The Birth of the Boulevard Hotel

In Jamshedpur, with the demand for steel increasing, the Tata Iron and Steel Company geared up for the extra production and also found that the number of visitors was increasing. Earlier, the company had built the “TISCO hotel” which was run by the famous Billimoria family originally from Nagpur, but having interests in the hospitality and liquor trade in Asansol, Burnpur, Kulti, Jamshedpur and Kharagpur.

One evening, in 1940 the town administrator met John D’Costa, son of Bartholomew D’Costa, a prominent TISCO contractor. John had returned with a B.E. degree from Battersea University, U.K. and was familiar with many of the executives. “John, would you like to build a hotel in Bistupur? We had allotted a plot next to the police station to a person from Calcutta but he let us down. If you say you will have the hotel up in six months, the land is yours.” The English gentleman went on to say that if John failed there would be severe black-listing on his father’s company. The family did not let the company down. A sub lease was signed in June 1940, and a salami of Rs 22,000 was paid. The hotel was running in six months. Certain factors worked in his favour. The family already had skilled civil workers, brick kilns and were agents for a prominent cement company. John used a ready-made hotel plan to save time. In Calcutta, the Lord’s Hotel, Esplanade, was closing down and John bought the entire cutlery from them. The first manager was an English lady who apparently had a flair for running hotels.

If the hotel depended on Company visitors, it would have gone into severe losses. World War II favored it! About 45 minutes away, the Allies had built an air-base to defend the country against the Japanese invasion. It was managed by American and British air-men, who used the hotel for their accommodation. The British stayed in the 14 rooms on the ground floor and managed their own mess. They were charged 14 ‘annas’ a day per person. The Americans stayed above and paid one rupee and 16 ‘annas’ a day for room and board. With the Allies soldiers staying at the hotel, there was never a dull night – with music and parties ! However, it also witnessed a few fights. It is said that if there was someone the British hated more than the Japanese, it was the Americans.

It didn’t take long for the family to recover the initial investment of Rs. 45,000. Above is a piece of antiquity that reminds the new generation about the manner in which this hotel was started. Mr. John D’Costa, the son of Mr. Bartholomew D’Costa, to keep his word to TISCO about starting the hotel within six months decided to buy the crockery and cutlery from Lords Ltd., a hotel that closed around that time. This is picture of a milk jug proudly displaying a lamb holding a flag in its right foot. The children of Mr. John D’Costa pretended that the lamb cutlets were made from this very same animal.

During World War II the Steel Company had planned two ways of stalling the Japanese fighters from attacking the works. The first was sending up gas balloons tied to steel ropes high into the sky. This prevented the fighter planes from diving lower to bomb. Also, when the siren went off, tar was lit to create smoke to disguise the factory. B. D’Costa and Co. had the latter contract. So, this, in short, was The Boulevard Hotel’s contribution to the war effort.

For more than twenty years after the war, there was a period of stagnation and it was only because of the family attachment to “The Boulevard” that they continued to hold it. In 1969 it went through a face-lift where a good friend, Roomi Masters, the TISCO town architect, helped. The Hotel began viable operations again around 1980 and has not turned back since then

Another Tribute
Branch schools in coal mining area around Dhanbad

A creation of Mr R.N. Sharma and Fr. G. A. Hess

One day Mr. R.N. Sharma, popularly called “RN”, very early in his assignment as Chairman Bharat Coking Coal Limited (BCCL), found himself seated next to Fr. G.A. Hess at a De Nobili School (CFRI) play.

In conversation, Mr. Sharma suggested that another school in the Sijua area of Dhanbad district would reduce the travel of many children from that area to De Nobili CFRI. Fr. Hess and “RN”, although both being innovative and creative entrepreneurs, saw the need but could not find a way.

But it required a few days for RN and Hess to find a feasible solution.

An ex-St. Gabriel Brother, V.J. Thomas, staff of De Nobili CFRI and an experienced principal, was appointed. With just a one page agreement the building was handed over to De Nobili, Sijua. The ownership continued with BCCL.

Later on, this led to the launching of seven “Branch Schools” of De Nobili, an innovation in itself. Initially, all the principals reported to the Principal, De Nobili CFRI Fr Hess.

Today all the branch schools together report to a Director.

So, in their own style Mr RN Sharma and Fr. George Hess has nurtured the careers of countless children of the coal mining area, including Mr. Sharma’s two sons, Ravi and Deven (later president of Standard and Poors), who completed their studies from the same school, De Nobili CFRI.

Ref page100 for information about the above article

 

Fr. Cecil Leeming SJ

12 June, 1910 – 26 May, 2000

An unwilling Olympian

Founding Principal Loyola School, Jamshedpur

In this Olympic season, spare a moment for Fr. Cecil Leeming SJ, the first Principal of Loyola School, Jamshedpur.

 

In St. Joseph' School, North Point, Darjeeling, he had the distinction of clocking 10 seconds in the 100 yards sprint a record that remained unbeaten till the arrival of James Ray Hines who officially broke the 10 second barrier in the 100 m world record in 1968.

On his way to Madras in 1932 to appear for a sure selection to the Indian Olympics team, he travelled with the Jesuit Provincial of Calcutta. Whilst talking to him, Cecil realized his calling to be a Jesuit priest. So, he dropped out from the Indian team to Los Angeles in 1932.

At 22 years, he joined the Society of Jesus and 14 years later he was sent to Jamshedpur to be the spiritual advisor to the recently started Sacred Heart Convent and as assistant parish priest ;but most importantly, for us, and at the request of Sir J.J. Ghandy, to start a much-needed boy's school in the Chota Nagpur Regiment Club.  After handing over the school to Fr. James McGinley, he went to St Xavier's College in Calcutta, 1953 and came into his own by being in-charge of the college games. He concentrated on Athletics and hockey.  And soon St. Xavier's could boast of two Hockey Olympian medallists - Dr. Vece Paes (father of Leander Paes) and Pat Janssen.

Norman Pritchard

Indian Olympian & Jesuit alumnus to win 2 Silver medals in Paris, 1900 – the inspiration for Cecil Leeming

However, Fr. Leeming's inspiration came from a little-known Norman Pritchard, from St. Xavier's College, Calcutta, who went on to win two silver medals in the 100 m sprint and 200 m hurdles at the Paris Olympics in 1900 and therefore has the enviable position of being the first Indian Olympian.

We are inspired by such an institution builder like Fr. Leeming to create an atmosphere of competitive sport and make a mark for Jesuit schools.
On the birthday of our founder St. Ignatius of Loyola, we pay tribute to our Institution builders, one of whom is the founder of Loyola School, Jamshedpur – Fr. Cecil Leeming SJ.

"For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul ?"
Mark 8 :36
                               
Acknowledgements :
   i)    Fr. Cecil Leeming SJ – ‘Surprised by Grace’ by Fr. James V. Keogh

 ii)    Norman Pritchard - Featured in ‘Harmony — Celebrate Age’ Magazine, July 2018 by RajuMukherji, former cricket player, coach, selector, talent scout, match referee and writer

 --

Ronald D'Costa

Loyola School, Jamshedpur, 1964

President JAAI 2004-07

 

Vintage Loyola School, Jamshedpur

The Creation of the Arches 

 

Do the students, the teachers and other visitors to Loyola School know that the gates they pass through to enter the school have a story to tell ?

The Chotanagpur Regiment Club's four tennis courts were sacrificed for the  construction a double storied, quadrangled building with a large courtyard.

 In 1954, Father Carroll I. Fasy SJ was completing the building of the main school. Fr. William Maloney SJ, Provincial from Maryland, USA, was planning to visit Jamshedpur that year. The construction of a suitable entrance for the main school was suggested.

Dinesh Singhal was a year or two away from appearing for the Senior Cambridge exam. Not only was he very proficient in science, but also of a creative and artistic bent of mind. Fr. Fasy recognised this quality in him and requested him to design the arches for the entrance gates of Loyola School. Dinesh captured the very essence of the Jesuit ethos and designed a structure that had everything. He also took advantage of erecting one arch closest to the Principal's office, just announcing "Loyola School" with IHS on top.

 

The other gate towards the CNR ground was more elaborate and contained the inscription "In Caritate et Justitia" - the school motto which translates to "In Charity and Justice". The Jesuit motto "Ad majórem Dei glóriam" abbreviated to AMDG appears on the top of the arch. Translated to "for the greater glory of God", this motto has, for long, been the guiding principle of the Jesuits.

The picture above shows one of the arches being admired by Fr. William Maloney SJ, Provincial, Maryland, who had especially flown down from the US in 1954 to inaugurate the newly constructed school building and to visit the Province of Jamshedpur.

 

Thank you, Dinesh. The arches that you and Fr. Fasy created are the key symbol of Loyola today.

--

Ronald D'Costa
Loyola School, Jamshedpur, 1954
91-9431113097
ronald48@rediffmail.com

 The Nolen Gur Makers of Patamda                   

Photo credits : Rajat Ghosh

 

From the depth of Bankura comes a different breed of entrepreneurs. They know that they are skilled in making fresh jaggery which is a hot seller in the cold winter. Having discovered that Patamda has a large number of palm trees they were able to bring along their team of tappers.

 

The tree

These are date palm trees, very different from the fruit available in the Middle East. The fruit is small and typical to this region, but the juice is sweet and ideal for processing.

 

The tapper

These are professional climbers of trees but they are also skilled in giving that part of the tree the right cut with a V shape to allow the white juice to flow into the attached jar tied underneath.

 

Jaggery

There are several teams placed in Patamda. The team consists of the toddy tapper, the supervisor, the toddy collector and the person who tends to the fire. A lot of sensitivity to the environment is observed namely – they use the fallen palm from the tree for fire. They build a temporary hut constructed by bending twigs and covered with plastic roofing and topped with branches. This is the resting house during the day.

 The process

Early in the morning the experienced toddy tapper climbs the tree, unties the jar that has collected the liquid overnight and puts it into yellow 20 litre plastic jars.

They balance two jars on either end of a stick to make it easier to carry. This arrives at the processing place by about 6:30 in the morning and is poured into flat trays which are place over a fire. 

They then start the process by lighting the fire below when this tray is full of this unfermented liquid.

There are two additives that we discovered. The first is ‘chuna’ – a type of limestone to arrest the fermentation of the sweet liquid into toddy and retaining its sweetness instead. The second discovery is after the boiling and the thickening take place, they add cane sugar to the semi liquid to increase its weight. So it is true that there is a type of adulteration that takes place.

Overall

So the end product is in three parts – liquid, semi solid and solid.

 

 

 

 

Entrepreneurship

There is a lesson beyond ‘gur’ making that we learnt.

1.     Mobility

       The Gur makers had a skill but they found that in the local village namely Bankura there were not enough palm trees. They found this available in Patamda.

2.     Flexibility and skill to be accepted in a new environment

        The skill of this village entrepreneur was to form a team and move in. Realising they had to be accepted by the local tribals, we assume they worked out a win-win situation since there was no conflict and the locals were happy that this natural resource was being economically used. .

3.     Awareness

        Manufacturing of Gur on a busy highway and just a sign ensured a level of interest and probably purchase. However the manufacturers actually took their stock to the wholesale market of Sakchi, Jamshedpur, to ensure that there is a turnover of working capital.

4.     We also discovered that the old belief that ‘nolen gur’is available only in the colder months of December and January is not true. So this started pre Durga Puja.

 Action

1. We should form a team and send representatives to watch the making of jaggery from the beginning to ensure that sugar is not added and with the assurance that we will pay a higher price.

2. Having a representative will assure a lot of close friends that we are getting the pure product and also helping and encouraging a local entrepreneur who, after this season, goes on to some other idea.

 

Pricing

Rs. 120 / kg

Please take a container for the solid product and a wide-mouthed bottle / jar for the liquid.

I had an empty bottle and was lucky to get 2 litres of the date palm juice.

Gali Guleiyan

A review of this 23017 psychological thriller

An off mainstream presentation that needs patience and deep understanding

Manoj Bajpayee as the main character is portrayed as a voyeur (Khuddoos) who set up a large network of CCTV and monitored them from a ramshackle room.

The director keeps us guessing as to his motives.

He just survives on minimum food, and occasionally alcohol.

He has a very loyal friend Ganeshi (Ranvir Shorey) who is always around to pull him out of trouble.

The director imperceptibly starts on the story of a young teenager’s relationship with another classmate who he tutors in maths. His mother is typical of some girls who have lived a comfortable, sheltered life almost like an angel protected by five brothers, in a large airy bungalow and open space, and then to be thrown into a ‘Galli’, and a ramshackle house with an absentee husband who has a mistress.

The intelligent Idu (Idris) portrayed by Om Singh hated food and adored his mother (Shahana Goswami) and was protective of her. She made him change his mind from running away.

One major murder changed his perspective and leads him on a unique psychological path.

Liyakat is a butcher (Neeraj Kabi), who wants his son ‘Idu’ to be like him and tries, wit brute force, to crush his any rebellion, and his spirit.

Saying anything more will be unfair to the director and the superb actors.

Is this a story of a father and son relationship ? Or, as with many men, an Oedipus complex, or an intense need to love and protect his mother ?

You'll be forgiven if you find a bit of yourself on this movie, as a mother, son or father.

A bit of advice...  patiently absorb the first part and you will be immensely rewarded in the last twenty minutes.

This experience will stay in your mind for a long, long time.

A Blast from the Past …

The Zachariah family was leaving town after having spent a lifetime in Jamshedpur. Their 3 sons Errol, Ian and Sam had finished school and already gone to college.

The couple, Moss and Ruby Zachariah, decided to pack up and leave Jamshedpur. However, the family piano, a German built Blüthner, was too heavy to take with them and had to be left behind.

So in 1964 the family gifted this sonorous, acoustic cottage piano to the up and coming Little Flower School in Telco.

This stately, warm sounding piano served to train many students who will testify about its outstanding duty to them.

Almost 60 years later the Symphony School of Music, Jamshedpur, received an urgent message from the principal of Little Flower School that they needed a piano tuner for two instruments. They called a piano tuner who tuned one and then was sent up to have a look at the other lying on the first floor. He was distressed since it needed a lot of material and would be very expensive to restore.

IN DESPERATION the Principal called up the Symphony School. The agreed to take it away and get it restored at the Boulevard Hotel.

The Story Continues

The children of the Zachariah family, now settled in the UK, got nostalgic about their home city. Sam, now a retired surgeon in London, decided to visit Jamshedpur and stay at the Boulevard Hotel.

Heritage

He, along with his elder brother Ian, hosted a dinner at the ‘Penthouse’ in the Boulevard Hotel. One of the guests had a son who is a student at the Symphony School and he offered to play ‘Fϋr Elise’. While he was playing, Ian approached the piano, recognised the sound, and was stunned. "This is the piano my mother gifted to Little Flower School. I am reconnected to my family heirloom, after 60 years !" He almost wept to see this long lost heirloom.

He said that he recognised the melodious sound which reminded him of happy days when his parents and friends like Joaquim Dias thumped away on it while all gathered to sing "beautiful, beautiful brown eyes".

The Boulevard Hotel is proud to add one more legacy piece belonging to this outstanding family to our heritage property.