TEACHERS DAY CELEBRATIONS

Keeping with the tradition of SJOBA, and to make this year’s Teachers Day even more special, the executive team of the St. Johns Old Boys Association hosted a lunch at Kava, Sector 26, Chandigarh to honour the teachers.

Kava's owner, Old Boy Akaash Garg, very graciously supported this event. As all the teachers walked in with the same persona as ever, a cake cutting ceremony brought the celebration to life.

“The importance of a teacher in shaping up one’s life needs no rhetoric. A teacher forms the very foundation and bedrock of our very being and thus despite our best efforts to pay them back, we shall always remain indebted. A teacher is one who we idolize, who helps us discover our real being, who helps us hold our head high” said the President of SJOBA while welcoming the teachers.

With hearts full of respect and the air thick with laughs, cherished memories and nostalgic eyes, the ex-students and teachers got reminiscent of old times. Despite all the success achieved by the old boys in their respective lives, they were humbled by the presence of the teachers of their alma mater.

Ms. Kavita Dass, Principal, St. Johns High School, expressed her sentiment in the following words “A truly memorable get-together. The pains that had been taken, the thoughtfulness in inviting the senior teachers and the small acts of kindness (an egg and an eggless cake) made us feel so very special.”

Ms. Likhari, the Senior School Coordinator, added “Each teachers day is better and more enjoyable than the previous one”.

As all parted ways with a promise to honour our teachers for life, an emotional wave passed through with a hope to see them again, soon!

Greetings from the Desk of President SJOBA

Dear fellow Johnians,

I am humbled by the task before me, grateful for the trust you have bestowed in me and mindful of all the work done by previous teams in keeping the SJOBA flag flying high.

I thank the outgoing president Sanjiv Kumar and his team for giving us a wonderful year.

We have had an overwhelming response from Johnians wanting to be on this years team. It’s heartening to see how all of us feel for our Alma mater.  We have done our best to have as many of us as we could on the team this year, but my executive and I do look forward to having the support and cooperation of everyone.

This year is a significant year. Besides the silver jubilee batch this year we have the first batch of St John’s completing its 50 years. This is their Golden Jubilee year.  

This year also marks the Sester Centennial Anniversary which is the 250^th year of Edmund Rice, founder of the Order of the Irish Christian Brothers. SJOBA stands committed to provide its unstinted support to outreach events planned to mark these celebrations.

Please contribute with ideas, suggestions, work on the ground and any help that you can give to make the events better and more meaningful. I would welcome new out of the box ideas. I promise they will get my executive and my special attention as we would like to do things differently but do them well. I wish to generate more camaraderie and brotherhood, so do come together and make this year a roaring success with delivering events that are fun, interesting but more importantly meaningful and help make a difference both for Johnians in schools and the alumni. Old boy Sahil Sharma the Honorary Secretary of SJOBA would regularly update you with information in regard to the forthcoming events. A group of very talented Johnians are also working on developing a new SJOBA website which would be dynamic in nature as well as a SJOBA App so that communications and information could be provided more effectively.

Friends it is time to give back to your school and the Johnian community at large therefore I would urge you all who have made a success of their lives and careers to do come forward and help and mentor our young Johnians who are still finding their feet. Be the wind beneath their wings and help them fly through a programme my executive and I wish to put together this year.

If I could take away one big thing from this year for myself that will be to make our school not only No.1 in the city or in the region but No. 1 in India in time to come. I hope to work closely with the school, Mrs. Das and our alumina in pursuing and achieving this goal.

And finally to quote Mac Sir- ‘Do not think what SJOBA can do for you but think about what you can do for SJOBA’.  So Johnians hold that thought and do come forward and stand by your school and your mates to make this a year to remember.

Regards,

Ajay Thiara

President

St. John’s Old Boys Association 

SJOBA THUNDERBOLT RALLY

It’s the time of the year for which we all have been waiting, and guess what it’s the 26th year of the SJOBA Thunderbolt Rally.

The Extreme Rally will be open to jeeps/cars/bikes with the participants being required to cover approximately 300 kms over 3 days. The rally being extra special this year, so

we thought of making it more challenging and more over FAST, pushing the drivers skills to the test.

The TSD this year is going to be a rollercoaster ride for the novice and amateur participants. A special treat for all the off roaders for sure.

As always, the 4W/2W/TSD Rallies would be running concurrently. The tentative schedule is as follows:

Time: Friday, March 22, 2013 at 9:00am - March 24, 2013, at 6:00pm

Entries open – Monday, 25 Feburary, 2013

Closing Date for Standard Entries – Thursday , 14 March, 2013

Closing of late entries – Tuesday, 19 March, 2013

Scrutiny and SSS – 22nd March

Leg 1 (Chandigarh to Shimla) – 23 March, 2013

Leg 2 (Shimla to Chandigarh) - 24 March, 2013

Prize Distribution and Dinner - 25 March, 2013

So get ready and gear up!

SMS Treasure Hunt

Clue 15:
Druggist-Archery-Insurance-Tired?
Answer: Apollo

Clue 14:
To the year before the tryst it goes,
An unrest when in the sea arose.
The Sword of Gallant made a cut deep,
With a strike on the western shores.

Answer: The Royal Indian Navy Mutiny

Clue 13:
He moved from a square to a sphere,
where hammers were harmonious to the ear.
The More you THINK, the better,
Can you see the world from his angle dear?

Answer: Pythagoras

Clue 12:
After a century came my turn,
GOD conspired against my other half I did learn.
The great king and queen could not see,
When the great warrior killed in return.
Answer: Dushala

Clue 11:
By the rivers of Babylon they were born
written so they couldn't be torn
An eye for an eye,a tooth for a tooth
They are for real,the french have sworn

Answer: Code of Hammurabi

Clue 10:
The fox ate the royal share,
Later a tyrant was killed here.
On the day the octopus was mauled,
Some felt aukward to be there.
Answer: Battle of Gazala

Clue 9:
This hero was made in the villains lair,
Alien and rocket by his chair.
A nagging wife in the kitchen
Messing with him don't you dare.

Answer: Chacha Chaudhary

Clue 8:
This national edifice is surrounded by body of blue
GOD could be displaced knew who?
Now a new GOD sits on the throne
Churning of brains will solve the clue.
Answer: Angkor Wat

Clue 7:
Sprawling across straight waters I lay,
On a smooth road with a bird I stay.
Golden Trumpet is a place of refuge,
fighting for the claim are two giants huge.
Answer: Istanbul

Clue 6:
Blinded by love and war was I,
For my kindness and chivalry I did die.
Inferno embraced my love for ever,
My poetic end will be forgotten never.
Answer: Prithviraj Chauhan

Clue 5:
Destroyer's arm made the villain strong
Creator's word caused trauma last long
The android is ten times smarter than us
Betrayed he was, but his deeds were wrong
Answer: Ravana

Clue 4:

The search for a crimson month is on,

The last expedition at the crack of dawn.

Up in mountainous land the knight traps,

His love for the Iron Curtain is long gone.

Answer: Sir Sean Connery

Clue 3:

Pleasure is the name of the game,
With many a mammals for him to tame.
With jewels in his crown,
Can you checkout his name?

Answer: Vishwanathan Anand

Clue 2: 
Desire-Respect-Wanderer-Rapid-GODLY?
Answer: Maruti

Clue No. 1 
I always tell the truth with no words said,
I turn everything though I lay still as dead.
Hyped by children's Lit,
Do not copy if my anger you dread.
Answer: Mirror

The SJOBA SMS TREASURE HUNT

A Treasure Hunt with a difference; sit back and relax, preferably with a cup of coffee, a computing device with an internet connection and maybe some books (yes, some people still use them!!). All you need to participate is a mobile telephone with a valid registered Indian mobile phone number. You will receive a question (or clue) via a sms sent to your mobile phone. You will have the whole day at your disposal to find the answer to this clue, but you need to be quick! You may find it on your own, help other fellow Johnians with the answer, or sneak it from your fellow Johnian’s telephone!! Send your answer back via sms and if it is correct, you receive the next clue. This will continue in sequence till the last clue. The winner will be the person who gives the maximum number of correct answers in the shortest time.

The rules and regulations for the SMS Treasure Hunt are as follows. Please be sure to read them carefully to avoid any inconvenience or confusion during the game: 

1.      To register: send a sms with the word REGISTER , to 9888442288 from your mobile phone with a valid Indian mobile phone number.

2.      The entries will be registered on a first come first served basis from each participant.

3.      You will sent a clue as a sms from the phone number 9888442288. You have to send ALL ANSWERS for all the clues to THIS NUMBER ONLY.

4.      The number from which YOU send your sms to register will be accepted as the number on which all further clues and communication regarding the Game will be sent. You cannot change your mobile phone number once you have registered.

5.      The first clue will be sent on 1st October, 2012 at: 10:00 am. There will be 15 clues in all.

6.      Each participant can send in ONE answer only to each clue. Answers will be accepted till Midnight on the day the clue was sent ONLY.

7.      If any participant sends a second sms with a different answer, it will NOT be considered. The first sms answer from each participant will be considered as the final answer submitted, and no changes will be done. So please, don’t send multiple smses.

8.      Wrong answers once submitted to the system cannot be changed, and no further corrections will be made in this matter. No “personal” requests will be entertained in this regard as well.

9.      Please send only the answer via sms. The format for the answer will be: sms to 9888442288.

10. Please send only the answer using the format above. Do not submit any queries, questions and requests for clarification via the sms as these will not be entertained and you will lose your chance to answer.

11. If the participant has sent the correct answer to Clue number 1, he will be sent Clue number 2 on the morning of the next day, and so on in sequence.

12. If a wrong answer is received from a participant to Clue number 1, he will be considered as excluded from the game and will not receive Clue number 2 on the next day, and this will be applicable to all clues and the answers sent in sequence.

13. Please remember: All participants will receive the clue(s) from the mobile phone number 9888442288 and must reply with the answer to the same number.

14. The previous day’s clues and their correct answers will be published on the website www.sjoba.in the following day at 10:00 am.

15. The same format will be followed regarding clue, time and answers for each clue in succession.

16. If a participant does not receive the new day’s clue by 11:00 am, it is considered that the answer to the previous clue was wrong. This may be verified by checking the website as mentioned above.  

17. If a participant does not receive the new clue till 11:00 am, he should check the answer of the previous clue on the website (See rule 14). If he finds that his answer was correct and he has still not received the new clue, he should contact any one o the Judges of Fact (details below) with the relevant information before 5:00 pm on the same day. No queries will be entertained in this regard after 5:00 pm.

18. Kindly note that delivery of a sms from any mobile phone to any other mobile phone number is dependant on the service provider, the current location of the recipient/sender and features like roaming and /or network coverage.SJOBA takes no responsibility for the delivery time/status or non-delivery and/or receipt of clues and/or answers.

19. Any controversies related to the game/clues and answers will be brought to the notice of our “Judges of Fact” and will be discussed with them. Decision of the “Judges of Fact” will be final and binding on all participants.

20. Judges of Fact nominated by the President, SJOBA for this SMS Treasure Hunt are: Old Boy Dr. Rahul Datta (Doc)(M: 9872041637), Joint Secretary, Old Boy Karan Mehan(M: 988827661), and Executive Member, SJOBA Old Boy Almasto Kapoor(M: 9876148095).

21. Due to unforeseen circumstances, it may become necessary to cancel, reschedule, postpone, delay or modify the event in any way as required. All participants will be informed of any changes in such situations and any modification in these rules and regulations via the website or email. These will apply to ALL PARTICIPANTS uniformly.

22. The principal of Force Majeure shall also apply. 

23. There is no participation fee.

24. The opinions, suggestions, remarks, if any, expressed during this game, whether in the clues or in the answers, are not those of SJOBA and SJOBA shall not be held liable or responsible for any such like remarks, opinions or observations. This is the precondition of SJOBA for participating in this event. 

25. It is only upon the express understanding and mutual acceptance of all the conditions above that one participates in the event. Your agreeing to participate in this treasure hunt by registering is an acceptance of all the rules of this event and you agree to be bound by them. 

This is a FUN EVENT for all SJOBA members, please enjoy it with us! So, pick up your cell phone, type your name and batch and send an SMS to 9888442288. 

For any further queries, please get in touch with the Game Master Vivek Bansal at 9888332288. 

T-10 Night Cricket Tournament

The SJOBA T-10 Night Cricket got off to a rollicking start with the TIGERS taking on the KIWIS in the first match.

The TIGERS batting first put up a challenging total of 63 in their allotted 10. The target, however, proved to be a cake walk for the KIWIS who notched up the required runs in only 8.2 overs without losing any wicket.

The second match saw team COLTS getting the better of team FALCONS.

The FALCONS got off to a nightmarish start losing their top 3 wickets in the first 2 overs itself. The captain along with the remaining batsmen then played a steady hand to take the score to a respectable 61 at the end of ten.

The COLTS paced their innings well and got home with an over to spare, losing only 2 wickets.

The last match of the day saw the HAWKS taking on the fancied SHARKS. Batting first, the SHARKS put up 78, the highest score of the day, on the board. Chasing the daunting target the HAWKS failed to play out their 10 overs and were bowled out for 33.

SJOBA Golf Tournament - Prize Distribution

The cloudy Sunday morning with a cool September zephyr just proved to be the icing on the cake for all SJOBA golfers who gathered to show their "putting" skills at The Chandigarh Golf Club, for The SJOBA Golf Tournament 2012. The event was supported by Pioneer Toyota, through its owner Old Boy Sampat Singh, KAVA, through it’s owner Old Boy Akash Garg, and Bacardi. We extend our special thanks to KAVA for helping us to relocate the Prize Distribution venue at the eleventh hour as the Rain gods lashed their fury in form of a deluge just our before the function.

The day started with breakfast at the Golf Club. After the registration, the Tee-Off was on time and the game was rolling. Some of the past-presidents, like Old Boy T P Singh, Old Boy D D Khanna and Old Boy Nippy Ghai,  were seen flexing their muscles to prove their mettle on the greens. Some of the other regular Old Boys, like Vaibhav Mehan and Vishal Sharma, too were seen having their share of the game while the youngsters worked hard to make the event a success.

The game was till late afternoon. The Prize Distribution dinner culminated with a few drinks and old school days chatter with some nostalgic memories.

The next event in line is The SJOBA Cricket Tournament, starting on Sunday, 23^rd September, 2012, at school grounds. Hope to see you all there.

We would also like to thank our Media Partners, Rajni Shaleen Chopra and Swarleen Kaur, for helping us with our events.