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 . . .