Diamond Jubilee

Happy Birthday, BIJOY GUPTA

A diamond jubilee is a landmark event. It is all the more significant in our club where life and living is celebrated every day.

Naseem Khan (in red) presents the birthday calenday

But sadly, this was not to be with Bijoy Gupta, who turned 75 this day last year.
He was in mourning. His daughter had just passed away.
Gupta allowed his diamond jubilee celebration to bypass him and all he did to oblige us was stand stoically (ref post of April 24, 2018) and receive his birthday calendar from the Club.

Party troopers to Hi Point

Even his wife, Pushpa was not by his side.
This time around, Gupta almost made up for what he missed last year – or so it seemed today.

Pushpa presents the crystal trophy

So enthusiastic was he that although his wife had not fully recovered from a viral attack, he made sure she was present for the watershed event. In fact, he admitted to being also struck by the bug this morning but had “gulped down a couple of Crocins” before coming to the Garden.
Furthermore, Gupta insisted this to be his diamond jubilee proper because he “completes 75 years today” and would step into his 76th tomorrow. And so, in deference to his sentiments (and bidding), Naseem Khan presented him his birthday calendar on behalf of the Club while, wife Pushpa handed him a glittering crystal glass trophy to mark the occasion.
It was a morning full of joy and laughter, replete with the birthday song, risqué jokes, filmy ditties (one by Naseem) and much backslapping all the way up to Hi Point restaurant in Lokhandwala Market. Kiran Prakash had shown us the way to this place the other day.

After a memorable birthday bash... warm cuppa tea (Pic by Geeta Latte) 

As it was then, the breakfast fare was mainly South Indian fare -- idli-dosa, vada-sambar and hot tea.
But then, in the end, the strain of all the excitement was beginning to show on Gupta. He looked exhausted. Another major dampener was the absence of some key members who Gupta counted as his well-wishers -- Shekhawat, Banoo Apa and Yusuf Rassiwala. At the same time, he was reluctant about postponing the birthday bash to a later date. "What is the point of having a birthday celebration if you do not celebrate on the birthday itself," he maintained. "There is no fun in having a party later." We wish Gupta once again, many happy returns of the day.