Suna, my anthropology professor at uni once said something SIMILAR like this, "if you ain't proud of your culture, traditions and heritage then you just ain't happy as you really don't associate yourself with anything in your life!" Yes, SPS was JUST ANOTHER SCHOOL that was set aloof! We maintained an aura of our own totally cut off from the rest of the world that made our 'exclusivity' even more prominent. However, during my days there, I always felt that we were just another local school. It was only after my ICSE I realized how much weight the SPS name had. A similar light when a friend of mine who attended Yale said that she felt no different at all. It was as though she was attending any regular college out there. But going out into the real world, she felt she garnered a different respect...I still remember the Delhi college admission days where I got into Stephens but changed my mind to follow the band-wagon into the US. After I got here, I researched more about SPS' history which I had overlooked during my entire stay there. Tradition and history has been perfectly preserved there and also read about how exclusive the "Eton of The East" was. I never knew it back then but, the school, I found out, was made only for the kids of the highest imperial officers (but later changed with the times...Now if you can pay for it and pass the admissions, you get in). BTW, name any other school in the world where the Rector is awarded an OBE (Order of the British Empire) for his services to the school? Rector Gibbs was given that for his services to St. Paul's during the 70's/80's. That puts him at par with The Beatles in the national order. Also, your relative (god bless him) is just another individual. Can't go around blaming the whole system, can you? Our list of prominent OPs around the world is breath-taking. Although there will be a few misfits, the majority of them have surpassed average well-to-do folks. And yes, I have been told by many about the arrogance of Paulites but isn't that how you should be if you are to lead. To follow orders you need to be the "yes" guy that everyone likes, but to lead, there has to be values and beliefs that need to be implemented firmly with no compromise...And SPS taught us that. However, with the advent of Nepali students in the 80s and locals in the mid 90s, the school began losing its old world charm as the 'exclusivity' got lost through the abundant interation within the local community. I agree that SPS today is not half as good as it was in the 70s but at least the respect that was attained then still remains outside the small pond, that is Darjeeling. Suna, Please do not see this as a disrespect as I was only trying to let you know how I derived my thought process. You are entitled to your own beliefs...Never did I belittle LC. All I did was glorify the institution that nurtured me for 10 years. I truly wouldn't change one bit of my association with this fine institution.