Wednesday 30 September 2015

BITS 68 conquers Kodaikanal

What do college buddies do when they meet after 42 years?

Bear hugs.
Thumping of the back which seems endless.
ओए कहाँ था तू इतने दिन? Where were you all these days?
And similar dialogues.

Plus, they make lot of noise. 

When 25 batch mates of BITS Pilani 1968-73 batch met in Kodaikanal, they did give huge hugs to each other. But they also did many other things. Spouses too joined in.

This picture story of Ghumakkad's college buddies, gives you a feel of the 5-day alumni bash held in cool climate of Palani hills, Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu India.



Q: What do college buddies do when they meet after 42 years?

A: Go on a forest hike together.






After the exhausting hike for 64-year olds, here is their response to the question 'How was it?' See the video


A: Hop across and chill out at a Water Fall. 





A: Make lot of noise, even if you are nearing 65!
See this short video "BITS 68 Rocks".


A:  Take a morning walk together! What else do you expect from senior citizens?



A:  Celebrate it with virtual buddy across the oceans! Like with Raja Venkateswar who sent a specially recorded piece despite his disabling injury! 



We inaugurated the musical evening with Raja's rendition. See the audience here.  Video recording courtesy Ashok Suri.

A: Sing and dance.








A:  Play good old अंताक्षरी by a lake side. 
We all went for a picnic to Berijam Lake 25 kms away from Kodaikanal in a protected forest. Pictures.



A: Displaying woman power!


A: Eat and eat! Age no bar!





A: Shikara शिकारा ride in Kodaikanal Lake. 
The Carlton Hotel, where we stayed, has brought four 'Shikaras' from Kashmir for its guests in Kodaikanal. It is an exclusive experience.
For Shirish and me, it brought back memories of our visit to Kashmir in 1976-77.







A: 'Prem Kahani' Love Story-- so what if you are 65?



A: Lend an ear for Conservation Project.



A: Admire the flowers


All these flowers and many more are from the garden at Misty Cove.




A: Enjoy the beauty of Nature.









A: Warm up with bonfire.


A: Pair up with spouses!

From L-R: Javid, Dayal, Bipin Agarwals, Mittals, Dhanukas, Shahs, Ashok Gulechhas, Rathis, Neemas, Bhargavas, Chinoys, Vijay Gulechhas,  Bajajs, Safys, GS Agarwals, ML Agarwals, Talesaras, Mohandas', Somanis, Menons, Jains, Suris, Anoop and not in picture Shashi Menon and Harsha Singh.

A: Pose for group photograph.


All this was made possible by Vijay Gulechha who owns 'Misty Cove', a prime property by the lake side in Kodaikanal. It has been run as a home stay for many years. Soon it will be operated as a resort after on-going renovation is completed. Contact me for any queries.


Special thanks are due to entire Gulechha family. Here is a short thank you poem specially composed for the Gulechha family.
_____________________________________________________ 




How do you thank a Buddy



How do you thank a person

Who showers you with affection?


Who lives in a place endowed with natural beauty

And along with family, goes beyond the call of duty


To look after us during the 42nd alumni bash

With a personal touch difficult to match


Yes, we are talking of Vijay and Vinita Gulechha and the entire family

Who created an atmosphere for  40 of us which was absolutely homely


Be it the planning of the event

Or the evening entertainment


The hike in the forest culminating in Pambar Fall

Or the picnic at Berijam Lake, we all had a ball


We thank Vaibhav, Anita, Saurabh and Divya for your warm and personal care

Your children reminded many of us of our own grandchildren who were not there


All that we would like to say-- May God bless you all

So that your togetherness and love for life grows tall.


            Once again, thanks for everything

-          The Gang of Sixty Eight/ 28th Sept 201

_____________________________________________________ 

We all posed for a special group photograph with the family seated in the centre. See the placards in the picture.
And here is Vaibhav, who despite an injury, was up on his crutches making sure everything was perfect. Talk of dedication!

We had to bid good bye to Misty Cove-- a real paradise on earth!


Am sure, all the readers will have similar memories and experiences of their own alumni bashes. Events like this recharge you-- until the next Reunion!

Postscript: For those who missed the 40th year Reunion at BITS Pilani, here are the links (just double click)

40th year Reunion- glimpses

Bear hugs and Inauguration 

The Reunion Program and who all came

Thanks for browsing.

         - Harsh-the-Ghumakkad/ 29th Sept 2015
           hbindia@gmail.com

Thursday 17 September 2015

Where flowers bloom so does Hope

Wild flowers have their own beauty.
They spring out of nowhere. Like the one in the picture below.
Tiny flower (just 12 mm in diameter) on a slender stem.
Swaying with the wind. Yet steadfast in its appearance.
Catches your attention.

Reminded me of the words of Lady Bird Johnson who said, "Where flowers bloom, so does hope".


Some of the previous PQs- picturesque quotes on Ghumakkad's blog are :

Raindrops are like... 

Colours are the smiles of Nature

Men and Mountains...

Signing off and wishing Happy Ganesh Chaturthi गणेश चतुर्थी to all.

Thanks for browsing

   -   Harsh-the-Ghumakkad/ 17th September 2015

Friday 4 September 2015

Teacher a Learner

Another Teacher's Day in India is here-- 5th September.
It commemorates the birthday of Dr S Radhakrishnan, a great teacher and former President of India.



Today, we thank all our teachers for making us what we are!
Starting from school days to the present.
And for the teachers, learning never stops.
I had posted this picturesque quote earlier in the blog:


Consider a teacher teaching only one student.
Q: How many are learning?
A: One, being the only student!
Wrong.
Correct answer is two! Because, both are learning.

So, here is Ghumakkad thanking all his teachers at the institutions where he studied during various times:
  • The Besant College, Varanasi (set up by Dr Annie Besant)
  • Birla Montessori Bal Mandir, Pilani (established under the guidance of Dr Montessori herself)
  • Birla Multi Purpose Higher Secondary School, Pilani
  • BITS Pilani
  • INS Valsura Jamnagar
  • IIT Kanpur
  • College of Defence Management Secunderabad
  • Naval Post Graduate School, California
I also thank all my students 
for enriching my life through 
their probing questions,
interactions,
disagreements,
appreciation 
and even curses.

It is the students who make 
Teaching worthwhile.
As the old Chinese proverb goes- 'Teachers open the door, you enter by yourself'

Thereafter when we see our students navigate their lives successfully, it gives us- the teachers- immense satisfaction. Therefore, I dedicate this teacher's day to all the students whom I have taught at the following institutions:
  • INS Valsura Jamnagar
  • College of Defence Management Secunderabad
  • Goa Institute of Management
  • IBS Hyderabad- see the previous story here
  • Byrraju Foundation Hyderabad 
  • Vishwa Vishwani School of Business Hyderabad
  • Centre for Social Initiative and Management (CSIM) Hyderabad
  • ICRISAT Hyderabad and many other organisations where I had the privilege of conducting MDPs for industry leaders
Cheers to all my students
You make my day
Today and 
Everyday! 

Happy Teachers' Day!


     Harsh-the-Ghumakkad/ 5th Sept 2015