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Stories from School and the OCA. Explore timely insights, inspiring stories & thought-provoking updates from the Bishop Cotton School OCA community.
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Stay connected with the Bishop Cotton School community. Explore key links to learn our story, visit the campus, and engage with mentors who guide our students toward excellence. From the latest blogs and school publications to ongoing opportunities for collaboration and networking, this hub keeps alumni, families, and supporters connected and informed. Stay inspired, stay involved, and help shape the future of our remarkable school.
The History Of The Old Cottonians Association
The OCA was officially started on 13th May 1910 when 17 Old Cottonians assembled in the Freemason’s Hall in Simla. However, it is interesting to note that the first gathering of OC’s was in 1878 when 28 old Cottonians attended the First Founder’s Day function ever to be celebrated. This was held on the 27th of July as 28th fell on a Sunday. These OC’s sat at the High Table for the meal that followed the function.
E.O. Wisley, the senior-most, had organised the meeting and was the first to sign the Roll of Association. With these seventeen acting as the core, the task was now to find and communicate with the numerous old boys who lay scattered across the world – England, Canada, Japan, China, New Guinea and of course, India. In under a year, the Seventeen had become 73. By 1 May 1913, there were eighty-four members and this rose to 101 by October that year.
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Our Memories, Our Legacy: Writings by The Old Cottonians
Contribute your memories and writings to the OCA’s memory library. This is a growing collection crafted by Old Cottonians, for Old Cottonians.
Whether you want to recount a memorable classroom moment, a sport or club triumph, a pivotal mentor, or a trip that changed your perspective, your story matters and enriches the tapestry for future generations.
If you haven’t joined yet, register now to start your own memory piece and inspire fellow alumni. For any inquiries, please feel free to contact us.
Unlock More with the Brother to Brother programme: New Offers, New Partners
Already have your OC B2B Card? If not, it’s the perfect moment to join. Enjoy exclusive benefits, refreshed offers, and new partner discounts designed for hospitality, lifestyle, consumer goods, food and beverage, wellness, sports, and financial services. With OC B2B card, get more rewards—more reasons to celebrate—are just a swipe away. Contact us and get the OC B2B card today.
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News & Stories
Stories from School and the OCA. Explore timely insights, inspiring stories & thought-provoking updates from the Bishop Cotton School OCA community.
Fireside Chat held during OC Week
16/12/2025
Fireside Chat held during OC Week between Mr. Suksham Chauhan…
The Enduring Legacy of Bishop Cotton School Shimla
16/12/2025
Bishop Cotton School Shimla, a 166-year-old English Public…
OCs Week 2025 : opening day [photos incl]
31/10/2025
OCA week 31st October 2025 Let’s ignite the juggernaut…
OCs Week 2025 : Final Itinerary
24/10/2025
BCS 166th Year OCs Week at Bishop Cotton School Simla Oct…
BISHOP COTTON SCHOOL SIMLA – OC Week 2025
22/10/2025
BISHOP COTTON SCHOOL SIMLA – OC Week 202531st Oct…
Toronto Reunion Sept 27, 2025
28/09/2025
Greetings from the North, where autumn is in full swing….
Nakul Anand addresses IILM Delhi
22/09/2025
Mr. Nakul Anand, batch of 1972 Lefroy house, former Executive…
OCA Canada UPDATE on Sept 27th get-together!
12/09/2025
Dear OCs, Hope you are having a good evening. We have an…
OCA Canada get together Sept 27th 2025
10/09/2025
Dear OCs, Hope you are all doing well and staying safe….
BCS Old Cottonians Coordinator UPDATE
11/08/2025
The updated BCS Old Cottonians coordinator is Ms. CHARU…
BCS 166th Founder’s Day
28/07/2025
166th Founder’s Day – Monday 28th July 2025…
Spotlight on Gurrinder [Indi] Khanna
16/07/2025
Q: Which years were you in BCS and what is the first thing…
OCA Executive Committee Members list [updated]
08/07/2025
The OCA UK Reunion Luncheon : London 28th June 2025
30/06/2025
The OCA (UK) association is a very special association of…
Dr. Vaneet Jishtu – Special feature
30/06/2025
We are proud of Old Cottonian Dr. Vaneet Jishtu [Ibbetson…
Raja Virbhadra Singh: The Monarch of the Masses, The Statesman of the Hills
21/06/2025
Raja Virbhadra Singh (Ibbetson House | Batch of 1951) A…
Sandeep Mansukhani – From Runways to Summits: A Journey of Discipline and Determination
21/06/2025
Batch 1994 | Rivaz House | Bishop Cotton School, Shimla…
OC Week 2025 at BCS
10/06/2025
We are excited to officially announce that the Old Cottonians…
OCA UK : Annual Luncheon 2025
09/06/2025
OCA UK Annual Luncheon This year’s annual lunch will be…
Newsletter OCA UK 2025
08/06/2025
Old Cottonians’ Association United KingdomPresident’s Newsletter…
BCS Crest / Badge de-coded by historian Raaja Bhasin
07/06/2025
BCS Crest / Badge Every Cottonian knows this Badge and Crest…
Website structural changes
06/06/2025
The OCA website is undergoing a slight revision of structure,…
The Playing-fields of Shimla
23/05/2025
I’d like to share one true-life story penned by Ruskin…
Happy 96th Birthday Mr. Goss!
03/05/2025
We wish you many happy returns of the day Mr. Goss! Thanks…
Camino de Santiago – pilgrimage 2025
29/04/2025
Vivek “ Bonnie “ Bhasin 9th April 2025 The twin spires of…
Rakesh (Rocky) Chopra / Prayer Meet
31/03/2025
Rakesh Chopra Curzon 1958-63) passed on at Delhi on 29th…
Jam & packed
31/03/2025
For WE Buchanan and his Shimla-born son Colin, the quality…
Rakesh (Rocky) Chopra – [BCS Curzon 1958-1963] passed on 29th March ’25
30/03/2025
March-29-2025With profound grief, we regret to inform you…
OCA India AGM 2025
22/03/2025
NOTICE: OCA INDIA Annual General Meeting. On Thursday 27th…
Spotlight profile: Vijay Kumar Stokes, BCS (Rivaz, 1948-1954).
18/02/2025
Vijay Kumar Stokes, BCS (Rivaz, 1948-1954) Vijay Stokes…
Vivek Bhasin [BCS Batch 1970] appointed to BCS Board of Governors
12/02/2025
This message received from Vivek Bhasin, is quoted below:…
Inderjit Singh Bawa : Final farewell
25/01/2025
Celebrating the life of Inderjit Singh Bawa [Inderjit Singh…
Inderjit Singh [Inni] Bawa: RIP
24/01/2025
Sadly announce the passing on of Inderjit Singh Bawa 24th…
OCA Mumbai Lunch 2025
22/01/2025
OCA MUMBAI CHAPTER Cordially Invites all OCs to its Contributory…
Old Cottonians Association Reunion Lunch 2025
21/01/2025
Old Cottonians Association invites you to the Annual Reunion…
Behram Irani / RIP
13/01/2025
Dear Editor OCA, It is with great sadness that we announce…
Harry (September 5, 1946 – November 21, 2024) – Harjit Singh Bedi – The Man behind The Judge!!
03/12/2024
Harry was the sum of his parts. These parts were many but…
Special Postal Cover: BCS 165TH Year
02/12/2024
Special Postal Cover issued by Department of Posts Himachal…
Avnesh Kumar Pawa / 1970 batch [Rivaz]: Passed on
08/11/2024
Message received from Pawan Kumar Pawa [aka AKOO]: Avnesh…
H. Kishie Singh BHOG (Online option)
01/11/2024
Please join us to commemorate the life of H. Kishie Singh…
Bhog : H. Kishie Singh
29/10/2024
To commemorate the life of Kishie Singh 4th November, 3pm…
Passed on: H. Kishie Singh [Curzon 1955 batch]
27/10/2024
Very sad to inform all that OC H Kishie Singh, a renowned…
Mr. DC Anand : Kirtan & Antim Ardas
26/10/2024
Kirtan and Antim Ardas will be held on Sunday, the 27th…
Mr. DEEP C. ANAND [Old Cottonian & President Emeritus OCA] : passed-on.
25/10/2024
Our condolences to the Anand Family on the passing-on of…
BCS Pegasus to publish your Poetry
13/08/2024
Raaja Bhasin sent in this message : School is coming out…
Celebrating 165 years of Educational Excellence – October 18 & 19 2024
10/08/2024
Bishop Cotton School Shimla (BCS), founded in 1859 by Bishop…
BCS Founder’s 165th Day 28, July 2024
27/07/2024
BCS Founder’s 165th Day 28, July 2024 ..be it the Crimond…
Kirtan & Antim Ardaas : Jagdeep Singh Bhasin (“Father”):
26/06/2024
To commemorate the life of our beloved Father Mr. Jagdeep…
Jagdeep “Father” Bhasin
24/06/2024
With great sadness we inform that Jagdeep Singh Bhasin passed…
Letter from a Cottonian & member of BOG of BCS [Anil Mehra]
19/06/2024
Dear OC’s No one forgets their school years . Memories of…
Antim Ardas Bhog held for Late Iqbal Singh Sehmbey
17/06/2024
I am attaching a few photographs taken from the Antim Ardas…
Sad news: Iqbal Singh Sehmbey [Jagga] / Ibbetson 1981 batch
16/06/2024
Sad news: Iqbal Singh Sehmbey [Jagga] / Ibbetson 1981 batch…
OCA UK 2024 Annual Luncheon
15/06/2024
UK OCA ANNUAL LUNCH CALLING ALL OLD COTTONIANS IN THE UK…
The BCS 165 Celebrations
13/06/2024
BISHOP COTTON SCHOOL SHIMLA You are invited to The BCS 165…
Article on Fali Nariman’s school days at BCS
10/06/2024
Posted by Mr. Lakhanpal on the OCA Mumbai Grp.Sent by Ms….
1962 – Staff & Prefects, Rivaz
04/06/2024
1962 – Staff & Prefects, Rivaz (L to R): V.Chabra…
OCA- NA. Get together.NEW YORK.
24/05/2024
Sent in by Vijay (Kuttu) Singh : I came to New York to represent…
“Questions, Descriptions .. Answers and the Luminous Green Letters on white paperT R A L E E ( please..)- we pilgrim hitchhikers..”
24/05/2024
Who are you Why are you here Where have you come from Where…
Old Cottonian news and writing Contributors ?
24/05/2024
We haven’t had any new content for quite a while now….
Adam Drobot [BCS from 1956-1959]: Found!
28/03/2024
Dear All, I am not sure how many of you remember Adam Drobot….
The Dire State of Our Universities / by Vijay Stokes
22/03/2024
Vijay Kumar Stokes, BSc Engg (HONS) Mech (BHU, 1961) and…
BCS Etchings / Jal Boga
02/03/2024
Dear All, Ms Meher Boga was kind enough to send a memento…
BCS Old Cottonians coordinator Ms Charu Walia
25/02/2024
Stay updated via email or mobile phone via the registration…
Brian Howard Niblett
19/02/2024
An Old Cottonian moves into his peaceful garden I have received…
A much remembered figure: Jal Boga
05/02/2024
Jal Boga had written in years ago and his letter was published…
OCA India Annual Lunch 2024
19/01/2024
OCA Lunch February 11th 2024 12.30pm Pool Side DELHI GOLF…
Kanwar Manjit Singh passed on [Lefroy house-captain 1965]
08/12/2023
from Vijay [Kutu] Singh: Some sad news about Kanwar Manjit…
Dr Ravi Thomas – passed on
14/11/2023
We are saddened to announce the sudden and untimely demise…
Rajat Mukarji [Ibbetson 1969 batch] passed on
30/05/2023
We sadly announce the sudden passing-away of Old Cottonian…
Happy birthday, Mr Goss – 94th
04/05/2023
May 3rd 2023 My dear Mr Goss, Warm and sincere wishes on…
The new OCA India Committee 2023-25
28/04/2023
The new OLD COTTONIANS ASSOCIATION India Committee has been…
Upholding data privacy and filtering out content not meeting socially acceptable guidelines.
22/04/2023
Dear Cottonians [old, new, and yet to be]: This website…
Jaspal Sawhney takes over the reigns of OCA India, as Hony. President
02/04/2023
Congratulations to OC Jaspal Singh Sawhney (Ibbetson 1963)…
Old Cottonians’ Association United Kingdom President’s Newsletter Vijay Bhalaik MRCS FRCS / OCA UK annual luncheon
01/04/2023
Old Cottonian President letterDownload Old Cottonians’ Association…
THANK YOU (1961-1970)
31/03/2023
When I was five on the Howrah -Kalka-Howrah mail so small…
Post Mortem (A cottonian)
31/03/2023
Oops! Something went wrong here. It appears that the post…
Books & Authors Session – Robin Gupta [Old Cottonian & retired IAS officer]
13/03/2023
Robin Gupta [1965 BCS batch] retired IAS Officer and other…
Holi and Women’s Day / 2023
10/03/2023
On the auspicious Holi and Women’s Day [March 8th…
The whole nine yards – or should it be 256 yards*?
19/02/2023
BCS – Life – Golf – The Phoenix 🦅…
ITC Classic OCs Golf 2023
18/02/2023
A few photos shared by Chetan Singh @ ITC Classic organized…
OCA reunion Lunch 2023
13/02/2023
OCA Reunion lunch 2023, at Delhi Golf club, Zakir Hussain…
URGENT ATTENTION OC GOLFERS:
05/02/2023
Young OC Kanav Monga is organising ( second time around…
The 2022 Winter Christmas Letter – someday we will return..
29/01/2023
..loads of snow over Swedenfrozen lakes in January..stubbornly…
Book Discussion – “Living a Life” [Ravi Sawhney]. Chandigarh 4th Feb 2023.
18/01/2023
RSVP Vijay Singh whatsapp +91 98110 56361
Living a Life
“Living a Life” – memoir by retired IAS officer Ravi Sawhney, (Lefroy 1959)
18/01/2023
Earlier this month, Former J & K governor N.N. Vohra…
Seeing big in the tiniest of nature – another fab video by Sabu Singh
15/01/2023
OCA INDIA Annual Lunch 12th Feb UPDATE INFO for payment
09/01/2023
ANNUAL OCA LUNCH is now being hosted in the Delhi Golf Club…
Annual OCA Delhi Lunch 12th Feb 2023
09/01/2023
OCA Annual Lunch 12thFeb 2023 Delhi Golf Club1230 PM RSVP…
Update – people we knew. Message from Mr Goss
29/12/2022
Dear All, I received the following message from Mr Ronald…
Curzon House photos : 1954 & 1962
29/12/2022
Dear All, RS Sodhi has been kind enough to loan me photo…
Curzon House – old photos received
23/12/2022
A whole bunch of Curzon House photos found and passed on…
David Browning / farewell dear OC
23/12/2022
22nd Dec-2022 Message from David’s wife, Carol to…
CHRISTMAS GREETINGS [and the exchange of emails with Mr and Mrs Goss
22/12/2022
16th Dec 2022 Dear family and friends. Ron and I found the…
Bikramjeet Singh Gill) ,batch of 92 )passed away.
14/12/2022
Recently one of our old cottonion from Lefroy house (Bikramjeet…
sad loss : Himmat Kahalon [Ibbetson 1969 batch]
13/12/2022
Himmet passed on at Chandigarh 13th December 2022. Our condolences…
BCS Archive Collection**** Important Notice to OCs
06/12/2022
BCS Archive Collection**** Important Notice to OCs Dear…
OCA HP Chapter contributory dinner Oct 29th
21/10/2022
Old Cottonians Association HP Chapter Cordially invites…
Annual Reunion dinner 2022 – OCA Delhi Chapter
11/10/2022
Old Cottonians Association Delhi Chapter Invites you to…
Old Cottonian Dr Humayun Khan [Rivaz 1941-1947] – passed on
03/10/2022
My father Dr Humayun Khan passed away on 22 Sept, 2022,…
Birthday greetings: David Wood-Robinson [Ibbetson 1940-44]!
29/09/2022
Our very special Old Cottonian Mr. David Wood-Robinson is…
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