Himachal Hangover

Shekhawat makes an impassioned presentation

Prasad from the Golden Temple and Vaishno Devi

Stories on the Himachal Tour (March 27-April 5, 2013) aren't over yet. If it was Srichand Arora on Saturday giving a blow-by-blow account on the ten-day trip, today it was Shekhawat’s turn to make an equally elaborate presentation of what must surely go down as a momentous 'expedition' in Club history.
Not that it was unprovoked. As main organizer of the trip, Shekhawat was only responding to questions put forth by Monthi Serrao and others on the travel and logistics, difficulties in managing the 21-member group, problems encountered at each stop, issues of finance and accountability and most importantly, the lessons to be learnt from the tour.
“But for the food poisoning part, it was an enjoyable trip,” he summed up. “Everything was manageable and here I must place on record the selfless service rendered by Arun Patil throughout our journey. Were it not for him, many of us would have ended up in a major crisis. We are all very grateful to him.”
The main takeaway from the trip, according to Shekhawat and Arora, is that it brought out the best and bad qualities of every individual. Henceforth, only members and no outsiders would be taken on Club excursions, they insisted. And as far as possible, we will not rely on tour operators. “For the Kerala trip, we will send Arun Patil in advance to do a recce and only thereafter shall we follow,” joked Arora.
Both Arora and Shekhawat brought back dry prasad from the Golden Temple of Amritsar and Vaishno Devi – which Tara Chand Seth helped distribute.
Harish Wadhwa:
So many people without caps... that too in presence of Arora-ji? I am sure the Golden Temple visit has made him ever-forgiving. Arun-bhai ke charche sab jagah hain, aur kyon na ho. Woh hai he aisa... Yaaron ka Yaar! Thank you so much for the prasad too... Jai Mata Di!!!