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Recommended Books

Summoned by the Bell

by Canon Stanley Vernon Prins

Paperback

Summary

The book is the authors recollection, with over fifty photographs, of a blissful life in the high Himalayas during the history making, earth shaking epoch years of the second world war, and how this touched on the innocent, formative and fragile lives of the growing young. In a sense the book chronicles a historical and distinguished period in the history of Victoria School, which invokes much pride in our heritage. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and would highly recommend it to others.

A limited number of copies are available, and may be ordered directly through the author at Woodside, Scroggwood, Bardon Mill., Northumberland, NE47AA, England. The book is currently priced at 7 pounds sterling plus postage and packing.

Old Mali and the Boy

by D.R. Sherman

Paperback (Penguin), Published in the UK

ISBN: 0140028137

Summary

Denis Ronald Sherman was born in Calcutta in 1934. He went to Victoria School, and spent most of his childhood in Kurseong, which is used for the setting of this book. When he was twelve, he was sent to England to finish his education at Brighton Grammar School. D.R. Sherman now lives on Praslin Island in the Seychelles, and makes a living as an author.

I found this to be a delightful book, which is essentially about the relationship of the “Boy” with the Mali (gardener), and recommend it highly.

Orchids and Algebra – The story of Dow Hill School

By Denise Coelho

Paperback, printed and published in the UK

ISBN: 1869809009

Summary

This is a real classic, which documents the history and traditions of Dow Hill School. Denise (also known as Winsome Fink) bases her “story” on facts from various school records, and from her own memory, drawing from various anecdotes, and incorporating the reminiscences of others. Sadly Denise passed away on July 24^th. 2000, and will be missed by many. However, her book remains as her legacy to us.

This is highly recommended, especially for Dow Hillian’s. I believe copies may still be available by making enquiries through Grace Pereira who runs the worldwide VADHA alumni (please refer to the newsletter section for Grace’s address).

Under the Old School Topee

By Hazel Innes Craig

Paperback, published in the UK by the British Association for Cemeteries in South Asia (BACSA), 76 ½ Chartfield Avenue, London SW15 6HQ

ISBN: 0907799353

Summary

This is the story of the British school’s that grew up in India during the latter part of the 19^th. Century, first in the plains and later in the hills, to provide an English public-school style education for children from very mixed backgrounds of race, religion and economic circumstance, from all corners of the sub-continent.

The account is enlivened with many reminiscences of erstwhile pupils and teachers, collected diligently over a period of eight years by the author who herself was at a co-educational school in Darjeeling (Mount Hermon) while her twin brother was at a neighbouring boys school (St. Pauls).

These educational establishments with their strong English public-school ethos were a notable feature of “Anglo-India” life pre-independence and surprisingly continue largely unchanged to this day; a significant legacy.

In the Shade of Kanchenjunga

by Jennifer Fox

Paperback, published in the UK by the British Association for Cemeteries in South Asia (BACSA), 76 ½ Chartfield Avenue, London SW15 6HQ

ISBN: 0907799493

Summary

The hill station of Darjeeling, now in West Bengal, was a British creation, to provide a summer retreat from the heat of Calcutta. Although its name is now synonymous with tea, this book is not just about planters, but a sensitive history with a personal flavour.

The author traces its story from 1814 to the coming of Tibetan refugees in 1957. Darjeeling remained Victorian in manners and outlook until well after the Second World War. An evocative word-picture emerges with delightful asides, stories and detail.

One Hell of a Life

by Captain Stan Blackford (ex. Indian Army)

Paperback, self-published in South Australia, where the author lives

ISBN: 0646391046

e-mail: stanblackford@chariot.net.au

Website: http://www.chariot.net.au/~blackford

Summary

The book is an autobiography of the author, who describes his life and surroundings which encompass many of the memorable things and events which Anglo-Indians readily relate to. Among the many school’s he attended, Captain Blackford spent some time at Victoria and later at St. Joseph’s North Point. The book is informative, interesting and often very funny, and it certainly held my attention. I was particularly taken by the fact that he isn’t pretentious about being British despite the inherited influences of his parents, eventually fully realizing and accepting with pride his identity as an Anglo-Indian.