I was a moderate student, disciplined: Julio Ribeiro

Remembering his school days, Julio Ribeiro, who will turn 90 in May, told DNA that he had not prepared a speech for the current students at his alma mater, which will celebrate its sesquicentennial Jubilee. But he shared some memories with the newspaper.

Ribeiro said, "I was six years old when I took admission for Class I in St. Xavier's High School for boys at Fort, which was one of the best schools in South Mumbai. My father was in the Indian postal service. After working in Gujarat, Pune, Baroda and Ahmedabad, he was transferred to Mumbai as an assistant post master general. He was also from St. Xavier's High School. He completed his graduation from Wilson College. My mother was housewife and from Goa. She knew only Portuguese and Konkani, not English language. I first learnt English at school."

"My younger brothers were in the same school and my sister studied in Fort Convent. I was an ordinary student, neither great in studies nor good in games. I was a little above average in studies and below average in games (laughs). I had very good friends in school and still in touch with them. One of my best friends, Dilip Madan is unwell and am still in touch with him, but unfortunately he wheelchair-bound. I was not mischievous. Fr Sologran was my principal. I am very thankful to my school, because it inculcated good values in me. I later went to the police department."