The Friend-In-Need Society (FINS) ....In Today's World....

The Cobbs Ward Building The Friend-In-Need Society or more colloquially known as "FINS",  traces it's humble beginnings  to around 1830, when times were tough in Mysore and Bangalore  which came under the  Government of  Madras, although there was a Maharaja at Mysore, the British ruled  from Madras. Ravaged by the  times of Tipu's wars and  no proper medical or financial support, there were many cases of destitute, children were orphaned, asylums were there to care for those under depression, and as most army people were 'volunteers', continued support was only the individual to his family. Once he passed on, it was up to his colleagues to look after his family, or they were destitute. Having no means to return to England, where many had come from and then there were those who sprouted along with the local flavour that could not go to anyplace. In this scenario, the destitutes were given a helping hand, mainly the aged. As seen from the history, the places where they were looked after were around the Cantonment. Old Poor House Road (OPH Road as it is referred to today, a road perpendicular to Commercial Street on the West side), and then Thimmiah Road. In the early days there were abundant destitutes from European descent, later Anglo-Indians (Anglo Indians) and Eurasians were filling in, and today anyone who is too poor to look after themselves are welcome here provided there is place, of course, permitting. There was a bit of support from Whitefield and Kolar Gold Fields (KGF) communities, as many were admitted from there.

There were changes that were abundant  to the demarking of areas as the years transgressed. Areas like OPH were being 'commercialized' and one could not imagine to find a 'poor house' right next to the areas where the 'rich & famous' were found to be parading with their flowing gowns, broad rimmed feathered plumed hats, fur coats and of course parasols, not to forget straight jacketed husbands in tow!!

There are two important dates that have been recorded at FINS, namely the laying of the Foundation Stone of the Home was laid by the Hon'ble Mr. H. V. Cobb, C.S.I, C.I.E., C.B.E., on the 1st March 1920, and the Home declared open by the Hon'ble Mr. W. P. Barton, C.S.I., C.I.E., on the 1st February 1921. There is no date available or stone for the Girdlestone Ward, but one can assume that it was around the same time or even earlier. One feels that this Ward being smaller did not garner the attention or necessity of being opened or presided upon by the Resident of Mysore, but it would be interesting to know..

The present  location at  Col. Hill Road,  is apparently the final resting place of the Society, where FINS moved in 1920. There is an Anglo Indian school attached to the FINS called Colonel Hill School, but because of the area, and the not too glamorous location, and SSLC (the local School Examination Board), not too many Anglo-Indian children are attending, and those who are attending are mainly from the Shivajinagar - an area for many who are BPL, as most want to go to the affluent schools of the 'richer' parts of the Cantonment, which offer ICSE (Examination Board conducted from Delhi). The school caters to mostly the backward classes and local area residents, and gives them ample hope for a bright and better future, with English as the medium of instruction.
Some Extracts from Directories of years 1883 and 1905,  gives us an insight of FINS showing that the changes to the objectives were not too many over the years, or were nonexistent!

The Mysore and Coorg Directory for the Year 1883, Vol No.1, Bangalore
The Friend-In-Need Society, Bangalore, Asylum in Thimmiah Road.
This institution is under the management of a General and Executive Committee, who met weekly.
The Committee Members were Major E.P.Malthy (President), W. Jennings, Esq (Hony. Secy), H. Eagles, Esq (Honorary Treasurer), Mr. Woodhouse (Superintendent).

The Objects of the Society are the relief to deserving poor of all classes and the suppression of mendacity; the means employed are the admission into the Asylum of homeless paupers, and the allotment of monthly allowances to those who, on account of family ties or other sufficient causes, are unable to reside in the Asylum: the suitable employment of the deserving and necessitous; the personal investigation of all cases referred to the Society for relief; and the detection and exposure of imposture.

A Guide to Bangalore and Mysore Directory 1905, compiled by J.W. Morris
Friend-In-Need Society, Bangalore.
The Asylum of this institution is situated in Thimmiah Road, and is under the management as specified in the extract of 1883 above.
The meetings were conducted on Wednesday at 8 a.m.
The objects are listed as the same as 1883 above.
The Committee Members were Hon'le Sir J.A. Bourdillon, K.C.S.I. (President), General J.F. Fischer, R.E. (Honorary Secretary), Mr. W.G. Fitzgerald (Honorary Treasurer), Mr. G.W. Hitchcock was Medical Officer to the Society, Mr. MacMahon was the Superintendent.

Girdlestone Ward. This institution was established by Mr. Girdlestone, a late British Resident in Mysore, in the year 1886. It is under the management of the Committee of the Friend-In-Need Society, and adjoins those premises. The ward is intended for paupers suffering from incurable or chronic diseases, and was supported by a monthly grant from the Station Municipality and voluntary contributions.
In order to raise funds to support the a ctivities of the Friend-In-Need Society, a small 'Social' was held on Sunday, 6th January 2008 in their Hall. The Social was very well conducted and in good harmony. It started with the elderly inmates of the FINS being seated and even indulging a round of 'Housie'. After which they went to have their dinner and the 'action' part of the Social continued. The Band 'Astra' was  in full attendance, and played some entertaining music. There were many prizes given during the dances for 'spot' places, and other things. Lots of young and persons and their parents attended this social, which was very encouraging to behold. It goes to show that many care for the support of the Aged and Homeless. A few pictures are below to let you have an idea about the social. My wife Maisy and  I left around 10 p.m., after an enjoyable evening. I then decided to visit FINS again and spend more time getting to know it's functioning, especially to find that a very dear Patron of theirs was none other than the Late Rev, Maria Antone Tabard, from the Paris Foreign Mission, who was once Parish Priest of St. Patrick's Cathedral, and someone who was always in the front of activities like starting the Home For the Aged on Hosur Road in 1900,  then the Mythic Society in 1917 where he was very well known among the HIndu scholars, and also where he donated his fantastic library to the Society. He has a special place as you enter their Hall, where his photograph is adorned. It can be seen from the Late Hon'ble Mr. W.P. Barton, Resident in Bangalore in 1921, replying to the speech inviting him to open the FINS building, where he praises Fr. Tabard the then Hony. Secretary of FINS, in his opening lines.
   (Click your computer mouse right-button over an image, select "view_image" to see a larger size image!).

The old folk playing housie
Playing housie
dancing
some of the crowd
dancing
more dancing
some of the crowd
The Hony. Secy
Maisy and Ron
Patrick and Dawn
dancing
tired , taking a break
A visit to the Friend-In-Need Society on Thursday  10th January 2008, to update myself on the activities of FINS.
I had phoned to Mel Patterson but got his wife on Jan 7th, and fixed a visit on Jan 8th, however the visit was postponed as Mel had to attend a funeral and his wife was not attending the FINS Office that day. Mel was courteous to call and fix a new date for the visit.

The objective of my visit was to establish the history and the running of FINS, and the Col. Hill School. What was required for their upkeep, and the school - how it could improve it's results. Basically I was looking at the school for areas that 'motivation' could be introduced to inspire the children to do better and achieve better results.

I met the Mel Patterson the current President  who spent quite a while with me and took me around the premises.  Going through the Cobbs Ward building which is the main building and Indo-Saracenic style of architecture, described in the earlier section of FINS , with it's high roof (this gives ample cross ventilation for good health) and beautiful tiles , we come across the dining area where the Residents living in Dormitories have their meals. There are around 56 Residents living in the Dormitories, which are located between the Cobb Ward and a building at the rear called the Dr. Thomas A. Dooley Block , which was renovated by Lionel and Christa Moss in 2006.  There was another interesting old building on the western side of the campus behind the Cobbs Ward building.

 The present Managing Committee comprises of the President,  Vice-President (Home) Mrs. Deshpande, Vice-President (School) Micheal Philips, Hon. Secy Mrs. Uma Gopalkrishnan, Hony. Treasurer Mr. Patrick Philips. Other Members of the Board are Mrs. Phyllis Patterson, Mrs. Jennifer Dutta, Mr. Lionel Moss, Rev. Donald Grant, Harvey Rosario, Benny Francis, M C Joshi, Mrs. Dawn Philips, Ms. Karen Meneand, Mrs. Zarina Nayaham. All the Residents and Office Bearers make up what is called the FINS Family.

The FINS Home consists of a ' Board Room ', Office, a small Hall,  a 'Dormitory'  which caters to Ladies and Gents Residents who live in separate areas. There are also 23 Rooms cum Cottages around the mail block that  cater to elderly couples and single Residents who can pay. Meals provided to the Residents cater to veg and non-veg appetites. There are also Domestic Support Staff who help in the maintenance of the Wards.

Requirements that FINS would be grateful to receive can be given in the form of Provisions - cooking oil, rice, sugar, tea, maida, wheat flour, and items of such nature. Ofcourse, financial funds are also welcome and the FINS are covered by the Tax Benefits of 80G of the Indian Tax Law. One item that seems to be on their priority list is a Solar Heating system to cater to around 20 Residents capacity. FINS also encourages people to visit and take interest in keep the old residents company. Some youngsters come from many companies on weekends to spend time with the residents. These I presume are on an individual basis, which they could be enlightened to transfer this opportunity to their respective companies to take up as a 'project' to help the less privileged and senior citizens of a lower income background.

I enquired about the Colonel Hill School , but Mel Patterson seemed to be quite satisfied with the present running of the school and it's sponsorship by Rotary Club of Bangalore, and there was one gentleman whom he spoke about (I have forgotten his name) who was a Trustee, and who took great interest in the School. They did not seem to need any type of help that I could offer them, especially in the areas of motivation, counseling, career guidance's. etc.  I will try and meet this gentleman and even if possible the Vice-President (School) Mr. Micheal Philips, and see if on second thoughts that could use my services. The Colonel Hill School Building gives the impression that it could be been the earlier 'Girdlestone Ward for the Incurables', because it has distinct architecture of the 1900's. Mel Patterson was not sure about it, but the mystery could definitely be lying in the archives of FINS.

Hope some of you who read this article will visit The Friend-In-Need Society and help them with your support, time, expertise, finances, gifts and above all your love. You may send any enquiry to The Secretary, Friend-In_need Society Office, Email blr_fins@vsnl.net, Colonel Hill Road, Next to CSI Hospital, Bangalore 560 051, India. Phone: 091 080 22865519

Cheers
Ronnie Johnson
The Bangalorewalla