2011-2012

“Overcome Evil with Good”

BISHOP
COTTON
SCHOOL
INFORMATION BOOKLET
Contents
A warm Welcome………………………………………………………………………….2
What BCS Alumni are Saying?..............................................................................3
Our School…………………………………………………………………………………….4
Bishop Cotton School Education Model………………………………………….5
History………………………………………………………………………………………….6
Admissions………………………………………………………………………………….16
Fees…………………………………………………………………………………………….18
Scholarships………………………………………………………………………………..18
Curriculum………………………………………………………………………………….19
School Houses……………………………………………………………………………..23
School Calendar…………………………………………………………………………..25
Daily Schedule……………………………………………………………………………..26
Boarding Life……………………………………………………………………………….27
Uniform………………………………………………………………………………………28
Behavior and Discipline……………………………………………………………….30
Rights and Responsibilities of Students………………………………………...32
Holy Trinity Chapel……………………………………………………………………...33
Old Cottonians Alumni Association……………………………………………….34
Notable Alumni……………………………………………………………………………36
Contact………………………………………………………………………………………..38
Back Cover…………………………………………………………………………………..40

A Warm Welcome…

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“It gives me great pleasure to welcome you into the community of the
Bishop Cotton School of Shimla. I look forward to meeting you
personally, if I have not already done so. You have joined a great
school with an enviable history and strong traditions which stretch
back to the mid – 19th. The hard work done by generations of
previous Old Cottonians in building the tone and reputation of the
School is their gift to you. I know you will rise to the challenge on
maintaining and enhancing that reputation, which you in turn will
pass onto these boys who will come after you.

I wish you well in this new and exciting direction of your life.”

Christopher Roy
Headmaster of Bishop Cotton School

“Congratulations to all who have chosen this great school to complete

your learning experience. I’m greatly looking forward to welcoming
you into this close school community. I have great confidence is
saying that you will immensely enjoy your future time here and leave
you with just one piece of advice. BCS is truly amazing in the fact that
it opens up opportunities that hardly can be found at any other
school. Embrace everything that BCS has on offer. Follow your
passions, but also, more importantly try something new. The Bishop
Cotton School has so much to give you; it’s just a matter of how much
you are willing to put in.

I wish you the best of luck for the years ahead and look forward to
meeting you.”

Rajat Kandoi
Current School Captain

What BCS Alumni are saying…?

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“A place where being in the classroom is not boring”
Raghav Ghandi

“BCS made my personality to growth”

Danish Serdin

“Getting the IB Certificate from this school is the best academic

experience a student can have!”
Robert Collins

“Expeditions in the Himalayas, swimming, photographing, travelling in

other countries with friends, serving the wider community, playing Music
and dancing… All these combined with IB-certified education! That
doesn’t happen anywhere else!”
Peter Singd

“Just loved the fact that staff are really interested about your progress
and your well-being”
Sindhart Chauhan

“Made life-long friends, had a wonderful time in an amazing place,

unforgettable moments of activities and quality time about my interests,
got a degree. What else should I expect from a school?”
Philip Leondart

“BCS is able to fill your life with innumerable experiences”

“Harshit Dua”

“Have been to many schools since I entered BCS. Can’t really be

compared. When they say about personalized education, they really mean
it”
Aamir Velma

Our School
Bishop Cotton School of Shimla is one of the oldest boarding schools
in the continent of Asia, founded on 28th July 1859 by Bishop George
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Edward Lynch Cotton. BCS is a Christian school and the ethos while
secular in intent, is based on the basic tenets of Christianity. The
students are not only from all the parts of the country but there is an
increasing number of international students as well, willing to be
taught with quality and be able to enrich their potentials. Bishop
Cotton School is a 151 years-old school, steeped in tradition, where
the discipline is hard and conditions tend to be Spartan. It is known
as the first of its kind in this part of the world to start the house
system and the prefect system which were begun almost at the same
time as they were developed in Europe. Academic related activities
like drama, debating, elocution, public speaking, art, craft and music
are rigorously encouraged with the boys competing in inter-school
events. The tennis and basketball courts at BCS are admirable,
installed by the legendary Harrison Company. Community service
and socially useful productive work are a part of the formal
curriculum. Bishop Cotton School is affiliated with the Council for the
Indian School Certificate Examination (ISC) and the International
Baccalaureate® Organization (IB). The School designs and
implements its own curriculum for classes III to VIII and ensures that
both the boys and their teachers have as much flexibility as possible
to foster mutual learning. While classes IX to XII have to follow the
CISCE and IB syllabi, a flexibility of methodology and learning
systems is strongly encouraged so that learning by rote is completely
negated.

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Bishop Cotton School Education Model®

“Making of Men” is conveying Bishop Cotton School’s desire and commitment to a journey
during which we seek to shape and form youth into men. In this quest, we aspire to
encourage, develop and nurture our young men for a life of freedom, passion and
adventure inspired by the four tenets of the School. Freedom comes from placing others
before ourselves, so that service to others becomes a habit and a way of life. Such behavior
frees us from the confines of always seeking to self-satisfy. This is reflected in our School’s
tenets of Spiritual Awareness and Community Service. Passion fills us with focus,
enthusiasm and engagement and is an outcome of motivational learning inside and
beyond the classroom. This is reflected in our tenets of Personal Growth and Scholastic
Attainment. Adventure stems from an inquisitiveness and desire to experience something
new and emanates from our eclectic range of co-curricular activities and our leadership
programs. This is also reflected in our tenets of Personal Growth and Scholastic
Attainment.

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History
Bishop Cotton, in a letter written to Dr. Slater had suggested the School Motto:
“Overcome Evil with Good”. He wrote: I have suggested ‘Overcome Evil with
Good’ as the motto for the School. It was the text on which I preached in the
Cathedral in Calcutta on the Thanksgiving Day in 1859 when the School may be
considered to have been founded. The idea of the ‘Public School’, which carries
so clear an image today, did not exist in 1859 in India and the history of Bishop
Cotton School is of public interest for the part it played in the development of
public schools and in the wider history of education both in this country and
internationally.
In the 1840′s the great schools numbered not more than half a dozen in England,
and Eton, the largest, catered for fewer than 500 boys. In India, there were a
handful of private schools and Military Asylums, educating the children of their
neighborhood rather than the public at large. Bishop Cotton School, Shimla, is
the one of the oldest boarding schools in Asia, having been founded on 28th July,
1859, by Bishop George Edward Lynch Cotton, son of an Army Captain, who died
leading his Regiment in battle. A scholar of Westminster and a graduate of
Cambridge, in 1836 he was appointed Assistant Master at Rugby by Doctor
Thomas Arnold, one of the founders of the British Public School system. It was
the young Mr. Cotton who is spoken of as the “the model young master” in
Thomas Hughes’ famous book “Tom Brown’s School Days” which gives an insight
to school life at Rugby.
After having taught for 15 years at Rugby, in 1852, he was appointed Master of
Marlborough, where he established organized games and the House and prefect
systems. He believed that ”the prefects are and shall be, long as I am the Head,
the governors of the school. As soon as I see this impracticable I will resign…..”
He was consecrated Bishop at Westminster Abbey by the Archbishop of
Canterbury. Queen Victoria personally selected Bishop Cotton as Bishop of
Calcutta and Metropolitan Bishop of India, Burma and the Island of Ceylon,

6
keeping in view the critical period in India around 1857.
As Bishop of Calcutta, on 28th July, 1859, he conducted a service for the
foundation of a public school at a hill station. Collections were made. in most of
the Churches of the Diocese for this purpose. The collections were utilized to
found the Bishop’s School at Jutogh, Shimla. The land and the buildings on it
were a gift from the Viceroy. Three private houses were purchased by Bishop
Cotton out of the India Public School Fund for Rs.17,000/- The school opened for
students on 15th March, 1863. Though mentioned in correspondence as the
Simla Public School, it never actually bore this name. The first boy, Frederick
Naylor, joined the school on 16th March, 1863, “creeping like a snail, unwilling to
school,” watched by the staff in curiosity and amusement. 35 boys were admitted
that year and the school increased its strength to 65 students by the year 1864.
This was the highest number the buildings and grounds permitted. A change of
site was then deemed necessary because the Jutogh site was divided by a public
road which was inconvenient. Bishop Cotton personally reconnoitered ten sites
in September and October 1864, and finally approved the South end of
Knollswood Spur which belonged to the Rajah of Keonthal. After lengthy
negotiations the site was acquired through the intervention of the Viceroy and
the foundation stone for the new buildings was laid on 26th September 1866, by
H.E. the Viceroy, Sir John Lawrence, elder brother of Sir Henry Lawrence,
founder of the Military Asylum at Sanawar (now known as Lawrence School). In
September 1868, the school moved to Knollswood, our present site.
A fortnight after laying the foundation stone, Bishop Cotton drowned in an
accident on 6th October, 1866 while touring Assam in the Governor’s yacht on
the river Gorai. To perpetuate the memory of its founder, the name of the school
was changed to Bishop Cotton School in 1867. Also one of the houses, both at
Rugby and Marlborough, was named Cotton House. Two Schools, one in
Bangalore and the other in Nagpur were also established in his memory and St.
Paul’s School, Darjeeling, (founded in 1823 and shifted from Calcutta to
Darjeeling by Bishop Cotton) also erected a Cotton Hall in his memory.
Bishop Cotton School is the first of its kind in this part of the world, to start the
house system, organized games and the prefect system which were begun almost
at the same time as they were developed in England. At the old schools in
England, boys from a distance lodged at private, commercially run houses and
attended the schools as day scholars. The 1840′s saw a transition between the
old style Dames’ Houses, and a system whereby masters augmented their
teacher’s income by running boarding houses, doing business directly with the
parent, and being known therefore as “Housemasters”.
The school grew from strength to strength under the stewardship of the first
Headmaster, Rev. Samuel Slater, who had been brought from St, Paul’s School in
Calcutta, and who went on to serve Bishop Cotton School for twenty-two years,
thereby laying a solid foundation and transforming the School into a prestigious
institution which grew to attract students from among the Indian elite as well. By
the turn of the century the reputation of the School was undeniable and greatly

7
helped by staff who were mainly educated at Oxford and Cambridge.
On Sunday, 7th May, 1905, whilst most of the boys were on “Khud Leave”, the
school caught fire. The complete school was burnt except the Headmaster’s
Lodge (1868), the Hospital (1868) and the Senior Master’s House (1873). The
school was rebuilt and occupied in July 1907. The school Chapel which was
originally consecrated on 21st September 1871 was rebuilt and used from 3rd
April, 1908.
In 1926 a hostel was constructed for the Simla Hill Chiefs’ sons and relatives at a
cost of Rs. 41,000/- financed entirely by the Hill Chiefs.
Later the hostel was expanded and nine more rooms were added and became the
College Section of the school, preparing the boys for the Intermediate
Examinations. In 1959, the Centenary Year, dormitories were constructed on the
first floor to house one hundred and forty small children.
In 1937 a Prep School was opened by buying the Ayrcliff Girls’ School, (now the
Tibetan School in Chotta Shimla). In December 1947 the Prep School was closed
as 42 Pakistani and 98 British and European boys left India and the School.
Today, Bishop Cotton School of Shimla, not only maintains its heritage, maybe
the highest of its kind, but exceeds even the expectations of those who
introduced them to the school. Here, teachers, students and all the staff members
have one common aim: To be one body focused on the exploration of the real
education of our life.

 The School Motto

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Bishop Cotton, in a letter written to Dr. Slater had suggested the School Motto:
“Overcome Evil with Good”.
He wrote: I have suggested “Vince Malum Bono - Overcome Evil with Good” as
the motto for the School. It was the text on which I preached in the Cathedral in
Calcutta on the Thanksgiving Day in 1859 when the School may be considered to
have been founded.

 Finding the feet

A day after ‘Bishop’s School’ opened at Jutogh, “Creeping like a snail, unwilling to
school,” fifteen-year old Fredrick Naylor joined on 16 March 1863 and became
the first ‘Cottonian’. Next day came the three Matthews brothers aged eight,
thirteen and fifteen. During that year thirty-five boys were admitted. These were
the initial charges of Dr. Samuel Slater who had been handpicked by Bishop
Cotton to be the school’s first headmaster. The Rev. Slater already had a
substantial experience of education in India, and before his appointment to
Bishop Cotton School, he had been at St. Paul’s School in Darjeeling. His
qualifications were also considered sufficient – Slater had been educated at
King’s College, London.
On 6 May 1863, the Governors-elect: of the School held their first meeting. Those
present were Sir Herbert Edwardes, the Deputy-Commissioner of Simla; Colonel
Lawrence; F. Peterson Esq., Rev. L. Poynder; Captain Pengree, and the
Headmaster.
Accommodation was limited at Jutogh and many applications had to be refused.
The main building of the School was what now houses the army mess. As a result,
more dormitory space was added and in 1864, the school’s rolls rose to sixty-five
– which was as much as could be managed. Slater was unhappy over the site at
Jutogh which lay a few miles west of Shimla – and a year’s experience had done
nothing to dispel his conviction about its unsuitability. Meanwhile, the process of
teaching and examination had to go on and in 1864 a General Examination of the
School had been held at Michaelmas by the Bishop of Calcutta.
For the move out of Jutogh, the Bishop concurred with Headmaster’s views and
two places were examined – one near Boileauganj and the other was the
Knollswood spur. In the autumn of 1864, the site at the southern end of the
Knollswood spur was selected. The owner of the land, the Raja of Keonthal was
persuaded to part with it in exchange for a village near Subathu. The land taken
formed some fifty-four acres and the process to construct the school buildings
began. Loosely Gothic in character, the plan was furnished by Mr. Campbell a
civil engineer based at Delhi and the work entrusted to Major Innes. This first
phase of structures was to contain classrooms, six dormitories to accommodate a
hundred and fifty boys, a small library and lodgings for five masters. The chapel,
consecrated in 1870 and named the Holy Trinity Chapel also formed a part of the
initial plan.

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  How the School got its colors

‘Light blue, dark blue,

Colors of ours,
Come on Cottonians
Show them stars’

The cheer that most senior Cottonians are sure will strike terror into the hearts
of their opponents and the juniors shout along just for the fun of it ( or have been
ordered to ), have a little tale of their own to tell. ‘Footballer’ had this to say as
his reminiscences,
In 1889, we were very keen on football and not only had several hotly contested
inter-class and inter-dormitory matches, but several of us formed a sort of club
in the School, under the designation of the “Holy Boys”, which used to challenge
the rest of the School to games of footer. In this way we developed a number of
useful footballers. Mr. F.L. Key, one of the masters, who was an excellent player
himself, took a keen interest in the game, which gave the sport a great stimulus,
and in our matches against local teams we generally managed to be victorious.
So we came to think we were quite good enough to play in the Durand
Tournament and one evening after Chapel, we filed into the Dining Hall to
discuss matters. Mr. Key was unanimously elected Chairman and set forth the
objects of the meeting in a short but humorous speech, following which the
proposal to enter a team for the tournament was carried nem. con. The selection
of the team was the next thing, but this was no easy matter as there were quite
twenty boys who were equally good at the game; but, after much discussion, a
good representative team was picked, consisting, as far as can be remembered, of
Frank Hein, Bob Myers, Frank Rivett, Reid, the two Milnes, Willie Littlewood and
Marsden (and of course others) with Mr. Key as Captain.
The next item was to settle the colors our team should wear. The discussion of
this led to suggestions for all possible and impossible combinations until Mr.
Smith, one of the masters, proposed light blue and dark blue, as signifying the
two universities, Oxford and Cambridge, from whence we obtained the majority
of our educational staff. This proposal being accepted with acclamation, the
question arose as to how these colors should be arranged, it being successively
proposed that we should have a light blue shirt with dark blue band and white
knickers, or a half-and-half shirt with white knickers. Mr. Smith who was in a
facetious mood, suggested we should wear the light blue on the left side, to show
we were light hearted, and white knickers (no special reason seems to have been
given for the selection of the latter but, following up Mr. Smith’s line of argument,
they may be taken as indicating that we intended to play fair).
And this was how the School came to select light blue and dark blue as its colors.

 The Great Fire of 1905

10
However, of all the events that have been associated with this period, it is the fire
and the subsequent rebuilding of the Main Building that stands out. 7 May 1905
had a bright and slightly windy afternoon and most of the boys were off on their
Sunday outing down to the khuds with their open grasslands and scrub, the
woods and streams that once were; this is the area where the wonders of ‘New
Shimla’ now stand. The boys had started returning to School when the cry went
up, “Fire, Fire!” The flames, as far as could be later traced, originated in the
rooms of Mr. A.H. Lee in the right wing of the School building. In all likelihood
this began from an oil stove that was burning there. In about half an hour, the fire
had gripped the entire building. Each boy tried to save his own bedding – and
most managed to retrieve this. One of the boys, the second lieutenant of the
School’s Volunteer Company and Rodgers by name, managed to save all but four
of the guns in the armory.
The greatest damage was suffered by Mr. Lee, the master in whose rooms the fire
broke – and he lost many books and other valuables. The fireman had arrived
too late to save the main building. The boys were marched off to seek lodgings in
town – some to the Central Hotel (that stood just by the present-day High Court),
others to the Park School that was just across the valley – while those who were
fortunate to have friends and relations in Shimla, went to stay with them.

 The Four Houses

It was soon after the fire that the dormitories were changed into the four Houses.
Earlier, the four dormitories that now represent them were simply known by
their numbers – 1, 2, 3 and 4. All four Houses honored the men who were of
considerable help in setting the School back on its feet after the fire.
In 1906, the first house to be created was Lefroy and was named in honour of the
Rt. Rev. George A. Lefroy (1854-1919), the third Bishop of Lahore; he later
became Bishop of Calcutta and Metropolitan of India. Lefroy took the motto
Sperno Mutare (I scorn to change). The house colour taken was Green.
The second House to be formed was Ibbetson in 1907. This was named after Sir
Denzil Ibbetson, Lieutenant-Governor of the Punjab from 1907 to 1908. The
House colour is Oxford Blue – dark blue. In 1909, Mr. J.V. Malley became the first
House Master. The first House Captain was L. Rossetti in 1907. The motto taken
was, Nec Impecto Nec Imperio (Neither by attack nor by command).

Rivaz House took its name from Sir Charles Rivaz, Lieutenant-Governor of the
Punjab from 1903 to 1907. The motto of Servamus (We Serve) was adopted only
in 1935. The house colour adopted was Cambridge Blue – light blue. The first
House Captain of Rivaz was E.R. Lewis in 1908.
Curzon House was named after George Nathaniel Curzon, the Marques Curzon of
Kedleston, Viceroy of India (1899 – 1905) with the Latin motto Facta Non Verba

11
(Facts not words) and the House Colour taken was Red. The first House Captain
was F.V.V.G Rossetti in 1909 – who was also a staff member from 1923 to 1926.
The first House Master of Curzon House was H.J. Ford in the year 1919.
All the house names, mottoes and colours were chosen by Mr. G. S. Stookes M.A.,
Senior Assistant Master in 1906. A sportsman and the games master, Stookes
was also responsible for organising inter-house sports and instituting a trophy
for this – which was sponsored by the residents of Shimla, old boys and friends.
The Houses played each other on two matches each of hockey and football and a
round of cricket. These were played on league principles.

 Lefroy Ghost

Almost as if it were to put a stamp on things and add a fresh legend, it was in
these years that the ‘house ghost’ of Lefroy made his appearance. The story was
recounted at length by N.D. Lisbey, School Captain in 1911 – and who went on to
become a Member of the Board of Governors between 1955 and ’59 and an
M.B.E. The episode began when Stanley Pearce, Bob Rossiter and Nisbey had
completed their scholastic education and were ‘sweating for the competitive
examinations’. They had separate studies that consisted of small cubicles over
the porch in the Main Building.
As a part of their curriculum, they and other ‘specials’ studied practical
chemistry. It was an unusually hot day when a large bottle of liquid ammonia
that had been placed in direct sunlight exploded. The pungent fumes filled the
room and the boys rushed out. The Science Master did a quick count of the boys
and discovered that Pearce was missing. As the fumes had still not touched the
floor, they crawled in on all fours and found Pearce lying there and ‘convulsed in
a spasm of violent coughing’. They managed to drag him out but the severe shock
required treatment in Hospital.
Later, Pearce had to go to Allahabad to appear for his examination for the Salt
Department. The boys knew that this marked the end of Pearce’s school years
and while saying good-bye, some of them ‘implored him more in jest than in
earnest, to return to B.C.S. after his examination’. Two days after his departure
from Shimla, Pearce was found dead in his compartment when the train reached
Tundla. The cause of death was put down to heart-failure. Many felt that this was
a result of the incident in the laboratory and ‘for many days the School was
wrapped in gloom over the passing of a lad who, as Head Prefect and School
Captain, had won the regard and respect of the masters and boys’. Pearce’s
‘return’ to School is recounted in Lisbey’s words,
“One night, shortly after Pearce’s death, I had spent several hours in my study
grappling with a problem in Dynamics. Failing to get the correct solution, I
decided, eventually, to give it up and retire to bed. It must have been near
midnight and Lefroy dormitory was plunged in darkness. In those days, kerosene
lamps were used in the School and the lights in the dormitories were

12
extinguished by 10 o’clock each night. I dimmed my reading lamp in the study,
took it into the dormitory and placed it on my bedside table. Having completed
my preparations for retirement, I was on the point of getting into bed when I saw
a boy enter the dormitory from a door at the far end. He was fully dressed and
had a hat on his head. Completely mystified, I watched him glide rapidly through
the room in a manner resembling that of a person on ice-skates. His lowered
head prevented me from distinguishing his features. He vanished through the
open door opposite my bed. Wondering if he was a somnambulist, meandering in
his sleep, I resolved to follow him. While getting into my slippers, I saw him again
come through the open door at which he had first appeared. I stood in
bewilderment as he approached me, very slowly on this occasion. He stopped a
few yards away, looked toward me and smiled. It was then that I recognised
Pearse standing before me. In a flash, I recalled our effort to persuade him to
return to School after his examination. Satisfaction at having accomplished a
mission was marked on his clearly defined features. Still looking at him, I
reached out my hand towards the lamp and raised the wick. As the light grew
brighter, Pearse’s image faded and vanished.”
The following day the School was all agog as the story of the ‘Lefroy ghost’ began
doing the rounds. Many put it down to mental strain on Lisbey’s part and even
his best friend, Rossiter heard it all with silent amusement.
At the time, Charles Brandon, an old Cottonian, had been permitted to reside in
the Curzon dormitory while undergoing training as an architect in a Government
Department in Shimla. He shared a study with his cousin Rossiter and as he often
came in late, he had his servant keep dinner for him in this room, and ‘at the
same time, he gave Rossiter permission to dispose of the dinner if he was not
back in School by 9 pm’. A couple of nights after Lisbey had seen the ‘ghost’, he
and Rossiter were wrapping up what was to have been Brandon’s meal, when
Brandon walked in perplexed. Lisbey writes,
“We invited him to join us in what was left of the repast and he readily assented.
During the meal he revealed the cause of his perplexity. On his way to this study
from the Curzon dormitory, he noticed a figure coming towards him along the
corridor of Lefory dormitory. He moved aside to let this person pass without
taking any particular notice of him. The oncoming individual, however,
deliberately blocked his way. When a couple of yards separated them, the figure
disappeared. Brandon, however, had sufficient time to recognise Pearse and get a
glimpse of his attire. The outfit described by him including the hat, tallied in
which the Lefroy ghost had appeared to me.”
The greatest doubter had been silenced and Lefroy acquired a relic the likes of
which no other house could boast. It is almost a century since the ‘sighting’ and
Pearse we trust, is at rest.

 The Old Cottonians Association

13
A year or so before this, another gathering of kindred spirits had been set in order. The Old
Cottonians Association was officially started on 13 May 1910 when seventeen OCs gathered
in Shimla’s Freemason’s Hall. Those that gathered were :

E.O. Wilsey (1863 – 1867)

W.J. Crayden (1863 – 1866)
W. Cotton (1876 – 1884)
T. Archibald Brooks (1876 – 1877)
S.A. Blaker (1881 – 1883)
W.G. Dollman (1882 – 1890)
C. Davis (1882 – 1886)
Felix von Goldstein (1884 – 1892)
C.W. Kirkpatrick (1884 – 1888)
E.A. Reid (1887 – 1891)
W.I. Tilden (1887 – 1891)
Clarke (1891 – 1896)
Frank I. Tellery (1893 – 1895)
A.D. Grindal (1895 – 1899)
G.T. Wright (1898 – 1900)
G.A. Heron (1902 – 1903)
A. Farrar Brooks (1908 – 1910)

E.O. Wisley, the senior-most, had organised the meeting and was the first to sign
the Roll of Association. With these seventeen acting as the core, the task was now
to find and communicate with the numerous old boys who lay scattered across
the world – England, Canada, Japan, China, New Guinea and of course, India. In
under a year, the Seventeen had become 73. By 1 May 1913, there were eighty-
four members and this rose to 101 by October that year.
The objectives of the Association were set out in its rules. First, it was sought to
‘establish a bond of union among Old Boys and present boys to meet each other
and for this purpose annual dinners and dances at the School’ were instituted.
Second, the Association wanted to put an end to the stigma the bureaucratic
circle attached with an Indian education. Third, the Association promised, “
Should anything arise to occasion a demand for the active services of its Old Boys
the School has the satisfaction of knowing a number of them are to hand, not
only willing but pledged, to assist by every means in their power.”

Almost as if giving visible expression to their pledge, the Old Boys presented the
School’s Chapel with the stained glass window depicting the Good Shepherd. This
was installed on 19 October 1915.

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  Bishop Cotton School’s Headmasters

HEADMASTER YEARS
The Rev. S. Slater 1863 – 1885
The Rev. H.M. Robinson 1885 – 1886
The Rev. E.A. Iron 1887 – 1901
The Rev. H.M. Lewis 1901 – 1918
The Rev. R.R. Gillespy 1919 – 1922
The Rev. W.S. O'Neil 1923 – 1926
The Rev. J.R. Peacy 1927 – 1935
The Rev. Canon G. Sinker 1935 – 1945
The Rev. F.M. Drake 1946 – 1949
Mr. F.H. Fisher 1949 – 1953
Mr. E.G. Carter 1956 – 1957
Dr. T.M. Dustan 1958 – 1962
Major R.K. Von Goldstein 1963 – 1976
Brig. S.J. Mukand 1976 – 1986
Mr. R.N. Hakim 1986 – 1993
Mr. Kabri Mustafi 1994 – 2004
Mr. Christopher Roy 2004 –

Admissions
15
  Admission and Entrance Exams

All registered candidates are expected to participate in the entrance procedure.

Offer of admission is based on merit rating and vacancy. The Merit Criteria also
includes points from the Student Information Form which the parents are
expected to complete. In this way the School tries to balance the emphasis on
students entering school between pure academic capability and perceived
potential. From 2007 and then, we would admit children to Class III, IV and V.
Our academic session begins from 1st September and ends on 1st July.
If you are interested you may now apply for admission in September, the
entrance test for which will be held in July. If, for example, your son is seeking
admission to class V, then he has to prepare for the examinations using the frame
of reference for admission into class V.

 Test Information

The test will comprise half hour written tests in English, Hindi, Mathematics and
General Awareness. There will also be a reading assessment and a verbal and
non-verbal assessment to see if your child is prepared to cope with life in a
residential school. There is no syllabus for the test, neither are sample question
papers available. At the time of registration, a FRAME OF REFERENCE for the
class concerned is forwarded to you and the entrance test is based on this. The
entrance tests are conducted over the second weekend of September at Delhi
and Shimla respectively. The reporting time for the test is usually 9:00 a.m. It
would be best if you reach Shimla / Delhi at least the day before so that your son
will have a chance to acclimatize.
Upon registration you will be sent a Frame of Reference for the concerned class
with guidelines for preparation.
In June you will be sent a letter intimating the date, time and venue of the
examination. You will also be sent a Student Information Form, which has to be
filled in completely as it carries points that are added to the points gained from
the boy’s performance in the written tests and the assessments. The tests are not
difficult and are a means to assess the academic ability and study skills of the
boy. We do not have old question papers for sale or distribution.

DATE – TIME PLACE VENUE

01/07/11 - 10:00 SHIMLA HP STATE LIBRARY
04/07/11 - 10:00 NEW DELHI ST STEPHEN’S COLLEGE
06/07/11 - 10:00 SHIMLA HP STATE LIBRARY
06/07/11 - 10:00 NEW DELHI ST STEPHEN’S COLLEGE

 Application process

16
Please fill the electronic registration form on our website
http:/www.bishopcottonshimla.webs.com/ along with a demand draft of $50
favoring the Headmaster of Bishop Cotton School, Shimla. You will receive the
School’s prospectus, a digital video-presentation and a school handbook. Your
son will be officially a participant for the admission’s examination test. Please
register him for the class to which he is seeking admission for the next academic
year. For example, if he is studying in class III at present, he should apply for
admission to class IV for the next academic year. Note that the registration
amount is non-refundable and non-transferable.

 Other Details

The academic year begins September and ends in June. Registrations close on
30th June of the year proceeding the year of entry. However, late registrations
are permissible along with a late fee, until September, when the entrance tests
are conducted. For Indian students, and those Non-resident but able to make it,
the entrance tests are conducted in Delhi (St. Stephen’s College) and in Shimla.
For Non-resident applicants unable to come to India in September we allow for
the school in which the applicant is currently studying or the Indian
Embassy/High Commission to invigilate the written test on our behalf.
We would like to mention here that Bishop Cotton is a 150+ year-old school,
quite steeped in tradition, where the discipline is hard and conditions Spartan.
One of the reasons that we are restrained with regard to registrations in the
higher classes is because we often find that boys who join us late find it very
much more difficult to adapt to the rigors of boarding life; unless they have been
well prepared by their parents as to the reasons for them being sent to boarding
school, and in the case of international students, miles away from home.
We are also wary of parental expectations, both, of the school and of how they
wish for their children to grow. It would be a good idea to think over your
decision about a boarding school and ensure that your son is very much a part of
the decision making process. At Bishop Cotton we set great stress on
commitment and do not expect ourselves, our children or our parents to go back
on a commitment…once you join, you are in till you finish year twelve and there
are no soft options.

Fees

17
Registration Fee 50 $ Paid once
Admission Fee 1500 $
Caution Money 1300 $ (Refundable)*
Pocket Money 270 $ Paid annually
Annual Tuition 10500 $
Exigency Fee 520 $
Terminal Fee 4400 $
*Amount not used
TOTAL 15.690$
(+2850$/once)

Scholarships
Bishop Cotton School offers full scholarship awards to 6 boys on each acceptance
entry. The scholarship awarded students tend to continue their education in the
school.

 Academic Scholarship (3 students)

 Sports Scholarship (2 students)
 Music Scholarship (1 student)

CONDITIONS OF SCHOLARSHIP: Please contact the school in order to be

informed on the conditions of these awards and the specialized application
process. A special document can be provided by the school.

Curriculum
18
The school curriculum has always been eclectic in order to expose the student to
the maximum number of activities so that he can choose the activities suited to
his taste and abilities, develop them to excellence and hone them during
competitions of all levels, throughout his life.  A few years ago the various
activities in the school curriculum were crystallized into a five-pointed star. 
Activities of a similar type are grouped under a curriculum program; each of
these is organized and supervised by a Curriculum Head and a School Prefect.

The Chelmsford Sinker Academic Program

Based on the syllabus of the ICSE Council and the International Baccalaureate®

 Subjects include: English Language and Literature, Mathematics, French

Language, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Geography, History, Art,
Economics, Legal Studies, Classical Studies, Physical Education, Computer
Studies, Music, Agriculture, Carrere Counseling, Personal and Social
Education and Etiquette Training.
 Our education aim is perceived by various ways, and is not restricted by
the traditional class lessons, such as field trips, laboratory work, audio –
visual lessons, student – led research, guest speakers etc.
 Students are motivated by honors such as the Open Prize and the Grand
Color of each subject and the Full School Blazer® which is awarded to the
students with the “most outstanding” overall annual academic
performance.

The Grindlays Games Program

19
  Offered sports include: Cricket, Hockey, Swimming, Tennis, Squash, Table
Tennis, Badminton, Basketball, Volleyball, Gymnastics, Boxing, Physical
Training and Marathon Running.
 Our athletic facilities which are being recognized for their efficiency and
adequacy include: excellent playing fields, tracks and courts, an Olympic-
sized swimming pool, a fully-equipped gymnasium and other facilities for
indoor and outdoor sports.
 Annually both an Inter-House and an Inter-School Tournament on each
sport is conducted. Many of our sport teams do also play matches with
other institutions all over the country and are renowned for their success
and team spirit.
 A Victorus Ludorum® award is given to our “most excellent” students-
athletes on each sport.

The Bayliss Co-Curricular Program

20
  The log list of school’s most popular co-curricular activities include:
Debating, Elocution, Drama, Guitar Playing, Choir, Nature Club,
Meteorological Club, Creative Writing, Automobile Club, Quizzing Club,
Yearbook Team, Movies Club, Astronomy and some others
 Every year at Bishop Cotton School is held the annual Slater Debates®
event with a world-renowned fame and participants from all the parts of
the country and the world.
 Every summer the annual music fest Sparks® takes place in our school
and is widely supported by the students.
 The school by foundation and tradition accords great importance to
spiritual growth. The school teaches the students respect for all religions
and the morning Chapel is used to inculcate this. The Chaplain, the House
Masters, House Tutors help in this process. All the festivals are celebrated
together to sensitize the children to culture and traditions.

The Edinburgh Outward-Bound Program

 The award-winning outward program of Bishop Cotton School includes:
Mountaineering, Rock Climbing, Obstacle Courses, Trekking, Hiking,
Survival Training, Nature Appreciation and Wild Life Conservation
21
 Programs and adventure sports and even Mountain Exploration camps in
the Himalayas.
 The students are given the opportunity to complete basic military
training, due to the school’s collaboration with the National Cadet Corps
(NCC).
 School - Member of the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme for even deeper
enrichment.

The Sapan Walia Outreach Program

 Participation to one or more of the school community’s projects is highly
recommended for all students: the Learning Center for special children,
the HP Center for under-privileged children, the Girls’ and Boys’ adoption
scheme, the Pediatric Cancer Ward, the Paper Recycling Plant and the
Forest Adoption Scheme. The students are guided and counseled through
these projects to sensitize them to social issues and develop civic sense to
make them responsible citizens.

School Houses

Curzon House
22
“”Deeds Not Words”
Curzon House was named after Lord George Viscount Curzon who was Viceroy of
India from 1899 to 1905. He was the eldest son of Rev. Alfred Curzon. In April
1895 he married Mary Luther the daughter of an American millionaire. In 1904
he returned to India leaving behind his wife in England. Early in 1925, he
suddenly fell ill at Cambridge and died in London on the 20th March.
The first House Captain was F.V.V.G Rossetti in 1909. He was also a staff member
from 1923 to 1926. The first House Master of Curzon house was H.J. Ford in the
year 1919. M.E.O. Campos and Jal Boga were House Captains for three
consecutive years.

Ibbetson House

“Neither By Attack Nor By Design”

Ibbetson House, formed in 1907, got its name from Sir Denzil Ibbetson Governor
of Punjab from 1907 to 1908. Ibbetson was admired and noted for his efficient
administration.
This was the second house formed after Lefroy House.
The House color is Oxford Blue.
The first House Master was Mr. J.V. Malley in the year 1909 and the first House
Captain was L. Rossetti in the year 1907.

Lefroy House

“We Scorn To Change”

During the early days of the school, the House system and organized games were
not fully developed. The four large dormitories which now represent the house
23
dormitories were known by numbers (1 2,3,4). It was in 1906 that the
dormitories were changed to House dormitories.
The name and the colors were chosen by Mr. G.S. Stokes, B.A., Senior Assistant
Master.
The House system was finally refined and developed by Mr. F.R.Gillespie, the
Head from 1919 to 1922. The names of the Houses were chosen to represent the
Viceroy, the Governor of undivided Punjab and the Bishop of Lahore, all of whom
were of immense help after the fire in 1905.
Lefroy was the first House created in 1906 after the name of Rt. Rev.George A.A.
Lefroy, third Bishop of Lahore.

Rivaz House

“We Serve”
Rivaz House takes its name from Sir Charles Rivaz, who was the Governor of
Punjab from 1903 to 1907.
Rivaz House did not have a motto till 1935.
The House color is Cambridge Blue, which is a light blue. It was taken from the
school colors which are ‘Light Blue’ and ‘Dark Blue’.
The first House Captain was E.R. Lewis in 1908.

School Calendar (2011-2012)

TERMS DATES
st
1 Term 5 September – 23rd December
st

2nd Term 2nd January – 30th March

3rd Term 2nd April – 29th June

Important School Dates:

24
1st September – First day of School
26th October: Diwali
1st December – Winter Parents’ Day
19th - 22th December: Christmas Bazaar
26th January: Independence Day
16th February: Slater Debates
8th March: Holi
25th - 30th April: Educational Travels
1st May: Summer Parents’ Day
15th May: Begin of exams
2nd June: End of exams
5th - 15th June: Outreach Camps etc.
21st June: Sparks
30th June: Graduation Party

*Note that many other events of the school will be organized on days not
mentioned above. For more information check the current term’s
newsletter. Even, some of the above mentioned event’s days are subject to
change. The accurate dates of them will be clearly posted on the school’s
newsletter, though.

Daily Schedule

Monday - Friday Saturday Sunday

6.15 Wake Up Wake Up
6.30 – 7.15 Jogging Jogging
6.15 – 7.30 Dress Up Dress Up Wake Up
7.30 – 8 Breakfast Breakfast Dress Up
8 – 8.15 Assembly Assembly Breakfast
st st
8.15 – 8.55 1 Period 1 Period Remedial Chapel

25
8.55 – 9.35 2nd Period 2nd Period Remedial Extra-Curricular
Activities
9.35 – 10.15 3rd Period 3rd Period Remedial

10.15 – 10.55 4th Period 4th Period Remedial

10.55 – 11.05 Break Sports Practice
11.05 – 11.45 5th Period Sports
th
11.45 – 12.20 6 Period
12.20 – 12.55 7th Period
12.55 – 1.30 8th Period
1.30 – 2 Lunch Lunch Lunch
2–3 Rest Rest Rest
3 – 4.15 Extra-Curricular Extra-Curricular Scheduled Visits
Activities Activities
4.15 – 4.30 Tea Break Tea Break
4.30 – 6 Sports Training Sports Training
6 – 6.30 Showers Showers
6.30 – 8 Prep Time Free Time Prep Time
8 – 8.30 Dinner Dinner Dinner
8.30 – 9.30 Free Time Free Time Free Time
9.45 – 10 Lights Off Lights Off Lights Off

Boarding Life

 Residence

From classes one to eight the boys live in newly built dormitories under the
direct care and supervision of Matrons and boys of the same age group are
together. Our dormitories are: Linlithgow for classes I, II & III, Remove A for
classes IV & V , Remove B for classes V and VI, Remove C for classes VI and VII
and Remove D for classes VII & VIII. Each dormitory has about 34 boys with
adequate lockers, cupboards, toilet, common room and linen room space. From
class IX onward the boys move up to the Main School, which dates back to the
26
1860′s, and live in Houses (Curzon, Ibbetson, Lefroy and Rivaz) with all boys of a
particular house together. They are under the direct control and supervision of
their Housemasters. The Main School Matron is in charge of the box room and
sees to the cleanliness of clothes, issue of personal items and other pastoral
requirements.

 House tutors

Each Housemaster has between eight and ten House Tutors working with him.
Each House Tutor has about ten boys from classes VI to XII attached to him or
her. These tutorial groups usually don’t change so as to foster the ward /
guardian relationship. The tutors are responsible for the emotional, spiritual,
physical and intellectual health of their wards. Housemasters and their tutors
meet at least twice a month. Tutorial feedback is reviewed by the Senior Master
(Vice Principal) and Headmaster (Principal) throughout the year. In the Junior
School, from classes I to V, pastoral requirements are met and control and
supervision of the boys is by the Matrons. The children have Class Teachers who
function like House Tutors for the children of their classes. Matrons and teachers
work in tandem and feedback is a continuous process monitored by the Head of
Junior School.

 Prefects

The Prefectorial System in India originated at Bishop Cotton and prefects are
appointed by the Headmaster after consultations with the boys and senior
faculty. Every care is taken to appoint boys of caliber and responsibility and the
Prefects are entrusted with a good deal of authority which is closely monitored
to see that there is no abuse. The Prefects are led by a Captain of School, his Vice
Captain and the four House Captains. It is a great honor to be appointed prefect
with quite a few responsibilities, though, at least compared with the other
students.

Uniform

WINTER SUMMER
Blue School Blazer (Grey School Jumper)
White Shirt Light Blue Shirt
School Tie Grey Trousers
Grey Trousers Grey Socks
Grey Socks Black Shoes
Black Shoes

27
General School Requirements:

 UNIFORM
2 Navy Blue Bishop Cotton long-sleeved Blazers - WINTER
1 V-neck grey Bishop Cotton sleeveless jumper – (SUMMER)
2 short-sleeved shirts in light blue color - SUMMER
3 pairs grey corduroy trousers – WINTER, SUMMER
2 pale white long-sleeved shirts - WINTER
1 Bishop Cotton tie – WINTER
1 grey Bishop Cotton hoodie – CASUAL
1 royal blue polo Bishop Cotton polo shirt - CASUAL
1 pair regulation jean trousers - CASUAL
1 Bishop Cotton light blue jacket – (PE)
1 light blue Bishop Cotton polo shirt – PE
1 pair white shorts – PE

 OTHERS
5 pairs of boxer shorts
5 pairs of short grey socks
2 sleeveless low-necked house vests
1 pair of pajamas
1 sponge bag with toothbrush and toothpaste
1 comb
1 navy blue Bishop Cotton laundry bag
1 shower washcloth
1 Bishop Cotton tracksuit
1 pair navy tracksuit bottoms
1 pair Speedo swimming shorts
1 Bishop Cotton cup
3 Bishop Cotton Towels

 FOOTWEAR
1 pair classic polishable plain black leather lace-up shoes
1 pair white trainers
1 pair dark blue plimsolls
1 pair traditional style slippers
1 pair shower shoes

 STATIONARY AND ACCESSORIES

1 fully equipped Bishop Cotton pencil case (containing all writing materials
needed)
12 Bishop Cotton notepads
4 Bishop Cotton note books

28
 1 Bishop Cotton School Bag (containing all the necessary books)
1 Bishop Cotton water bottle
1 Bishop Cotton umbrella
1 Bishop Cotton picnic blanket
1 toiletry bag (containing the essential items for each student)
2 pad-locks (for the student’s lockers)
1 black belt

Note that all the items are provided by the school shop, as well as
those needed for any further activities. The use of items which are
inside a parenthesis is optional.

Behavior and Discipline

We expect high standards of behavior from all our pupils and encourage every
pupil to take responsibility for their actions. Brookfield emphasizes praise,
encouragement and rewards in promoting the most effective response from
pupils. Where this fails the following may be used:

 Parents will always be informed of any cause for concern in either work
or behavior and will have the opportunity to discuss any problems or
concerns with a member of staff. It may be agreed to monitor a pupil’s
behavior over a period of time and if so a conduct/incentive card will be
29
 used. Communicating with parents can then be done daily, by using the
card as an indicator of the pupil’s performance. Parents sign the card each
night and can take any appropriate action they feel is necessary. It is usual
to contact the member of staff involved quickly if any problems exist and
vice-versa. This partnership between home and school is, we believe,
essential and one we hope will strengthen each year.
 Detention punishments should not be given form an amount of time more
than 2hrs. Other Sanctions – for example pupils have been requested to
repair or renew damaged property or tidy the school and its immediate
environs.
 Our rewards system acknowledges the diversity of achievement and
pupils take an active role in setting their own targets. In certain cases
students may be withdrawn from mainstream classes, after consultation
with parents, and placed in the Learning Support Unit where efforts are
made to reintegrate pupils and give individual attention to the particular
needs of each student.
 In the case that a student continues to violate the School Rules and/or
commits serious violations of them, he may be immediately expelled.

A full copy of the Student Code of Conduct is available from school.

A set of school rules are used in school for the safety of the pupils and their
property and it endeavors to lay the foundation for the friendly, supportive
learning environment which we all wish to see at Bishop Cotton School. A
classroom code of conduct, drawn up in consultation with the School Council and
governors is also important.

Our discipline policy seeks to:

 positively encourage good behavior and high standards

 create a positive approach to achievement
 contribute to an orderly, purposeful and supportive learning
environment which offers pupils a sense of security and well being
 meet the needs of each individual pupil, ensuring equal
opportunities
30
  allow each pupil the opportunity to achieve their full potential
 develop mutual respect and tolerance
 foster self-discipline
 seek parental involvement and develop a home/school
partnership
 emphasize pupil responsibility in relation to the school and the
wider community

A full copy of the Discipline Policy is available from school.

Rights and Responsibilities of Students

Rights
To learn in an environment that allows the
growth of a genuine spiritual life embodying
the joy, hope and compassion of an active
Christian Faith.
To be safe.
To expect personal property to be safe.
To be treated with courtesy and respect.
To be treated with understanding.
Responsibilities
To respect the values and traditions of the
School, and be open to the growth of Faith
through prayer, Chapel Services and Religious
Studies lessons.
To contribute to the safety of others by not
threatening, hitting or hurting anyone.
To take good care of personal property, and to
not steal, damage or destroy the property of
others.
To treat others with courtesy and respect, and
to respect the authority of staff and Prefects.
To treat others with understanding and be

31

To live in an orderly community.
To be valued as a member of the School.
To be respected by the local community.
To learn without disruption.
To express opinions on matters of concern.
To have a clean and pleasant School
environment.
To use safe and well maintained School
buildings and equipment.
tolerant of difference.
To adhere to rules and regulations, to
cooperate, to be self-disciplined, and to respect
the rights of others.
To uphold the good name of the School and the
Boarding Community through words, actions
and appearance, and to behave in a manner
that will bring credit to the School.
To behave in such a way that the local
community will respect the School.
To allow others to learn without being
disrupted.
To express opinions in an appropriate manner
(including time and place).
To care for and respect the School
environment.
To report damage and defective equipment
within the School, and to not damage, deface or
destroy School property.

Holy Trinity Chapel

The Bishop Cotton School of Shimla

is a Christian school, and the ethos
while secular in intent, is based
on the basic tenets of Christianity.
Morning assembly is held in the Holy
Trinity Chapel of the school and the
service includes prayers from all
religious scriptures. Our students are
from all parts of the country and
32
quite a few are from abroad, and so, all major religions are represented with the
Chapel being the unifying factor.
This chapel, the heart of the school, from where every major and minor event
starts, is sacred to all. It is to the chapel that old students come when on a
pilgrimage to their alma mater, and it is here that they request for the old hymns
to be sung and the old prayers to be recited for Grace in times of stress; for
“courage to choose the hard right against the easy wrong“. The Chapel is called
the Holy Trinity Chapel and as one enters one’s eyes are transfixed by the
magnificent stained glass window depicting the Good Shepherd. This window
was donated by the old boys of the school in 1936 in memory of those who died
in the Great War of 1914-1918. Other windows donated mainly by Old Boys and
Governors are of Bishop Cotton himself, St. Thomas, the Virgin Mary, The School
crest and three lovely windows, that were given by Lady Hardinge to the school
when the old church at Mashobra was decommissioned, depicting Faith, Hope
and Courage. The back wall has a large window with the four house crests and
the school crest against a floral background. This window is relatively new and
was commissioned in 1995. Holy Communion Services are held every Sunday
that the school is in session and once a month the entire school attends
evensong, when the window of the Good Shepherd is back lit by the rays of the
setting sun, a definite aid to reflection and introspection. The last day of term,
November 30th, has the Chapel dressed festively, set up for the Carol service.
Candles and Christmas decorations liven up the Chapel for a fortnight before and
the service starts with angelic choir boys surpliced in white and maroon and
black in procession. A service worth attending.

Old Cottonians Alumni Association

The history of Old Cottonians Association has been blurred in the mists of time;
especially since no formal attempt has been made to record the history. This
great and oldest public school in India has produced the highest decorated
officer amongst all the armies of the world, heads of state, ambassadors, judges,
Defense and para-military officers, ministers and politicians.
In mid-1918, during World War I, the school numbers had fallen drastically and
many of the staff had been mobilized for war. Fresh staff members were not
available. A controversy raged regarding the future of Bishop Cotton School
(BCS). It was decided to close BCS and turn it into a preparatory school for Army
officers’ children. The three Lawrence Schools at Ooty, Sanawar and Gora Gali
were set up for the children of other ranks. No school in India catered to the
Army officers’ children.
HE Lord Chelmsford and HE Sir Edward Maclagan, both from Winchester College,
33
founded 1387, one of the oldest Public Schools in England, went out of their way
to help the school. The army had requisitioned the services of Rev FR Gillespy,
MA, FRGS. After it was decided to continue BCS , Rev FR Gillespy was requested
to be its Headmaster. He required 50 boys to reopen the school; only 12 were
registered in Jan 1919. Rev FR Gillespy (HM 1919-22) who came from Quetta,
Pakistan was able to raise the admission to 125 boys by March 1919.The
proposal to convert BCS to a Defense Service Officer’s School was dropped.
On Speech Day 09 Sept 1919, Lord Chelmsford said, regarding the pleasing
aspect of the attitude of the old boys “…they were, one and all, up in arms against
the proposed change. They objected most strenuously to their old school being
used for a purpose foreign to its tradition. And this, I think was the bright spot in
the controversy. By their actions the old boys showed that, though they had left
it, they still loved and honored the old school, were mindful of its tradition and
jealous of its future. This is the right spirit. A school stands or falls by the attitude
of its old boys.”
The other major contribution by the OCs was in 1913, when 101 OCs presented
the most beautiful “The Good Shepherd” , stained glass window to the school
chapel for the 50th Jubilee. Recently the old boys have contributed about Rs. 10
million.
On the first Founder Day,1878 on 27 July, 28 old boys dined together in the
school hall at the high table. When the first wave of reminiscences, and torrent of
inquiries about boys who had passed out had somewhat subsided, some sense of
contrition began to awaken. The diners felt that though their lives were spent in
such close proximity to their school, they had been guilty of neglecting it. Could
this have been our founding date?
Views were also interchanged as to the possibility of maintaining touch with the
school, which this dinner had revived. Hopes were expressed of other such
dinners to follow and the Old boys Union may be said to have been born before
the last echoes of Old Lang Syne had died away. But much had to be done before
the scheme could assume practical shape. Towards the close of 1909, at the
initiative of the school, a number of old boys dined together in the School Hall.
Suffice it to say that on 13th May 1910, a meeting of Old boys was held in the
Freemasons’ Hall, Simla, through the kindness of Ned Wilsey and his brother
Masons, seventeen Old Cottonians were present and as the pioneers of a
movement are always entitled to certain amount of credit, the names of the first
old boys to join the association are given at Appx B in the order in which they
signed the roll of the association, with the years they attended BCS. The OCA was
founded by Cecil William Kirkpatrick, OBE, Asst. Sec, Govt. of India. He expired on
20 Aug 1939. He was also the first secretary and had 120 members.
Having formed the nucleus of the Association, the task had to be faced of
discovering and communicating with the numerous old boys scattered more or
less over the world. Some measure of success resulted for, by 01 May, 1911 (less
than 12 months after the movement had been initiated), the numbers on the rolls
had risen from 17 to 73; by 01 May, 1913 to 84 and in October 1913 to 101.

34
In 1934, 4 chapters of OCA existed with the Governor of Punjab as the Patron:
OCA (India) – Lahore, Calcutta & Peshawar
OCA (UK) – London
At independence / partition in 1947, FM Brown (C 1934-40, staff 1942-47 and
1950-61), officiating Headmaster 1954-55, wrote that there were only 11 life
members on our ledger and by 1959 there were 200. Currently, there are
approximately 2500 members world-wide. The Delhi branch opened in 1952
with Raja Vir Bhadra Singh (I 1947-51) as the first secretary and currently the
Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh. The Bombay, Chandigarh and Himachal
Chapters were launched in 1956, 1961 and 2005 respectively.
For the future a complete roll of BCS boys from 1863 to the present day has been
compiled from school records and, with the help of this, it is hoped it will be
possible to trace many old boys whose whereabouts are at present unknown and
to enlist some of them. The oldest photograph of an OCA gathering was taken in
1913 and is at Appendix N.
The aim of the Association, as described in its rules is: to establish a bond of
union among old boys and present boys to meet each other and for this purpose
annual dinners and dances at the school have been instituted. The projected
football matches are further attempts to accomplish the above objects followed
by Tennis, Cricket, Squash etc.
OCA (UK) was established in 1928. Interestingly, the then HM, Rev J.R.
Peacey(HM 1927-35) wrote to “Lumboo” Raymond E Wood(R 20-22) to “rustle
up” some OCs in UK for a get together to meet the HM while in London. Lumboo
gathered 20-30 boys thus the OCA(UK) was established. Others who did yeoman
service were Dick Clarence Bayliss(C 18-22) Chairman OCA(UK) from 1960 to
1997. Lumboo R.E Wood was the Secretary of the OCA (UK) for 43 years from
1928-70. Peter Stringer (L 43-47) is the current Secretary of OC (UK) and is like
Lumboo “a totally dedicated Secretary”, N.G.P Niblett(R 40-47) is our current
Chairman of OC (UK)
P W C Curtis(L 21-27) was the joint founder of the newsletter called “The Mitre”
and he printed the very first issue from London on a homemade duplicator in the
mid-thirties. The OC wives ensured that during the World War II when their
husbands were serving in the front, the newsletter continued to function. Letters
were written from “somewhere up Front” or “Hell-Hole” and heavily censored!

Notable Alumni
 Jigme Dorji - Prime Minister of Bhutan (Rivaz, 1936-38)
 Palden Thondup Namgyal - Chogyal of Sikkim, (Lefroy 1933-42)
 R.S. Sodhi - Member of the Supreme Court of India (Curzon 1954-62)
 H.S. Bedi – Member of theSupreme Court of India (Ibbetson, 1957-66)
 Brig. R.S.S. Kohli – Senior Member of the Indian Army
 Air Chief Marshal P.C Lal, Padma Vibhushan, DFC, CAS (1927-29)
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 General Akhtar Abdur Rahman, military governor of Baluchistan and head
of Inter-Services Intelligence, Pakistan
 Brigadier-General Reginald Edward Harry Dyer, British Army Officer
 B S Bedi Director General Police Assam and Jammu and Kashmir
 Sir L Tomkin, CIE, IG Police Punjab 1922-26 (1882-87)
 Ali Akbar Khan, IG Police, Hyderabad, India (Rivaz 1920-22)
 DIG Simranjit Singh Mann, MP, Punjab (Ibbetson 1951-61)
 Ravinder Kumar, DIG HP (Curzon 1963-68)
 J S Anand, DIG, Punjab (Ibbetson 1951-56)
 William Kirkpatrick, MP for Preston (Conservative), 1931 (1891-96)
 Maj Roy Farran, MLA, Minister of Utilities and Telephone, Canada (Curzon
1932-34)
 Fali Nariman, Senior Advocate Supreme Court of India (Ibbetson 1942-
44)
 Virbhadra Singh, Minister of Steel [1], Government of India (Ibbetson
1947-51)
 Ravi Inder Singh (Speaker Punjab Assembly)
 Montek Singh Ahluwalia, Indian economic policy-maker, member of the
Indian Planning Commission in the NDA Government from 1998. He
became the first Director of the Independent Evaluation Office,
International Monetary Fund (IMF) on July 9, 2001. On June 16, 2004, he
was appointed as Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission by the
UPA and was reappointed to the post by the Government on June 5, 2009
by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
 Ronald W Bryan, Bishop of Barrackpur (Ibbetson 1920-22)
 Anand Chandulal, Bishop of Amritsar and former Metropolitan of the
Church of North India (Rivaz 1943-49)
 Felix Rossetti, poet (1899-1909)
 Melville F O De Mellow, Padma Shri, Prix Italia, broadcaster (Ibbetson
1925-29)
 Ruskin Bond, Padma Shri, Author (I 943-50)
 Tarsem Singh, ad and feature film Director, (Ibbetson 1972 -78)
 Bittu Sehgal, conservationist and editor of Sanctuary magazine
 Jeev Milkha Singh - award winner Cricketer
 Abhimanyyu Raj Singh, Ibbetson, actor, writer, director, businessman,
doctor
 Jimmy Shergil, model, actor
 Angad Bedi, model, actor
 Irfan Khan, model, actor
 Madhur Bhandarkar, film producer
 Akshay Sethi, producer
 Kumar Gaurav, actor
 Faisal Rashid, actor
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  Mayank Anand, television actor, writer, artist, designer, columnist
 Karanpal Singh Sekhon, Director, Punjab and Sindh Bank
 D.C.Anand, Chairman Anand group of companies
 Lalit Modi, Chairman and Commissioner of IPL
 Ratan Tata, Chairman of Tata Group
 Ness Wadia
 Arvind Jadhav, Chairman and Managing Director, Air India
 Abhimanyyu Raj Singh (Ibbetson, Chairman Labo Group]

…among many other successful men…

Contact
Bishop Cotton School
171002
Shimla HP
Phone: +911772620880
Fax: +911772671360
Webpage: http://www.bishopcottonshimla.webs.com/
e-mail: bishopcottonshimla@india.com

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Bishop Cotton School of Shimla

“Overcome Evil with Good”

©2011

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