Sesquicentennial Archive

The Sesquicentennial Archive

The Old Cottonians' Association is delighted to announce that Old Cottonian General KS Thimayya, DSO, Padma Bhushan, posthumous winner of the Old Cottonian of Eminence Award 2016.

Biggles (Captain James Bigglesworth), the fictional hero created by Captain WE Johns was inspired by Captain William Leefe Robinson, VC (1895 - 1918), an Old Cottonian and the first British pilot to shoot down a German Zeppelin over Britain during the First World War! © Old Cottonians' Association, 2015. All rights reserved.

Captain William Leefe Robinson, VC (1895 - 1918), Old Cottonian and the first British pilot to shoot down a German Zeppelin over Britain during the First World War. He was the first person to be awarded the Victoria Cross for action in the United Kingdom. © Old Cottonians' Association, 2015. All rights reserved.

Divided by Houses, United by Cottons! Elphick, Pakenham Walsh, Pettigrew & Pope House brought together at the 50th Anniversary Reunion of the Class of 1962, Bishop Cotton Boys' School! © Old Cottonians' Association, 2015. All rights reserved.

Old Cottonian Dr. Raja Ramanna (Class of '39, Pope House), the Father of India's nuclear program and former Patron of the Old Cottonians' Association. © Old Cottonians' Association, 2015. All rights reserved.

The victorious Karnataka cricket team with its seventh Ranji Trophy (2014). We're especially proud of the three Old Cottonians in the winning team: Amit Verma, Mayank Agarwal and Ravikumar Samarth! © Old Cottonians' Association, 2015. All rights reserved.

Commemorative stamp issued by the Republic of Cyprus in honor of General K S Thimayya, Padma Bhushan, DSO, Chief of Army Staff (1957 - 1961) and Old Cottonian (1918 - 1922). © Old Cottonians' Association, 2015. All rights reserved.

Logo of the Old Cottonian of Eminence Award, which recognizes the outstanding alumni of Bishop Cotton Boys' School, who have distinguished themselves and brought honour to their alma mater. The Old Cottonian of Eminence Award is the highest honour for Old Cottonians given out by the Old Cottonians' Association. © Old Cottonians' Association, 2015. All rights reserved.

'The Order of the Crest' by Old Cottonian Aditya Sondhi (Class of '93, Pakenham-Walsh House) traces the alumni of Bishop Cotton Boys' School (1865 - 2015) over 150 years and encompasses profiles of the people and the times, covering spheres as varied as the armed forces, public service, police, education, academia, law, medicine, the arts and the offbeat.

Even our cakes bear the Cottonian insignia! Photograph of the celebratory cake at the 50th Anniversary Reunion of the Class of 1962, Bishop Cotton Boys' School. © Old Cottonians' Association, 2015. All rights reserved.

Old Cottonians Imtiaz Ahmed (Class of 61, Pakenham Walsh House), Nauzer R Nowroji (Class of 62, Pettigrew House), Brian Dozey (Class of 63, Pope House), outside St. Steven's Church, Ooty circa 1963. © Old Cottonians' Association, 2015. All rights reserved.

Rev. H F J Daniel (Chairman of the Cottons Centenary Committee & Presbyter in charge, St. Mark's Cathedral), General Srinagesh (former Chief of Staff, Indian Army) as Governor of Mysore, Rev. I L Thomas and Acca Joseph (Principal, Bishop Cotton Girls' School) at Bishop Cotton Boys' School circa 1965. © Old Cottonians' Association, 2015. All rights reserved.

The biography of Old Cottonian Captain William Leefe Robinson, VC (1895 - 1918), who was the first British pilot to shoot down a German Zeppelin over Britain during the First World War. Captain William Leefe Robinson was also the first recipient of the Victoria Cross for action in the United Kingdom. This is a book that every Cottonian should read! © Old Cottonians' Association, 2015. All rights reserved.

A brilliant book co-authored by Old Cottonian Dr. Ajit Varki (Class of '67, Pope House). Why is there no human-like elephant or human-like dolphin, despite millions of years of evolutionary opportunity? Why is it that humans alone can understand the minds of others? 'Denial: Self-Deception, False Beliefs and the Origins of the Human Mind' presents a radical new theory on the origins of our species. © Old Cottonians' Association, 2015. All rights reserved.

'Airship Down' by artist Roger H Middlebrook GAvA, in honour of Captain William Leefe Robinson, VC (1895 - 1918), Old Cottonian and the first British pilot to shoot down a German Zeppelin over Britain during the First World War. © Old Cottonians' Association, 2015. All rights reserved.

Victoria Cross and Service Medals of Captain William Leefe Robinson, VC (1895 - 1918), Old Cottonian and the first British pilot to shoot down a German Zeppelin over Britain during the First World War. © Old Cottonians' Association, 2015. All rights reserved.

Victoria Cross Medal of Captain William Leefe Robinson, VC (1895 - 1918), Old Cottonian and the first British pilot to shoot down a German Zeppelin over Britain during the First World War. . © Old Cottonians' Association, 2015. All rights reserved.

Logo of the Pankaj Sadhu Trophy for Cricket, the Cricket Tournament hosted by the Old Cottonians' Association in loving memory of Old Cottonian Pankaj Sadhu. © Old Cottonians' Association, 2015. All rights reserved.

Captain William Leefe Robinson, VC (1895 - 1918), Old Cottonian and the first British pilot to shoot down a German Zeppelin over Britain during the First World War. © Old Cottonians' Association, 2015. All rights reserved.

Logo of the Dr. Raja Ramanna Trophy for Chess, the inter-school Chess Tournament hosted by the Old Cottonians' Association in loving memory of Old Cottonian Dr. Raja Ramanna (Class of '39, Pope House). © Old Cottonians' Association, 2015. All rights reserved.

Going, Going, Gone! A photographic summary of Old Cottonian Captain William Leefe Robinson, VC (1895 - 1918) shooting down a German Zeppelin over Britain during the First World War. © Old Cottonians' Association, 2015. All rights reserved.

Logo of the Old Cottonians' Association, the official alumni association of Bishop Cotton Boys' School and Bishop Cotton Girls' School. Since 1927! © Old Cottonians' Association, 2015. All rights reserved.

A book of souvenir photographs of the wrecked Zeppelin from The Great Air Raid on England (September 3, 1916). The collection includes a photograph of Captain William Leefe Robinson, VC (1895 - 1918), Old Cottonian and the first British pilot to shoot down a German Zeppelin over Britain during the First World War. © Old Cottonians' Association, 2015. All rights reserved.

Old Cottonian Ricky Kej (Class of '97, Pope House) won a Grammy Award for his album Winds of Samsara, a collaboration with South African flautist Wouter Kellerman. Ricky has composed the soundtrack for 5 Kannada films and is credited with over 3,000 placements for radio and television jingles. He composed the music for the opening ceremony of the 2011 Cricket World Cup. © Old Cottonians' Association, 2015. All rights reserved.

Old Cottonian Ricky Kej (Class of '97, Pope House was nominated for a Grammy Award for his album Winds of Samsara, a collaboration with South African flautist Wouter Kellerman! Winds of Samsara was recorded over two years by Ricky with over 120 musicians from five continents. The album weaves themes of world peace and spotlights the musical, cultural and political connections between India and South Africa. © Old Cottonians' Association, 2015. All rights reserved.

A Century & a Half in Green & Gold (by Paul Fernandes)! The Old Cottonians' Association commissioned renowned artist Paul Fernandes to create this gorgeous artwork as The Sesquicentennial Souvenir. Paul Fernandes went about his task meticulously: he visited school, asked for reference photographs and even interviewed Old Cottonians. The result is a gorgeous artwork that captures the spirit of Cottons! © Old Cottonians' Association, 2015. All rights reserved.