Parting Shot

Back in the shed as it poured outside

Just when we thought that the monsoon was over, torrential rains lashed the Garden this morning in the middle of our exercises. Left with no option, we scurried into our good old shed for cover. Many described this as the season’s 'parting shot'. But it came with such ferocity and suddenness that even those with umbrellas, arrived for the exercises dripping from top to toe.
Harbans Kaur had to take shelter midway to the Garden, go home, fetch her umbrella… but when she turned up, she was soaked to the skin.

Harbans Kaur

Not taking any chances, Sitaram Hivarkar scampered back and did not show up till the rains were over. One joker looked like a wet crow and justified his appearance by declaring: “I would rather get drenched than get my umbrella wet!”
But then, there was also a bright side to the rains – as we were to discover later. While we were exercising in the shed, one by one, several new faces began to appear and without even asking, joined us. With some we have had just a passing acquaintance as they are regulars on the walking track every morning. Rather than while away their time waiting for the rains to subside, they exercised in our midst with amazing gusto and what’s more, seemed to be enjoying every moment of it.
In fact, at the end of the exercises, many were heard asking around what it would take to join our Club. An elderly Sindhi lady gave us the most heartwarming compliment: “You are the only people I see in the Garden who, come rain or sunshine, would not skip a single day of exercising.”
Jagmohan Papneja:
Today, powerful showers that pass quickly, were truly a "parting shot". It indicates that monsoon is withdrawing.

Work in Progress

CAUTION! MEN AT WORK: Papneja and Arora exchange notes

Everyone is still concerned about Nazma Sayyad's health

The process of revamping the Club is still not over. With Jagmohan Papneja taking charge as secretary (see post of August 24) last week, a number of exciting and innovative changes can be expected soon. A veteran at managing several clubs far bigger and older than our, he now draws upon the wisdom of his experience to fine-tune our operations, keeping the sentiments of all members in mind.
Today he took time out with former secretary Srichand Arora (now chairman) and went through our Club constitution with a fine-tooth comb, tying up loose ends and plugging all loopholes.
Of course, whatever changes are brought about will necessarily reflect the wishes of all concerned. For instance, many would like to pay their membership subscription six months (even a year) in advance, rather than on a repetitive monthly basis. But Monthi Serrao, as treasurer, has suggested that subscriptions be collected for a period not exceeding eight months so as to cover the financial year (ending March 31, 2014). Furthermore, she has plans to set aside Rs50,000 for a bank fixed deposit and utilize only the spillover for day-to-day expenses. There is also the contentious issue of making refunds to those who are still lax in their attendance and yet, have paid their subscription in advance.
Meanwhile, for those concerned about Nazma Sayyad (she continues to top the Popular Posts for six weeks running) here is good news. Her obesity issue is now under control and she has lost considerable weight. The only problem remaining, according to her, is that her knees tend to give way at times because of fatigue and a long history of wear and tear. But she is well enough to walk around without support and promises to be regular for the exercises from now on.

Janamashtami 2013

First set of prayers go up...

Lord Krishna was born last night, at the stroke of 12. So half the nation celebrated Janamshtami yesterday; the other half celebrated today. Either way, what matters is that it must rain (because when the lord was born it poured like mad) if the festival has to be propitious and hold any significance.
Thus, on a bright, sunny morning today, the heavens opened up on cue and it spluttered for a brief five minutes. That was enough to interrupt our exercises and send everyone running helter-skelter for shelter.

Bemused bystanders

Whatever anybody might say, nobody likes getting drenched while exercising.
Before long, it was time to resume the exercises. We retraced our steps and took position when lo and behold, close to the China Hut, the exercises had begun with another group of members.

Second set of prayers on Janamashtami 

They had taken shelter there and were now too scared to venture out, lest it rained again and they get drenched in another ‘divine’ shower. Arun Patil called them ‘drifters’ – people who had drifted away in the imaginary deluge following the five-minute drizzle! But it was a peculiar sight. For the first time the Garden was witness to two laughter groups doing their numbers simultaneously – one, out in the open and the other, in the confines of a dark shed. Both doggedly dug in their heels and refused to even acknowledge the existence of one another.
Willy nilly, Monthi Serrao had to get caught between the two groups. She came in late as usual and from the gate itself, was hailed by the ‘drifters’ in the shed. From a distance the other group waved at her. Confused, she took a few steps ahead, stopped, then walked back, stopped again and looked around… Her staccato stop-start, stop-start action became a joke in itself, throwing both groups into spasms of laughter.
Lord Krishna is said to be the most human of all gods and a prankster par excellence. So he should well understand our playful capers on his birthday. Still, to be doubly sure we were not misunderstood, two sets of prayers went up this morning for him to deal with. Happy Janamashtami!
Jagmohan Papneja:
Due to rain, we split into two groups doing our activities at the same time at different places because Lord Krishna is omnipresent and doing leela with each one of us. Radha ka PREM/ Murli ki mithaas/ Maakhan ka swaad/ Gopiyon ka raas/ Inhi se milke banta hai Janamashtami ka din khaas. Wish you a very happy festival.

Home Turf

Back to our old stomping ground

From rock hard concrete, we stepped into the lush greens today, the grass freshly cropped, soft and shining in the early morning sun. The monsoon had abated a bit and we were back on home turf – our old stomping ground where we exercise. The sky was a clear blue and with a gentle breeze blowing across, the morning had turned truly divine.
The shift in location created some confusion among the late comers who had expected to find us outside the China Hut. Had they not been suitably guided at the gate, many would have probably gone home without exercising. Monthi Serrao in particular, caused a minor flutter after she was sighted at the gate and yet, did not turn up for the exercises. Initially, nobody spoke about it believing that was not Monthi, but a momentary illusion. Before long, a debate broke out on how she could have vanished into thin air -- whether we had mistaken someone else for her or if she had come and not finding us, gone away. “Don’t worry, she must have forgotten something back home and gone to fetch it,” Harbans Kaur comforted us.

Monthi Serrao

Nafisa Sayyad

Sure enough, Monthi showed up after some time, smiling widely as usual. Apparently, she was confabulating with Sunita Jajodia inside the China Hut, hidden from our visual range. Sunita had undergone a gall bladder operation last week and today she decided to check us out in the Garden – just that she could not venture as far to where were exercising. So she waylaid Monthi and engaged her in conversation.
Another person who had returned after an extended hiatus was Nafisa Sayyad. She was back from Pune for 3-4 days and spoke highly of her new neighborhood, the climate and why it was healthier there than in Mumbai. Jagmohan Papneja suggested she start a Pune chapter of Big Laaf and we would all happily go there for its inauguration. Quick on the uptake, Nafisa muttered matter-of-factly: “All that is fine. But how do I wake up in the morning? I get absolute sound sleep in Pune!”
Jagmohan Papneja:
The site of exercises looks amazing! Hard to believe it is the same old place in Garden No 4. This is because the photography is so fantastic. I wonder if this is the work of a professional or an amateur.

‘Happening Club’

Sudipto Chatterjee

Sudipto Chatterjee, a retired advertising professional, calls us the ‘most happening club’. He is not a member, but visits the Garden every morning and occasionally drops by looking for a cigarette lighter. “Anybody can see that you guys are having a lot of fun,” he says. “I have never seen so much energy in any other club anywhere.”
Regular readers of this blog would share Chatterjee’s impression -- as indeed many morning walkers who often stop in their tracks just to gawk at our antics.

Part of a day's work

It would appear that we can have nothing better to do in life than play the fool, laugh, eat and be merry. We sing and dance on members’ birthdays, celebrate national festivals with gusto, rejoice when someone returns from a holiday, go out on excursions, click pictures… and even exercise.
With all our laughter and tomfoolery, there would be occasional grim moments when one of us falls ill or comes to grief in some manner. Very often lending a sympathetic ear can help in times of distress. And then, there could be serious business to transact, such as convening meetings, holding elections, etc. Today, Harish Wadhwa brought a sheaf of legal papers for the signatures of members of the managing committee… all part of a day’s work.
Truly, there can never be a dull morning in the Club.
Jagmohan Papneja:
The Big Laaf laughter club is a sanctuary of fun. It showcases the activities we take up so that people can see, get inspired and join the initiative.

We Did It!

Eid Party 2013   

Yesh… we did it. After the many hiccups and initial bickering, we finally proved that Eid can well be celebrated regardless of faith or community feeling. For the first time, all Hindus and Muslims of the Club joined hands in hosting a luncheon party at Shalimar Restaurant (on J.P.Road) in the true spirit of secular bonding and brotherhood.
And what a lavish spread it was! With more than a dozen exotic vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes in the main course -- not to mention a mind-boggling variety of hors d’oeuvres, breads, soups and salads – topped with falooda and other desserts, this was verily a feast for the kings.

Tara Chand Seth

It was unlikely that any person among the 28-odd guests could sample all that was on offer this afternoon.
The credit for organizing such a memorable bash goes entirely to Razia Khan. As in previous years, she had taken the initiative in mobilizing members for an Eid party and even paid an advance for booking the restaurant. Of all the people, Srichand Arora had to put his foot down, explaining that it would split the Club along communal lines. “Why should the burden of hosting an Eid party fall squarely on one community only,” he wanted to know.
In the face of the party getting scrapped (see post of August 23), Arora and Razia met one evening and after a serious pow-wow behind-the-scenes, a decision was taken to defray the expenses equally across the board. That way, the advance to the restaurant would not be forfeited and more importantly, we shall be sending a message that no community can be the sole custodian of any one religion – a sentiment that was immediately endorsed by all members of the Club.
Sadly, Tara Chand Seth could not be part of this celebration. As one opposed to scrapping the Eid party, he had been closely monitoring the developments every day. But today itself, he had a flight to catch to Delhi and couldn't say when he would return. Before leaving, he said his goodbyes and wished everyone well.
Jagmohan Papneja:
Religious festivals are a benchmark for love and harmony. We had a Big Lunch as a part of the Eid festivities in a spirit of friendliness and fellowship. This is the only way people of different faiths can live together in harmony.

Day 1103

Pic of the Week

AUGUST 24, 2013: HISTORY IN THE MAKING?

Looks like all members are paying full attention to the speaker. Good improvement! --Srichand Arora

The leader in the pic looks serious, assertive, efficient, thick-skinned and flexible in transacting the club business. -Jagmohan Papneja

New Committee

Monthi Serrao

Jagmohan Papneja 

Srichand Arora

The series of meetings-sheetings over the past fortnight were finally brought to a logical head this morning with the election of a new Managing Committee to steer the affairs of the Club through the next two years. It also places the Club on a sound footing for an upgrade to a ‘registered association’.
The newly-elected committee will be headed by three office bearers – Srichand Arora (chairman), Jagmohan Papneja (secretary) and Monthi Serrao (treasurer). They would be ably aided (if not abetted) by others of the 10-member committee, which includes names such as Harbans Kaur, Razia Khan and Geeta Sardana.

Yusuf Rassiwala

Hari Singh Shekhawat

At the helm would be the two veterans, Hari Singh Shekhawat and Yusuf Rassiwala – the veritable ‘Bhishma Pitamahs’ of the Club – who shall henceforth be occupying the newly-created post of Chairman Emeritus.
Barring Yusuf Rassiwala and Monthi Serrao, all were present for the elections.
The voting was not without its lighter moments with a scramble breaking out between the ‘proposers’ and ‘seconders’ (and self-proclaimed ‘thirders’ and ‘fourthers’) every time a name was called out. Before long, it emerged that only the so-called crooks and trouble-makers of the Club were being proposed (as someone mentioned in as many words) and getting elected, thereby leaving many quiet and sharif people out in the cold. That was when Arun Patil jumped up to ask how to get rid of unsavory elements we might not like in the committee. “Otherwise they would be sitting continuously upon our heads and ruling over us for the entire two year term,” he pleaded.
It was a valid point that immediately opened up discussions. Finally, it was resolved that a suitable provision be made in the Club’s constitution that would allow for impeachment by bringing in a no-confidence motion against the committee member(s). However, it would require the support of at least 50 per cent of the Club's members.
Srihand Arora:
* How can you miss two important names, Derek Bose and Harish Kumar Wadhwa? You must add their names immediately to complete the list of the committee.
* Mr Papneja, CONGRATULATIONS! I am very much sure that with your guidance the Club will gain in stature.
* CONGRATULATIONS, Mr Shekhawat and Yusuf Bhai! You have really proved yourselves as the 'Bhishma Pitamahs' of the Club. Thanks, very much.
Razia Khan:
Congrats to all the members of the managing committee.
Kuch sitaron ki chamak nahin jaati, / Kuch yaadon ki kasak nahin jaati, / Kuch logon se hojaata hai aisa rishta / 
Ke door rehkar bhi unki mehek nahi jaati.
I agree with MrArora's comment. Please add the names of Mr Bose and Mr Harish in the committee members list. Thank you.
Jagmohan Papneja:
I thank you all for reposing faith in me as secretary of this vibrant Big Laaf club.With encouragement and guidance of chairman Arora-ji, I shall put my best efforts to increase the membership strength of this club and also its functioning.

No Eid Do

Sorry, no Eid party this year.

In the face of mounting opposition, plans for the annual Eid bash (see yesterday’s post) have been abandoned. “It was meant to be a happy occasion,” said Razia Khan. “We have been hosting this party in a restaurant out of our own free will and pleasure with no expectation whatsoever. Please understand, this is a major festival and we wanted to celebrate in a big way. If people object to this, what can I say?”
The objections have arisen, primarily on two counts. One, hosting the Eid party by Muslims was indirectly dividing the Club on communal lines. As Srichand Arora pointed out, “I don’t mind if everyone pitches in for the party expenses. But for one community to do so to the exclusion of all others would be sending a wrong signal across. We shall effectively be splitting the Club on religious grounds… which, to my mind, sets an unhealthy trend.”
The other reason for objecting to an Eid party is that it would become incumbent upon non-Muslims to host a ‘return party’. Last year, it was for this reason that the Hindus organized a luncheon do at Blue Waters restaurant on Diwali.

Nafisa Sayyad

Vandana Kankanwar

That was when some seniors had declared that such quid pro quo defeated the very purpose of celebrating a festival and must be stopped forthwith.
Harish Wadhwa had a third argument. He contended that we would soon fall into the trap of competitive hosting with one group trying to outdo the other. “The moment you migrate from the Garden for such celebrations, you run the risk of getting into hosting bigger, brighter, grander, swankier, costlier parties. And then there would be inevitable comparisons on the menu as well. Who treated whom to better food? Let us contain ourselves to the Garden, please.”
Meanwhile, news comes in of two lady members pulling out of the Club due to personal compulsions. Vandana Kankanwar has been advised by her physiotherapist not to indulge in exercises other than what is medically prescribed. And Nafisa Sayyad has had to relocate to Pune for domestic reasons. She promises to drop by in the Garden whenever she visits Mumbai.
Harish Wadhwa:
Sapna sach hua! Our blog has crossed yet another milestone -- 2.5 lakh hits. No words can thank the Blog Monster enough for making it so interesting and a regular affair. Kudos to you. Hats off to your composing and writing skills.
Jagmohan Papneja:
It was so nice of Razia & Co wanting to host a lunch for Eid. If we are not inspired and cannot reciprocate in the same spirit (for whatever reason) then it is perfectly appropriate not to accept the gesture.

Internal Churning

Shekhawat announces next meeting on August 24

Some of the hosts for next week's Eid party

So far so good. The ongoing ‘churning’ within the Club is producing fabulous results. Belying apprehensions of a drop in daily numbers, the chipping and chopping of membership initiated last Saturday (see post of August 17) has since led to an appreciable rise in attendance for the morning exercises.
The fear of losing their membership is bringing all the prodigals and truant masters back into our fold. Already nine members, known for their recalcitrance, were voted out of the Club and there are ten others currently on notice. In an amazing display of dedication and alacrity, the latter are nowadays marking their presence religiously, lest they too be unceremoniously expelled from the Club.
For Srichand Arora, who had taken a calculated risk for this revamp, nothing can be more rewarding than the sight of an ever widening circle during the exercises. Now he wants to take what he describes as “reconstituting and redevelopment of the Club” to the next level by calling for a general body meeting on Saturday, August 24 to elect a new managing committee and a team of office-bearers. The term of this team will be for two years, ending March 2015. Posts for Chairman Emeritus and Patron are also being created, which will be registered in due course. A formal announcement in this regard was made by Shekhawat this morning.
Also on the burner is another Eid party to be hosted jointly by Razia Khan, Yusuf Rassiwala, Rehana Sheikh and others. Most likely it would be a luncheon get-together in a restaurant. A formal invite will be made once a decision on the venue is taken.
Srichand Arora:
My memory says, it was decided that there shall be no such parties in future. I am totally against it. Friends, please think once again.
Harish Wadhwa:
* In my opinion too, a simple in-Garden or otherwise celebration is more welcome than hotels and restaurants. I am in agreement with Arora-ji on this.
* Let us be together and come for health, joy, fun, jokes, sharing, caring, talking, fafda-jalebi, chai, sweets, Eid, Christmas, Diwali, Holi, Independencce Day, Republic Day, Monday, Tuesday... but NOT for the fear of losing club membership.
Jagmohan Papneja:
The opinion of an individual should be respected. However, the choice of the majority must always be obeyed.
Dilip Babani:
Harish Wadhwa, you are right. Every member should visit the Garden for his own health and love, fun, jokes, friendship, etc. but not out of fear of terminating of club membership.
Srichand Arora adds:
I have another suggestion for celebrating Eid. Why should a few people throw the party? Why can't we all share the expenses and celebrate Eid? Think about this too or as Mr Harish suggested, let us celebrate in the Garden itself like we celebrate other occasions.
CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR BLOG MONSTER AND ALL THE MEMBERS OF BIG LAAF! VIEWERSHIP ACHIEVED... RATHER CROSSED 0.25 MILLION HITS. WOW!!! -- Srichand Arora

Unfinished Business

Geeta Sardana and her rakhi brother Srichand Arora had some unfinished business. Like many others who did not celebrate Raksha Bandhan yesterday (see post), they tied the sacred today with the attendant ceremony of lighting an oil lamp, feeding one another sweets and exchanging vows.
There was also talk of ill-positioned stars, a full moon and malevolent planets… some jiggery-pokery to explain away why the festival was inauspicious yesterday and auspicious today. It made no sense because of the two varieties of luddoos and barfi in circulation and we had a ball!
But the prelude to the ceremony was more fun. For, Geeta came wrapped in a beautiful turquoise sari and upon finding Arora in yesterday’s yellow striped T-shirt and shorts, sent him packing for a shower and change (check Harish Wadhwa’s comments yesterday). Arora’s protestations had fallen into deaf ears, but when he returned we were all dumbstruck. Nobody had seen Arora so smartly turned out in dark trousers, black-checkered shirt tucked in with black sports shoes and the club’s blue baseball cap perfectly matched.
Tara Chand had to take a dig, “Knicker aakhir mein untarwaa-hi lee!” but the rest complimented him for looking a “foreigner”. “Sala, main toh sahab ban gaya,” intoned Yusuf Rassiwala. That was when someone pointed out that Geeta was in last year’s ‘rakhi saree’ (which Geeta conceded). But how dare she get Arora to change the clothes he wore yesterday? the ladies demanded. “That time you jumped up and went away obediently to change,” Harbans Kaur cornered Arora. “Why didn’t you tell your sister then to also go home and change?”
Everybody laughed and the best part was Arora kept cracking jokes at himself. But once the ceremony began, he was a portrait of solemnity and earnestness, befitting the occasion. After tying him the rakhi, Geeta marked a red tika while seeking his blessings and he reciprocated with a gift-wrapped package as a mark of affection. This time nobody laughed.
Srichand Arora:
Hi, we are very close to another milestone. Another 500-odd and viewership would reach 2.5 lakh. Wow!
Jagmohan Papneja:
Arora-ji and Geeta-ji glorify the eternal bond of love shared between a brother and sister. People around watch them make Raksha Bandhan grand festival.
Harish Wadhwa:
Arora-ji, keep the blog hit aside and tell us how it felt coming to the Garden with a shower so early in the morning and sporting such decked up suit for the festival? How was the mithai and luddoos you so generously got, while we looked on open-mouthed? God bless you, you are a true gentleman at heart. Bhai-behen ki jodi hamesha bani rahe! As Papneja-ji rightly said, it was grand indeed.

Raksha Bandhan 2013

RAKHI SIBLINGS: Arora and Geeta

Was Raksha Bandhan today?
Well, newspapers told us so. Schools and offices were shut today. Cinema houses and malls offered special discounts on the festival. And among members, those in the know affirmed that it had to be Raksha Bandhan today.
But on the calendar, the red dot appears next to August 21. So it ought to be a public holiday tomorrow. Shekhawat confirmed it will also be a bank holiday tomorrow. So is Raksha Bandhan tomorrow?
An otherwise token ritual of women tying the sacred thread on the wrist of their brothers became an issue this morning as Geeta Sardhana did not come with the paraphernalia for the ceremony that she brings every year. And Srichand Arora, her 'rakhi brother', had from all appearance and purposes, clean forgotten about the festival. They had incidentally found one another in the Club in 2010 with Arora revealing that he does not have a sister and Geeta, who does not have a brother either, volunteering to tie the thread on his wrist. To our infinite pleasure, we have since been feasting upon boxes of barfis and luddoos while they went about religiously reaffirming their bonding year after year.

Back in his elements, Shekhawat entertains

This year though, we were deprived of that pleasure, all because of the confusion over dates. (Who knows, we might get lucky tomorrow!) Still, we did not give up hope and in all sincerity, the men collectively addressed the women as sisters, wishing them 'Happy Raksha Bandhan Day' and the women reciprocated in like measure, addressing all the men as their brothers. Even then there were no luddoos or barfis… not even toffees.
Instead, there was Shekhawat collecting cash from everyone as 'monthly subscription' for membership. Quite clearly, he is back in form, doing what he is best at. And nobody disappointed him. Alongside, Arora went about collecting signatures on documents for the club’s registration. Looks like an election is in the offing. Some newly created posts and names are already in circulation. We must wait and watch.
Jagmohan Papneja:
Tyoharo ka tyohar / Rakhi ka tyohar / Jis se jhalakta hai / Bhai-Behan ka pyaar! Happy Raksha Bandhan.
Harish Wadhwa:
* Grapevine has it that Arora-ji had not taken a shower this morning (or maybe for days) which upset Geeta-ji. As per Punjabi custom, the rakhi can be tied only after full shudhee. Hopefully he will come after a shower tomorrow (LOL).
* Agar aap aaj kisi khoobsurat ladki ko (yaa apni hee biwi ko) koi chamakti aur sone si damakti cheez lekar aate dekhen... toh foran bhaag jayiyega, kyon ki woh 'rakhi' bhi ho sakti hai!

Revenue Generation

Nahid Khan

Nahid Khan today set into motion the Club’s revenue generation drive beginning this month. Pursuant to a resolution adopted in last Saturday’s meeting (see post), she became the first to pay her monthly subscription of Rs50 for August-September.

The biggies strategise for the future

Observing her, most of the members present this morning followed suit while the rest promised to put in their share tomorrow.
This is the first significant step towards upgrading the Club into a ‘registered association’ with a steady revenue stream and strong corpus to fall back upon in future. More importantly (as some ladies pointed out) it would help instill a sense of unity, participation and belongingness among all members. At the same time, it would raise the degree of accountability in the Managing Committee, which incidentally, is also being reconstituted in the run up to registration. The necessary papers, including the revised Constitution, Memorandum of Association and by-laws are currently in the final stages of preparation for submission to the registration authority.

Sunita Jajodia

Boring and tedious as this may all sound, we need to go through this process (more so, since it had been kept in abeyance for the past one year) if we are to derive benefits beyond the daily routine of meeting and exercising. Members were unanimous in their view that the time had come to raise the bar and go ahead with the rigmarole required to upgrade the Club into a registered body.
Meanwhile, news comes in of Sunita Jajodia returning home after a successful operation of her gall bladder for removal of a stone. It was a simple laproscopy procedure, but led to complications because of BP and blood sugar issues, owing to which she had to extend her stay in the ICU by a day. She was discharged on Saturday, but says she is still very weak because of the liquid diet she has been put on. It would take her time to recover fully and be fit enough to resume exercises in the Garden.
Jagmohan Papneja:
Best wishes to Sunita-ji. I ask the Almighty to bless her with early recovery.
Harish Wadhwa:
Get well soon Sunita-ji. By the way, Nahid Khan ko gussa kyon aata hai? Photu mein to aisa hee lagta hai!

Day 1096

Pic of the Week

THE MOST ABIDING IMAGE OF THE WEEK GONE BY

The unit of Big Laaf is realizing the importance of freedom on Independence Day. -- Jagmohan Papneja

Pruning Process

Club chairman, Hari Singh Shekhawat convenes the meeting

The process of trimming and pruning the Club of deadwood has begun. All those who had ceased to attend the morning exercises have been either put on notice or summarily dropped from membership. The only exceptions are a counted few who, for medical reasons or infirmity, are incapable of keeping their daily appointment in the Garden.
Explaining the reasons behind this move, Secretary Srichand Arora told members that before we proceed for the registration of the Club, it was imperative we consolidate ourselves as a cohesive group of like-minded people.

New member Ruksana Khan

The ‘special meeting’ convened this morning was essentially to weed out those who do not share similar views and interests and were unwilling to conform to the Club ethos.
It was also clarified that being dropped from membership does not disqualify anyone from attending the exercises and/ or applying afresh. But membership will not be automatic. Only those with a consistent record of punctuality and respect for Club discipline would be entitled to re-induction. Also, those defaulting for more than three months would attract expulsion.
Furthermore, the meeting unanimously endorsed the membership of Ruksana Khan, who has been attending the exercises for close to a year now. The proposal for collecting a monthly subscription of Rs50 from every member, beginning August 15, 2013, was also approved by all present. Significantly, there was not a single dissenting voice this time around.
Jagmohan Papneja:
A successful and healthy group is one that is capable of assessing and handling critical issues and resolving them without fear or favour.

Agony After Ecstasy

Impromptu dance performance by Kiran Makharia

A fun-filled morning -- marked by loads of luddoos, laughter and song and dance -- came to an abrupt end with a freak accident. Kiran Makharia, whose birthday it was, slipped and fell at the Garden gate, sustaining grievous injuries and had to be rushed home in a critical condition.
Ramila Mistry also celebrated her birthday today while Sushma Gupta, fresh from a summer trip to the U.S., distributed a boxful of assorted sweets. Ramila was away at Indore when her birthday passed us by on August 6, and she more than made up for her absence with huge chocolate bars this morning. There was also prasad in circulation from the Shirdi Sai Baba temple, courtesy a Sindhi couple who has taken a special liking towards our members.
But then, it had to be Kiran Makharia’s day all the way. She could not be present for yesterday's Independence Day celebrations and had said she would come prepared today with luddoos and some peppy Rajasthani folk and Bengali songs as a special birthday treat for us. However, at the sight of so many people gathered to hear her, she developed cold feet – more so, after elders like Tara Chand and Shekhawat insisted that they had come to hear her and would not budge till she sang a couple of lines at least.

Assorted sweets from Sushma Gupta

Chocolate bars from Ramila Mistry

Finally, she settled for some nimble-footed dance moves with Shekhawat providing the musical score with his coarse, clear-throated, rustic singing.
It was all very spontaneous and entertaining, before disaster struck as Kiran made her way out. She fell with a thud and lay sprawled on the ground, having slipped on the slime that had collected because of the rains. She was in obvious agony and could scarcely move on her own. Some ladies helped her to a chair and it turned out that she had badly twisted her left forearm. It could be a sprain, a fracture, bone dislocation, or… but before anybody could guess, Harish Wadhwa picked up her car keys and with Bhaswati Bose, Harbans Kaur and Monthi Serrao escorting her, drove Kiran home.
More than the pain, it was the shock and sheer helplessness that had rendered her completely disoriented.
Srichand Arora:
Happy Birthday, Kiran-ji. I hope you feel better soon. A special prayer is sent for you that God will make you heart and healthy. Thanks for your delicious luddoos. Also, thanks to Ramila-ji and Sushma-ji for the lovely chocolates and assorted sweets respectively.
Harish Wadhwa:
I wish the last incident of her slipping had not happened. All the fun, luddoos, dances, etc. went for a toss. Anyway, wish you a very Happy Birthday and may you recover fast.

Independence Day 2013

NATIONAL ANTHEM: Celebrating the spirit of freedom and oneness under the Indian tricolour 

At 93 years, Lt. Gen (retd) P.Y.Khandare can barely stand, let alone walk. But on August 15 every year, he religiously visits the Garden in complete military regalia, the array of medals on his chest shining in the early morning sun.

Lt Gen (retd) P Y Khandare

Preparations for the event

“I come out of my house in full army uniform only on Independence Day,” the gunner in Royal British Army remarked.
Khandare did not join us on our march around the Garden today. Monthi Serrao was the flag bearer, leading more than 50 people, members and non-members like the legendary Pied Piper of Hamelin. The original plans were to troop out of the Garden en-masse with Srichand Arora at the head and return after a round of the Celebration Club junction. But with Arora backing out and Monthi taking charge of the banner, the plans were

Hoisting the tricolour

revised and on general consensus, the march was restricted around the walking track only.
It was a wise decision though.

Monthi Serrao leads the march

For, we could effectively secure the involvement of the entire Garden on this year's I-Day march and in the national anthem that followed. Many who could not have joined us (due to infirmity or other problems) left their seats one by one and trudged along, raising patriotic slogans, 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai'! It was a sight to behold – men and women, young and old following Monthi Serrao in a joyous expression of collective pride and oneness of purpose. Such moments come, but rarely in our lives.
The topping of the cake came in the end.

Ramila says it with prasad

Ramila Mistry distributed prasad she had brought back from her recent trip to Indore. Significantly, she was sporting a T-shirt with the Union Jack emblazoned in front, which raised some eyebrows and small talk during the exercises. Many felt that on a day celebrating India's freedom from the British, it was a tad inappropriate, little realizing that any restriction on personal dressing choices negates the very spirit of Independence. And so this was taken in good humour – something we have learnt to rejoice with robustness and maturity. To all Indians everywhere on the planet, HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY once again.
Jagmohan Papneja:
May the spirit of freedom help us grow from strength to strength. Happy Independence Day.
Dilip Babani:
Happy Independence Day to everyone!

A Dampener

Arora is concerned

Cheer up, Sunita!

Sunita Jajodia is in distress. Before the start of exercises, Shekhawat broke the news of her heart condition turning critical and that she would have to go for a surgery urgently. “Only after the operation, would doctors be able to attend to her gall bladder problem,” he informed.
The news was received with stunned silence and some trepidation. Sunita was present, but took her time to join the exercises. We all knew she was under medication for her ailing heart and does not exert herself too much. The gallstones were a recent development; but many assured her that it would resolve itself on its own.
“We don’t understand this,” Srichand Arora spoke out. “When the doctors need to attend to your liver, why are they after your heart?” Before Sunita could reply, Nahid Khan declared that since the heart had already been appropriated by Sunita’s husband, the doctors were left with the next best option – the liver.
Flawed as the comment was, nobody corrected her and everybody laughed. The idea was to cheer Sunita, much as all were concerned.

Bharat Shah is at the far end, in black T-shirt

Just yesterday, she had got into an altercation with Arora who had jokingly addressed her as “budiya” (old woman). “From what angle do I look a budiya?” Sunita demanded. Tara Chand had to eventually diffuse the situation by telling her that she had heard wrong because what Arora meant was “gudiya” (a doll) and not budiya.
Today being Independence Day-eve, Jagmohan Papneja presented a lowdown of all the events lined up tomorrow in the neighborhood – should anyone be interested. He drew particular attention to a Health Camp at Garden No 2 across the street where free check-ups of heart, blood, bone density, BMI, etc. would be conducted from 9:00 a.m. to 2.00 p.m. by a team of eminent doctors.
However, as far as we were concerned, we could only be interested in the platefuls of deep-fried pakodas and chops, dripping rasmalai and tea served in sinful quantities early morning, courtesy Bharat Shah. He has just been blessed with a grand-daughter and needed to celebrate. Now it is for the doctors of the free health camp tomorrow to deal with us and the effects of Bharat Shah’s generosity.