Mount Hermon, Darjeeling

 'Keep Darjeeling Clean' walk 1975 

Dawn cottage at Mount Hermon School, Darjeeling
 Photo: Brian Fernandez

Mount Hermon trainee teachers 1976: Edwin Dragwidge sitting in the centre
of Principal Graeme Murray and Mrs Rongong      Photo: Brian Fernandez also in the snap

View of the Ganj in Lucknow

A view of Hazratganj taken from the PMG office on Independence Day morning 2014 

Independence Day August 15, 2014

The GPO clock, Lucknow has been
 repaired twice in the last 20 years...

The North Eastern Railway office on Ashok Marg, Lucknow. (Pic taken Aug 14, 2014 midnight)

The Rani of Jhansi, Lakshmi Bai,  with the Council House or
Vidhan Sabha, Lucknow decorated on Independence Day
(August 15, 2014)

Crosthwaite Homes, Lucknow

Two of the home's inmates passed on last evening (Mon, April 28, 2014) . Hilda John whose sister, Thelma had passed away at the homes a couple of years ago, died last evening and coincidentally, George Gunther also passed away around the same time. George is survived by two sisters also inmates of the home and sister, Bunny, wife of Russell Carville.  Bunny and Russell after retiring from La Martiniere College, Lucknow moved to Goa. George whom I insisted on addressing as Georgie, once told me that they were originally from Ranchi. 

Sugarcane juice vendor

The modern, mobile, sugarcane (ganna) juice vendor: In 'the old days' a guy came around, usually walking, sometimes on a cycle, with the crusher mainly made of wood, slung over his shoulder and the ganna carried on his head. Today's crusher is turned by a diesel engine which also drives the cart. (Lucknow)

Aerial view of La Martiniere College, Lucknow

Pic of Rohan Tandon, presumably taken
by Hemang Chaturvedi

The pictures were taken on Monday February 3, 2014 from a helicopter. 

From Mein Kampf

THE LAST RESERVE OF PEACE
Mistaken humour of a Berlin newspaper Great War
cartoonist. The inscription read,"France calls up her last
reserve, Sarah Bernhardt, as the Maid of Orleans,
arrives at military headquarters."

GERMANY "THRASHING" THE ALLIES (Bottom)
Wishful thinking by a German cartoonist in 1914,
showing Austria administering a thrashing to Serbia,
while her Allies are told, "Don't push, gentlemen! You'll
each have your turn!"

Excavated Cannon and balls

The small cannon is what was at the foot of Claude Martin's bust in the
La Martiniere College, Lucknow
garden. I was removed a few months ago when the garden was being rearranged. The large cannon with a piece missing, perhaps, when it was fired last was found buried in the garden. The cannon balls were also found buried all these years since 1857. The small piece of iron of doubtful shape could be from a small cannon and was in the games room (from nobody knows when).

Dudhwa National Park- February 2014

Mummy Faye with Aden and Dallas

Faye, Craig, sons Aden and Dallas drove from
 Lucknow to Dudhwa  Wildlife Sanctury beginning
 of February (2014)

Daddy Craig with his sons

Aden and smally, Dallas have a snack at Dudhwa

Frank Anthony 1908-1993

Frank Anthony (in dark glasses left) at perhaps a school function.
Mrs Olive Anthony is to his left and far right is Mr AET Barrow who had
served as Secretary to the Anglo-Indian Association
 for the better part of half a century. Frank Anthony seemed to have been the natural successor to
Sir Henry Gidney 9 July, 1873-1942. 
(Pic: Warren Hopkins who had studied in
FAPS, Delhi)

Naini Tal mid-Feb 2014

Pics: Husband Craig Mac

Faye (Shepherd) McFarland with her sons
Dallas in lap and Aden

Family picnic at Lucknow Zoo

Standing from left is my mum, Aunts Maude, Irene, behind her hidden is Nora Da Gama, Unk Ken, Aunt Ivy, Walty Mr Dubois (Nora's brother in the solar topi), Mrs George (Denzil Da Gama's sister) and your Nana. Lourain has the Rosario sisters around her. One head in front of Walty I don't recognize. The 5 Shepherd boys and Patrick Flynn and the servant girls and someone's doggy. 

Nora was the widow of George Percival, your nana's eldest brother. 

Michael Halge and Masood Huq

Michael Halge (left), who taught in La Martiniere College before he moved to Australia and a former student of his, Masood Huq. Michael's brother David also taught in the Mart.
This was taken from Masood's facebook page that had the caption that follows: Masood Huq
And the man who MENTORED me in LKO. And changed my life forever. Never shall I forget him. CLASS. SHEER CLASS!

Sab Chalta hai! --By Basil Joseph

This poem, written Late Basil Joseph, Head Master of St Francis' College, Lucknow for many years was published in the Northern India Patrika, Lucknow in the 1980's.

SAB CHALTA HAI!

Do what you like, just pay the cut;
You will get off with murder -- but
Without it, Life's not worth a nut,
Sab chalta hai!

You dare not take the drug you need;
The thing is spurious -- so take heed;
Unless you wish to run to seed.
Sab chalta hai!

Be careful when you take your booze;
Unless you wish to blow your fuse;
It may induce perpetual snooze,
Sab chalta hai!

Or is your petrol mixed with water?
Or is it dung or pepper powder?
Or is your khoya blotting paper?
Sab chalta hai!

And so they'll yell, "Angrezi Hatao";
In English schools "bharti karvao"
Or else the principal gherao,
Sab chalta hai!

Of  Piety is this a test?
At dead of night (O what a pest!),
Loudspeakers pierce each human nest;
While bhajans mar e'en God's good rest!
Sab chalta hai!

Encroachments! Lord, is there a cure?
You dodge the cow, so end your tenure,
And land in man-hole or manure!
Sab chalta hai!

Jai Bharat! We've been free for years,
The Harijans still live like curs,
Their women raped -- but all one hears,
Sab chalta hai!

The wives are hounded for dowry,
Husbands demand it to the cowrie,
What if you find the flames so fiery!
Sab chalta hai!

In daylight hoodlums crimes commit;
The Law couldn't care a fig for it,
The politician's hand's in it,
Sab chalta hai!

You have the dacoits all at bay;
In false encounters get 'badle'
O women! Women! Keep away,
Sab chalte hai!

Your honour gone, they'll gouge your eyes;
You'd better say you fond goodbyes,
The Supreme Court's shocked  -- but all one cries,
"Sab chalta hai!"

'Tween cop, the culprit, 'khaddar' cap,
The citizen finds no solid gap;
They all flow from the same old tap
Sab chalta hai!

So what's the use, yaar, of being holy,
When all the world's so topsy-turvy;
So make your whack, or 'tis your folly,
Sab chalta hai!

Everybody's doing it, yaar,
From gov'nor to the last 'gadaar',
To prove the law is not a bar,
Sab chalta hai!

Aam Aadmi Party's election symbol

AAP's election symbol, the 'Kejri'
broom or AK not to be confused
 with the AK-47

Arvind Kejriwal's target: one crore

Aam Aadmi Party members by

January 26

New Delhi:  Dial or message Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and become a member instantly, Arvind Kejriwal said today as the party added nearly 48,000 members online in the first three hours on the first day of its 16-day membership drive.

Mr Kejriwal disclosed five ways of becoming an AAP member, revealing a telephone number (07798220033) on which callers could phone in or message their details, and get their membership. (Highlights: Arvind Kejriwal launches AAP membership drive)

"Our target is to get one crore members by January 26. But our membership drive will continue after that," said the Delhi Chief Minister.

He said the party had decided to waive the Rs. 10 membership fee as it realised that many people could not afford it.

Riding on a perceived wave of support for its unconventional politics and anti-corruption stance after its spectacular victory in the Delhi election, the AAP has decided to expand its national base and contest the Lok Sabha polls due by May. (AAP opens 300 offices across India)