Ssesa Welcomes

Thinking about the most important period of my life, from the age of five to eighteen, brings on a tsunami wave of nostalgia that simply overwhelms me. Sure, this was the period that those who lived with parents at home may have gained values that guided their lives until now. But we did not live with our parents in the boarding, we lived with hundreds of other boarders and the Jesuit priests. During the vacations when I went home to my widowed mother, she filled me in with details about my father and other family members. My exposure to family was minimal and very brief, as was my exposure to family acquaintances. So in a way I grew up a stranger to family and those who knew us.

But some of the values that did rub off on me while in residence as a boarder have become part of my guiding light all these years. One is that I trust my conscience totally and its guidance in the matters of honesty. Hey! I'm not making any claims, except that my conscience will never let me be in peace if I'm dishonest. And thank GOD for that. The other is the value of prayer, but in recent years I learnt that greater value lies in just shutting up and being still if I want to hear what GOD is telling me.

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Healthcare Initiative 2008-09

The Jesuit Alumni Associations of India (JAAI) West Zone Conference was held at St. Xavier's High School-Loyola Hall Ahmedabad between October 1st-2nd 2008. Members of SSESA attended  and participated in the conference.

While we were at St.Stanislaus I have very fond memories of playing at my classmate Dilip Chahal's house on Kane Road (Band Stand Apts). I lost touch with Dilip after school and I have always wondered how he was doing and where he was. I tried locating him but it seemed he had just disappeared. Then yesterday I got a call from my dear classmate Gurmeet Sahani. Dilip was visiting India and was in Mumbai for the last two days when he suddenly pased away. I attended his cremation at Shivaji Park crematorium yesterday afternoon. Really tragic way to catch up with a long lost classmate.

To my Indian friends' Happy Diwali and Happy New Year"  Hope you all have a great day and the New year ahead brings you all good luck and great fortune.

Yesterday, the 28 October, was Diwali.  It was a festival we celebrated with our Indian neighbors, a celebration of how we co-existed and celebrated each others religion.

I went to office in a kurta pyjama and kholapuri's. And it felt so good, and I feel so proud to be Indian (arre beta! Goan Indian). There is an Indian girl (Rajasthani) and she wanted backing to dress Indian, so any chance to be "deshi" and I grabbed it.

Today I specially think of the wonderful times we all had in Bombay during Diwali through the years.

In fact on Sunday I went to a Diwali festival organized by the Indian Society Perth. I have never seen more Indians than I saw that day. The lines to enter the hall was a 100 mtrs, parking was like in Bombay, gussau where ever there was place (even in the garden beds) of the recreation center.

The Indians crossed the roads like Hill Road and did not care a damn, so I had to brake and go slowly while they crossed, (did give some gallis and they crossed faster, If I honked I would have been fined).

My dear friend Denver passed away on 21/October/2008 at around 9.45pm. For a little man he walked many a mile and climbed many a mountain. He was grumpy sometimes and grumbled a bit but I will always remember him for the twinkle in his eye as he chuckled.

It was Denver who introduced me to the St. Stanislaus Alumni movement in April 2006 when he convinced me to make the trip to Uplat-Talasari. He was the former Secretary of SSESA and served the Association for many years.

Thank You my friend...Go in Peace

Funeral mass was held on 23 October 2008 at St. Teresa's Church, Bandra at 10am followed by burial at St. Andrew's Church cemetery.

SSESA’s First Aid Awareness Course for the Teachers of St. Stanislaus High School was held on Tuesday 16th October 2008 at the AV Room in the School. It had a very positive response from the teachers. Lasting almost two hours, the event was conducted by pediatric surgeon

Dr. Bhalchandra Jayakar (Batch of 1987). His wife, Dr. Priti, a laproscopic surgeon also accompanied him. Dr. Jayakar started his presentation seeking the blessings of the teachers who had once taught him. The extensive presentation covered a wide-range of issues from cuts, burns, fractures to dog bites, drowning and electric shocks. For such a long presentation, Dr. Jayakar kept up the tempo with his sense of humour.

The presentation was followed by a Q&A session where the teachers had an opportunity to clear their doubts. More than 50 teachers attended. They were very thankful to Dr. Jayakar and are looking forward to a follow-up session after a few months.

This event will be followed up by a First Aid Awareness Course for the Students, which will be held on 12th November at the school.

This event was conducted by St.Stanislaus Ex-students Association

SSESA Lead: Mr. Anupam Gupta