Last Minute Preparations

Yusuf Rassiwala consults members on Republic Day preparations

With less than 24 hours remaining, the Club suddenly woke up to the realization that tomorrow is Republic Day. Beyond Mallika Kagzi picking up a few tiny metallic tricolor badges, nothing had been done for this annual celebration in the Garden. We were caught completely unprepared.
Fortunately, the jhanda (flag) and the danda (flag pole) from last year's Independence Day could be traced to Arun Patil. The traditional march past around the Garden would be led by either the youngest or the oldest of our members reporting tomorrow. And as usual, Shekhawat would perform the ceremonial salute of the national tricolor.
The ceremony would start around 8:00 a.m. – immediately after the exercises.
Separately Mallika instructed everybody to come dressed “preferably in white”. As for the sound system, it turns out that Harish Wadhwa (who routinely takes care of this requirement) is out of Mumbai – in Bharuch. He would return on January 27. So some other arrangement will have to be made now.
This left us with one last major task: providing for refreshments at the end of the ceremony. Our backroom boys and girls put their heads together and after some deliberation,

Fahmida Khan force-feeds Yusuf R with matthi

Bhaswati's turn to be fed matthi by Fahmida Khan

Dilip Babani firmed up on the menu. Mallika would be getting the tea from home. Yusuf Rassiwala advised not to be too extravagant on this count as we are constrained by a budget. Besides, many ‘outsiders’ (read non-members) would be partaking in the eats and they cannot be turned away.
Earlier in the morning, Yusuf R read out the decision of the managing committee yesterday (see post) on the allocation of budgetary resources for various Club activities. Siba Prasad Maitra sought an allocation for philanthropic activities – even if it were to be one-off and contributory. Banoo Apa urged restarting the popular Pehchaan Kaun contest, while Khatoon Baig pressed for funds to revive the practice of gifting ‘personalised calendars’ on birthdays.
Everybody agreed that such symbolic gestures from the Club infused a sense of pride among members and gave Big Laaf a distinctive identity.