day in the week when my dad doesn’t talk to me like the chairman and is dad to me.”

Nanda has studiously worked round the clock for one and a half year without any significant vacation. “I only went to Europe once for a week to pick up my wife and children and that doesn’t count.” He would ideally prefer to snatch a few precious days in a mountain retreat where no phones can reach him. “That would be de-stressing and rejuvenate me. You’ll be surprised to hear that I have no plans for Diwali either and if New Year hadn’t been a Sunday I’d be probably working.” Luckily for him, his family is a pillar of strength except for the odd emotional outburst from daughter Navya. “She couldn’t understand why I saw little of them and I had to make her understand the importance of my work. At home she plays my secretary and answers my calls. But I always try to rush home by 8 pm when my children retire for the night, tucking them in bed, telling them stories and giving them cuddles are bedtime rituals I don’t want to miss. Shweta, of course, is exceptionally understanding and like my rock.”

In case you thought Nanda junior was born with the proverbial silver spoon in his mouth, he hastens to point out: “I have done my share of slumming. I have travelled in local buses. At Doon School, where I spent my formative years, I was never given any special treatment and I had to rough it out. It taught me the value of discipline. And while my parents would have been happy to support me at Wharton, I won a berth there on my merit. Now I want my children to learn similar things in life.”

Nanda, a sometime-painter, wielded the brush once to copy a Husain painting of Mother Teresa. “My happiest moment was when Mother Teresa (who had come to visit my grandfather) and Husain appreciated my work and autographed it. The painting is a prized possession which I will gift to my parents.”

For now, the sky’s the limit. The next two years are bound to be crucial for him. “I have set targets for Escorts which I have to achieve. Personally I am reflecting on how to change myself for the better. I have to figure out my weaknesses. I am my own critic. And I need to shed some weight.” That explains the rigorous three-day workout regime he has put himself to.

Nanda might have been a pilot if he didn’t have a business to inherit. “I have flown 12-15 hours and am a trained pilot, so it was more than a boyhood dream,” he says ruefully.

And unlike most others, Nanda admits that he is not much of a reader. “I have read a handful of books in life and most of them are on subjects of life after death.” Yes, Nanda is religious. I chant mantras when I am at work and relate to God in my own way. I am superstitious, too. For example I’ll never leave home without drinking water (and waiting two minutes after that) and get up from the right side of the bed, putting the right foot forward first. I also believe in Feng Shui, Shweta says it’s good for me and I trust her judgement.”

Ask him the secret of his success and Nanda’s retort is quick: “I don’t even think I am successful. I have just begun my journey and have a long way to go.”

Posted at 7:28 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

From poetry to travel writing and fiction — pole vaulting between different genres comes easy to the literary maverick Vikram Seth. Touted as the best writer of his generation, Vikram is back after a seven-year hiatus with his new offering, Two Lives. But why such a long break between his last work and this one?

Says the writer, "I appraise my drafts severely and keep balancing the narrative, checking whether I'm telling it too fast or too slow. After all, I'm not writing a bestseller. I'm trying to express the flavour of life."

And about the famous mega advances that he receives for his books — 1.3 million dollars for this one — he smiles, "I'm very lucky to have received them. Atleast now, I can make a living off my writing."

Ask him whether the West still perceives Indian writing as exotic and he says, "I don't bother with perceptions and expectations. I just try to be faithful to my characters. All that matters is that one writes good books on subjects that make people think."

For the uninitiated, the book explores the relationship between Seth's great-uncle Shanti and German great-aunt Henny. It was while talking to his uncle and chancing upon his aunt's letters, that the story he says, "gripped" him.

"It became progressively rich as many themes intertwined, like the aspect of history and the portrait of a marriage," he informs. Naturally then, the book traverses across centuries, continents, eras and different people. "The love between Shanti and Henny runs parallel to the love of country and family.
This forms the theme of the book." Amongst the pioneers of Indian writing, does Vikram see himself as the one who paved the way for younger writers, the 'suitable boy' of Indian literature? "It'll be presumptuous of me to think so. The younger writers are getting ahead on their own steam.

All I can say is that there are a large number of good Indian writers with very different styles of writing," he says. And reacting to William Dalrymple's recent statement that, after Arundhati Roy, Indian writing in English has not lived upto its promise, he says, "We made no promises in the first place. Anyway, such things are sporadic. The literary burst happened then and it will happen again."

Of course, as expected and as has always been the case, there were inevitable comparisons with prize-winning, London-based author Salman Rushdie. But Vikram would rather do without these. "The comparisons are incredulous. People just love to speculate and fill up their pages," he says.

Getting to the subject of inspiration, Vikram confesses, "There was a time when, if I was not writing, it would make me nervous. But not anymore. Now I know an idea will eventually come along." That's why perhaps he's still undecided about what he will write next.

"I'm not actively searching for an idea. In fact, I don't have any plans for the rest of my life," he adds. Not one to tread the conventional path, wherein most writers would crave for the recognition of a Booker prize, Vikram says, "Reading and writing are intensely private activities.

So a committee deciding a prize may elate you for a day, but finally it does not matter that much."

Posted at 11:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Two days in India and Vikram Seth is already knee-deep in the media circus. But if all that attention is aggravating for a man who admits to being "a bit cagey about himself", it doesn't show. Seth stays unflappably courteous, and acquiesces to all the demands of our photographer with the panache of a seasoned pro.

"Ratna (Penguin executive) has me well-trained," he quips. The surreal feeling that comes from having a drawing-room conversation with the master of the modern drawing-room novel dissipates rapidly. But there's a wince on Seth's face when we ask him how it feels to be the poster-boy of Indian-English writing.

"There are plenty of good Indian writers in English, and none of us feel we are carrying the burden of being a poster boy." His favourites? "Of the ones who are no longer there, I loved R K Narayan. I also enjoy Rohinton Mistry. Incidentally, one book I'm looking forward to is Trees of Delhi by Pradip Kishen (Arundhati Roy's husband)."

What's he reading now? Amartya Sen's The Argumentative Indian. With India's best-known economist writing books, will Seth use his academic background to write on economics? He chortles cordially, but says there are no immediate plans. Has he ever been inspired to write about India's ongoing transformation?

Posted at 11:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Amit Shekhar Singh (156-TB'95) and his wife Supriya were blessed with a girl Ananya Singh on September 16th, 2005. Doon Online extends its congratulations to the new parents.

Posted at 8:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The DSOBS has started work on a relief effort is looking to raise money to purchase blankets and tarpaulins. Please contribute to the effort. With the Tsunami Relief Efforts, the DSOBS has showed what we can all do when we come together.

To All Old Boys' of The Doon School
Gentlemen,

We are all aware of the enormous destruction and loss of life caused by the recent earthquake in Jammu & Kashmir.

Thousands upon thousands of people in the remote areas of J & K have been hit very badly by this act of nature. The Indian Army & Security Agencies have been doing a gallant job rescuing survivors, providing medical aid, air-lifting seriously injured people. No words are enough for the self-less job being done under extremely adverse conditions by the men of the Armed Forces in helping the common man re-build from whatever remains of their shattered lives...

The Doon School has always, as the recent efforts towards Tsunami Relief bear testimony, shown the way in helping their countrymen whenever natural calamities have struck. Once again the DSOBS appeals to all of you to show this remarkable spirit of compassion - we would like to help the affected people by concentrating on providing Blankets and Tarpaulins, in view of the oncoming winters. The harsh weather forecast for the affected regions makes it all the more urgent for us to respond quickly. Our immediate goal is to arrange & distribute 10,000 Blankets.

The DSOBS provides Sec 80G exemption under the present income tax regulations in India to all contributors. Help in kind for the above items, or any other suitable items is welcome. Your society's efforts will be coordinated in New Delhi by,

Ranjan Bhalla, (ranjanbhalla@rediffmail.com, Mob: 9811271428)
Kishore Kumar Lahiri, (kklahiri@vsnl.com, Mob: 9810189607)
Gurmeet Singh, (gurmeet.exakt@gmail.com, Mob: 9810115290)
Vivek Seth, (vs@cultureclothingindia.com, Mob: 9811063031)
Vivek Narain (viveknarain1@yahoo.com, Mob:9818380019)

The DSOBS has already started work on this relief effort by appropriations from the "NAVODAYA-A New Dawn" , a fund which was created after the Tsunami, for use in precisely such circumstances.

Your contributions may be sent to the DSOBS Secretariat at:
The Doon School Old Boys' Society
1007 Bhikaji Cama Bhawan, 10th Floor
Bhikaji Cama Place
New Delhi 110 066
Tel : 011-26174808

Cheques/ drafts may please be made in favour of, "The Doon School Old Boys' Society".

To remit in US Dollars.

Please remit the funds for credit of Syndicate Bank, Mumbai Office A/C No. 36059901 Swift No. CITIUS33 via CITI BANK NA, 399 PARK AVENUE, NEW YORK CITY NY 10043, USA for credit of Savings Bank A/C No. 9017 201 00 66655 SWIFT BIC SYNBINBB070 M/s. Doon School Old Boys' Society with Syndicate Bank, 4 Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, I. P. Estate, New Delhi- 10002 India.

Please remit the funds for credit of Syndicate Bank, Mumbai Office A/C No. 000033553 Swift No. MRMDUS33 via HSBC BANK USA, 140 BROADWAY NEW YORK, NY 10005-1180 USA for credit of Savings Bank A/C No. 9017 201 00 66655 SWIFT BIC SYNBINBB070 M/s. Doon School Old Boys' Society with Syndicate Bank, 4 Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, I. P. Estate, New Delhi- 10002 India.

To remit in UK Pd Stg.

Please remit the funds for credit of Syndicate Bank, Mumbai Office A/C No. 012/01/589200/00 Swift No. SYNDGB2L via SYNDICATE BANK 2A, EAST CHEAP, LONDON EC 3M 1AA U.K. for credit of Savings Bank A/C No. 9017 201 00 66655 SWIFT BIC SYNBINBB070 M/s. Doon School Old Boys' Society with Syndicate Bank, 4 Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, I. P. Estate, New Delhi- 10002 India.

Please remit the funds for credit of Syndicate Bank, Mumbai Office A/C No. 00262731 Swift No MIDLGB22 via HSBC BANK PLC 27-32 POULTRY LONDON EC 2P 2BX UK for credit of Savings Bank A/C No. 9017 201 00 66655 SWIFT BIC SYNBINBB070 M/s. Doon School Old Boys' Society with Syndicate Bank, 4 Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, I. P. Estate, New Delhi- 10002 India.

A copy of acknowledgement received from the Bank and the purpose of the donation may be sent to us by email/fax for our follow up with our bank for early remittance.

Posted at 6:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Doscos interested in representing the Old Boys Cricket team vs. The Doon School on October 23, 2005 at Founders day should participate in net practice at 11 a.m on October 22 (Saturday) at the cricket nets on Skinners field in the Doon School. For more information please call call or SMS Nalin Khanna at 98100-28127.

Posted at 3:24 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Read the October 15th edition of the Doon School Weekly (PDF). The issue includes articles about the Round Square Conference and a Dosco Social Service Project.

Posted at 9:04 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The DSOBS is organizing a dosco summit this winter in Dubai between December 17th and December 19th. The summit will be a combination of work and play including seminars, dinners, golf outings and cruises.

Dear Dosco,

In supercession of the information given at page 15 of the July 2005 issue of the Rosebowl, the package costs with break-ups (rounded off) are given below. The package costs earlier given were meant for an individual adult on a twin sharing basis and not for a couple. The clarifications now given are because of this error and various queries which came in after receipt of the July 2005 issue of the Rosebowl. These queries ranged from charges in case an ex-Dosco was going singly and wanted to occupy a room himself instead of sharing a room; the costs for those who were making their own boarding and lodging arrangements but wanted to participate in the Summit including entertainment; costs for accompanying children; etc.

These revisions have also been necessitated by the fact that December is peak season in Dubai and hotel prices are on fire. No bulk bookings could be made at any luxury or five star properties because they required huge advances and in any case were not able to commit sufficient rooms.

Please note that accommodation is available only at Novotel (70 double rooms) and IBIS (30 rooms). IBIS is located opposite Novotel, which, in turn, is well located behind Emirates Tower on Sheikh Zayed Road with plenty of restaurants around and is ten minutes from the City Centre, Lancy Plaza and Burjuman.

the package costs per head (on a twin-sharing basis) work out as follows:-


(i). Summit charge per head as per I above (US $ 340) without accommodation or optional cruise and/or golf. US $ 340

(ii). Summit charge per head as per I above (US $ 340) plus optional cruise and golf as per II above (US $ 150). US $ 490

(iii). Novotel accommodation (US $ 585) with Summit charges (US $ 340) but without optionals of cruise and golf. US $ 925

(iv). Novotel accommodation (US $ 585) with Summit charges (US $ 340) with optionals of cruise and golf (US $ 150). US $ 1075

(v). IBIS accommodation (US $ 420) with Summit charges (US $ 340) but without optionals of cruise and golf. US $ 760

(vi). IBIS accommodation (US $ 420) with Summit charges (US $ 340) with optionals of cruise and golf. US $ 910



Kindly note the following:-

(a). Children below 12 years - no charge.

(b). Children above 12 years - full adult charge.

(c). Charges will remain the same for single or double occupancy of a room.

(d). All those staying on beyond the stipulated three nights of 17th, 18th and 19th December i.e. check out by mid day on 20th December, will have to pay for the extra days themselves on check out. However, they must let Rajeev Lal know in advance as to how many nights extra they wish to stay for, i.e., 20th or 21st night etc. so that he can inform the hotel in advance.

Registrations have been extended till November 15, 2005. Registrations/confirmations with payments based on whichever package you choose should be sent to:-

Account Name Thinkline

Account No. 0057-475700-001

Name of the Bank Emirates Bank Int'l

Branch Tower Branch - Sheikh Zayed Road

P.O. Box: 2923, Dubai, UAE.

The contact person at Dubai is Mr. Rajeev Lal, 103-K, 1966, Regional Representative of the Dubai Chapter of the DSOBS. He can be contacted at his office No.00-971-42828180 or e-mail him at thnkline@emirates.net.ae for any clarification(s).

AIR TRAVEL

As far as air travel is concerned, Gurjit Singh Ahuja of Journey Mart had issued a circular letter quoting Air India prices Delhi-Dubai-Delhi, Economy Class at a special group rate. Do check with Gurjit whether tickets at concessional rates are still available. His details were given in the last issue but are being repeated below for convenience:

Mr. Gurjit Singh Ahuja Journey Mart

Division of Interzign Solutions Pvt. Ltd.

M-69, Market, 2nd Floor,

Greater Kailash-I

New Delhi-110048

Tele Nos: 29234055-56 & 51635455

Direct: 51635455, Mobile: 98-101-49577

E-mail: gurjit.singh@journeymart.com

Do note that the concessional air fares are only applicable if your departure date is 17th December via Air India 747. This concessional fare will remain available even if you do not return with the group on 20th December but chose to return a few days later. However, the concessional rate will not apply if you chose to travel earlier than the 17th of December. You must give Gurjit the return date if you plan to return after December 20, 2005 so that he can then release the seats held for that date. It is also important to let Gurjit know the return date if it is not the 20th because tickets are more difficult to get, the closer one gets to Christmas. However, while noting the concessional ticket price which comes to Rs.16,575/- with taxes, it may be noted that for children below 12 years, their ticket costs would be 67% of a regular ticket. Gurjit Singh had sent a circular letter to all ex-Doscos on September 13, 2005 inter-alia stating that:-

We are pleased to advise you that we have been able to secure seats at special rates for the group on Air India as per details below from Delhi :-

AI 747 17DEC DELHI --- DUBAI Departure 1445 Hrs Arrival 1615 Hrs

AI 746 20DEC DUBAI --- DELHI Departure 1700 Hrs Arrival 2125 Hrs

December is a Super Peak month and the dates and route are very popular. However, we have still been able to secure 70 seats from the airline at a special group rate of Rs 14,500/-per person. Taxes and surcharges will be extra and as applicable at the time of ticketing. Currently these charges are Rs 2075/- per person approx.

We have a deadline by which we have to pay the airline a non refundable deposit of Rs 3625/- per ticket to hold confirmed space. All tickets will need to be issued and paid for 21 days before the date of travel. All Cheques / DD to be issued in favour of JourneyMart-Div. of Interzign Solutions Pvt. Ltd. and should be payable at New Delhi.

Our understanding is that all Hotel arrangements, Visas, Airport Tansfers and Sightseeing arrangements are being taken care of directly by the DSOBS. We are currently holding 70 seats Delhi-Dubai. If more seats are required Ex Delhi or Ex Mumbai please let us know ASAP so we can take action immediately.

IMPORTANT:

We would require Photocopies of Passports - first 4 and last 4 pages.

Please note that all passports must be valid for atleast Six Months from the date of Travel.

In case "Immigration clearance required" is indicated in your passport the same can be temprorily suspended by the Office of the "Protector of Immigrants." at an additional fee of Rs 250 per passport.

Confirmations with advance cheques must reach JourneyMart by October 31, 2005.

DOON SCHOOL OLD BOYS' SOCIETY

Posted at 4:44 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Dhruv Sawhney (37-K '59) gets the highest civilian honour from the French government for furthering the relationship between the two countries.

The Financial Express: The French connection

Dhruv Sawhney gets the highest civilian honour from the French government for furthering the relationship between the two countries

Somashukla Sinha Walunjkar

For Dhruv Sawhney, chairman and managing director, Triveni Engineering & Industries Ltd (a company which had a Rs 1,000-crore turnover in March 2005 with a Rs 100 crore profit after tax) working 20 hours a day is “always a rewarding experience.” And now the French Government has just awarded him the highest civilian honour – Chivalrie de Legion d’Honneur. Sawhney, 61, admits that winning has been a big honour for him. “It is a recognition of the growing ties of India and France and I think it is a very proud moment for me as an Indian to receive an honour, which is the highest in France.”

Sawhney’s association with France goes back to his college days (when he was graduating in mechanical sciences from Emmanuel College, University of Cambridge and later while doing his MBA from Wharton Business School, University of Pennsylvania) when he made lots of friends from all over the world, “some of whom are very highly respected people today” and later in 1998 when he constituted a France Committee at the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and has since chaired it.



“I was part of the first Indo-French forum formed by President Chirac and the then prime minister I K Gujral. I have led many initiatives in the areas of water, agri business and energy and led a group of CEOs to France many times. It has been a long slog since, to smoothen the ties. France, for example, has tremendous know-how in floriculture, food processing and agro products, which can be of immense help to rural India. There should be more private sector-private sector initiatives between France and India and a combination of public sector-private sector initiatives between the two countries. The potential for improving the relationship between the two countries is immense and all it needs is more awareness. For example, in France, there is very little awareness about India’s business potential as compared to China, so that has to improve.”



Sawhney was president of CII in 1991-92 and holds many prestigious chairs even now. He has a keen interest in management education (he was on the dean’s list of top students at Wharton himself and came out second in the university), has been a visiting faculty at the Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Lucknow (he was governor of the IIM for six years), is the chairman of Doon School and was president of All-India Chess Federation for 12 years (he retired recently).



All this does ensure that Sawhney has little time to himself, but he is not complaining. “You have to take time out for yourself. I think if you enjoy what you do then you don’t feel overworked. Most of my professional interests merge with my personal likings. For example, I play some chess myself. I love French food and wine. I am an avid follower of Wagner and other western classical music.”



Sawhney is also an inveterate traveller who does an extensive research before zooming off to exotic destinations. “Some time back we (my wife and two sons) went on a whale safari on the Island of Lofoten (off the Norway coast ), which was not even on most of the tourist maps. I would now like to go to the Galapagos Islands and take a cruise to Antarctica.”



Sawhney is also a regular at most cultural festivals – be it the Khajuraho Festival, the Neemrana Festival or the Sevenalina Festival in Helsinki. “I would do anything to attend those concerts. Music is a lifeline for me (even his sprawling office in Noida has conference rooms equipped with music systems).”



For Sawhney, the journey so far has been eventful. “Today we are one of the largest manufacturers of sugar in India. In the power sector, Triveni manufactures steam turbines up to 15 MW and our domestic market share is 60%. We are among the largest manufacturers of high speed gears and gear boxes and manufacture the largest range of high technology water and waste water treatment products. Our company believes in people-centric, technology-oriented policy.”



Looking back, Sawhney has no regrets. “You only move ahead in life. If there is one thing that I miss, it’s the fact that I spend so little time with my wife. Luckily our common interest in music ensures that we do get to spend time together. And now that my sons (both from Cambridge-Wharton) are taking an active interest in my work, I can delegate responsibility and learn to take it easy.”

Posted at 11:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Indian Petroleum Minister Mani Shankar Aiyar (55-T '57) thanks the Dosco community and the DSOBS for helping the Tsunami victims in his constituency.

Now that the worst of the Tsunami, which hit my constituency and other parts of the country on 26 December 2004, is substantially behind us, I would like to thank each one of the following DOSCOs who put so much of their innate humanity into coming to the aid of the victims, in particular those in my constituency. Now, all along the coast one sees school children riding bicycles supplied by DSOBS and playing with cricket bats festooned with the DOSCO symbol. Few places in our country could be as remote from the Doon School as my constituency and yet, thanks to all of you, the DOSCO name has passed into the common vocabulary of the people. That, I think, is the most enduring tribute which my constituents can pay to the really noble efforts mounted by DSOBS for Tsunami relief and rehabilitation. So, a big Thank You from me to:

Aamir Ali (214K-1939) whose book on the Buddha made a profound impression on me at school and who was subsequently at his most sympathetic when I tried to get into the ILO during the dark few months that, on suspicion of my being a communist, our security agencies were conspiring to keep me out of the Indian Foreign Service in 1963. (I am glad that I eventually persuaded the authorities to recognise that while I was a Marxist, it was more of the Groucho variety!)

Gautam Chadha (389H-1971), who, like a master conductor of an orchestra, pulled together a dozen different instruments to come to the aid of my people.


Ranjan Bhalla (386J-1972), whose untiring spirit, efforts and commitment ensured delivery on all fronts

Alok Bhargava (196J-1974) who coordinated matters at the Chennai end

there would be complete transparency in our efforts and that we would endeavor to continuously communicate in order to keep all informed of progress.

Angad Vora (293J-1968) who kept a beady eye on our distribution efforts, taking the trouble to wander with me in the blistering heat from village to village to overcome arguments and tussles over who should get the bicycles and who could justifiably be left out!



Sunil Kant Munjal (180k-1973) for his assistance towards the Hero bicycles.

We DOSCOs are often accused of being elitist, snobbish and selfish. But I do believe it is no coincidence that the following DOSCOs were/are deeply involved in promoting Panchayati Raj:



Sunil K. Munjal, who co-chairs with me the CII-GoI Joint Council on Rural Business Hubs, an initiative to bring together village Panchayats and the biggest business houses in the country to promote income-enhancement and employment-generation in rural India.



Rajiv Gandhi, the fountainhead of this, the greatest social revolution to sweep through the country since Independence and the proclamation of the Republic.



B.George Verghese (150J-1944), the most impassioned advocate of Panchayati Raj in the media and academic circles.



Wajahat Habibullah, Secretary, Panchayati Raj



L’il ole me, the first Minister of Panchayati Raj ever



That is how far the tentacles of Tunwala extend!



A.Vellayan (87T-1968) for his assistance with procuring TI cycles. Are you from the family of my classmate, the late Murugappan (133T-1958, if I am not mistaken)?



Peter Mukherjea (17H-1971), the Star of Star TV, who donated 300 of the 500 bicycles.



Sanjay Aggarwal (143H-1972) who supplied the 289 kits of sports equipment under supervision and assistance from DSOBS (Ranjan Bhalla and Nalin Khanna 563H-1980) and contributed by the Indian Womens Association of Singapore.



Gurmeet Singh (883T-1982), who rushed to our rescue at the worst moment of the crisis – the immediate aftermath of the Tsunami



Darshan Singh, who, notwithstanding his Great Betrayal of becoming Chairman of the Board of Governors of Welham Boys, has dotted the schools of the affected villages with toilets for girl students and other desperately needed facilities.



Gautam Khanna (897K-1982) and Ajay Pratap Singh (214H-1966) for clean drinking water facilities, which I hope will finally get installed very shortly, and



Last but not least the 160 anonymous donors who have covered the good name Doon School with glory in this great humanitarian crisis.



Thank you all.

Posted at 11:08 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Arun Kumar (99-KB '76) pointed us to this nice obituary of General Billamoria (76-K '48) who passed away in September.

General Bilimoria father to CobraBeer's founder and CEO Karan Bilimoria dies at age 72
Source: Clickwalla.com

General Biliomria was a great inspiration to his son Karan after playing a significant role in the Cobra Beer story.

General Bilimoria was born in Bombay on 27th June, 1933, the son of Mrs Ratti Bilimoria and the late Brigadier Noshir Dhanjisha Bilimoria. He married Yasmin, daughter of Mrs Aimai Italia and the late Squadron Leader J. D. Italia of Hyderabad, in 1960.

He was educated at St Xavier’s High School, Ahmedabad, and subsequently at the Doon School in Dehra Dun. After passing Senior Cambridge, he elected to join the Army and joined the 2nd course of the Joint Services Wing, followed by the Indian Military Academy, at Dehra Dun in 1949. As a Gentleman Cadet he had the rare privilege of commanding the passing-out parade of his course at the Indian Military Academy.

He was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant from the Indian Military Academy in 1953 and joined the 2nd Battalion, the 5th Gurkha Rifles, Frontier Force (a battalion that was awarded three Victoria Crosses in World War II, and was know as the “VC Paltan”). His numerous appointments included being made Aide-de-Camp to the first President of India, Dr Rajendra Prasad, from 1959-61, in addition to active service with the 5th Gurkha Rifles in the Congo in 1962-63 as part of the United Nations force. He attended the Staff College in Wellington and subsequently served as a Brigade Major, followed by a staff tenure at Army HQ. He assumed command of his parent unit 2nd Battalion, the 5th Gurkha Rifles, Frontier Force, in 1969 and led them into action during the Indo-Pakistan conflict of 1971 in Bangladesh.

From 1973 to 1976 he was posted as Indian Army Liaison Officer in the UK, and subsequently commanded an Infantry Brigade for over three years in the Rajasthan desert. He attended the National Defence College in Delhi in 1980, following which he became Brigadier General Staff of a corps and Deputy General Officer commanding an infantry division. He was promoted to Major General in 1982 and commanded a Mountain Division in northeast India. Thereafter, he was Deputy Commandant and Chief Instructor of the Indian Military Academy from 1984-86. In 1986 he was promoted to Lieutenant General as Commandant of the Staff College in Wellington. Thereafter, he took over command of a Corps in the Western Sector (Punjab).

He was promoted to the rank of Army Commander in 1989 as General Officer Commanding in Chief, Central Army Command.

General Bilimoria was then appointed Colonel of the Regiment - the 5th Gurkha Rifles, Frontier Force and was also appointed President of the Gurkha Brigade in India.

General Bilimoria received many awards and accolades, including the Rajputana Rifles Gold Medal for Tactics and Leadership. In 1989 he was appointed honorary Aide-de-Camp to the President of India, and in 1990 was awarded the Param Vishishi Seva Medal for distinguished service. He retired in 1991.

Following retirement from his glittering military career, General Bilimoria involved himself in numerous activities, including becoming a Member of the Board at the prestigious Doon School and a Trustee of the Cambrian Hall Educations trust, India. He also served as the Chairman of Jardine Securicor Gurkha Services in India and as Partner in Hong Kong. Amongst other awards, he was given the Federation of Parsi Zoroastrian Anjuman of India’s Colonel Adi B. Tarapore Award for Excellence in the Military Field in 1989, which meant a great deal to him as he was always very proud of his Zoroastrian Parsi roots.

He was also a keen sportsman and an ardent environmentalist, developing two large nature and environment parks of 300 acres each in Bathinda and Lucknow. He was an Honorary Rotarian in the Ootacamund Rotary Club as well as being a member and patron of numerous clubs and institutions, including the Delhi Gymkhana Club and the Delhi Golf Club.

General Bilimoria was the inspiration behind the eponymous range of wines produced by his son Karan’s company, Cobra Beer. He also served as the Chairman of Cobra Indian Beer Pvt Ltd and as Founding President of the Cobra Foundation, the company’s charitable arm.

General Bilimoria passed away on the morning of 31st August, 2005, at the Military Hospital in Dehra Dun, India, after a long and hard-fought battle with cancer.

His funeral took place at the Indian Military Academy funeral ground in Dehra Dun on 1st September with full military honours.

In his passing, India has lost a brave soldier, the armed forces a gentleman officer, and his family a loving guide and mentor. His legacy of courage, sacrifice, honour and leadership will live on in his regiment, his family, and the enterprise that has benefited so immeasurably from his guidance.

General Bilimoria is survived by his wife of 45 years, Yasmin; his elder son, Karan F. Bilimoria CBE DL and his daughter-in-law, Heather, grandsons Kai and Josh, and grandaughters Zara and Lily – residing in London; his younger son, Nadir F. Bilimoria, residing in India; his brother Jehangir, residing in India; and his sister Shireen, residing in Canada.

Posted at 10:34 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Utsav Baijal (620-HB '95) has joined Bain Capital in Boston, MA. He can be contacted at 617 692 0313.

Posted at 10:33 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Read the October 8th edition of the Doon School Weekly (PDF). The issue includes an interview with Lord Meghnad Desai and an article about P.M Das.

Posted at 4:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Kundan Singh (544-KB '01) has started his Masters in International Business from the Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham. He can be reached at singh_544@hotmail.com

Posted at 10:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Ajmal Khan Gauhar (354-HA '94) is currently working in the logistics department of Honda Scooters and Motorcycles in Gurgaon.

Posted at 10:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The highly energetic DSOBS Sports Sub-Committee is organizing an Inter House Soccer Tournament on October 15th and October 16th, 2005 in Delhi. Learn how you can participate and may the best house win.

Dear Doscos,

As has been previously circulated, the DSOBS has organized the FIRST OLD BOYS INTERHOUSE SOCCER TOURNAMENT to be held on the 15th and 16th of October at the American Embassy grounds (ACSA, pronounced 'axe-aa'). Call it a floodlit soccer carnival if you will with great food, drinks and great fun for you, your wife and your kids. Matches begin at 7.30 pm on both days and will be played at night!



The venue is the 'ACSA BALL FIELD' WHICH IS ON PANCHEEL MARG BEFORE The AMERICAN EMBASSY SCHOOL. You will enter through the ACSA gate (GATE E) opposite New Sikkim House. Park your car 100 yds ahead on the left on Chandragupta Marg at American Embassy school. See the map for reference.



Do come and cheer your houses, they need your support – especially TATA house, without the noise, they can’t seem to win. Jaipur house has a very vocal cheer leading squad and has dared any other house to get their hands on the cheerleading trophy, the soccer cup notwithstanding. Hyderabad and Kashmir house have risen to the challenge as has Oberoi house.



Please don't forget, all those interested in participating either as players / cheerleaders / spectators have to be pre-registered with the American Embassy. Please inform your respective house reps/captains by this Friday, the 7th of October with your Names and date of births to enable us to make ID cards for each of you.



IMPORTANT: These I.D cards must be carried to the venue and you must have some photo identification to prove your identity (e.g.. Driving license, etc), without which you shall not be granted access.



The house reps to contact are:

Tata house: Jaspreet Singh - 26149669 / 9810421620

Asheet Lanba - 95-120-2574884 / 9811606437

Jaipur house: Vivek Seth - 95120 2460893/6/7 - 9811063031

Hyderabad house: Arun Khanna - 2435 1548 / 0472

Kashmir house: Raghav Mallik - 2649 6859 / 6782119 / 9810056334

Oberoi house: Gurmeet Singh - 26149669/9810115290

Ranjan Bhalla - 26862210 / 9811271428

THE TOURNAMENT FORMAT IS AS FOLLOWING:

EACH TEAM WILL HAVE 8 MEMBERS PLAYING

UNLIMITED SUBSTITUTION

MAXIMUM PLAYERS IN EACH TEAM WILL BE 15

ROUND ROBIN MATCHES (EACH HOUSE WILL HAVE 4 MATCHES)

EACH HALF WILL BE OF 17.5 MINUTES

BREAK AT HALF TIME 5 MINUTES

INDIVIDUAL KITS (T SHIRTS, SHORTS & SOCKS)

STARTING TIME OF MATCHES 7.30 P.M. (FLOODLIT FIELD)

SEMI FINALS ON SATURDAY 15th AND FINALS ON SUNDAY 16th BETWEEN TWO BEST TEAMS



So mark that weekend as another fabulous DOSCO event brought to you by the Sports subcommittee of the DSOBS.

I Look forward to seeing you there,

May the best House win.



For the DOON SCHOOL OLD BOYS' SOCIETY

GURMEET SINGH

CHAIRMAN - SPORTS SUB COMMITTEE.

Posted at 11:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)