Dear Mrs Isaacs
We have just returned to Bangalore after attending the 150th anniversary of the school. It was an event that was eagerly awaited and anticipated. We timed our class reunion to coincide with those dates even though this was inconvenient for those coming from overseas.
Our class reunion was fantastic and all of us felt that the church service evoked the feelings that all of us had for the school - feelings of loyalty and passion. It was an uplifting service and completely fitting for the occasion. The open house at the school was fabulous - once again, bringing back memories of 37 years ago, when we ourselves were there as students. It was a great idea to open up the school to sentimental and nostalgic old boys and girls - who were all heard talking about "their" time in school, even as the current batches wandered around in school uniforms.
Sadly, the event at the Turf Club was a huge let down. We had come there in anticipation of meeting other batches - a couple of years on either side of our year. We had come to meet our old teachers - many of them retired - whom we have not met forever. We came to be acknowledged as old boys and girls who were and still are a part of the school - or at least its history, and we came, because Mridula Sood Malusthe is from our batch, and we wanted to cheer her and hear her speak. The area where we were located was not where the stage was. We were located right at the back of the other enclosure. There was only one screen right in front and no speakers that would allow us to at least hear, if not see the proceedings. We had no idea where the teachers were located. We did not hear Mridula speak - we did not even know when she came on stage. We felt alienated from the proceedings - our batch was on separate tables because the tables seated only 6. We had no idea that there was even a dance floor!!!! If the idea was only for our batch to meet - we could have met elsewhere - as we did.
As far as we were concerned, the Turf Club event had absolutely no significance for us. And this, when we came full of enthusiasm and committment as old boys and girls. As an old student, I felt that it was important for me to give you feedback. Most of my batch felt this way, and you may hear separately from some of them.
With regards,
sincerely
Kiran (Prakash) Chainani
Batch of 1973.
I chose not to attend the turf club evening anticipating a meaningless,'mela-like'morass of disconnected activity.It seems my worst fears were well-founded.Full marks to Kiran for saying it like it was; a c.c. to the alumni association would be equally welcome. As the batch of 1973 experienced, good get-togethers come in smaller, more manageable packages. Behram.
ReplyDeleteYes Behram , I agree with you. Well done Kiran , it was a hot and badly organised event. Sad, as we were so excited to meet everyone. Anyway, Blue Frog made up for it big time ! Neville
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