(Special note: Let there be no mistake, but most of the good pictures I am uploading are by our photography ace - 59er Hasnain Chinwala (Chinnie). It is not any of my expertise. A couple of others have sent me photographs as 64er Rajiv Ved. That is why my blogs remain popular as the inputs are from across the board of my readers. A special thanks to them as they are my co-authors!)
3 years ahead of the date! John planned his trip to coincide with this.
17th November, and the last day of the Golden Reunion was ahead of me. Chinnie sent me this picture.
A beautiful picture through Hasnain's camera, taken by the professional cameraman on the spot, of some of those who had stayed on late afternoon at Madhu's home. This scene has brought tears to Annikki and my eyes. Meera, Vijay's wife, brought in Mika for this photograph and he had joined us, willingly.
On the morning of the 17th, I had agreed to meet a childhood friend, Ravi Arapurakal, formerly known as Ravi Abraham. (Thanks to 59er Geeta for putting us in touch.)
We had not met for 51 years. We had played "Cowboys and Indians" and "bang bang" in the compound of the Meher Mansion building (Cooperage Road) as kids and more sedate gamesin his home opposite Dhanraj Mahal, a building I believe which caught fire and has never been rebuilt.
Ravi came over to the Malayala Manorama Guest House. It was just like yesterday as we caught up on our past years. We talked non-stop as we probed each other for the most important events in our lives - our work, our marriages, our children and our roots. Although we are not related, we found that our association by marriage had become stronger over the years, although I had not been aware of it. My nephew, Joseph, son of my cousin, Somakochamma (Mrs. G. K. O. Philips) was married to the daughter of Ravi's sister-in-law. (I hope I have got this right, as we did go through a lot of relationships.)
As Annikki had had a late breakfast, and the delicious Parsi dinner was not far away, Ravi and I adjourned to the Chinese Restaurant in Kemps Corner. I devoured my favourite, a large dish of noodle soup, while Ravi had his favourites, including Chilli Chicken.
Two hours passed by as if it was just 20 minutes. I was to have renewed this old friendship. Ravi is in a fascinating area of work, and hopefully I will be able to use what he taught me in those few hours to make my life better. Thank you Ravi.
Back to the house.
By 20:30 we were at Piloo's mansion for what was the last event of our reunion. A few had left - Viney for Papua New Guinea, Vijay for Delhi, Noel for Pune, but the major lot of my classmates were still there for this event hosted by Piloo, Armeane and his wife Mary and by Adi and Ratan. It was a sit down dinner to be served on banana leaves and it was being prepared by the best Parsi caterer in Mumbai.
I had several soft drinks - Lychee Juice, Orange Juice, Sprites, while some of our friends stayed on course with the hard stuff. Many did not, and the evening was filled with our merriment, not in the least bit alcohol induced.
There was an air of sadness about us as we all knew that in a few hours we would all be going our separate ways. Friendships had been recemented and new ones forged, especially between the girls and boys and among the spouses.
Shivi gave the final farewell toast which I reproduce below:
Good evening.
I will take the suggestion of George Burns who said -- "The secret of a good speech is a good beginning and a good ending and to make the two as close together as possible!"
It is impossible to single out any one person for making our Golden Reunion a Reality and such a great Success. We owe it to each and everyone of you present or not, to your spouses and to your indomitable Cathedral Class of 59 spirit --- May it Rip, May it Thunder!
We have set a huge precedent by our Mother of ALL Reunions -- A Class Act! On your behalf I would like to thank our hosts for the many spectacular events. They came forward spontaneously and generously to make each one unique & a thumping success!
Could we ever forget ---
The curtain raiser cocktail dinner by Ooky Elias & Rivca and Viney and Poornima Sethi, held at the Bombay Gymkhana? Despite rain and cyclone warnings they set the pace by their warmth for the events to follow.
The Elvis Theme dinner-dance creatively set up by Meera and Vijay Nayar which set us rocking under the stars?
The Findian Evening, a treat of delectable south indian dishes by Annikki and Jacob Matthan?
The Founders' Day Church Service so dignified and beautifully orchestrated by our School which was a poignant reminder of our youth?
The Alibaug cocktail lunch at the state of art Kapur Bungalow, perched atop a hill overlooking the whole of Alibaug, which was inaugurated in our honour and in our presence by Madhu Kapur?
The regal Ruia House set in the middle of gardens and fountains where Ashok, Anil & Amla Ruia regaled us with music, games & an amazing 48 varieties of veggie dishes at their dinner?
And finally this fabulous 'Seaside' setting for our grand finale sit down dinner by Piloo, Armeane & Mary Choksey?
In the years to come, we will, I am sure, recall with the greatest pleasure these wonderful moments which took our breath away! Could you please raise your glasses and toast them!
Thank you."
Ooky was more direct in singling out a few others and focusing on me in particular as the one who had brought everyone together by my perseverence, and Shivi and Piloo for keeping this reunion focused and of a quality which will never be matched.
I had to respond to tell the assembled gathering, that although I was the conduit to this reunion, many others, like Hasnain Chinwala, Percy & Frainy Mistri, Viney and Purnima, and many others from other classes had helped with their inputs.
A delicious dinner, which was everything traditional Parsi, with some really wonderful vegetarian dishes to boot. The chicken and fish dishes were just as I had always known them, showing me that the quality of Parsi traditions had been preserved over the last 50 years.
I was greatly saddened that Mary, Armeane's wife, was indisposed and not able to be thanked by us personally for her participation and her hosting of this event.
Many of those who had not sent in material for our book, now seeing that they would be the losers, had rushed home and prepared short write ups and also come armed with photographs. Thanks guys and gals - you know who you are! :-)
And then it was time to leave (as described by Annikki) this paliatial Tata home in the centre of Mumbai, (much like the two palaces at Alibaug) and return to our little "mouse holes" with beautiful memories to take back to our cubicles.
Before I left, I talked with Amla Ruia about the wonderful work she was doing with the villagers. She was ready to ring her local representative in Rajasthan, then and there, at midnight, to allow me to see the work. But the better counsel of her husband, Ashok, prevailed . She promised to be in touch with me in the morning.
Sure enough by 07:30 am I received a text message from her with the phone number of her manager, Bhupendra. Amla had already spoken to him before I could ring.
I am excited that I will see earth shattering work that Amla has performed in Rajasthan. I hope I can spread the message after witnessing it myself what success she has achieved and show her passion and commitment to her cause, which is also my cause, even though I am 7000 km away. If we do not act, and act quickly, there will be a continuing of the chaos and the demise of all around us.
I went to bed that night, happy with the achievements from my work of the last 14 years which had culminated in 7 nights of sheer joy. I slept well knowing that I had a lot on my plate during the next few days before I left for Ahmedabad. It was work I would enjoy doing.
Thank you 59ers for all the joy you have brought to our lives. I rested in peace, knowing that my dear friend, the late 59er Bala Parasuraman, would have enjoyed this and I would record this success in his name.
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