Charged Up!

Lay of the Land: Surveying the sporting field

After a frustrating bid to stage the Annual Day function – not to mention a non-starter of the zoo picnic – Banoo Apa’s proposal to have a Sports Day has reignited the spirits of the Club. The only difference between yesterday and today is that the event is being rescheduled for Sunday, March 3 instead of Monday.
Accordingly, Zarina Khan announced this morning that she would celebrate her birthday on her birthday itself and not a day later (ref previous post). Siba Prasad Maitra promised to cut short his outstation trip to be present in the Garden by 8:30 on Sunday morning. Likewise, Kiran Prakash assured us

Banoo Apa

of his participation, in spite of a personal inconvenience.
Clearly, the excitement in the air is contagious. A hurried list of competitive events was drawn up and a shortlist made:

1. Reverse Walk: 15 minutes
2. Bursting the Balloon: 10 minutes
3. Threading the Needle: 15 minutes
4. Spoon Race: 20 minutes
5. Musical Chairs: 20 minutes
Time permitting, a sixth event might be included, which will be a variation of pitthu (Seven Stones).

Zarina Khan (l) consults Yusuf Rassiwala on her birthday plans

The idea is to wrap up the event within one-and-half hours before it gets too sunny. In between (before the Musical Chairs) light refreshments will be served, courtesy Zarina.
One reason the Sports Day has caught everybody’s imagination is that for the first time, personalised trophies/ cups will be given away to the winners. This explains why only those events that produce a solo winner have been selected. Group events like relay race, dog and the bone, tug of war, etc. have been deliberately excluded.
Moreover, care has been taken to ensure that there is minimal stress/ risk to life and limb, considering our constraints of age. This is also why kids will not be allowed, given that they enjoy an unfair advantage over us and would upset the level playing field. Furthermore, a variety of skills will be tested on the day – in effect encouraging all members, regardless of personal handicaps, to participate.
There will verily be something for everyone in the basket of events selected.

Fizzling Out

Brainstorming over a SPORTS DAY

Within two days, plans for a weekend picnic at Byculla Zoo (ref post of February 25) have all but fizzled out. Some claim that the place is still under renovation. Others have found out that there are no rest rooms in the area. Many insist they have “outgrown” the age for a zoo picnic. And then there are those who argue that it is not worth going all the way to see “one bhaloo, two elephants and a lazy python that does not even come out”. The penguins, they contend, are no big deal.
Be that as it may, a new proposal popped up unexpectedly this morning: SPORTS DAY. Banoo Apa broached the subject and it was promptly picked up by Yusuf Rassiwala, Bhaswati Bose, Kiran Prakash and

Nahid Khan is down with
a bout of tonsilitis

others. Only Bijoy Gupta had some reservations -- clearly because he was not part of the last Sports Day on November 2012. “Who wants to play ludo at our age?” he questioned innocently.
Banoo Apa clarified that we could have a variety of sporting events suitable for seniors -- spoon race, thread the needle, dog and the bone and of course, musical chairs. “We don’t even have to go anyplace else to stage the event,” suggested Kiran Prakash. “Sports Day can be held here in the Garden itself, soon after the exercises.”
The suggestion made sense as it would minimize our time and effort in organizing the event. (Our last Sports Day was held at Borivli National Park). As for food and refreshments, it was tentatively decided to have it on the day Zarina Khan celebrates her birthday, i.e. next Monday. In other words, Sports Day 2019 will be held on March 4.
“Whatever you decide do it fast,” urged Yusuf R. “Don’t delay, because the weather is getting warmer with every passing day. Besides, we already have funds allotted for the Sports Day.”

Karun Sharma:
There are two things working out in the minds of many of us. One is to stay within our own comfort zone. And the other is the unclear visualization of happiness if we go for a picnic. Both are a disease. Let us not spread it further.

Festering Issue

Shekhawat requests members to be on time for exercises

Shekhawat today gave a gentle rap on the knuckles of those not punctual and who have been irregular for the exercises. “Try to wake up early,” he urged. “It is very shameful when we have to start our exercises every day with barely four or five in attendance.”
This has long been a festering issue that has led to a dramatic drop in attendance in the past few weeks. Among those who somehow make an appearance, an overwhelming majority are late comers.
Today, for instance, out of the 17 who were present at the wrap-up, nine landed more than half an hour late. (One turned up barely five minutes before closing time!) And this

Movie poster

is not an exceptional situation. It happens every day.
“It is high time we start inducting new members,” said Bijoy Gupta, pulling up Shekhawat early morning. “What kind of a chairman are you? Everybody takes you for granted. Make me the chairman and see how I discipline the late-comers. None of them seem interested in exercising.”
Gupta was only echoing the sentiments of old timers like Yusuf Rassiwala, Angad Singh, Rukhsana Khan and Nahid Khan. From time to time they have voiced their concern over the sorry state of affairs and the need to arrest our dwindling numbers.
“There was a time when we were never less than 40,” Zarina Khan remarked yesterday. “I know this for a fact because that was the number of food packets I used to prepare on my birthday. This time around, everybody is advising me not to exceed 20. What has happened to our members?”
The unspoken truth is that things have reached a point of no return. Should someone be singled out for late-coming, there is always another offender who has been let off, even welcomed. And we cannot risk pulling up all the latecomers because they constitute over a 75 per cent majority of members – a perfect recipe for the Club breaking up.
Meanwhile, on a happier note, movie lovers Shekhawat, Bijoy and Pushpa Gupta, Bhaswati Bose, Naheed Siddiqui, etc. have made a noon-show appointment with Gully Boy at PVR Andheri Cineplex. Starring Raveer Singh and Alia Bhatt, this coming-of age entertainer on street rappers has been getting rave reviews since its release.

Hurried Picnic

Discussions begin while the exercises were on

Now that the Annual Function is behind us, the Club has found something new to keep everyone occupied. Picnic. The time is right, the inclination is there and the weather, perfect. So why not?
“Let’s go anywhere,” urged Bijoy Gupta, raising the subject in the middle of the exercises. “Decide on the place and set out fast. Don’t plan too much because nothing will come of it then. Those interested will join us automatically.”
The idea found instant endorsement all around. “It does not matter where we go, so long as we go,” declared Zarina Khan. “It’s been ages since we went on a picnic. Let us go this week itself. No point delaying.”
“The more we delay, the greater the chances of cancellation,” opined Naseem Khan. “If we go nearby, we don’t even have to book a bus. Hire a taxi or two and move on. Why wait for a big crowd to gather?

Angad Singh is unwell. He has
cancelled his Dubai trip

Those who want to come will join us anyway.”
All this was music to Shekhawat’s ears. “I am cancelling my trip to Rajasthan,” said the veteran of several picnics in the past. “Just give me the telephone numbers and contact details of a few resorts and I will fix up everything.”
Lonavala, Uran and Igatpuri came up as possible destinations initially. “Those places would entail overnight stay and in effect, holding up our bus unnecessarily.

Deciding on a picnic destination

But Nahid Khan shot down the idea. Our costs would shoot up. We will be paying more for the bus than on ourselves.”
Significantly, these discussions began while the exercises were on, thereby causing a delay in wrapping up today’s session. We had to perforce skip the tai-chi session. But in the end, a decision was taken on having a local picnic with minimum fuss.
After weighing several options, a consensus was reached for Byculla Zoo this weekend, preferably Sunday. Being “exam season in schools”, the place will not be crowded and the logistics, easily manageable. Besides, nobody in the group remembers having ever visited the zoo.
Zarina even offered to celebrate her birthday (on Sunday) there. But then, eatables are strictly prohibited inside the zoo.

DAY 2760

Pic of the Week

Why is he so sad?

Gangaram kunwara rahe gaya! The date of marriage party has been postponed and our Gangaram dukhi ho gaya. --Bihari Milwani

‘Black Day’

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, KARUN SHARMA!

Siba Prasad Maitra (r) conducts the discussions today

Today was the day of the Annual Function that wasn't to be. It was also Karun Sharma’s birthday. He too did not celebrate, in deference to the 40 jawans who died in the Pulwama terror strike on February 14 (ref previous posts). Instead, in a unique tribute to our armed forces, Karun presented a pair roses to each of the two veterans in our midst – Hari Singh Shekhawat and Angad Singh.
“It is because of them we are alive today,” he reminded us.
The symbolism of the gesture was however, lost on Bijoy Gupta.

A rose for Shekhawat

He had made a last ditch attempt to revive the Annual Function and today was his day of reckoning.

Gupta is inconsolable

As indicated in yesterday’s blog (see post), the alternative dates suggested for holding the event would be March 2 and March 9 – or else, end of the year, post-monsoon.
Turns out that on March 2, Gupta himself would not be free, owing to a personal preoccupation. March 9 was also ruled out as another key participant, Kajal Babani has her own commitments on that date. Soon after,

A rose for Angad Singh

Yusuf Rassiwala (another important participant) would be away on an overseas tour for 10 days or so.
After much deliberation, Karun Sharma proposed March 23 (another Saturday) as the next possible date. Kiran Prakash informed that he would be away on an extended vacation during that period. In any event, Shekhawat shall have to be at his village in Rajasthan for a month, beginning March 1.
What was not mentioned (but understood) was that April is the month of school examinations and thereafter, we would be in the middle of peak summer, followed by an uncertain phase of torrential rains.
In effect, nothing can be done about the Annual Function before we are through with

Eager beavers poring over Karun Sharma's birthday calendar

the monsoon.
If there was anyone who looked thoroughly devastated by this turn of events, it was Gupta.
“Today is a Black Day for the Club,” he declared upon realizing that the function has to be postponed indefinitely. “This amounts to cancellation. If at all we are to revive the function later, preparations will have to start afresh.”
Kiran Prakash tried to cheer him up, suggesting that we could as well hold the skits informally, among ourselves anywhere, any time.
But Gupta was inconsolable. “Do you realise that we are having this discussion upon the corpse of our Annual Function?” he observed, visibly crest fallen and defeated.
In the end he consoled himself saying that today’s discussion brought closure to all his hopes: “I will now be able to concentrate on the work I had been neglecting for the past two months.”
Bhaswati Bose:
Many happy returns of the day, Karun. Your gesture of presenting roses was very thoughtful and much appreciated.

Karun Sharma:
There can be a lot of compatibility and consistency in thinking if we are able to organise our minds in the right perceptive. Bhaswati shares the same thoughts. Such thoughts come when we are not occupied with past events and are relaxed from worries and expectations of others for non-celebration.

Time for Rethink

Mulling over when to hold the Annual Day function

A meeting has been called for tomorrow to decide on whether it would be possible to hold our Annual Day function within the next couple of weeks – preferably on March 2 or 9. The other option is to keep it on hold till September-October, i.e. after the monsoon.
Barely two days back, a decision was taken (ref last post) to put the event on the back burner in deference to the 40 soldiers who lost their lives in the Pulwama terror attack last week. The atmosphere is not conducive for holding our function in the Garden, it was stated.
Bijoy Gupta was however, not convinced by this reasoning. So yesterday afternoon, he met up with Hemant Nair of

Shekhawat was dissuaded from
hosting a party tomorrow

the neighboring Celebration Club and was told that we could as well go ahead with our programme, postpone or cancel it – the decision is entirely ours.
“Nair did not say why his Musical Programme, slated for the same day (February 23), had to be dropped,” Gupta reported. “But from what I gather from my friends in the Garden, no one would have the guts to object to our holding the programme. We have nothing to fear.”
Oddly enough, all those who voted for a postponement two days back – including Lt Col Angad Singh, Shekhawat and Banoo Apa – are now agreeable to having the function in the next two weeks. Only Yusuf Rassiwala wanted it to be deferred beyond the monsoon.
Siba Prasad Maitra suggested we all think things over and decide tomorrow on a possible date for reviving the function. Quite clearly, nobody wants the time and effort – not to mention the money – hitherto spent on the preparations to go waste.
A reasonable way to resolve this issue is to own up if we are adequately prepared for staging the function. Should at least the key actors of our skits have memorized their lines by now, the issue is settled. The rest (movement, diction, emoting, etc.) can be managed in two weeks. But if you are still grossly under-prepared and tend to fumble over your lines, even now, it’s a lost case. We are unnecessarily putting the cart before the horse.

Curtains

Meeting in progress

It is curtains for the club’s Annual Day function. The official word though, is ‘postponement’. As Siba Prasad Maitra put it in a WhatsApp message: “It has been decided to postpone our Annual Function, scheduled for 23rd February 2019. We will decide about a new date in due course of time. I am thankful to all of you for spending your valuable time and extending your full support with total involvement.”
The decision was taken pursuant to a special meeting convened by Yusuf Rassiwala. The provocation was news from the neighboring Celebration Club about postponing its musical programme (ref post of February 18) as a mark of solidarity with the families of the 40 soldiers killed in Pulwama.
Furthermore, rehearsals for the song and dance numbers last evening were cancelled in spite of all participants present in the Garden. “The atmosphere is not conducive for holding rehearsals,” reasoned Nadira Sayyad, our choreographer. “We need to take a call urgently on whether to have the function on February 23 or keep it in abeyance.”
“I propose we postpone the function,” said Banoo Apa setting in motion the discussions at today’s meeting. The pros and cons of the proposition were evaluated in detail, largely on the lines of the discussions yesterday (see post). There was no talk of cancellation. Also, Shekhawat was not present.
It was clear at the outset that Bijoy Gupta, Yusuf R and Maitra were not in favour of a postponement, for all good reasons. Too much of time and effort had been invested over the past one-and-half months on preparing for the function. Others present in the meeting were either silent or favoured a postponement. In effect, the decision of yesterday’s meeting was overturned.
Ultimately, Lt Col Angad Singh (rtd) had the last word: “Taking all factors into consideration, I am of the opinion we go for a postponement.”

Lt Col Angad Singh (rtd):
All members have been enthusiastically devoting their precious time in preparation of the function. Our function is unique insofar as all the participants are amateurs. They have to rehearse again and again. Hats off especially to the children, how soon and with very little guidance they were able to pick up the threads. Alas, the big day is yet to dawn. I am thankful to all members who cheerfully agreed to postpone the event in solidarity with the bereaved families. I again admire the unstinted efforts of all in preparation for the event.

Karun Sharma:
I was impressed by the most powerful words that Angad Singh spoke when he said: "I, as an ex-army man, request you to postpone the programme". I found the request was the most powerful statement from an army officer. I have also decided not to celebrate my birthday on 23rd February and request all to keep this as a low-voice greeting event. No eatable sweets. Only sweet words this time.

Emotive Issue

Theatre of the absurd

The Pulwama terror strike (ref post of February 16) became an emotive issue with a section of the Club today making a strong pitch for postponing the Club’s Annual Day function scheduled this week-end.
“I feel it is not right to have the function now,” Shekhawat said, summoning everybody around after the exercises. “My conscience does not permit it. This kind of attack on our jawans does not happen often. We need to stand up in solidarity with the victims’ families and not be making merry. I am told Celebration Club is also not having their function on February 23.”
Shekhawat’s words instantly struck a chord with Angad Singh, also an armed forces veteran. “I am with you, but I do not agree

Nahid Khan gets us special
cookies from Lucknow

that we should go by what Celebration Club does. Let others do what they think fit. We need to decide for ourselves independently about whether or not to postpone our annual function.”
Karun Sharma brought up another significant point. “To have the function on February 23 will invite a lot of criticism and show the Club in poor light. Contrarily, deferring it would raise our standing in public eye. Perception counts in today’s times.”
There was a fourth argument yet. Dilip Babani pointed out the very real possibility of trouble erupting in the audience should “even one person” protest against us celebrating while the nation mourns the deaths of the 40 jawans at Pulwama. He should know as he has already faced the wrath of a trouble maker last Sunday (ref yesterday’s post).
Bijoy Gupta rose up to say that he will take care of the trouble maker while Siba Prasad Maitra assured that if necessary, he will solicit the presence of the local MLA and better police security. He added that still, if the function is to be postponed, he’d absolve himself of his responsibilities. Yusuf Rassiwala warned that a postponement at this stage would amount to cancellation.
A show of hands forced the issue. But for security concerns, no point was raised or discussed. The show must go on.

Siba Prasad Maitra:
I am equally connected emotionally with Pulwama attack on our CRPF jawans. But when I see all other cultural and entertainment shows are going on, we could also have our programme on 23rd. All the members and many children have come forward and rehearsed their role in drama and other activities. Unfortunately this incident at Pulwama took place. I am equally pained by it and if you all feel we need to postpone or cancel our program, I have no objection. It is immaterial whether I can give any further time to discharge my responsibilities or not. We must take the right decision.

Bihari Milwani:
* Total Dhamaal is releasing on 22nd February. Then why not 'small dhamaal' by Big Laaf on 23rd February?
* We can postpone the birth(day) of Karun Sharma, but not the small dhamaal of Big Laaf.

A Hiccup!

Dilip Babani informs about objections raised over our Annual Function 

With not even five days to go, Shekhawat raised an alarm this morning, expressing grave doubts over the feasibility of holding the Annual Day function on February 23.
Apparently, some people in the Garden had raised objections yesterday to our holding rehearsals and making merry while the nation was mourning the deaths of 40 security personnel in Phulwama (ref post of February 16).
“I do not know the people who had objected,” Shekhawat replied to a pointed query from Yusuf Rassiwala. “They demanded that we defer the function, better yet, scrap it altogether. To be rejoicing at a time when our jawans are being killed in Kashmir does not reflect well on the Club.”
Dilip Babani, who was to join us after the exercises, repeated Shekhawat’s story and added that the men

Razia Khan (c) is recovering in hospital

were quite aggressive when they accosted him last evening. “Don’t you have the elementary common sense not to rejoice when everybody else is condoling the loss of so many lives?” he quoted them as saying.
“Oh, they were possibly people from the candle march taken out in the evening to pay homage to the slain jawans,” surmised Siba Prasad Maitra.

Rukhsana Khan treated us
to sohn papri today

“But then, we had already held a condolence meeting in the Garden on Saturday morning. And on the function day, we are including a special patriotic song in keeping with the solemnity of the occasion.”
Turns out that our annual function would coincide with a ‘musical programme’ scheduled in the neighboring Celebration Club. Both events are contemporaneous with each other. This leads us to the obvious conclusion: Should the musical programme across our boundary wall be held on schedule, we have nothing to worry about. Our show would also be on. But if one has to be canceled or postponed, the other would perforce have to follow suit. Till then, let us stay focused on what we had set out to do. Hiccups happen. No point fretting over what is beyond our control.

DAY 2754

Pic of the Week

Arre Wah!!!

Rehearsing even on a Sunday? Sincerity pays! --Bhaswati Bose

Chhatri na khol! Urrrrr jayegi!!! --Bihari Milwani

Umbrella is there for Pyar Hua Iqrar Hua... whether it is rain or sunshine. --Karun Sharma

Silent Tribute

Members observe a two-minute silence in the memory of the 40 jawans killed in the terrorist strike at Phulwama

Urmila Sinha hands over a plate of
litti chokha to Naheed Siddiqui

The air was heavy, the mood sombre. And the occasion demanded it. The idea was in fact, broached by Lt Col Angad Singh (rtd) yesterday; but news trickling in on casualties from the terrorist attack at Phulwama was still very sketchy. We were hoping for the best.
Today, soon after the exercises, we joined our hands in paying tribute to the 40 CRPF soldiers who laid down their lives during that dastardly attack by a Pakistan-monitored terrorist

Angad Singh (l) addresses the group

outfit on February 14. A two-minute silence was observed in their memory.
Recounting the incident, Angad Singh spoke about the sacrifices young men joining the armed forces have to make and how their lives are constantly on the line while performing their duty. “Let us pray for the Almighty to grant their souls eternal peace,” he urged during his brief, but moving address to the gathering.
Shekhawat joined him on a rather belligerent note to explain the roles of the three wings of the armed forces which, very often, is undermined. “I am glad that Modi-sa’ab has now given the army full freedom to deal with the situation in Kashmir. I am confident, we shall see the results very soon,” the naval veteran said.
Meanwhile, Urmila Sinha treated us to home-made litti chokha – an unusual dish many may have heard of, but rarely, if ever tasted. This was upon the specific request of Naheed Siddiqui. Apparently she carries memories of this “popular street food” from her last visit to Bihar. Urmila was only too happy to oblige and all of us gained from her generosity.

Ten. Nine. Eight. Seven…

Siba Prasad Maitra unfurls the big banner for the Annual Day function

The countdown has begun for the biggest extravaganza we have been looking forward to for over a year. The Annual Day function is right on course with all activities of the Club currently geared towards putting up a grand show on February 23 (Saturday).
Publicity posters have come up in the Garden. Rehearsals are in full swing. Advances have been paid for erecting the stage and hiring of lights and the sound equipment. A good make-up professional has been identified. Police permission has also been sought.
Today Siba Prasad Maitra unfurled a huge banner heralding the function.

Razia Khan

This shall be placed at a prominent spot near the Garden gate. And Banoo Apa distributed dinner coupons

Banoo Apa (in blue) distributes dinner coupons to members

to members for the biryani boxes to be given out on February 23. Non-members are being levied a nominal ‘guest charge’ for the dinner boxes.
Meanwhile, our compere for the show, Razia Khan has reported ill. Yesterday her daughter-in-law, Tahira informed that she has been hospitalized and had requested us to pray for her. We included Razia in our prayers this morning and upon inquiries, have learnt that she is yet to be diagnosed.
“She has stopped eating and is losing weight,” Tahira said. “Doctors cannot still figure out the reason because all her tests, including MRI scan, do not reveal anything abnormal. True, she has an old problem of kidney stones, but doctors have ruled that out to be a likely cause. Since her hemoglobin level dipped dangerously and she had turned anemic, we have admitted her to Shah Nursing Home (in Jogeshwari West, close to the railway station). At present she is on drips.”
This is hoping and praying for Razia’s speedy recovery.

Siba Prasad Maitra:
Wish speedy recovery of Razia-ji.

Karun Sharma:
Today, we all dedicated our prayers for the well being of Razia. Get well soon.

DAY 2751

Pic of the Week

Many 

Happy Returns 

of the Day,
SANTOSH TYAGI --

and a surprise birthday bash in the evening!

What a pleasant group of people celebrating the ever jolly Santosh Tyagi! Best wishes on your happiest birthday, Santosh-ji. We miss you here in the Garden. --Karun Sharma

Brain Power

ANNIVERSARY MEMENTO: When 'Mr Computer' meets 'Ms Encyclopedia'

At a time when memory lapses are more a norm than an exception in the Club, we were witness to two lovely instances on the possibilities of ‘brain power’.
The first was of course, unsurprising, but no less significant. Our ‘Walking-Talking Computer’, a.k.a. Bihari Milwani reminded us that it was Banoo Apa’s wedding anniversary today and presented her with his personalized memento to mark the occasion.
No one else remembered. Clearly, this gentleman has transcended the level of keeping track of our birthdays and is now making a mental note of every landmark event in every member’s life. And here we keep struggling to remember the sequence of our daily exercises!
The other instance was related to Banoo Apa more directly. Her mobile was on, the recorded songs providing the usual atmospherics during our exercises. One vintage number sounded faintly familiar. Even then, the general tendency is to remain indifferent rather than apply the mind on the origin of a song.

Urmila Sinha (l) treats us to dark laddoos

Banoo Apa (r) celebrates with choco-bars

But not so with Banoo Apa. “My mother used to say that there is one shameless man in Hindi pictures who dances like a woman,” she remarked. “In this song, he can be seen dancing with ghungroos (ankle bells) on!”
She was right. The actor was none other than Mumtaz Ali, the first male dancer of the Indian screen, otherwise known as comedian Mehmood’s father. The song in question was from a yesteryear blockbuster, Ratan -- dating back to 1944. So much for Banoo Apa’s encyclopedic knowledge and her penchant for instant recall.
While she celebrated her wedding anniversary with choco-bars, Urmila Sinha sprung a surprise by treating us to dark dry-fruit laddoos – for no particular reason. Muhammad Farooq, Banoo Apa’s husband, should have been with us today. We missed him.

Bihari Milwani:
I thought Banoo had forgotten her wedding anniversary and that was why, like an alarm bell, I came to the Garden. The idea was to remind her that she must demand an expensive gift from Dr Farookh!

Lt Col Angad Singh (rtd):
Our 'walking-talking computer', Bihari Milwani is a superman. He has stupendous power to remember the dates of important events in all members' lives and is always ready with a gift for the occasion. He has been performing this task unfailingly since the birth of the Club. Banoo Apa has excellent knowledge about the film industry and she can recite various events impromptu. Our Blog Monster is no less a running encyclopedia. Hats off to all these members. Our regards to them and their ilk.