A Welcome From The President
Rear Admiral Philipose G Pynumootil (Retd.), AVSM, NM
OL 1982 & President, Old Lawrencians Association

Letter from the Editor

Dear Old Lawrencians,

The new year brings new tidings, folks! It's a time for revivals, and this effort in publishing The Old Lawrencian is one such endeavour we are excited to bring to all alumni. This e-magazine is inspired by the past for it will take you either all the way back to school and our beloved ‘The Lawrencian,’ or perhaps to more recent decades where the OL publication was first crafted.

The March edition is the first of the revival series! In this and the editions over the course of the year we will pull together content that is likely to be relevant to alumni, including alumni news, updates, pictures, and memoria. As this will be an e-magazine, you can expect a multimedia approach to our curation with videos and links to OL achievements.

On behalf of the President and Managing Committee of the OLA, we welcome you to join us on this journey. As said, this is a publication by the OLs, for the OLs... and of the OLs. This means we need you! If you are a writer, designer, creator or have any other talent that will help us take The Old Lawrencian to the next level, write to us at contactus@olalovedale.net.

Never Give In!

Karishma Sushilkumar, OL 2005

Editor of the Issue

About the Editorial Panel:

The editors/curators of The Old Lawrencian are Swati Katakam OL 1993 (Committee Member), Shyam Nair OL 2002 (Treasurer) and Karishma Sushilkumar OL 2005 (Secretary). They are serving members of the Old Lawrencians Association's managing committee playing the aforementioned roles.

Attending Founder's? REGISTER YOURSELF NOW!

News & Achievements in the OLA Global Community

School Ties That Bind: Alumni Giving Back Worldwide

The Old Lawrencian Association Americas (OLAA) recently launched their brand-new website - https://olaamericas.org/ - a dedicated platform designed to connect US-based OLs and facilitate meaningful contributions to our beloved alma mater.

A Seamless Giving Experience:

One of the key features of the new website is the streamlined and secure donation portal. Charitable contributions can be easily made to School while enjoying the benefits of US tax deductibility.

Why Donate Through OLAA?

The Old Lawrencian Association (Americas), Inc. (OLAA) is a US-registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization (FEIN: 58-2330845). This status allows US citizens, residents, and US persons to potentially claim tax deductions for their donations, to the extent permitted by law. We strongly recommend consulting with a qualified US tax professional to understand your specific eligibility and documentation requirements.

Important Note: OLAA accepts donations only from US citizens, residents, or US persons. Please be aware that OLAA does not provide tangible goods or services in exchange for donations.

Join The Growing Community:

We encourage all Old Lawrencians residing in the US, or US citizens living abroad, to register on our website. By joining, you'll become part of a vibrant community dedicated to supporting our school's future.

If you have any questions, reach out to Kumar Krishnan, Managing Director, OLAA (VIN 1985), at olaamericas@gmail.com

Rear Admiral T Ajit to Lead Navy's Elite Technology Team

REAR ADMIRAL T. AJIT, OL 1988 has recently assumed charge as Director General of the Weapons & Electronics Systems Engineering Establishment.

This is a cutting-edge futuristic technology research outfit manned by the best of the Indian Navy

Mongabay-India's Gopi Warrier Honored for Environmental Journalism in Italy

GOPI WARRIER, OL 1982 (standing right) received the Green Accord International Award for Excellence in Environment Journalism for Mongabay-India at Frascati, Italy. The Guardian (UK) and Down to Earth magazine from India have been among the earlier recipients of this award.

Gopi Warrier is the managing editor of Mongabay-India. Launched in January 2018, Mongabay-India has built credibility internationally for its focused and honest environmental journalism. Gopi is an environmental journalist who has pursued his passion since the late 1980s.

He is a highly respected authority on environmental matters and has undertaken several important studies /projects that have contributed immensely in this field.

Lovedale Staff
Learns Wildlife Pedagogy from
Alumna Payal Molur Bhojwani

PAYAL MOLUR BHOJWANI, OL 1993 met with the Lawrence School Lovedale staff in Dec 2024 and gave them an introduction into integrating wildlife into day to day pedagogy. The workshop was conducted by Payal and her colleague Priyanka Iyer from Zoo Outreach Organisation, and facilitated by Sangeetha Jairam, OL 1987.

News & Achievements in the OLA Global Community

Inducting the Class of 2025 into the Old Lawrencian Global Community

Congratulations to the class of 2025 on joining the OLA global alumni community! As they prepare for their AISSCE (12th) board examinations and the next chapter of their lives, we wish them the very best on behalf of the OL community.

OLA Managing Committee President - Rear Admiral Philipose G Pynumootil (Retd.) AVSM, NM OL 1982, Secretary - Karishma Sushilkumar OL 2005, Treasurer - Shyam Nair OL 2002, and Committee Member - Swati Katakam OL 1993 were present at the lunch hosted for the newest graduates at the Ooty Club in January 2025.

The OLA community looks forward to welcoming these youngsters at future alumni chapters and events across the world.

Headmaster’s visit to London

The OLA UK Chapter organised an event in January 2025 to welcome and with the Headmaster Mr. D. V. S. Rao in London. The evening was a great success, with alumni of all ages enjoying the chance to connect with the Headmaster. Some OLs also organised tickets for Mr. Rao to attend a football game, which he was extremely grateful for.

OLA President as Chief Guest at Republic Day Parade

OLA President, Rear Admiral Philipose G Pynumootil (Retd.) AVSM, NM OL 1982 was invited to be the Chief Guest by Headmaster Mr. D. V. S. Rao. The Republic Day Parade was held on Top Flats and presented with great enthusiasm by students. R. Adm. Pynumootil reviewed the guards took the salute alongside the Headmaster and the Bursar

Inter-school Alumni Golf Tournament

The OL Golf Team participated in the annual Inter Boarding School Alumni Golf Tournament held in Delhi in November 2024. Our team achieved a commendable 4th place finish amongst 8 participating schools.

Players (in no order): Bhuvan Rathore (Vin, 2008), Abhimanyu Nohwar (Ara, 1997), Mathew Koshy (Ara, 2000), Col Nippy Bains (Vin, 1982), Rahul Sood (Sum, 1988), Col Rohit Pandey (Vin, 1993), Bhaskar Baruah (Ara, 1997), Col. R. S. Bhasin (Vin, 1987), Gautam R. Padival (Sum, 2003), V. Harikes (Nil, 1971), Cmde. Partha Bhat (Nil, 1990), Joseph Joseph (Ara, 2003), Col. Rajeev Verma (Nil 1971) (Captain) & Rahul Banerji (Ara, 1980) (Golf journalist)

Chennai OL Chapter Meet

An unforgettable evening in Chennai. The Old Lawrencians Chennai Chapter Meet held in January 2025 was filled with nostalgia, laughter and camaraderie. Huge thanks to Dr Salim Thomas and team for making it happen.

Coimbatore OL Chapter Meet

The Old Lawrencians Coimbatore Chapter Meet will take place on 29th March 2025 at The Cosmopolitan Club, Race Course.

OL Reunions

1979 Reunion

The batch of 1979 came together in Ooty from 17th to 20th October, 2024 for an unforgettable reunion!

43 classmates and 21 members travelled from all corners of the world to reconnect and relive cherished memories. Here’s to friendship that stands the test of time.

1985 reunion

It was wonderful to see so many OLs from the batch of 1985 come together for their 40th reunion both at the school and in Ooty. With 51 batchmates and 14 family members, they had a fantastic turnout of 65 people.