Another reunion

Last month was a real good one for sentimental memories and reunions. Thanks to Facebook again for putting me in touch with Farzana, who was my "little sister" in the boarding. Mrs. Marchand had come up with the idea of having a big sistr-little sister programme in the boarding, and Farzana was mine. She was in the 4th or 5th Standard when I left, I think. I remember her being a very dainty pretty fairylike child.

Soon after I found her on Facebook, she came down to Bangalore for a holiday and so I got to meet her again after all these years! She is still dainty, pretty, fairylike, softspoken and graceful. She is also mom to these two adorable little guys, and is a paediatric nephrologist! Wow. Me, I just became a clown.

More pictures from Sports Day 1979

Here are some more pictures for all you face spotters out there! Simply click on the picture to view a larger version in another window

The Final March Past culminates not just the day, but hours and hours of sports training and relentless marching practice! On the left is Barton House (captain Malika Rao), in the middle - a section of Maiden House (captain Viji R) and on the right is Foley House (captain Firdaus H) which won the inter house sports championship that year.

And of course, who could forget those ceremonial moments that marked the occasion...

On the Left: Sports Captain Sheela Nambiar takes the oath on behalf of all the athletes. On the Right: A solemn moment at the Closing Ceremony as the band plays Auld Lang Syne, and Sheela N, Sheila K (Sports Vice Cap'n) and School Vice Cap'ns Sumathi Bedi and Leena Athyal deliver the school flag to School Captain Christine Marley

A reunion with Mrs. Seshadri

All praise to Facebook who enabled me to find Gita and discover that Mrs. Seshadri is her mother-in-law! Gita put me in touch with Mrs. Seshadri and finally, after years of wondering how to locate her, I met her on Saturday (16 August 2008). Niru and I (Nirupama Sarma, 1981 batch) took the scenic route (meaning which we got lost and took a lot of u-turns) and eventually found ourselves at Mrs. Seshadri's front door. Some rapid make-up and hair preening to ensure we were fit to face her, and then there we were, exchanging hugs and memories.

It was a wonderful morning - and what a memory Mrs. Seshadri has! It was a truly special time and thanks so much Gita for making this happen. For all the years that have gone by, "Seshu", as we used to call her (not to her face, of course! Far too irreverent! Plus most of us were too terrified and awed to!) has hardly aged. She was surrounded by piles of books and texts, and on a blackboard behind her were scrawled these delightful words: chiaroscuro .. catharsis .. hamartia .. hubris .. it was even a thrill to see her elegant handwriting hadn't changed after all this time. We talked of school, of girls and teachers, of those who are still here and those who have passed on. We talked about our lives, our work, our destinies .. it was such an inspiring morning.

I was even honoured by having my very first cup of coffee ever made by Mrs. Seshadri - so honoured, in fact, that I have taken a picture of it! But that picture goes on my other blog (Art Earth Ink Soul)!

Today I'm yearning to be her student again .. and not just for the coffee!

Molly and Annie

Well its not just us ex-students who are catching up and having a yarn...the old teachers are at it too!!! This picture, taken at Chenganoor yesterday (16 Aug 08), was sent in by my mum. On the right is Mrs Elizabeth (Molly) Joseph, former School Principal (1988 – 99) and English teacher (1970-88). Those of us in her English classes will have wonderful memories of discovering the skill and wit of Shakespeare and the inspiration of classics such as To Kill a Mockingbird

under her keen tutelage! To the left of Mrs Joseph is my mum Mrs Annie Athyal, Barton House Mistress and teacher between 1970-81, who gently navigated her students through the travails and joys of learning Chemistry. We were certainly lucky to have a suite of dedicated teachers at Cotton Girls...It would be great to see pictures of more of them up here on the blog

Pictures from the 60s

Leena found this website made by an Old Cottonian from the 60s, it has some lovely old black and white photographs of the quad etc. Click the link below to go there:

http://www.geocities.com/Athens/2960/cottong.htm

Wheelbarrow-ing. Sports day '79

Gloria and Melani A lead the charge of the not so light brigade! This classic from Kala (extreme right) includes a number of familiar faces...Kiran, Rekha, Malika, Vijaya, Seema and Akila.

Do add the names of the others in the comments and we'll update the caption.

1979 - SPORTS DAY

Maiden house is just not doing well ...I think, just look at those faces! Gloria Woolger, Supriya Hegde, Shoba Mathew, Anita John, and...

All That Poetry

Happy Birthday to Lord Alfred Tennyson
"Half a league, half a league, half a league onward,
all in the valley of death rode the six hundred.
Forward, the Light Brigade! Charge for the guns! he said:
Into the valley of Death rode the six hundred."

Gotta love that poem! - Raj

Lights... Camera... Action

Remember the drama of all those school concerts, plays and Inter House Dramatics Competitions.... the hours spent in rehearsals, preparing costumes and props...all leading up to the big production?!!!! Well here's a sample of those momentous occasions in the next three posts.

The Shoemaker and the Elves - Standard II, 1971.

This item was presented by Mrs Dickson’s class in 1971. I can’t remember all the names…but here's a shot -

Front Row: The Shoemaker's children: Madhu Matta, Kumuda, ?, and Marina Joseph; the Shoemaker’s wife Viji R, The Shoemaker: Nalin?, Queen: Nurith, King:Bobby Gupta, Prince: Thomas?, Princess: Firdaus, The Six Elves: ? has their head down, Suja Philips?, Shiney Ninan, ?, ?, Leena.
Back Row: Other Customers: John Arul, Sandra Marley, ?, Nina Dhruve.

Barton House presents Sganarelle, a play by Moliere - 1978

Barton House performed this play in 1978 and went on to win the competition that year. Notice the amazing props that were painstakingly put together by all the Bartonians in the boarding! ...and don't you just love Sganarelle's (Lakshmi Daniel) head gear?!

Cast (picture on the right)

Standing: Sganarelle:Lakshmi D; Sganarelle's wife:Madhu; Celie:Sumathi, Celie's betrothed Lelie:Sharmila, Celie's father:Anuradha.
Seated: Lelie's servant:Krishnamani, Celie's Nurse:Leena

Also in this picture is one of our favourite places at Cotton Girls - the tree in the middle of the Quad

The Dear Departed - Prize Day 1979

I'll bet they've lost track as to how many times this one's been performed!!!!

Cast: Elizabeth Jordan:Sumathi, Henry Slater:Vijaya, Abel M (the grandfather):Malika, Victoria Slater (the granddaughter):Firdaus, Amelia Slater:Christine, Ben Jordan:Leena

Cottonians - 1960

Padmini Janakiraman's batch - picture of a picture taken during a party at Nergis (Batliwala) Sabawala's home.

(We had originally listed this as Malini Jairam's batch .. but I just got a mail from Padmini's sister Malini who corrected me - and also informed me this pic was taken in 1960 - Nazu, 15/10/08).

Relaxin n Chatting

Here's Mrs. Seshadri relaxing and chatting - taken a few years ago

They don't make them like they used to!

Okay these aren't quite the usual school photos! But Yasmin and I visited school some years back (actually I think it was in the 90s) and found the old name boards stacked in a corner of the old library (what used to be the old hall and what is now the main reception area, principal's office etc).
The names may not be clearly visible here but if you click on the picture an enlarged version comes up.

Oh - and they LITERALLY don't make them like they used to .. apparently the class sizes increased so much that they stopped making these boards by the 90s.

Obstacle Race

Sports Day -1979
Seated on the bench-Kalavani, someone, Rukshi, Shama
Standing- someone and Brigetta George?
Seated below- Supriya.
Running-??

1977

Tesse Peter, Savitri A.Pillai, Mary I, Shoba Mathew and Supriya Hegde

1983, I think...

Mirai, Sindhu, Sharmila, Reshma, Mariam, Asha

I just love this one. Reshma says it was at the opening of the new auditorium, though I don't remember when that was. Perhaps someone here will remember.