The Wonder Years

Photograph from the Internet

Former Goethals Memorial School students relive Billy Bunter days as the institute’s centenary celebrations begin, writes Mathures Paul

Over the years you meet a lot of people. Some of them stick with you through thick and thin, some weave their way through your life and disappear but some earn a permanent place in your heart ~ your school friends. You don't need to study in your parent's school to understand the meaning of reunions, and the generation gap between two individuals is forgotten when they find out they are from the same school. In the course of the last 100 years, Goethals Memorial School has given birth to Olympians, scientists, actors, teachers and, most importantly, honest citizens. Established in 1907, the school begins its centenary celebrations.
This is probably the only Indian boarding school to have produced three Olympic gold medallists ~ Joseph T Galibardy (Berlin, 1936), Cyril J Mitchie (Berlin, 1936) and Chaman Sing Gurung (Helsinki, 1952).
Galibardy, the only surviving member of the trio, flew down from England without caring about his age. The 92-year-old is still fit as a fiddle. He never had to see a Chak De! to find inspiration and his dedication to the game will not be forgotten, at least not by the school, which will name its playground and pavilions after the trio.
"I ran away from school time and again and ended up working for the railway company. In 1934 I played for the B team and in 1935 I was selected for the A side. In two years I was skilled enough to be accepted in the team for the 1936 Olympics. Hitler was his usual self until we were four goals ahead. Forget receiving prizes from him, he left in a huff. The German team members were not good sports as they left the field without shaking hands," recalls Joe. "I would have played the 1948 and 1952 Olympics but my wife was expecting."
Another famed student of Goethals Memorial School who attended the programme held in the city was Dr Prakash Bhartia, a fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, the Canadian Academy of Engineers, the Engineering Institute of Canada, the IEEE, and the Institution of Electronics and Telecommunications Engineers. To honour Bhartia's contribution towards electro-magnetic systems, a postage stamp has been released by the Canadian government. "I was on the opposite end of the spectrum and was the studious kind. Schooling was not about a few books or lessons. Three months of the year I spent playing cricket, when the rains came down I played football and between September and November it was time for hockey," says Bhartia, who was awarded the Order of Canada for his contribution.
Recalling his childhood days, Calcutta-born Bhartia says, "Goethals Memorial School was my home. There were a few students and everyone was a familiar face."
Goethals Memorial School was established and named in memory of the Archbishop of Calcutta, Rev. Count Dr Jean-Paul Goethals. On 29 April 1907, the then British Lt.-Governor of Bengal Sir Andrew Fraser travelled by the Darjeeling Himalayan Railways, which stopped at a specially constructed rail siding below the school.