A brief on how the past half a century has gone behind me, after we parted from the Xavier's in '56 - it was a little stormy affair, and somewhat action packed!

After graduating from the B.N.College, Patna in Science (phy.,chem and maths), I joined the Army (infantry) in '62. Saw lots of action in '65 and '71 Indo-Pak Wars, followed by few years of counterinsurgency operations- chasing the insurgents in our eastern and western areas, before retiring in 1995.

Then took up an assignment with the Bank of Baroda in their top management cadre (Security and Administration) in the same year at their headquarters at Mumbai, before finally retiring from the Bank also in June, 2001, on reaching the age of 60 years.

I am here with my wife, setteld in my old house at Rajendra Nagar at Patna.

During our school days in Xavier's, if you remember, I use to cycle down to the school from my old house at Gardanibagh, joining you (Paul) enroute at your house in Adalatganj Quarters. Roads were empty then. It is so busy and congested now.

My son Gautam (married, with two sons) is also a Colonel in the Army and my daughter, Bharti (one son and a daughter) is married to a Naval Officer (Commander). So all in the services! I am also presently trying my luck with a bit of farming but frankly, with not much of a success due to unfavourable conditions.

Life is gradually ebbing out but Vijay's and Promod's revival of the '56 spirits has certainly given a fresh lease of life to most of us.