
Know Your City: When the boys of Bengaluru's Bishop Cotton went to war
William Leefe Robinson, emptying three drums of ammunition before the airship exploded, became the first to achieve this feat. Robinson soon became an overnight celebrity. The Victoria Cross followed, and he was a household name across the United Kingdom. Back in India, another group had reason to cheer him on—the students and teachers of his alma mater in Bengaluru, Bishop Cotton Boys' School.
More than a century later, Robinson and other alumni of Bishop Cotton were the topic of a talk by senior lawyer and author Aditya Sondhi at The Bangalore Room in Indira Nagar on Sunday.
In his 2014 book, The Order of The Crest, Sondhi had documented the prominent alumni of Bishop Cotton, and had noted that over 175 Cottonians had volunteered for service in World War I. At the time, the students were mostly of European descent. The terrible, grinding trench warfare took its toll on these volunteers, and 23 of them were killed in action.
Noel Saunders, who wrote the music for the famous school song, died in battle, as did a teacher, Cyril Walter Wallace, who had only weeks before written about the gallant death of one of his students leading an attack.
Brothers Captain Robert and Lt Col Kenelm McCloughlin died fighting in France. So did Harold, Robinson's brother, who died just months before his brother achieved his great feat. Weakened by a stint in German captivity, Robinson himself would not live to see the inter-war years, dying in 1918 of the Spanish Flu.
'He had written to the warden a few months earlier (before his death in Mesopotamia) offering to join the staff of the school, pending his commission. He was remembered by many Bangaloreans for his role as Portia in the school's production of The Merchant of Venice in 1909,' Sondhi noted in his book.
From Sondhi's accounts, it seems that Cottonians did not let the privations of warfare daunt them. Even as late as 1917, Sondhi quotes a Reverend Bazley, who notes that several students hoped that the war would continue until they graduated, so they too could volunteer. The sort of officer that the school sent to the war is perhaps exemplified by Lt Col Terence Claud Crichton, who went so far as to climb onto his men's shoulders to shoot at enemy soldiers defending a wall opposite him.
A glance at the school's history in World War II throws up Indian names in the records. One of the earliest of these, and arguably the most well-known, was General K S Thimayya. Sondhi's research shows that Thimayya had a fighter's spirit from the early days—a fellow British student who tried to rag him for being an Indian found himself on the wrong end of a punch from Thimayya.
Thimayya was one of the only Indians assigned a major battlefield command in World War II, and Sondhi records that he took a point known as Hill 109 in a morning attack after a climb up the hillside. This enabled the British forces to link up near Imphal, a crucial moment in breaking the siege of the town. An anecdote shared by Sondhi revealed that in the later years, Thimayya would, without ceremony, visit one of his old teachers at the school, who still knew him as 'Timmy'. 'I found a reference to one of his masters at school, Sergeant Burgess, who said to him – Like the princes of the states, you can earn your commission and be an officer, see the world and be a hero -. What a prophetic call….' Sondhi said at the talk.
The number of brigadiers, generals, and senior air force officers from Bishop Cotton Boys' School in this period forms an exhaustive list. When the Partition split the country, it did not spare the school alumni either. Brigadier Mirza 'Hesky' Beg was one such former student who later went on to be known as one of the finest polo players in Pakistan.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Pink Villa
28 minutes ago
- Pink Villa
Allu Arjun's 'Mindblowing' reaction to a Pushpa dance on America's Got Talent is going viral, and it's not real
Allu Arjun starrer Pushpa was undoubtedly one of the biggest blockbusters in Indian cinema, with both installments making it big at the box office. Now, a fake video with a song from Pushpa has been going viral. Allu Arjun has even reacted to the video, having mistaken it for a real one. Allu Arjun accidentally reacts to fake video performing to Pushpa song In a post by the official handle of the Pushpa movie, a video featuring the Indian dance group 'B Unique Crew' was shared. The performance had the dance team shaking their legs to the song Daako Daako Meka from Pushpa. Sharing the video, the handle penned, 'Icon Star Allu Arjun's #Pushpa is a global phenomena. The 'B Unique Crew' performed for the #Pushpa song on America's Got Talent Season 20 stage and the response was sensational. The judges hailed it as THE BEST PERFORMANCE OF THE SEASON.' Soon, Allu Arjun also retweeted the video and said, 'Wow … Mind Blowing.' The video even had judges, including Modern Family star Sofia Vergara, being baffled by their dance. Here's the official post: However, wait till you hear the truth. The actor reacted to an edited video, mistakenly believing it was the original. The dance crew's performance was actually set to the song Believer by Imagine Dragons, but this was not identified during the authenticity check, leading to the error. About Pushpa franchise Pushpa is an action drama movie series starring Allu Arjun in the lead role. The first film, titled Pushpa: The Rise, released in 2021, depicts the tale of a daily-wage worker's rise to becoming a red sandalwood syndicate's leader. Continuing the series, the makers released a sequel titled Pushpa 2: The Rule in 2024, ending it at a cliffhanger with a 3rd part also being announced. Aside from Allu, the films had Rashmika Mandanna, Fahadh Faasil, Jagapathi Babu, Sunil, and many more in key roles. Both the flicks were directed by Sukumar. Allu Arjun is currently working on the movie AA22xA6, directed by Atlee. Touted to be a 'parallel universe' genre, the film will likely feature the actor in quadruple roles, with Deepika Padukone playing a co-lead.


Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Exclusive - Jamai No. 1 actor Abhishek Malik: Today audiences are drawn to characters who are unpredictable, who make mistakes, or unexpected reactions
Abhishek Malik, who plays Neel in Prateek Sharma and Parth Shah's Jamai No. 1, believes that audiences today are no longer satisfied with picture-perfect characters. According to him, storytelling on television is undergoing a major shift, and the change is being driven by viewers themselves. 'Gone are the days when the hero had to be flawless, always doing the right thing at the right time. Today's audience wants authenticity. They're drawn to characters who are unpredictable, who make mistakes, and who have odd habits or unexpected reactions. These kinds of roles bring a sense of realism and relatability,' he says. He adds that this evolution allows actors to dig deeper. 'As actors, it gives us a wider spectrum to explore emotionally and dramatically. Personally, I love playing characters who aren't afraid to break the mold or challenge stereotypes—it keeps the performance exciting and the audience guessing.' Abhishek feels that the audience has become more receptive to emotionally layered characters because they themselves have become more emotionally intelligent. 'They don't just want surface-level entertainment; they want to understand what a character is going through. It's no longer about black-and-white characters—audiences are embracing the grey, the layered, the vulnerable,' he explains. 'In a fast-paced world that often feels overwhelming, audiences are drawn to stories that can strike an emotional chord while also offering some thoughtful escapism. That balance—between light-heartedness and emotional truth—is what really resonates,' he adds. Speaking about the show, he says Jamai No. 1 is rooted in the changing dynamics of modern Indian families. 'Indian families today are evolving. There's a shift in gender roles, power equations, and generational perspectives. The jamai, who was once seen as a pampered outsider, now finds himself navigating a household of strong, opinionated women—with humility and presence,' he shares. 'Our show captures that transformation. It reflects the chaos, affection, ego clashes, and those unpredictable moments that define contemporary family life. It's not your conventional drama—it's layered, sharp, and speaks the language of today's viewers.' Having witnessed the evolution of Indian television over the years, Abhishek observes that the landscape is more dynamic than ever. 'Television has always adapted, but lately we've seen a major shift. Audiences are now looking for content that challenges the norm. Jamai No. 1 taps into that wave—it takes the familiar family setting and infuses it with satire, emotional depth, and a fresh point of view.' 'The show celebrates today's sensibilities—where control is shared, where women lead with unapologetic strength, and where drama comes from genuine emotion, not exaggeration,' he concludes. Muskuraane Ki Vajah Tum Ho actor Abhishek Malik shows his last clicked selfie on his phone


Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Radio legend James Whale dies at 74 after battle with cancer
Source: X Veteran radio host and TalkTV presenter James Whale has died at the age of 73. Best known for his trailblazing style and outspoken presence on air, Whale passed away on Monday morning after entering hospice care. In the days leading up to his death, he had spoken openly about feeling 'at peace' with what lay ahead. His wife, Nadine, confirmed the news, telling the Express: "James slipped away very gently this morning. It was a beautiful passing and he left with a smile on his face." Whale's death was first announced on TalkTV, where colleague Mike Graham paid tribute to his long-standing legacy in British broadcasting. 'James began his remarkable career in the early 1970s when he pioneered a new kind of radio in Britain, the late night shock jock phone-in,' Graham said. He continued: 'By the late 1980s, The James Whale Radio Show had become a cultural phenomenon, broadcasting every weekend on ITV. He attracted millions of viewers, making him a household name. James would go on to host a variety of programmes for ITV, Sky and the BBC before finding a new audience for talk radio, all the while continuing to make headlines during his appearance on Celebrity Big Brother.' Source: X Graham also highlighted Whale's contributions beyond broadcasting: 'In 2006, after surviving kidney cancer, James launched Kidney Cancer UK, raising hundreds of thousands of pounds. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like This Is Why Smart People Put Baking Soda in Their Shampoo Read More Undo In 2024, James was awarded an MBE in the New Year Honours, recognising his extraordinary contribution to broadcast and charity. 'James Whale broke the rules, he shaped the airwaves, and did it all on his own terms. For millions, James wasn't just a broadcaster. He was a companion, a provocateur, and a good friend that we'll all never forget. God bless you, James. We'll miss you.' Fellow TalkTV host Jeremy Kyle also paid tribute, saying: 'He was an absolute fearless legend, a man who believed that it was about people. Believed it was about opinion. Never shied away from being brave enough to say what he felt.' Whale's death came just hours after a final column was published in which he shared: 'I'm happy to go.' James Whale's cancer journey James Whale's battle with cancer began in 2000, when he was first diagnosed with kidney cancer. At the time, doctors gave him just three months to live. As per Daily Mail, he underwent surgery to remove one of his kidneys, and the operation proved successful. In 2006, he founded the James Whale Fund for Kidney Cancer to raise awareness and support research. Tragically, the disease returned in 2020. He later revealed that it had spread, not only to his remaining kidney, but also to his lungs, spine, and brain. Source: X Speaking on TalkTV with Ash Gould in May 2024, Whale said: "I'm at the end of my cancer journey. There is no treatment I can have anymore." He added, "I can't tell you how grateful I am to Talk to actually let me on the air and sit next to Ash, which is a real pain in the butt, but I've been doing it for 25 years!" He also described the toll the illness had taken on him following a severe bout of flu that led to an ICU stay over Christmas. Despite it all, he kept his sense of humor, remarking. In June, he gave viewers a further update, saying: "Until very recently, everything was quite normal for me, everything was fine, and then you do get to a stage like I am now, where things get to be very very difficult. To anybody else who is in the final stages of cancer, you have my sympathy. I know exactly what you're going through, I do know. I look basically okay, I get told you look alright and I look okay, it's all make-up. " James Whale was candid about the emotional weight of terminal illness. Just two years after losing his first wife, Melinda, to lung cancer, he learned his own cancer had returned. Speaking to TalkTV, he recalled the moment of diagnosis: "I came home, had a little think about things. I decided I'm just booking myself a trip to Dignitas. You might as well just go and get it over with." He added: "I'd looked into it quite some time ago because Melinda died two years ago and it's been something in the back of my mind. This little b*****d has spread. It's in my remaining kidney. I've got a couple of small lesions in my lungs. I've got it in my spine. I've got it in my brain." Despite his strength, he never shied away from admitting the pain and fatigue he felt. 'I don't want to go on forever feeling like this,' he once said. James Whale is survived by his wife Nadine and his two sons, James and Peter.