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Page for featured North Pointers and Faculty
| Interviewee | NP Years | Interview date |
|---|---|---|
| Emile Lafrenais | ’46-’48 | June 20, 2021 |
| Arnold McKenzie | ’52-’60 | July 11, 2021 |
| Phillip Khan-Panni | ’47-’56 | July 14, 2021 |
| Bishnu Das Pradhan | ’46-’55 | July 22, 2021 |
| Benjamin Elias | ’43-’44 | July 27, 2021 |
| Vashu Gulab | ’47-’49 | July 30, 2021 |
| Eddie Hsu | ’50-’56 | July 30, 2021 |
| Pratap Pal | ’49-’51 | August 04, 2021 |
| Kamal Meattle | ’61-’63 | August 05, 2021 |
| Peter DeMello | ’46-’51 | August 18, 2021 |
| Winston Pais | ’53-’57 | August 20, 2021 |
| Ronnie Trutwein | ’50-’57 | August 22, 2021 |
| Benji (Paljor) Dorji | ’52-’62 | August 27, 2021 |
| Phil Ladenla | ’39-’48 | September 06, 2021 |
| Azim Lalljee | ’50-’54 | September 15, 2021 |
| Sanjoy Banerjee | ’55-’59 | September 21, 2021 |
| Aniruddha Lahiri | ’56-’60 | November 01, 2021 |
| Roman Mukherjee | ’50-’62 | November 27, 2001 |
| Robert (Bob) Moss | ’41-’43 | May 30, 2022 |
| Doug Crawford | ’40-’46 | June 12, 2023 |
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| Questions | Time 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 yours | 02:00 |
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| Questions | Time 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 |
| Questions | Time 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 |
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| Questions | Time 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 |
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| Questions | Time 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 |
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| Questions | Time 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 |
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| Questions | Time 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 |
| Questions | Time 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 |
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| Questions | Time 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 |
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| Questions | Time 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 |
| Questions | Time 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 |
| Questions | Time 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 |
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| Questions | Time 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 |
Phil Ladenla, born July 16, 1931 passed away in California on Friday, May 06, 2022. He was 90.
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| Questions | Time 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 |
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| Questions | Time 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 |
| Questions | Time 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 |
| Questions | Time 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 |
November 27, 2021
| Questions | Time 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 |
| Questions | Time 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 |
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| Questions | Time Stamp |
|---|---|
| You are one of the early North Pointers. Could you please share with us two or three cherished memories you have of your time in school? | 01:28 |
| Could you tell us all of what you learnt in school that has been useful in your life? | 05:10 |
| You visited North Point in 2004 after nearly 60 years. What feelings, memories and emotions stirred in you when you stepped into the school grounds? | 06:50 |
| Based on your life experiences, if there was one thing you could advise us North Pointers around the world, what would that be? | 09:00 |
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