St. Xavier School

साला, मैं तो साहिब बन गया!

Author: 
Subhash Mathur

Category:

Subhash Mathur is a resident of Jaipur after superannuation from Indian Revenue Service in 2007. Presently, Subhash is engaged in social and charitable work in rural areas. Subhash is also Editor of http://www.inourdays.org/, an online portal for preserving work related memories.

My late father, Khem Chand Ji (1911 -2004) joined the Indian Administrative Service soon after Independence. He, along with a few others, was selected through a special recruitment process. He was the first Collector and District Magistrate of the newly formed Alwar district after Independence, which became part of United States of Matysa, and then was merged into Rajasthan

Daddy Khem Chand

Khem Chand, my father. Circa late 1990s. Jaipur. He was about 85 years old at that time.

My father was tall and handsome. Every inch an imposing personality. He exuded the St. Stephen's confidence (see his college photos here) with a camouflaged snootiness. He was widely read and up-to-date on all matters.

He not only spoke impeccably and but also wrote sharply. He surprised most with his fluency in Urdu and Farsi. In fact, he made all his personal jottings in Urdu and Farsi.

Playing handball

Author: 
Narendra Vashisth

Category:

Narendra Vashisth grew up in Jaipur. He got his medical degree from SMS Medical College, Jaipur. As a doctor, he worked in TB control, Pulse Polio immunisation, and rural health programs. He retired in 2011 as Senior Specialist (Medicine) and Principal Medical Officer, Jaipuria Hospital, Jaipur, and is now in private practice. He played cricket in school and college, and was a member of his college swimming team. He lives in Jaipur with his wife.

I joined St. Xavier High School, Jaipur in 1957 in Class Prep B, and left in 1966 with the Indian School Certificate high school graduate degree. The school Principal all these years was  Reverend Father R. J. Pereira, S.J. (Society of Jesus.

I enjoyed my school days thoroughly.

Nandu 1966
Narendra Vashisth - from a school magazine. 1966.
ISC - studied for Indian School Certificate degree
N.C.C. - participated in National Cadet Corps activities
Social Service - participated in activities to help poor people
Dial M - School production of Dial M for Murder
First. Div. All India Gen. Knowledge - high score in national general knowledge test
Passed Jr. Air certificate exams - a typo\; did not do this

One part of the fun was playing handball - American handball, one-wall style.

Shakespeare, Dickens and My Talisman

Author: 
Subhash Mathur

Category:

Subhash Mathur,who studied at St. Xavier’s School, Jaipur, is a resident of Jaipur after superannuation from Indian Revenue Service in 2007. Presently, Subhash is engaged in social and charitable work in rural areas. Subhash is also Editor of http://www.inourdays.org/, an online portal for preserving work related memories.

Many a school student has a to ‘Sir with Love' figure from the school faculty. Unlike the movie, such reverence dawns upon the student much later when he reflects upon his journey in life. For that, he takes off his tinted glasses and Eureka! His world view undergoes a huge paradigm shift.

In this sea change of altered prism, a devilish teacher begins to appear as benign and the one who shaped your Destiny. The hated one becomes the loved one. You suddenly begin to realise that the qualities of a hard task master and a perfectionist have become your cherished values also.

My world view changed somewhat along the ‘To Sir with Love' scenario when I came of age in my profession.

And this is the story of our toughie English Teacher Rev. Father D. Pinto S.J.

Father Pinto
Rev. Father D. Pinto, S. J. St. Xavier's School, Jaipur. Mid-1960s.

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