Inflamed Passions

Shekhawat sounded a word of caution early morning: “If you don’t get permission to stage the Annual Function (on January 16), what is the purpose of all your preparation?”
Well-meaning as the warning was, it instantly led to the outpouring of pent-up emotions over the recent 'prohibition' on consumption of eatables/ beverages in the Garden.

Everybody is equally confused and agitated

Siba Prasad Maitra offers a 'solution'

The absence of anyone to represent us led to a further flare-up of tempers after the exercises.
“Are we dogs that we’d have to eat by the roadside?” exclaimed Banoo Apa, recalling Lakshmi Hadimani's plight yesterday on having to celebrate her birthday by distributing food packets outside the Garden gate. Nahid Khan narrated that she had asked our Club secretary Jagmohan Papneja (who happened to be passing by) to intervene in getting the packets inside the Garden but he proved most uncooperative. “He took his box and simply walked away,” she reported.
Others spoke of ‘kitty parties’ in the China Hut during the evenings and that we are being made to pay the price for their sins. "Whatever party we have in the morning, big or small, we do not leave behind even a scrap of paper,” Mumtaz Jahan pointed out. “Somebody should go and tell them that.”
But who is there to speak for us?
Tara Chand Seth suggested we prepare a written petition, collect signatures and submit it to Celebration Club, the custodians of the Garden. “We must say we are senior citizens, that we have had an impeccable record and suddenly, after 12 years, they cannot start penalising us.”
Many suggested we go by Yusuf Rassiwala’s advice and continue doing what we have always been doing and if someone has any objection, he should come to us rather than we go to him. Razia Khan however, felt that we cannot take chances on the Annual Function because in the event of the program being disrupted midway, we would need something to fall back on. “All our efforts will be wasted,” she cautioned. “That is why we need their permission before proceeding any further.”
Siba Prasad Maitra came up with a solution. “You can use the facility in my building complex,” he suggested. “It would be perfect for our function. You can eat, drink, do whatever you like… and the hiring charges are only Rs500 per day.”
Shekhawat however, felt we must speak to Celebration Club first and offered to lead a delegation tomorrow afternoon (Sunday) at 4:00 pm. Watch this space.
Bihari Milwani:
* We have two retired military officers in our club -- Col Angad Singh and Major Shekhawat. We should ask them to come armed with their AK47s at the Annual Celebration.
* I think we need to explain to the security that it is only "consumption of eatables and beverages" that is prohibited and not the distribution. Like last year we will be distributing the packed food items which will not be consumed in the garden. There should be no problem for any one.