Dehradun, Rarely do school students get a chance to meet a legend in person and interact with them can be sheer heaven. Classes 8^th-12^th grade of Col Brown School, Dehradun were amongst the lucky few.

Col Brown School played the perfect host for Group Captain AG Bewoor – commissioned into the Indian Air Force in October 1965 – and was awarded the prestigious Sena Medal Gallantry in 1990, for his illustrious career in the Indian Air Force.

The association of his family to Dehradun dates back to the early 20’s when his Uncle joined RIMC and his his father was an alumnus of Col Brown from 1925 to 1927.

Today GP Capt Bewoor visited his father’s Alma mater, interacting with young minds taking them gently down memory lane recollecting Operation Cactus via an hour-long video presentation. “This is a rare privilege to be invited and tell my story of Op Cactus to young boys and girls absolute rare privilege,” he said.

Capt Bewoor spoke at length to his audience in rapt attention about how, “44 Squadron With 1L-76s; 12,43 and 49 Sqns with AN -32’s, 7 SQN with Mirage -2000 and 50 Parachute Brigade, including INS Betwa and INS Godawari of the Indian Navy were stationed to intercept merchant ships escaping from Maldives and going to Sri Lanka.”

To recap, Operation Cactus was launched on 3 November 1988 to scuttle a coup in Maldives and rescue the then President, Maumoon Abdul Gayoom.

Talking to Newspost Dr. Indubala Singh, Proctor, Col Brown School said, “It is pertinent in today’s time that we have the likes of GP Capt Bewoor come and talk to students to instill them qualities that make them better human-beings. This way they also learn more about our rich history, not just from history books, but from real heroes.”

Present at the event were a host of other luminaries such as Col L.N. Khanna and Col A. Mamgain.

Last week, the 1968 batch of Wynberg Allen, came back to school for their Golden Reunion. Around thirty batch-mates, from across the globe, along with their teacher Mr. Colin Carr from London, now in his late seventies, took time off from their busy schedule to return to their Alma Mater, Wynberg Allen School, Mussoorie.

Exactly fifty years hence, on their first visit as a group, the classmates came together and donated a Clock to an institution that that laid the foundation of who they are today: “A landmark to the school which will stand tall bearing the placard that the clock is a gift from the “Class of 1968”. This tribute in our memory will be a reminder to future generations what the school meant to us many years after graduation.“

In a small ceremony that took place on the 5th of October, School Captain from 1968, Mr. Naresh Pawa inaugurated the Clock. Installed by Medieval India, the brand-new clock tower features a stunning classical look replicating the Master Ash pattern in order to create and add character to the school’s unique building. Philip Dayal, from the batch of 1968 said, “the School has been supportive and cooperative. It is for the  first time in the history of the school that a 50 year reunion took place. This tower clock is dedicated to the students spread across the globe in US, UK, Canada and Thailand.“

Traditional and distinguished in style yet equipped with modern reliable clock mechanism, the clock works with the Global Positioning System. It ensures accurate time from the satellite, via a receiver that automatically updates the RTC (Real Time Clock) installed within the master controller.

Completely in sync with the school building that date backs to 1888, the clock adds character and underlines the significance of Allen Memorial School, which celebrates 130 years of its existence this year. The clock is a perfect reminder to the old and new students: Don’t watch the clock; do what it does. Keep going!

Dehradun, 31 March 2018 marked the beginning of the 60th year since His Holiness the Dalai Lama and eighty thousands Tibetan followers stepped on the sacred land of India.

With the blessings of His Holiness The Dalai Lama and under the leadership of the Central Tibetan Administration, Tibetans across India are observing the year 2018 with a series of pan-India events to publicly express gratitude to the government and the people of India.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama refers to India as the “GURU” and Tibet its “CHELA“. His Holiness refers to himself as the “SON OF INDIA” and a true follower of Mahatma Gandhi. Today His Holiness is the best ambassador for Indian values of Non-violence, Ahimsa and Inter-religious harmony as well as the promotion of basic human values- Compassion & Kindness.

India has been a second home for Tibetan people and has provided profound support for the preservation and promotion of unique Tibetan culture and Identity. The President of Central Tibetan Administration, Dr Lobsang Sangay refers to the Tibetan struggles as “MADE IN INDIA” and said, “the success of the Tibetan struggle will be India’s Success story.”

Tomorrow i.e. 2nd October 2018 “Towards a Clean India” – Tibetans, especially in Uttarakhand will initiate a mass cleanliness drive.

Under the direction of Central Tibetan Administration Dharamshala, (H.P), Doon Tibetan Community has organized mass cleanliness drive in and around their settlement/colony as well as Tibetan market in Dehradun from 9 AM to 1 PM as under:

(a) Dekyiling Tibetan Settlement Sahastradhara Road

(b) Tsering Dhonden Tibetan Settlement, Mangloowala, Nalapani

(c) Dhondupling TNMF settlement, Clement Town

(d) Kham Lingtsang Settlement, Manduwala

(e) Scattered Tibetans & TWC Handicraft, Rajpur

(f) Tibetan Market Welfare Association, Dehradun

(g) All monasteries, Doon Valley

Come partake and join hands to make our cities, towns, neighbourhoods a better place to live in.