NORTH POINT ALUMNI ASSOCIATION – GLOBAL

The Global North Pointer

IntervieweeNP YearsInterview date
Emile Lafrenais’46-’48June 20, 2021
Arnold McKenzie’52-’60July 11, 2021
Phillip Khan-Panni’47-’56July 14, 2021
Bishnu Das Pradhan’46-’55July 22, 2021
Benjamin Elias’43-’44July 27, 2021
Vashu Gulab’47-’49July 30, 2021
Eddie Hsu’50-’56July 30, 2021
Pratap Pal’49-’51August 04, 2021
Kamal Meattle’61-’63August 05, 2021
Peter DeMello’46-’51August 18, 2021
Winston Pais’53-’57August 20, 2021
Ronnie Trutwein’50-’57August 22, 2021
Benji (Paljor) Dorji’52-’62August 27, 2021
Phil Ladenla’39-’48September 06, 2021
Azim Lalljee’50-’54September 15, 2021
Sanjoy Banerjee’55-’59September 21, 2021
Aniruddha Lahiri’56-’60November 01, 2021
Roman Mukherjee’50-’62November 27, 2001
Robert (Bob) Moss’41-’43May 30, 2022

 

An interview with Rev. Fr. Stanley Varghese, Rector of North Point, on June 24, 2021
An Interview with Emile Lafrenais, ’45-’48 at his home in Santa Monica, California on June 20, 2021
QuestionsTime Stamp
What was the one thing you particularly remember about your stay at North Point?00:37
Considering that you are one of the oldest North Pointers alive, what is your sage advice to us North Pointers and Loretoites now?01:30
Three do’s and don’t’s to live such a long, healthy life like yours02:00
Contact Emile

 

An interview with Arnold McKenzie ’52-’60, and U.D. Sub-Prefect ’66-’67, Prefect ’77, from his home in Manila, The Philippines on July 11, 2021

 

QuestionsTime Stamp
What are some of those golden nuggets of life advice you want to share with us?00:25
More than all of the above you are also a Darjeeling boy born and brought up in the tea-garden studded hills. What is the one thing you really loved about Darjeeling and that you still cherish to this day?03:13
If you had to choose just one valuable take-away, a gift so to speak, from your days at school, what would that be?04:40
Contact Arnold
An interview with Phillip Khan-Panni ‘47-’56 from his home in Dublin, Ireland on July 14, 2021
QuestionsTime Stamp
You are an experienced, accomplished international public speaker and we can learn so much from you. What sage life advice can you give us current and former North Pointers?00:25
Can you recall some of your saddest moments in school and perhaps a couple of joyous ones as well?01:55
What kind of general short and long term routines do you follow to look so good as you do at 80?05:24
Contact Phillip
An interview with Bishnu Das Pradhan, ’46-’55 from his home in Mumbai on July 22, 2021

 

QuestionsTime Stamp
You are a Darjeeling-brought-up boy unlike the majority of school boys. Even now you have strong family connections there and you visit Darj regularly. What was it like to be growing up in Darjeeling during those times?00:18
What were two favorite moments of yours while growing up in school and who was your favorite teacher in school and why do you remember your teacher so well?04:15
You, together with your dear departed wife, Nita, have attended so many of the alumni reunions around the world. What inspires you to attend these reunions?06:50
Contact Bishnu

 

An interview with Benjamin Elias, ’43-’44 from his home in Santa Monica, California on July 27, 2021
QuestionsTime Stamp
What made your parents decide to send you to North Point?00:30
Can you describe some lasting memories you have of your days in school?02:00
Can you briefly describe the school as it was during the time you were there?08:25
Contact Ben

 

An interview with Vashu Gulab, ’47-’49, ’50-’52 NP College, from his home in Mumbai on July 30, 2021

 

QuestionsTime Stamp
Which was your favorite year in school and why?00:40
You have been a stalwart North Pointer deeply involved with alumni activities since you left school. What are the motivating factors that keeps you so engrossed in the North Point world?03:45
What are some of the images that spring to your mind whenever you think about school?07:35
1951 Cricket and Hockey team photo Contact Vashu

 

An interview with Eddie Hsu, ’50-’56 from his home in San Diego, California on July 30, 2021
QuestionsTime Stamp
Can you describe your feelings on your first few days at North Point?00:50
What qualities did you take away from North Point that has helped you through life?03:00
Being someone I know that loves his boarding school days, what valuable advice can you give younger North Pointers?04:00
Contact Eddie
An interview with Pratap Pal, ’49-’51 at his home in Los Angeles on August 04, 2021
QuestionsTime Stamp
From our meetings and get togethers in Los Angeles, way back from the time Fr. Van used to visit, we see a true blooded North Pointer, passionate about the school. Can you describe what it is that holds you so close to your boarding school in the hills?00:30
I know you have a very vivid memory. What are some of the things you learned or picked up from your days in school
that you cherish till this day?
03:10
In all my years of meeting North Pointers and going all around, I’ve never come across an art historian. So can you tell us, did North Point play any role in this?06:20
1951 Cricket team photoContact Pratap
An interview with Kamal Meattle, ’61-’63 from his home in New Delhi on August 05, 2021

 

QuestionsTime Stamp
Could you tell us about one or two cherished memories you have of your days in Darjeeling?00:30
You are an alumni pillar hosting many reunions in your home in New Delhi as well as attending the global reunions with your lovely wife Anita. What inspires you to be so involved with fellow North Pointers?10:30
Based on your Darjeeling experience in the late ’50’s, If there was one thing you could advise us North Pointers around the world, what would that be?13:25
Contact Kamal
An interview with Peter DeMello, ’46-’51 from his home in Geneva, August 18, 2021.

 

QuestionsTime Stamp
Can you describe a few of your happiest memories during your days in North Point?01:05
Who was your favorite teacher or Jesuit priest at North Point and why?02:35
I met you in Geneva for the first time more than 10 years ago. You were so very helpful to me. What drives you to keep the North Point spirit alive within yourself?08:05
Contact Peter
An interview with Winston Pais, ’53-’57 from his home in London, August 20, 2021.
QuestionsTime Stamp
Can you recall your most memorable incident in school?00:33
What quality did you pick up from school that you still treasure today?01:40
What made you decide to attend your first North Point reunion?02:25
Contact Winston
An Interview with Ronnie Trutwein from his home in Kaarst, Germany, August 22, 2021
QuestionsTime Stamp
What was it like in Darjeeling during the time you were there?01:06
Describe your most treasured memory of school?03:10
What is it that drives you to join almost every North Point reunion besides the fact you love to travel?07:35
Contact Ronnie

 

An interview with Paljor Dorji, ’52-’62 from his home in Thimpu, August 27, 2021
QuestionsTime Stamp
Before joining North Point, growing up in Bhutan when you were little, what were the impressions you had in your mind about Indian boarding schools and can you compare them to when you actually entered the grounds of North Point as a boarder.01:30
Describe two of your most favorite experiences during your years in school?08:50
What real life lessons did you pick up from North Point that you still use today?16:04
Contact Benji
An interview with Phil Ladenla, ’39-’48 from his home in California, September 07, 2021.

Phil Ladenla, born July 16, 1931 passed away in California on Friday, May 06, 2022. He was 90.

 

QuestionsTime Stamp
You are from a renowned Darjeeling family with the town’s most prominent road being named after your family. Can you give us a brief history of your family’s connection with Darjeeling?00:55
You were instrumental in forging the North Point Alumni association in the US west coast 30 to 40 years ago. What drove you to be so involved in alumni activities?28:45
What are some of the qualities you picked up and learnt during your North Point days that you treasure and apply to your life these days?32:00
Contact Phil
An interview with Azim Lalljee, ’50-’54 from his home in New York, September 15, 2021

 

QuestionsTime Stamp
Can you tell us about two of your most memorable incidents in North Point, whether joyous or not, but ones you always think about?00:32
What impact did any of the subjects you learnt in school help you in your further studies and in building your career?02:15
What virtues, characteristics, habits and traits did you pick up at North Point that still help you today?03:25
Contact Azim
An interview with Sanjoy Banerjee, ’55-’59 from his office in New York, September 21, 2021
QuestionsTime Stamp
Can you describe your feelings and emotions during your very first day and that week at North Point? How did those compare with your expectations as a young kid?01:00
What was your absolute best moment/day during your entire time in school and please also describe a couple of lasting imprints North Point left on you that you think about till today?07:30
Which teachers can you ascribe your strengths in the subjects you were taught in school? What qualities did they possess that made you want to learn?15:15
Contact Sanjoy
An interview with Aniruddha Lahiri, ’56-’60 from his home in Kolkata, November 01, 2021
QuestionsTime Stamp
Are you able to name and describe two specific warm and embracing instances you experienced during your time in school that you still regularly think about?00:34
I know that you have been and are active in alumni get-togethers and you’ve also attended reunions overseas together with your lovely wife Ratna-di. What is the driving force behind your involvement in North Point reunions?11:08
There are many things we learnt, were taught and picked up when we were in school. What are some of those traits that you carried out of North Point with you that you still use today?15:40
Contact Aniruddha
An interview with Roman Mukherjee, ’50-’62 from his home in Ottawa, Canada,
November 27, 2021
QuestionsTime Stamp
When you first joined North Point as a kid, and during just the first few weeks in school, what initial memories of those days do you have?00:45
I have heard you were a great cricketer. Tell us about how you first learnt to play cricket and how you got to be in the first XI?02:20
You have a strong passion for North Point and have attended many reunions. I presume you must think about your boarding school almost every day. What are three lasting images that conjure up in your mind about North Point whenever you think about it.06:50
Contact Roman
An interview with Robert (Bob) Moss ’41-’43 from his home in Toronto, Canada, May 30, 2022
QuestionsTime Stamp
Could you tell us about one or two cherished memories you have of your days in Darjeeling?01:00
What are some of the qualities you picked up from your days in North Point that you figure molded your character?04:35
Describe some of the thoughts and emotions you felt as you prepared to enter the school gates during your 2013 visit to North Point?08:00
Based on all your experience during and after school, If there was one thing you could advise us North Pointers around the world, what would that be?12:50
Contact Bob