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Reunion

Fireworks and stars

 
First Reunion
21st Dec. 2001

The first reunion was held at Pritam da Dhabba. As usual we decided to meet near Pritam. Prodyot, Partha and Prabir visited Dadar ( W ) to buy a gift for Manojit. When they came to Pritam, Manojit wearing a red shirt was standing there. It was a great feeling which is difficult to describe. Of course there was a slight disappointment too. Friends expected Manojit to be tall and fair complexioned having spent so much time in firingi land. But he was same Manojit, as we had seen him in school minus 5 kilos. When everybody arrived we trooped in to the Pritam da Dhabba. Meanwhile Ashok, Prashanta and Swapan also joined. Atindra was last to arrive, having to shutter his shop at Powai. After the starters and a few drinks, it was like Bengali School class room. Men have tranformed into boys. There were anecdotes galore. Atin and Prashanta kept everybody thrilled with some hilarious jokes. There was plenty of leg pulling. Our Prabir excels in this art. Prashanta with a few drinks more was the obvious victim. In between there was presentation ceremony with flashing camera bulbs. This event remains etched in our memory for a long long time to come.
 

Second Reunion held on 20th Dec 2003

The Second Reunion was held in 20th December 2003 at Terrace of  Hotel Mirch Masala, Bandra, Mumbai. The event was unique in the sense that for the first time friends and their families participated. It was basically getting to know each other kind of function. Monojit, his better half Manju and daughter Puja arrived from U.K. Dileep who missed the first Reunion  participated. From Mumbai  Partha, Prabir, Prashanta, Prodyot, Subrata, Shyamaprasad, Swapan, Ashok Roy and their families participated. There was good interaction between the wives and the children. The adda as usual was at its best. 

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THIRD REUNION 9th January 2005

 

Finally the day dawned after planning for the big day for the past several months. We began our program by visiting our alma mater at 4 pm. About 12 of us turned up at the BES High School. Ex-Principal Mrs. Shila Roy welcomed us. Manojit managed to bring our respected Madam Raj Pherwani to the School. It was great meeting her after 41 years. She is as charming as ever. We owe our English speaking and writing ability to her. We remember more of her telling us stories in free period and also for the Geography classes. Some of us take round of the school. After a round of  camera and popping flashes, we proceed to New Chhaya restaurant. During our school days we saved coins for months to enable us to have a plate of Masala Dosa at the restaurant. After a cup of tea/coffee at the restaurant we proceed to Plaza Banquet where we had planned our evenings program. We arrive at the venue well before our scheduled time. Nineteen of our batch mates and their spouses  joined. Manojit and Samir joined from overseas. Dileep came from Hyderabad, Amal from Calcutta, Shikha from Bangalore and Banani from Delhi. Rest were from Mumbai. Ashok Guha who is afflicted by paralytic stroke made a valiant effort to arrive at the venue. The arrangement, the ambience at the venue was magnificent. Samir took great pleasure of making arrangements for the mike-speaker system. Madam  Pherwani was to remain with us till 7 pm so we started with the program with a welcome address by Dileep. Rich tributes were paid to Madam for our association with her during our school days. Madam had a few encouraging words for us as well. The evenings programme began with ‘Dhanadhanye pushpe bhara’ a song sung by Shikha, Banani and Mita. Madam gave a brief speech expressing happiness for the evening spent with the ex-students of school. After Madam left for home at 7 pm, Atindra and Dileep went ahead hosting the evenings program. The program was mostly musical. Samir and Shikha were the lead singers. Samir rendered some beautiful Hindi songs and a few Bengali songs. Shikha sang some famous oldies of Geeta Dutta. Ashok Roy recited a Hindi poem in honour of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose. Atindra recited a Poetry

composed by Tagore.The surprise package of the day was Ashishda who sang some superb Bengali songs. A few songs were sung by Bina as well. In between the songs we had  Diptenda, Ashishda and Achintyada thrilling us with some hilarious jokes as well.  Such talented bunch of spouses of our school friends we are fortunate to have. The starters and food  of the venue was top class. The few bottles of cheers  brought by friends were in great demand and kept the revelers going. A record number of still cameras as well as two handicams were in use all the time. The prize for photo quiz as well as other quiz was bagged by Prodyot. He promised to open the cork of champagne in presence of friends in our next meeting/reunion. We wound up the programme with another song sung by Shikha and others and vote of thanks by Manojit. Finally it was curtains with rendering of ‘Kal Ho Na Ho’ by Samir. Till we meet again!

 

 

Fourth Reunion 29.12.2005
 
The saying goes 'The Show Must Go On'. With this in our armoury
we set about the possibilities of arranging for the Reunion. Due to absence of some of our esteemed friends for this Reunion we
ruled out booking of the Banquet Hall and were contemplating where to host the Annual event. In comes Sudebi with her proposal for organising the Reunion on her House terrace with a concrete plan for the furnitures, mike and caterer. What a gallant
host she turned out to be! The ambience was homely the food was as promised Pure Bangla, where the 'Doi Mach' and 'Dhokar
Dalna' stood out. Due to traffic jam in the city friends arrived
at regulat intervals till 9 pm. An exhasperated Samir and Bina arrived huffing and puffing at the venue and profusely apologised. Our new member Suresh Ghosh and his wife were introduced to all. The show as expected was hosted by Dileep with his booming voice over the mike. Sudebi's grand-daughter enthralled us with some lovely Bengali songs. Ashok had a 'Shairi' and a Bengali poem to add glitter to the evening. Dileep placed some inportant agenda for the Alumnibes Reunion sceduled for 28th Jan, for felicitating Ashok Roy and Anjanabha Dutta for their literary achievements. As a fitting finale Samir
and Bina obliged with couple of duets. Ofcourse Samir promised that he will be first to arrive at the venue for the Fifth Reunion slated for early January 2007!

FIFTH REUNION  held on 9.12.2006

( Posted by Dileep )

 

REENEE……….REEDEE ………..REECEE……..            

REETA  CAME……REETA   SAW…REETA     CONQUERED

It all started in Sept-Oct when Samir and Manojit announced that the next RE-UNION meeting scheduled for December  2006  had to be without their participation! Added to this, it was also known that Banani and Shikha too are unlikely participants. Inspite of the best efforts of Partho and Prodyoth, we had not been able to re-discover some of our lost BES 1964  batchmates.

It was clear in every one`s  minds that the 2006 december meet may not take off well !!

In this gloomy scenerio….. suddenly there was a FLASH……

                                   “ SAMBHABAMI  YUGEY…..YUGEY”

Reeta announced her plans to visit to India with daughter Roopamoni during Nov-Dec. We all were very releived that the Re-Union will be on  and also were excited at the prospect of meeting Reeta after some 40 years!!!!!!!!!!!!

Came December 2006 and we learnt that though Reeta had arrived in India earlier, she had not established contact with our Organisers in Bombay and the resultant confusion and uncertainity was unbearable…… when Roopamoni made the first contact with us confirming their arrival  in Bombay…. their excellent state of health despite hectic travel through the length and breadth of India and their eagerness and excitement to meet us all. .

9th.December 2006 dawned a bit earlier for me as I landed in Mumbai early morning. The clear picture of who all will be attending the evening meet was not available which  created a bit of nervousness .

During the previous three days, Reeta and Roopa were hosted to Dramma, and dinner at Howrah Restaurent by Ashok-Alakananda. Later on Prodyoth-took them around Bangla School and Mita hosted a dinner at their residence. Swapna- Achintyada played host to Reeta and Rupamoni for three days  and was now with Khonika  enjoying her hospitality.

As usual, the Saturday evening was yet another terribl experience  driving thru` the chaotic and unmanageable traffic of Bombay ! When  Partho with Meeta  and I finally reached the PATIO…Vile-Parle at 19-15 hrs, we were greeted by  Khonika , Swapna ,Achintyada  AND  REETA and ROOPA !!!

The meeting ( RENDEZVOUZ ??!!! ) and I dare admit that it was like the best of DREAMS  better by a factor of 10 or more!

Soon we were joined by Ashok – Alakananda and Prodyoth – Meeta and few minutes later by Suresh and Sukriti. .  The starters had started being served  while all of meeting,greeting,enjoying,sharing,enquiring ,talking,listening and satisfying all our joy,love and concerns of seeing Reeta after 40 years!!!!!

The flash bulbs were busy recording each & every moments and the party was soon in its peak when Prashanta – Dolly  ( who were doubtful participants ) entered announcing how Prashanta had forsaken his official responsibilities just to make it this evening to meet and welcome Reeta-Roopa !!!

And with in  a few minutes entred Prabir ,Swapan and Shyama Prasad taking our voice decibls to alarming levels! Earlier Shyama Prasad had to cut short his stay at Baroda( some urgent family matters ) and come down  to Bombay only to meet Reeta …..While Reeta became ecstatic and excited, Roopa was re-discovering her mother`s popularity and  influence in this part of the Globe which was  so far not known to her. And just when we realised that every one who could make it had arrived braving all difficulties , Sudevi entered to make the evening total and complete. At this point, let me admit that we all remebered the absense of  Manojit and Manju and sincerely tried to make a call to London to have their  voice join our party . Unfortunately, we could not succeed getting thru` the lines!!! The Starters were superb and somewhere in between after Prashanta`s arrival, the hard drinks too started flowing as if by magic, thus taking the party to its zenith. The mouth watering Dinner was taken at 22-30  and Reeta gave a beautifull speech during the desert  thanking every one present to make her dreams come true. ( Seeing our past Re-Union photos on the web , she had always longed to be a part of  such  gatherings and she felt fortunate to realise her dream`s during this life on that wonderful evening of 9th December 2006 )! Roopa summed it up saying that this was much more than she had ever imagined and promissed to come again some time in near future and enjoy such a lively/lovely/honest and spontaneous  party. We Look Forward to having   all our 1964 batchmates including those who missed it this time viz. Manojit-Manju and their son and daughter, Samir-Beena and Saurav , Sarbani – Debesh, Swapna Sen ( ? )  and her family, Ashok Guha and Benoy Roy ( hopefully recovering from their illness ), Subroto,Atindra,Banani,Shikha,Deepali,Supta,Seema,Debal,Anupam,

Debashree,Sheela and Reeta Ghosh, Bijon Roy……Barin..

I am sure we have been blessed  and will continue to be blessed by our beloved batchmate Reba Nandan  who is no more with us.

All good things in life  are short and have to come to an end !!!

We finally wound up at midnight witnessing the tearfull  eyes  of Reeta reminding of the Niagara falls !!!!

" Humm chhod chale hain Mehefil ko.....

  Yaad  aaye  kabhi to

   Mata roa naa....."

                             ...................................................... 

                 

REUNION PHOTO ALBUMS

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