An Indian EnglishmanJohn Travers Mends (Jack) Gibson was born on March 3, 1908 and died on October 23, 1994 at the age of 86.In some ways, Jack was the last Indian Englishman. He came ten years before independence and stayed on 47 years after it, rendering dedicated service to the country of his adoption for 57 years. Jack's journey started as a school teacher at The Doon School. He was the last English Principal of Mayo College and the last English President of the Himalayan Club. He was the last, and for most of the time the only English resident of Ajmer. He must have been just about the last Englishman to have been honored by both the British and Indian Governments.Brij Sharma is a journalist based in Bahrain. He spent much of his childhood and youth in Dehra Dun, and while not a product of The Doon School, he has known its campus, the surroundings of the city and much of the mountainous terrain described in Gibson's letters.http://www.jtmgibson. |
Contents
BandarpunchGangotriBadrinath | 17 |
Gulmarg to the Kumbh Mela | 39 |
Kathiawar and the South | 65 |
War in Europe | 81 |
Wartime in India | 101 |
Afloat and Ashore | 121 |
Back to the Doon School | 143 |
Trekking | 163 |
Attempt on Black Peak | 239 |
To Mayo College | 251 |
A Headmasters Year | 265 |
The Baspa Valley | 289 |
A Crowded Programme | 309 |
Chini | 325 |
East and West | 339 |
The Year of the Dragon | 357 |
Early Days at Clement Town | 187 |
My Last Year at the J S W | 205 |
Back Again to the Doon School | 223 |
Uncertainties | 377 |
Appendix | 409 |
Common terms and phrases
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