Sunday, December 28, 2008


EBRAHIM IS NOW A GRAND OLD MAN OF 4 YEARS. HIS SHOP WAS FULL OF TASTY TREATS FOR US WHEN WE WERE CHILDREN


KGF BOY'S SCHOOL NOW IN A STATE OF DISREPAIR

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Henry Shaft KGF

HENRY SHAFT KGF
GIFFORD SHAFT

Monday, November 10, 2008

KGF First Grade College, Oorgaum, KGF. I did my BA In this College and have many happy memories of my time spent in this College

Monday, October 6, 2008

St Joseph's Convent School, Champion Reefs, KGF









I was privileged to have studied in St Joseph's Convent School Kolar Gold Fields.
Our schooling years were great thanks to our wonderful teachers. They instilled the basic human values in us that still hold good today. They taught us the importance of hard work, dignity, honesty, integrity and to strive for excellence in whatever we did. They motivated us to rise above the mediocre and strive for bigger things. 
So many of the old pupils of St Joseph’s and KGF School hold high positions the United Nations and the World Bank. They are scientists and doctors, principals and engineers around the world. 












I'm including some of the comments I've received about our School St Joseph's Convent below:
greatunknown Says:
June 23, 2007 at 8:14 pm
Excellent… oh to be a boy again!

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Vijay Says:
June 25, 2007 at 7:17 pm
Excellent post… I lived in KGF till I was 5 yrs old… remember some things vaguely esp the Christmas celebrations.. Mom used to teach at KGF school as well…

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latha vidyaranya Says:
une 26, 2007 at 10:01 pm
hello bridget, i passed this article on to my co-sister Ramadevi, affectionately called ‘rammi’ who shares these childhood memories with you. she said she knows you very well, that you lived next door to hers, her sister sandhya and her brother kesri also remember you and that she had even called you on phone recently after seeing your article on some recipes in the news paper. rammi sends her love to you.

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Bridget White kumar Says:
June 27, 2007 at 2:09 pm
Hi Vijay and the great unknown
Thanks for your comments on KGF Nostagia..some childhood memories. I’m sure it bought back to mind the lovely place that KGF was in those days.
Warmest Regards
Bridget

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Bridget White kumar Says:
une 27, 2007 at 2:13 pm
Hi latha

Lovely to hear from you and more so to know that you are Rammi’s co-sister. I also remember her, her parents Mr and Mrs Hiranaiya and Sandhya and Kesari with much affection. We lived next door and played together as children. Sandhya and my younger sister were class mates and friends as well. Thanks for passing on my writeup to all of them.
Bridget

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Resourceful Says:
June 27, 2007 at 4:40 pm
Wow, these childhood memories make you very nostalgic indeed. I grew up in Hutti Gold Mines, Raichur Dist, Karnataka (1970-1985). I could relate to most of what you said, similar place and happenings.

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Maureen Says:
July 4, 2007 at 5:49 am
Interesting article Bridget.
Mine were in a similar vein to your memories . I lived in a Railway Colony in Podanur. Happy childhood memories , gone bu not forgotten.

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Arvind Says:
July 5, 2007 at 10:21 pm
Hi Bridget,
You talk about your aunts being strict disciplinarians. Well, I studied in KGF School in the early 70s and I can vouch for that!
We were absolutely terrified of Miss Morris and Miss White! But the time we spent at KGF school was great fun and infact 22 of us (all classmates of the school) met up only last week in Bangalore!
Regards,
Arvind
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Jayaraj Says:
January 17, 2010 at 9:01 pm
Arvind
Hi i too studied till 69 at KGF School..don’t recall but if you can contact then we can connect……..after all KGF was a small town
rgds
Jayarj
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Bridget White kumar Says:
July 6, 2007 at 6:45 pm
Hi Arvind
Yes my Aunts were feared and loved by all their students. Sadly they are no more. But everyone remembers them with affection. What’s you surname by the way. We used to live opposite the skating Rink.
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Fred Says:
September 15, 2007 at 9:44 am
Hello Bridget!
An interesting read. Thanks. My interest in Kolar relates to my Grandfather who worked on the Mysore Mine in the early 1900s. I’d love to know how I can verify his existence at the mines. His marriage certificate (1905) indicates that he was a “millman”. Would you know of any authoritative sources (e.g. historical society) in Bangalore or Kolar from whom I could get information? Pls let me know. Incidentally, I was born in Bangalore! I look forward to ‘hearing’ from you.
Regards and good health. Fred

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Nandini Says:
October 22, 2008 at 11:09 pm
Hi bridget,
I don’t know which year you studied inKGF.I studied in St.Joseph’s Convent and was in BEML colony.Yes, I remeber KGF very nostaligally. The strict nuns ( we had Sis MAry of JEsus, Sis. .Maureen.Sis Margaret and others)inculcated so much discipline, so hard to find these days… I too am a journalist.
Would like to more about you and KGF if you still have connections

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bridgetkumar Says:
October 23, 2008 at 4:56 pm
Hi Nandini
Sorry for taking so long to get back to you both. I would love to meet up with you. I’m a self published author of 5 Anglo-Indian Recipe books. Please do visit http://anglo-indianfood.blogspot.com I’m sure you’ll ind it interesting.

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bridgetkumar Says:
October 23, 2008 at 4:59 pm
Sorry for the delay in getting back to you. There’s no historical society as such in KGF. However, you could get some information from the churches and Mr Valentine Powel who tries to keep a record of the old people of KGF. You could also verify the British Records on line.
Regards
Bridget

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Sr. Elsamma Jacob Says:
November 20, 2008 at 11:54 am
Dear Bridget Kumar,
Greeting for SJCKGF….
We were glad to see your write up… if you can contact me to address :
Sr. Elsamma Jacob.
Principal,
St. Joseph’s Convent Girls High School,
Champion Reefs,
Kolar Gold Fields – 563117.
Ph : 08153-274555

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USHA Says:
December 9, 2008 at 7:43 pm
I STUDIED AT ST.JOSEPHS TOO. LONG TIME AGO. FOND MEMORIES, DID MY MIDDLE SCHOOL IN EARLY SEVENTIES. SOME TEACHERS WE SR.MIRIAM, MS RODRICKS, EDWARDD SILVA, KAVALAVATI ETC. ANY BODY OUT THERE WHO CAN THRO SOME LIGHT? I REMEMBER Q A FEW OF MY CLASS MATES TOO. DAYS AT THE SCHOOL WAS AN ENRICHING EXPERIENCE. -USHA

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Jhansi Says:
July 1, 2009 at 9:09 pm
Hi Usha,

I too studied at St Josephs around the same time that you mentioned. I remember a classmate of mine named Usha who lived near the Five Lights. Is that you? It’s been ages that I moved out of KGF but to be honest, I cherish the memories of my childhood days at KGF….Teachings of our Teachers hold high values. I remember most of them with high regards. Hope to hear from you.
Regards,
Jhansi

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Venkatesh Says:
March 18, 2009 at 4:41 pm
We were neighbhours of the Gibbs in Robertsonpet. Mr Gibbs was a absolute delight, he had some really funny stories to share. He used to scold my mom for not feeding us chicken (we are vegetarians). And once my granny was really sick with a Asthma attack and he gave her a couple of teaspoons of his brandy. I remember Mrs Queenie Gibbs was so strict with us kids. I used to hate her as a kid, but can now to relate to her. I think the Anglo Indians really gave a lot of character to KGF. As a kid I also used to love watching them play hockey.
I would like to disagree with the author of this blog about KGF being one happy family. I dont think a similar sentiment will be expressed by people in all strata, especially the ones who had to clean the waste.

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Kumar S Says:
March 21, 2009 at 10:36 pm
Its great! to recall Memories…. of childhood of being KGF-ites

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Kumar S Says:
March 21, 2009 at 10:40 pm
As i born & bought up in KGF, i did my graduation in 2000, i would like to see people like Mr.K to share his thoughts as he did by everyone else.

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Jessie Singh Says:
July 9, 2009 at 4:42 pm
Hi Bridgette, & to all my kgfites who remember me
Interesting writeup Bridgette, we all have wonderful memories of our roots KGF, I think I stll have the opportunity to retain my beautiful, lovely house at Oorgaum. My Dad A.R.Singh, am sure will be remembered with a lot of affection. Well, I write this with pride my Dad A.R. Singh was known as the LION OF KGF, seem conceited ain’t I, well I am, very proud to be known as his daughter.
We sisters studied at St. Joseph’s Convent. Our teaching of the Nuns and Teachers were sure of high value. Strict disciplinarians. Recently I had the opportunity to speak with most of my classmates after 30 long years. Hope this reaches out to all my other schoolies. Love you all my kgfites.

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Jayaraj Says:
January 17, 2010 at 8:57 pm
Hi Jesie
I do remember you, maybe if you send your co ordinates we can re establish contcat
rgds
Jayaraj
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shantha Says:
July 27, 2009 at 5:47 pm
Hi Brigit and all others
I too am proud of KGF. I studied at St. Joseph’s and left KGF in 1969 after my PUC.My mother still lives in Robertsonpet and I visit her often. I live in the US now. Will love to hear from any of my friends.
Please reply

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R S ANANDARAJ Says:
July 29, 2009 at 7:34 pm
hi Brigit and all others I Studied in KGF School early 70 s terrifed of Miss Morris and Miss White but the time we spentin KGF School have grate fun my frinds are BURDY CLDWINDISE ASHLY PETERS DERIC BROWN HUGIN PETERS And many more now I am 52 years old working in NMDC As Deputy manager in iron ore mines chhathisgarh north india.

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Amarnath Says:


September 4, 2009 at 7:10 pm
Hi Bridget Kumar,

Thank you for bringing out some golden memories of KGF. I am a product of KGF School. Mrs Bothwick was my first class teacher followed by Miss. Pinto, Mrs Godfrey, Miss White and Miss Morris. Mr. Pinto was the Headmaster. I am proud of the teaching standards and discipline followed by the school, that formed the foundation to a successful career for me.I was living in Oorgaum (between the police station & railway station) and was neighbour to Miss Pinto (jr & sr). In my childhood days I was a frequent visitor to Oorgaum Hall to watch movies with my dad (VB Sudarisanan)and his friend ND Vogt. Later, I was working in BGML and used to visit KGF Club (ex Oorgaum Hall) and Nundydroog Club (Skating Rink). Now, I have settled in the UK. I would be happy to establish contact with my school mates and friends.

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kalpana Says:


September 8, 2009 at 4:38 pm
Hi Bridgette and all KGFites
Iam proud of KGF. I studied at St. Joseph’s and left KGF in 2001 after my PUC.Transfered to Bangalore only for the purpose of job.though the life style is different today but the happiness what we had in KGF is different simple life with more of happiness.
KGF life is really special with lots of sweet memories

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ravi chandran raj Says:


September 17, 2009 at 3:13 pm
hi briget,

I am from KGF , A MINING ENGINEER live in NAVI MUMBAI.

Every time i visit KGF , the roots. , wonderful memories ., the glories past of the place[little england] . , the great people who still love and pride KGF totally captivates me.

I have set up a trust known as JOHN TAYLOR TRUST FOR TECHNICAL EDUCATION [JTTE] THOUGH REGISTERED IN MAHARASHTRA WOULD OPERATE FROM MY FRIENDS BUNGLOW AT SMITH ROAD.

i want to make a documentary film on kgf picturising the feeling of life in kgf through the people .

trust will also work for setting up a ‘ JOHN TAYLORS MUSEUM’.’ JOHN TAYLORS PARK’, ‘JOHN TAYLORS GOLDEN GATE’ AND A LIBRARY.I AM GATHERING AS MUCH AS DETAILS ARTICLES FOR THE SAME.

been all over india there is no great place like the “little england”

no other country, and no other govt in the world would have left a place like kgf to its current level of status. lee.

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bridgetkumar Says:


November 14, 2009 at 11:46 am
Hi Ravi
Please email me on bidkumar@gmail.com
Bridget

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Maria Says:


September 26, 2009 at 3:20 pm
Hi All,
I am also from kgf and i am proud to be from such a beautiful place,i studied in william richards school and did my graduation in first grade college. i am really really happy to read this article about kgf….i am lucky to be a part it.There is no place in this world which i can compare to kgf..the love of neighbours,the celebration of all festivals, the 1st cross road, my college….i only have tears in my eyes now if i talk about my place. KGF is disappearing…..but i dont want it to happen. Is there any way to save KGF???? i want this beautiful place to be recognised again….Can we do something to save our place.i love kgf…i can never forget my memories in kgf…KGF hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

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P.B.Rajeshwaran Says:


October 10, 2009 at 6:40 pm
Hai Maria,
Im also from KGF, i studied my primary and middle school at st.Josephs Convent and my high school at st.Mary’s School, PUC at FGC and now working in the Gulf. I really accept all the fact what u have mentioned about KGF. “There is no place on Earth like KGF”. My parents still live in KGF and i visit them once in a year. I luv the place and the weather.

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bridgetkumar Says:


November 14, 2009 at 11:44 am
Hi Everyone. I’m overwhelmed with the response from all of you to my little article on KGF. Thank you all very much. For some real KGF Nostalgia and for some lovely pictures of all the familiar landmarks of KGF please do visit my Blog http://memoriesofkgf.blogspot.com. I’m sure you all will long for KGF all the more. Bridget

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jeromias paul Says:
November 20, 2009 at 8:43 pm
Hi Bridget kumar,
Thanks for your article, I along with my brother VINCENT PAUL studied from 1970-75, Still cherish the memories of my school days, I stayed in Marikuppam near Mysore hall, my friends were Samson,Simon jesudas,louis,chavan,bhartyfisher,keith brown,halge,morris,ashly peters etc.It was really great living in KGF we really had great fun,I am settled in bangalore right now.Hope KGF comes back to its glory some day.
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Bridget White-Kumar Says:
November 22, 2009 at 11:46 am
Thanks Jeromias.

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Suma Says:
November 23, 2009 at 8:57 pm
Hi everyone,
I too am a KGF. I was born there but lived in bangalore. Since it is my birth place, KGF/Andersonpet/Oorgaum station is very very close to my heart. My grandmom and my uncles still live there. I am right now in the UAE but make it a point to visit KGF every year without fail.
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kanina bose Says:
December 2, 2009 at 6:37 pm
hi bridget!
what a dream write up!i am from kgf too.studied in st josephz under sister mary of jesus.i passed out in 82 from school.your article has taken me back to those good old dayz!though we were from beml the anglo indian influence on us was strong.my daughter spent all her childhood summer holidayz in kgf and sayz that the bangarpet station is straight out of malgudi dayz!shez doing her architecture from delhi now.dr.saldahna and his family have been my friendz for long.do u know them? in fact rosa his daughter was my class mate.it was truly wonderful going down memory lane. god bless and lotz of luck and luv bridget.do reply!

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Napolean Says:

December 11, 2009 at 3:09 am
Hi Bridget/And all great KGF friends
Home Sweet Home Ther’s no place like home ,Dear friends I was born , brought @ studied PKSN/BGML SCHOOL batch 87/90 .old house 24 N.T BLOCK OORGAUM ,If i see any article or news about kgf my heart go’s back to golden days ,which will ever come ,going to mother of mines church,twon,sitting in railway station ,convent school girls waaa what a days ,christmas ,pongal time,my school & negibourwood friends ,when I will get all these back ,I sincerly pray god to bless the city of gold again & great good pepole ,,,bridget good work keep it up god bless you,,,,,Napolean Canada

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Bridgetkumar Says:
December 14, 2009 at 11:45 am
Hi Napolean.Thanks. Seasons greetings and a Happy New year to all

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Swarna Says:
March 10, 2010 at 8:36 am
Hi Bridget, Thanks for your writeup and I too share the same memories of KGF. Too bad its almost dead now.

I did my 1-10 in SJC and cant find such teachers anywhere now. The passion and discipline that they had is worth acknowledging. I am sending my Heart felt THANK YOU to all the teachers of SJC ( 1975-1985) through your blo 

Friday, September 19, 2008

OOGAUM STATION

In 1894, the Mysore Government financed the construction of a branch railway line 10 miles in length connecting all the 5 mines between Mysore Mine (Marikuppam) and Bowringpet Junction (Bangarapet) to connect the Bangalore Madras Railway line. Oorgaum Station was the main link for people in Nandygroog, Oorgaum also Robertsonpet and surrounding areas.

Monday, September 15, 2008

KGF NOSTALGIA… Some childhood memories

I was privileged to be born and brought up in Kolar Gold Fields, a small mining town in the erstwhile Mysore State now known as Karnataka in India. K G F as everyone knows had a very sizable Anglo-Indian Population who lived and worked there for generations. It was well known for its colonial ambience with elegant bungalows replete with huge lawns and gardens and many clubs with tennis and badminton courts, golf courses etc. This place, which was known as “Little England” was unique for its secular and egalitarian society not found anywhere else in the world. Even though gold was being surface extracted by the natives earlier, K G F actually came into existence in the year 1880, when a small British Trading Company called JOHN TAYLOR AND SONS established the first shaft for systematic gold extraction. They continued to be the owners till 1950, when Mr. Arthur Taylor, the last of the Taylors handed over the company to the Government of Mysore. Since then KGF has been owned first by the state Government then later by the Government of India and now it is totally defunct. The mines were closed a few years ago and with it one of the most famous Gold Mines in the world came to an end. It is the end of an era.

Many generations of Anglo-Indians worked in the different mines in K G F in different capacities. Everyone was happy and contented. Since it was such a small mining town, everyone knew everyone else and for weddings, funerals, dances and other functions all the Anglo-Indians in K G F would more or less be present. Life in K G F was glorious and almost every family had a retinue of Domestic Helpers i.e. “Ayahs, Malis (Gardeners), Chokaras, Thais, Sweepers, Tea-Boys, etc. who were part of the family.

The A I boys studied at the K G F School in Nandidroog Mine, where my Aunts Pansy White and Beryl Morris were strict disciplinarians. The Pinto sisters, Mrs. Monnisse, Mrs O’Connor, Mrs Godfrey, etc were all famous and well loved teachers. The A I girls studied at St Joseph’s Convent in Champion Reefs, where the nuns Mother Margurite, Sisters Miriam, Mary of the Cross. Mary Presentation, Magdalene, Regina, Immaculata, Patricia, etc were equally strict. My aunt Luda Bertie, Miss Sharma, Mrs Johnson, the Steven sisters, etc are loved and remembered even today.

Childhood in K G F was blissful. No luxuries like the present generation but never the less happy with simple pleasures and games like Butch, Football, Throw ball, Spinning Tops, playing Rounders, and Seven Stones, “ L O N D O N”, flying kites (after coating the sting with “Manga” which is a mixture of glass pieces, paste etc so as to cut the other persons kite midair), I Spy and many other simple games. No T V then just a very old radio which would be tuned and switched on by the parents only, at times designated by them. Programes would be mostly news and songs from All India Radio and Radio Ceylon with Vijay Correra doing the honours. We would send in requests for favourite songs and wait eagerly for our names to be announced.

Now in a lighter vein, I would like to share a small childhood memory of the bathrooms/ Toilets in KGF. The houses in K G F were colonial style homes. Earlier, there was no underground drainage system, septic tank etc. As a matter of fact the modern W Cs were introduced only in the late 60s. Just aluminum Chamber Pots on Commode stands lined up in a row in the Toilets one for each member of the family, The Stands would be painted blue, green or brown with a matching wooden cover for each. In those early days in KGF we had Night Soil sweepers to clean the toilets. Every morning the night soil sweeper would come with her bucket to “Collect” the contents in the chamber pots and clean them with a mixture of soap solution and powdered Charcoal, which would make the pots literally shine like silver. This was quite a ritual and they would be inspected closely to see whether they were washed well without any residues left behind The pots would then be left in the sun to dry for some time while the sweeper lady washed the floors of the bathroom, then once again they would be replaced on their respective stands, ready for the day.

As children, we took this for granted as a way of life. Now looking back we cannot imagine asking present day children with their very luxurious bathrooms, which are now “Glamour Rooms” to use a Chamber Pot. The very occupation of the Night Soil Sweeper is now abolished and the old Chamber Pots have since vanished forever.

Likewise, K G F too is just a distant memory for all KGFites. The K G F of today makes us weep for its bygone glory. Long live K G F in the hearts of its erstwhile inhabitants wherever they may be.

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