SJBHS OBA Day 2013

The 95th Annual General Body Meeting of the Old Boys' Association of St Joseph's Boys' High School, Bangalore was held on Sunday, Sept 8, 2013. The day began with the Holy Mass starting at 7:15 AM.

Hymns and prayers constituted an hour of thankfulness, seeking blessings and poignant moments of remembrance.

The School Band gets ready for the ceremony during which a wreath is laid at the War Memorial.

The War Memorial is one of the unique landmarks in Bangalore.  Old Boys who have laid down their lives during the many wars, trying to protect the country, are remembered and thanked.

Like the old days when we used to be in School during the Assembly held in the morning, Old Boys line up according to the Houses they belonged to. Unfurling the School Flag is followed by singing the School song "Ring Out The Battle Call Of Duty".

Time now for the customary breakfast in the lower level.

A short prayer before the breakfast, in gratefulness for all that we have received.

Sausages and eggs, a decades old tradition looked forward to by Old Boys, a reminder of the old 'Refectory' food.

There is food for those who don't eat sausages and eggs.

Rahul Dravid, one of our most famous Old Boys, inaugurates the Office of the OBA in the new Sports Complex that is scheduled to get completed in early 2014.

A view of the Sports Complex, as we wait for the group photograph to be taken. The photo is taken in two batches, before 1990 and since 1990. The Sports Complex has unique facilities. It is designed to house an indoor pool, basketball court, table tennis tables and an indoor cricket pitch, believed to be the first of its kind in India.

The OBA General Body Meeting is attended by about 100 Old Boys.

Keenly awaited events follow the Meeting. The Fellowship and the Hockey match between the Old Boys and the School team. The line for the Draught Beer from the tap is long and slow. To speed up the process, each person was allowed two glasses at a time.

The Hockey match is held on soggy ground. The School team is no match for the Old Boys' skill and stamina. The Old Boys win 11 - 1.

Meanwhile, beer, pink stickjaws, groundnut stickjaws, veg samosas and non-veg samosas are in great demand.

The ever popular Biriyani is served at 2:30 PM.

Some Old Boys are multi-talented, not only do they sing but they play an excellent game of Hockey, as well.

It gets close to 4 PM, and the fellowship continues.

Three Cheers for the OBA! Three Cheers for the School!

Thank you, Rev Fr Principal, OBA Committee, Old Boys and Families..!! Until next time, then..!!

Fort Kochi - Colourful, centuries old melting pot

Fort Kochi is about as colourful as any location can get. The area is beautiful, comprising of several islands, back waters and the sea. The image that stands out in most travellers' minds is that of the large, Chinese Fishing Nets along the water. 

Historians have concluded that Arabs, Chinese and Jews settled in the Fort Kochi area back in the 1400s. After that it seemed to be a free flow of traffic, with the Portugese, Dutch and British adding to the colour one by one. For the settlers, the explorations were long, hazardous journeys by ship. I was on a teaching trip at a Management institution near Kochi. The view outside the window was rather pleasant and distracting.

All I had to do on a day without any scheduled classes was to hop into an auto-rickshaw which crossed several bridges and even went on a ride on a ferry. The ferries carry auto-rickshaws, cars, cycles, scooters, motor-cycles and pedestrians. Local folks and tourists use the ferry every day, like the family with two little kids who seemed to be slightly self-conscious dressed in their holiday best.

Fishermen at the Chinese Fishing Nets work in unison to ease the nets into the water, and to pull them out after a while.

A simple counterbalancing mechanism built up of stones help the fishermen raise and lower the nets into the water. 

Down she goes...

The group gives me a little demo in return for a small consideration. It is the lean season, the waters are choppy and the catch is limited. Any support is highly appreciated. The fishermen pull out the net, singing their song. 

All that appears in the net is a little sword-fish type of a fish. I guess the nets need to stay in far longer.  

The streets around the Chinese Fishing Nets are quiet and leafy, ideal for strolling around by the Fishing Nets and the fish stalls.

Several Fish stalls dot the area. You are allowed to take your pick of fish.

Restaurants wait for you to bring over your 'catch of the day'.

The fish is cooked right there while you wait.

The result is a plate of freshly grilled Fish. 

Tourist buses park under the trees, many having arrived from far away cities. Looks like Audi manufactures buses these days!

Two visitors take a quick smoke break. Purple umbrellas. Purple trousers. Red umbrellas. Red trousers. Matching-matching! 

Not too far from the Chinese Fishing Nets is a historical monument of high importance, the St Francis Church. 

The interiors of the Church are cool, and services are held regularly. 

Vasco da Gama, the Portugese explorer, is said to have led the first European group of settlers who landed in Kerala in 1498. The expedition looted Arab traders near the coast of Kenya, and took the help of Indian traders who led them on to India. The Portugese came looking for spices, which contributed significantly to their economy. The spot where the expedition landed is near Kozhikode in north Kerala, an area that is not even maintained today. The little monument by the beach that commemorates the landing is surrounded haphazardly by homes and places of worship, true to the general Indian tradition of not being particularly interested in wanting to preserve our past. I guess India has larger problems to worry about. Vasco da Gama was buried in St Francis Church. 

For whatever reason, Vasco da Gama's body was removed after 14 years, and transferred to Portugal. Reminded me of the story of St Francis Xavier who died in China, was buried there, after which the incorrupt body was transferred to Portugese Malacca, and was finally brought to Goa. 

The Church used to be the home of soldiers' graves in the past. The tombstones of the graves have been removed and have been placed along the walls inside the Church. 

The area near Fort Kochi now known as Mattanchery houses several buildings from the past, the most well known being the Mattanchery Palace. The Kochi Royal Family used to live here during the 1500s, they sought support from the Portugese against the attackers from the Malabar Kingdom, and offered them trading rights. Subsequently the Dutch ran over the area in the 1600s. 

The Palace has lovely murals depicting the story of the Ramayana painted on the walls. Weapons, furniture and other belongings of the Rajas are preserved inside the Palace. The outside of the Palace, however, is extremely shabby.

The entry fee is a princely Rs 5. Well, what else would you expect the state of preservation to be like? 

Not too far from St Francis Church and the Mattanchery Palace is the Dutch Cemetery, a reminder of the melting pot that Fort Kochi used to be at one time in the 1500s and the 1600s.

The Police Museum is a remarkably well preserved museum. It houses weapons, paintings and photographs showing the evolution of the Police forces of the kingdoms of Kerala over centuries. 

The exterior of the building and the gardens are preserved in an excellent state, perhaps the best I have seen of any historical, tourism related structure in India. The Police Museum also houses a Police Station inside the building. Probably the most well protected museum in India.

The streets around Fort Kochi are maintained in amazingly good condition. Travellers' most common requirements are likely to be available: Cycles, Scooters, Guest houses, Food, Mobile communications outlets, Laundry and Travel agents.

The streets in the Jew Town are a pleasure to wander in. Several spice trade related buildings have been preserved.

The well known Synagogue was constructed in the 1660s, while the clock tower was added in 1760. 

It is a fully functional synagogue even today. It turned out to be closed that day!

The Synagogue is closed on Fridays, Saturdays and official holidays. 

It appears as if the street leading down to the Synagogue may have to be renamed 'Kashmir' street shortly, if the monopoly of Kashmiri  traders and stores is any indication. The Kashmiris seem to be the latest settlers in Fort Kochi during the 21st century. 

Looking back towards the land as the ferry crosses the waterway back on its way towards Ernakulam, it appears like the past is quietly receding into the distance. 

For sure, Fort Kochi represents the colourful, quiet Indian melting pot over the centuries. 

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