Weekend Scrum

Shekhawat announces his travel plans

Funny, how a little let-up in the cold, wintry conditions early morning could lead to a peaking in attendance for the exercises. Or maybe, because it was a week-end that we saw an unusual scrum in the Garden today. And to imagine there was not even a party announced to draw in the crowds!
Taking advantage of the numbers, Bijoy Gupta got started yet again on holding the Mahamurkh Sammelan (ref post of February 15) on the eve of Holi. For some reason, he is intent upon making stars out of Big Laaf members and believes that having the event early morning after

Bhaswati Bose

the exercises (as it was last year) would rob us of some fan following.
“We should have it in the evening and that too, in the China Hut,” Gupta insisted. “That is when the Garden would be buzzing with people and we can expect a full house.

Bijoy Gupta compliments Banoo Apa

Many of my friends had missed the show last year because it was held early morning and they are still cursing me. They feel cheated.”
To illustrate his point, he said that a major reason for the Annual Function (ref post of January 20) to be a success was that we had an audience for it. “Banoo Apa is no small star today,” he said. “I keep meeting folks who cannot stop raving about Banoo Apa’s dance performance. This is because the function was held in the evening when maximum numbers visit the Garden.”
Shekhawat interjected to say he would miss celebrating Holi with us this year and that he cannot be a part of the Mahamurkh Sammelan: “I am leaving for my village (in Rajasthan) next week on 20th evening and will be back after one month, on 21st March. I have some unfinished business to attend there.”
Significantly, during this period, a group headed by Bhaswati Bose would have toured north-east India covering Guwahati, Shillong, Cherapunji, Dawki, Mawlynong, Kaziranga, etc. Comprising Kiran Prakash, Naseem Khan and Zarina Khan among others, the week-long tour would be back in Mumbai on March 16.

Karun Sharma:
We all must guard against slipping into a comfort zone. Let us push ourselves a little more and to enjoy life at Big Laaf. See you all on March 23 (my birthday) with renewed enthusiasm.

Lt Col Angad Singh (retd):
The North East is a wonderful part of the country to visit. The people there have their own culture, customs and costumes. They are innocent, easy going and very talented. I wonder whether (with the change of climate and global warming) Cherapunji still holds the record of wettest place of the world.