Thakur is in Chennai late Feb.

News just come in.

Thakur is flying in late Feb.

Recall this guy who made his millions in the garments business?

Thakur has settled in the USA for many years now and does fly in and out of India.

The rash of meets of the alumni, esp. batch 1976, has excited him and C K Murali says we are in for a party.

Thara says Carmeline Ross, now in the Gulf, also plans to fly in for a alumni meet.

Gosh, this will be a nice party indeed. Buzz Murali at 94440 43452. Open to 1976 batch only.

Peter invites you to Canada

Peter Thyreum called me again.

He wants to keep a track of the alumni meets.

And he says will host people who pass thro' Canada - summertime is the best.

He may not travel to India in 2009.

He invites you to mail him ( see his email at a previous post)

Please do comment and post your buzz too here!

Families Meet - Jan 18

The families of the '76 batch met for lunch on Jan 18, Sunday.

(I am posting this so late because I have been extremely busy putting up my annual Mylapore Festival ( www.mylaporefestival.com)

Ashok, C K Murali and Khaja did the spadework, made over 200 calls and got over 60 people to the Andhra Club in T Nagar, courtesy Hemanth Kumar.

It was probably the first time that the batch and families met so there were surprises, awes, open mouths and back-slapping.

Rani was there with her son - Rani has quit a fulltime job.

Thara was there, taking time off from her busy timetable at home off Nungambakkam.

Annamalai was there too - with his son and daughter, veery subdued and looking the same. He runs his business in Evening Bazaar and lives in Kodambakkam.

James did make it. Looked natty.

Jaspal Singh and wife also dropped by - they live off Mylapore now I hear.

As it got crowded I lost track of the others. There were a few from the senior batches and two reps of the alumni association.

The party ended by about 3.30 pm.

We hope to post some pictures here soon. I have to depend on Murali for pics . .

On Hemachander, James and Co.

It was good to meet Hemachander ( 76 batch).

He took leave from his bank in Ariyalur (TN) and spent the weekend with us.

Hema had a nasty accident many years ago and survived but was bruised.

His folks live in Thiruvanmiyur and a son is studying in Australia.

P G James couldn't make it to the party though he was keen. James, in the TN Police, is now a senior assistant to police officer Jangid, the Commissioner of Greater Chennai, that was newly formed.

James has to spend late nights in his sensitive assignment. . .

Venkatraman was at the alumni party - in kavi vesti and thick nammam, every inch a sadhu. Venkat has been in touch with the group, works for the Posts and lives in Anna Nagar.

Vimala was also present. Shes running a clothes store at the Spencers Plaza and told me she markets a readymade sari! Pleats and all for foreigners and NRIs who find a sari slipping off their waist but are keen to wear one! No, Vimala wasnt wearing her product that evening. . .

Thomena was there. Still works at the CAT (Tribunal) at High Court and lives in Nanganallur. Yes, with Hari. She told us Isabel keeps in touch - Isabel works at S Rly and lives off Porur.

She also said she bumped into Michael Rex in Nanganallur and will pin him down.

Khaja was there. With his daughter who passed out of St. Anthony's too.

I will post more soon. Id like your comments meanwhile. . .

Party on the Beach

Some of us had planned this party after the Alumni Meet.

It turned out to be a small group finally.

(Guess as people grow older, have teen kids and parties are taboo, the boys skip such events).

So C K Murali, Charms Ashok, Hari, Hemachander and hit the ECR and beached at TTDC's Beach Resort Complex. The BRC is not the best place - bad food, average service, dry place . . but its a nice location and you can be to yourself when thats what your intention is!

We did - enjoyed the angry sea of that night, bathed in it next morn and ended the trip with a nice lunch at Moon Rakers at Ottavadai Street ( the colourful street of Mahabs). Moon Rakers is a popular destination; people drive all the way from Chennai to dine here. Great ambience at night. But on many days, the food is average though sea food is fresh.

If any of you need to explore Mahabs in a  different manner do drop us a line. I can share some nice ways to enjoy the trip.

PS: If 1976 batch alumni are visiting Chennai, please make contact with 'Charms' Ashok, We'd like to have a spot party and catch up with the ol times.

Alumni Party!

Here is the first report on the Alumni Assn. party held on Jan.3, 2009.

(More will follow. Also, lots of pictures)

This is a personal jottings on the party.

I was back to St. Anthony's 25 years or more since passing out - 1976.

The gates we used to head do not exist - there are small pathways which are firmly sealed. The big gate is now on the side where the KG and Class 1 existed. 

(Actually, this area does not exist under the umbrella of the Presentation Convent - the nuns say that they were forcibly evicted though they had rented the place for over 60 years and a businessman raised a huge building on that land).

4.30 p.m. was too early for many people. Most who were present must have passed out in the late 90s or even in 2003 and 2005.

There were more chairs than guests but the place filled up as the function eventually opened at about 5.30 p.m. C. K. Valson was the chief guest; I was made guest of honour!

Valson is now one of India's top athletics manager and master of the technicals of the sport. He has been given a prestigious post for the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi.

Valson went down memory lane - praising PT master PaneerSelvam for being his mentor and his senior teachers who detained him in Std.10, which made his quit Anthony's, get admitted to Doveton, excel in sport, pass school and go on to make a mark in life! 

Valson has made a big promise - to provide sports coaches and accessories if the school plans to give serious attention to sport.

I took off on that theme in my speech. It was time for some of us alumni to lend a hand to the school so that it stood out in the city.

My batchmate Hemanth Kumar who now runs an Events Management company said a few words.

There were gifts for the nuns and the retired teachers and guests.

For many of us, it was nice to see Miss Devotta on stage. The seniormost to be present that evening. 

There was some entertainment by the junior alumni, fire crackers in the sky, dinner and some dancing. 

The team headed by Dharmaprakash and Benedict did a nice job despite limitations.

Also, at least 30 alumni of the 60s and 70s marked their presence.

But the 'networking spirit' was missing at the party.

The ball has just rolled perhaps . . .