Tonight I met an ex-Dosco and he told me the story of how Chandbagh school came about in Pakistan.
I have never heard of Chandbagh, and I don’t know how many of you have heard of Doon school in India. It is the best for boys. I studied in the sister school, a mile away, and that is why I am looking for my ‘brothers’ here or at least some news of what this school is like.
This friend of mine went to the golden anniversary of Doon in 87, and around 20 Pakistanis came. They were old boys who had studied till 47’ and left. Speeches were made, toasts were drunk, and the Pakistanis said how sad it was that there was no Doon - the finest of the fine - in Pakistan.
There and then it was decided that Doon would help set up a Pak-Doon. Funds were collected both sides of the border and since the founding father had been an Etonian the Pak headmaster was also to be Etonian. The school was set up around 1990 or thereabouts.
We often say that we were brought up with such impossible ideals that we find it hard to fit anywhere. But the fit between ex-students is immediate. There is a code of honor that is never broken. Amongst the 87’ speeches was one by an Indian army major who had fought in the 65 war. Apparently when they broke through some pass he was confronted with the opposite side’s major. When they found out they were both ex-doscos they shook hands solemnly and went into reverse gear, finding it out of the question to raise a gun on each other.
Well, it makes for a romantic story and I for one believe every word of it. Anyway, it seems the Pak govt did not allow the school to be named Doon, saying any other name was ok. So the Doscos came up with Chandbagh, which is part of the Doon address.
I did a search for this school but could only find a home page with an outline of the school’s buildings. Can anyone tell me what this school is like and if it is similar to Doon in spirit?