With a Little Help From My Friends: A Schoolmaster's Memoirs [Paperback]

by Dev Lahiri

In this tell-all memoir, Dev Lahiri, the erstwhile headmaster of prestigious institutions such as Lawrence School, Lovedale and Welham Boys' School, Dehradun, who has also served as Housemaster at Doon School, Dehradun, lays bare remarkable events from his illustrious career that was also riddled with controversies. Lahiri evokes his childhood and university days as a backdrop to the unusual choices he made in his life. He then describes how, along with the huge fulfilment that came with engaging with young minds in his profession, he also had to face the vicissitudes of having to deal with vested interests, status-quo upholders and entitled parents. From the challenges that come with heading a residential school in India to the loneliness and vulnerability associated with the job, this is a personal account of a stormy career filled with unpredictable ups and downs. Written with simplicity and humour, With A Little Help From My Friends holds a mirror to how some of our better-known institutions are run and makes invaluable observations about our school education system.

230 pages, Paperback

Reviews

[Pratik Gupta]

Very disappointed. I took this book up to gain insights from an educator's point of view - a To Sir With Love, if you will. Instead, it turned out to be a damp squib. Dev Lahiri's whole life seem to be a series of fortunate encounters - Forrest Gump-esque, almost!

What you get here is (what I am assuming) a healthy dose of hyperbole mixed with incidents. His 'angst' of being hard done by and how he overcame obstacles. At times, the author comes across as gloating in his own achievements.

Writing is not everybody's game. Mr. Dev Lahiri, proves that!

[Ahitagni Bhattacharya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mr. Dev Lahiri was my principle during my stay at Welham and he has written such a wonderful book which talks about his highs and lows in a crystal clear perception.

It is fundamentally about the journey of a Rhodes Scholar , Stephanian and a distinguished long distance runner who committed himself to the cause of teaching in India sacrificing high paying jobs and his journey to a noble cause.

It is facts with a sense of humour wherever possible. Nowhere did the book seem dull. He has spoken about his experiences in some of the most beautiful institutions like Oxford, St Stephens, Doon School, Lawrence School, Welham Boys School and others.

[Preeti · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was quite a touching read of one man's professional struggle exacerbated by failing health. Enough to prompt me to leave my first Goodreads text review. While this book about the functioning of schools, you don't really have to be an educator to appreciate Mr. Lahiri's zeal towards his calling in life. I read the book in one sitting and as I write this, my thoughts keep going back particularly to his two daughters and wife and what the episodes of battle and sustained stress would have done to their lives. I especially hope that Welham's Boys restores to him the dignity of an answer that he seeks. Quite unfortunate that they should stonewall someone who served the institution so well.

[Aditya Sathe · Rating 4 out of 5]

when you think about education system in India, a sad picture comea to your mind. On the other hand there are amazing people working in the field who want to change that picture. Mr Dev Lahiri is certainly one of them. I took toooo long time to finish this book, but that does not imply that 'the book is bad'. I used to get caught up in some work and a new book would come along. Do grab this book. This is worth a read... 👍👍👍

[Anchit · Rating 3 out of 5]

Yet another book that I dropped at 20%.

It started off quite well but the whole thing felt too positive. It was like everything is positive and superb all around. I liked the positivism initially but after a while it started getting annoying.

[Meeru Soni Pande · Rating 5 out of 5]

An eyeopener! The journey of a sincere educationist is full of obstacles. The never say die spirit of the protagonist is very inspiring!