Conference of Fools

Bijoy Gupta (l) proposes holding Mahamoorkh Sammelan

Bijoy Gupta was at it again. He delivered yet another masterstroke this morning when he came up with the idea of organising a ‘Mahamoorkh Sammelan’, a conference of fools in the run up to the Holi festivities next month. He did not have to elaborate much as the suggestion instantly caught on like fire, leaving everybody buckling over in laughter.
But first things first. Yusuf Rassiwala was discussing in all seriousness the preparations for Holi on March 13 in the Garden and the kind of budget that should be allocated for the celebration this year.
The managing committee would, in any case, be taking a call on this tomorrow. Still, in the interest of eliciting more diverse views, the discussion was thrown open to everyone present after the exercises.
That was when Gupta piped in with the suggestion of members voting for the Mahamoorkh of the club. "Whoever gets the maximum votes will be felicitated and granted a position of honour (as de facto master of ceremonies)

Yusuf Rassiwala (r) elicits views for Holi celebration

during the festivities,” he explained. “Anybody wanting to do anything during the festival shall have to take the agya (permission) of the Mahamoorkh!”
The idea, incidentally, has cultural constructs (particularly in northern India) and Swati Panjabi, who has obviously attended such sammelans, pitched in with some suggestions on how to go about it.
However, Yusuf R told Gupta to plan the fun event the way he wanted and that the rest of us would fall in line accordingly.
What remained unsaid though was whether the ladies in the Club would also qualify to be elected Mahamoorkh.
Equally unclear is whether the candidates would be restricted to those present on the voting day or would they include all members – including those who have ceased to attend the exercises. Whatever be it, it takes rare courage to stick one's neck into something like this and being able to laugh at yourself in the end.
“Holi falls on a Monday,” Yusuf R reminded us. “So we must elect Mahamoorkh before that, say, on Saturday, March 11.”
Lt Col Angad Singh (retd):
I suggest all the members, irrespective of gender, be present and stand for being elected Mahamoorkh. After all, we are doing this only for enjoyment. The winner will be one day's king!
Bihari Milwani:
Ladies in the club should not qualify for Mahamoorkh. They have Women's Day on 8th March. Gents should also have their own day.