Signs of Times

From a time when we used to visit the Garden only to exercise, we have moved to a phase when we are having to deal with much more besides. The process of turning the Club into a structured body has brought in a good deal of officialese, paper work, a formal power structure and the inevitable whiff of intrigue.
In her capacity as treasurer, Monthi Serrao got a taste of the times to come when Shekhawat (as chairman) announced today that everyone would have to contribute an additional Rs250 (totaling Rs300) towards opening a bank account. It seems she, along with Shekhawat and Srichand Arora (secretary) went to Canara Bank yesterday and had been advised to get a resolution passed by the managing committee for opening the account. Also, the seed money for the account ought to be raised to a decent figure, thus necessitating additional contributions from members.
Little did anyone expect that within minutes of the announcement, almost a dozen members would be prepared with the cash. Nobody needed any persuasion. Monthi was suddenly besieged by eager hands waving currency notes, such that she had tough time keeping track of the money (pic above). If any proof was required of how enthused all members are at taking the Club ahead, this was it!
True, there would be teething problems along the way. But given the positive attitude and cooperation of everyone, we should be in for more exciting times – even a trip to Shekhawat’s “Pattawa”, wherever that is! For now though, Nahid Khan (right) is on a trip to Lucknow, (her maikey) for a month. She has duly applied for leave and at Shekhawat’s insistence, left a “reliever” to conduct the exercises in her absence. Who says, work and enjoyment cannot go together?
Harish Wadhwa:
* Well, we have another finance wiz and C.A. in Mrs Neelam Garg -- a prospective Treasurer for the next term. I feel we should include her in the managing team.
* Happy Holidays to Mrs Nahid Khan.

Warming Up

Things are warming up at the Garden in more ways than one. All those on the Goa trip last week-end have started to surface, thus taking the attendance back to previous levels. Even Razia Khan, who was suffering from acute toothache, resumed exercising yesterday.
Only one person, Santosh Tyagi (right) is yet to rejoin and that has become a cause of serious concern. Enquiries reveal that she is down with pain and swelling of the legs. Apparently “too much walking on the sand” at Calangute Beach has put undue strain on her leg muscles and ligaments, resulting in the swelling. She assures us she is taking proper medication and bed rest, as advised by doctors.
At another level, there were murmurs of protest on having to wear the club cap every morning for the exercises. Already, many hotheads are showing up top(i)less as the weather gets warmer by the day. Today Shekhawat was about to announce that ladies would be exempt from wearing the topi, but upon Arora’s advice, left it to all members, regardless of gender, to decide for themselves.
In a way, Arora’s sudden leniency came as a surprise to many. For, he was the one who, not too long back, had exhorted everybody to wear their caps as an expression of pride (“izzat”) while exercising. Ramila Mistry had her cap on the ground (apparently, wearing it was giving her a headache) and was promptly pulled up for “allowing her izzat go to mud”! Visibly embarrassed, she quickly gathered her cap and planted it on Santosh’s head.
Santosh kept quiet. But just before leaving, she took off the cap and ceremoniously placed it on Ramila’s head: “Yeh le, teri izzat sambhaal!” Saying this, she walked away stoically, leaving all those within earshot to crack up in laughter. Such is the kind of cool, understated humour only Santosh Tyagi can pull off in style. We wish her a speedy recovery and early return to the Garden.
Renu Babani's PICSPEAK:
* "Abhi toh mein jawaan hoon..."
* "Such fun listening to one another... We should do this more often!"
Harish Wadhwa:
Santosh-ji seems to be "warming up" to scold or bash up someone. Itna gusssa kyon? Surely not because of the topi?

Signing Ceremony

The Club moved yet another step forward towards becoming a registered body with members of the Managing Committee affixing their signatures (left) on the ‘legal copy’ of the Memorandum of Association. In effect, the Big Five – Hari Singh Shekhawat, Yusuf Rassiwala, Srichand Arora, Razia Khan and Monthi Serrao – became “founding fathers” (and “founding mommas”) of the Big Laaf club today.
The Garden wore a festive look after the exercises as each of the five biggies sat hunched over a bench signing/initialing every page of the document, which would now have to be presented for registration. This formal act marked the culmination of a long-drawn and arduous exercise, powered almost single-handedly by Arora (in yellow tee) with the quiet dedication of a man fired by missionary zeal. No one would ever know the many nights and days spent and the personal sacrifices he has made while bringing the entire process to a head.
His job is not over though. He would now be checking with various banks on the formalities for opening an account. He would also have to take Hem Chand Jain along for getting the registration done. The club seal and official stamp will have to be made as well. Clearly, Arora has miles to go before he can sleep. Till then, putting the house in order shall remain the prime preoccupation of the Club – after the exercises, of course.

Club Constitution

We have covered another important step towards formally constituting the Club. Srichand Arora (left), in his capacity as secretary, was seen obtaining the consent of all office bearers individually on the draft Memorandum of Association. The document is required for registration and opening a bank account.
Essentially, the Memorandum of Association lists out the aims and objectives of the Club, membership terms, powers and responsibilities of the managing committee, duties of each office bearer, maintenance of accounts… generally, the rules and regulations that should ensure the smooth functioning of the Club.
For all intents and purposes, this important document would serve as the club's Constitution for all time.
Away from all the serious work, at a distance (right) a middle-aged man had put up a strange break-dance performance, as though possessed by evil spirits. We have seen this man earlier working out solo and occasionally breaking into frenetic bouts of stationary jogging. But today, he turned up with an old man sporting a full beard and pony tail. They exercised together for a while, before Pony Tail whispered something in his ears and walked away.
After that it seemed like the devil had got into the man and he kept bobbing up and down, jerking his body uncontrollably and making a sudden sideways dash to the left, then to the right… Pratap Bhatt got so mesmerized by the sight that he simply froze on his way to the loo. Only after Shekhawat and Arora assured him that a “goddess” (devi) had got into the man did Bhatt look a little relieved. But he did not go to the loo!
Srichand Arora:
We should never forget the help rendered by Mr Bose and Mr Harish to complete this Memorandum. Not in this Memorandum only, but they have helped us in all respects towards forming BIG LAAF. I personally, and on behalf of the Managing Committee and all members, thank them and we wish them all the best. God bless you, dear Derek and HARISH.
Dilip Babani:
Arora-ji you are 1000% correct. Without Bose and Harish, our Laughing Club is incomplete. Other members are also very loving and helpful.
Big Laaf replies:
Shut up, Dilip! We don't know about Harish, but of Bose we can say, he is a confirmed donkey -- the joker in the pack who pretends he knows too much. He knows nothing and makes a fool of people like you. Don't forget he is a black, ugly Bengali and wears glasses. He knows kala jadoo and uses it mercilessly on you and Arora-ji. You'd know the truth once you start coming to the Garden regularly.

Goa Group Returns

While the Goa group was away, the running joke in the Club was that Hari Singh Shekhawat would be sitting at Calangute Beach against the rising sun, hunched over a ‘crate’ of bottles (the way he does over his medicines at home) and deciding for himself what bottle to consume and when during the day!
For a man who loves his drinks, the joke could not be far from the truth. Shekhawat was still in high spirits this morning – unlike the others who had returned last evening. Some like Khatoon Baig and Nahid Khan looked tired (and tanned) when they came to exercise today. The rest simply chose to stay away at home. But Shekhawat was all over the place, full of beans, eager to narrate his Goa experience (lead pic) like an excited schoolboy. Surely, this man is getting younger and younger by the day!
Here is Renu Babani’s account of the trip:
Day 1 (March 23): After checking into the resort and an hour of rest, no one wanted to stay in their rooms. We ventured out to the sea. The sound of waves, as they approached the shore and cooling our feet in the waters felt nice. Some decided to relax on the beach chairs and admire the view. It was such a relaxing atmosphere…
Day 2 (March 24): Tour of south Goa – the beautiful church, boat ride to check out the dolphins, a visit to the market place followed by a boat cruise where dancers entertained us with the DJ playing the latest numbers…
Day 3 (March 25): Everyone got a chance to unwind, relax and do what they felt like… This was the time when all 18 of us bonded. We realised that on an otherwise normal day at the Garden, everyone is too busy with their lives to sit around and chat. Our thanks to those who organised the trip. Their hard work paid off and the memories shall remain forever.
Harish Wadhwa: Renu-ji, you seem to have enjoyed so thoroughly that all of us who did not go, are a little J.
* Blog Monster, nice to see the office-bearers' names being flashed on the site.
* Kashmir ki Kali on Goa beach!

New ‘Teacherni’

After Harish Wadhwa on Saturday, it was Ramila Mistry’s turn today to be put through the initiation rites of conducting the exercises. Srichand Arora proposed her name, Ved Prakash Grover seconded it and the plucky bespectacled lady walked into the ring, raising a round of applause.
From the outset, Ramila did not betray an iota of nervousness or hesitation as she sailed through the half-hour free-hand session, confidently calling out each exercise, correcting whoever went wrong and barring a couple of occasions, needed no prompting. The best part was that she seemed to enjoy every moment she was in the middle (left pic). Who would say this was the first time she had taken charge of the exercises?
Arora was so impressed by her performance that not only did he thank her profusely, he suggested that “a resolution be passed to send the regulars on a holiday” so that we could prepare a new crop of ‘teachers’. Taking the farming analogy forward, Harish insisted that we should have a new teacher every week. Arora liked that. “Very fertile indeed,” he said, pointing to Harish’s head!
Amidst the incessant chatter, a cheerful looking middle-aged man (right) wandered into our group. Like the many strangers who invite themselves and disappear as abruptly, he did not look too serious about exercising. Nobody paid much attention to him, except towards the end when he thanked everyone for being nice to him. Then, as a parting shot, he added that he wasn’t sure of attending tomorrow because he had lost his “dimaagi santoolan (mental balance)”.
A hush descended. Clearly nobody was prepared for such frankness. We dispersed in silence, having realised that we had met one honest man today.
Harish Wadhwa:
* Good work, Ramila-ji. No wonder you are a good teacher. In fact, given a chance, anyone who has been regular for a while can conduct the exercises. No big deal as we are all a friendly lot. How about Bose-babu being the next, followed by Grover-sa'ab and Bhatt-ji?
* All people are welcome to our exercises. I only wish and pray that the stranger (who knows some of our senior colleagues too) gets well and finds happiness/ laughter in our company.

Day 601

Pic of the Week

Hurrah! We have just raced past another major milestone... the 600th post!!!

* "Mere photo ko loot kar kya karoge? Lootna hai toh mujhe looto naaaaaaa!" --Srichand Arora

* "Hamare President-sa'ab ke poster ab kyon uchhaal rahe ho? Woh toh election mein jeet gaye hain!" --Harish Wadhwa

Probationary 'Teacher'

The mass exodus to Goa came as a blessing in disguise for the Club this morning. For, we discovered a new 'teacher' in our midst to conduct the exercises. In view of the shortage of manpower (what with regular teachers like Nahid Khan, Yusuf Rassiwala and Razia Khan away for the weekend), Harish Wadhwa (left) had no option but to step in the middle and conduct the laughter sessions. So what if he needed constant prompting from the likes of Ramila Mistry, Ved Prakash Grover and Srichand Arora? So what if he had to submit to constant leg-pulling from the ladies while gamely carrying on? So what if many tried to confuse him and refused to follow his instructions? Nobody cared. It was fun all along. And everybody had a blast!
Seeing how well it went, Bapu Rane singled out Monthi Serrao as the next person to be trained. “Beech mein khadaa kar dene ka,” he proclaimed. And Monthi, in turn, quickly picked on the two most talkative ladies, Bhaswati Bose and Ramila for conducting the exercises hereafter. But from the looks of it and the many compliments Harish received for his efforts, there is no chance of escape for him any time soon.
Even more interesting was the seemingly unending battery of jokes from the unlikeliest of people after the exercises. Neelam Garg set the ball rolling with a Facebook gag, followed by Harish with an equally funny rejoinder, only to be taken forward by Neelam again and then Grover joining with another hilarious anecdote… It went on and on, till Nazma Sayed (right) produced the biggest laugh of the morning with a corny tale of a lady who used to visit her husband’s grave for days on end… Rarely does a Saturday offer such an overdose of rip-roaring laughter and unadulterated entertainment.
Renu Babani's PICSPEAK:
* "See it is so easy to conduct the exercises even as the regulars are not around."
[P.S.: Well done, Harish-bhai! You sure proved yourself!!!]
* "See, even I can be funny when necessary!"
Harish Wadhwa:
Sab log center mein nanhi-si-jaan par kaise gurrrrahha rahe hain! Rehem karo Grover-sa'ab, Ramila-ji aur Mothi-ji.

Gudi Padwa Greetings

Gudi Padwa, the day Lord Brahma is said to have created this universe. It is also the day when the first human being is supposed to have stepped on earth. It is also the day marking the coronation of Lord Rama, after 14 years of exile. It is also the day when people in Maharashtra celebrate the New Year.
In keeping with this spirit of new beginnings, it was also the day when some members took flight to Goa – their first vacation from the Club beyond the state borders. For many, particularly elderly ladies from conservative homes, this was a brave move to boldly go where they had not gone earlier in life – that too, without family escort.
Naturally, the Garden wore a deserted look this morning with scarcely a dozen-odd members turning up. Only Kishor Babani and Nahid Khan showed up from the Goa group. But since they too had to rush home for their early afternoon flight, the exercises were wrapped up in a hurry, without much ado.We wish the entire group a very happy journey and a memorable stay in the land of sand, surf and sunshine. Also, a Happy Gudi Padwa to all members, friends, followers and readers of this blog. Keep on reading...
Srichand Arora:
* Happy Gudi Padwa and Happy Cheti Chand to all of you.
* Wish you all in Big Laaf's Goa troupe a very happy and enjoyable trip. Please take care of one another. Your arrival back is awaited eagerly. God bless you all!

Morning Haze

The dust haze that hung over Mumbai the whole of yesterday, had yet to lift. Not knowing what to make of it, many members quoted newspaper reports indicating that the “suspended particulate matter in the air” was a result of sandstorms in Rajasthan… or was it Saudi Arabia? The papers weren’t even clear whether to describe the phenomenon as “smog” or “dust plume”. Either way, it was supposed to dissipate within 24 hours. But visibility was still low and the sun appeared as a big moon on the eastern horizon when we started our exercises.
Bapu Rane (right), who came in scratching himself because of the layer of dust on his body, was all the more irritated since India would not be playing in the Asia Cup cricket final today. He has a conspiracy theory about Sri Lanka deliberately losing to Bangladesh the day before and that today, it would be Pakistan’s turn. Nevertheless, when he was invited to conduct the laughter session, he was his usual jolly self, jumping all over the place like the proverbial jack-in-the-box. Amused at his pranks, Yusuf Rassiwala goaded him, “Rane, naach ke dikha!” And again, he did his frisky number. So spirited was he this morning that he even produced a peculiar gibberish that effectively meant, “Now for Laughter No 2, Thlow and Faath!”
Adding to the morning cheer was Purushottam Sharma (lead pic), making a surprise visit to the Garden after more than two months. He no longer resides in the neighborhood. He has taken up an apartment at Goregaon for the time he is in Mumbai and for the best part of the year, operates out of Gurgaon, near Delhi. He would be leaving next week, but as one of the Club’s founders, dropped by to make sure his flock was together and doing well. What a pleasure to have this gentleman in our midst – even for that brief one hour!
Harish Wadhwa:
* As a mark of respect, can we not give a cap to Sharma-ji? He and his late wife used to conduct the exercises meticulously for many years? I would be delighted to give mine. Welcome Sharma-ji, to the Big Laaf club!
* In his cap, Rane-ji is looking young. Given his passion for cricket, he has to be the Sachin Tendular of our club!!!
Bhaswati Bose:
I agree. Sharma-ji and his wife were founder members of the club. He deserves the cap more than anybody else.

Behind-the-Scenes

The formation of the Club’s first-ever managing committee last Saturday has generated widespread interest and curiosity, particularly among the many neighborhood groups and associations. People from these assorted groups are dropping in every morning, mouthing homilies like “Yeh bahut achcha hua”, “This was long overdue”, “Better late than never” – the imputation being that the Club is headed for bigger times now that there is an elected body to steer its activities.
But amidst all the euphoria and excitement, what has gone unnoticed is the silent work being put by one man, Srichand Arora. Even before the Club had elected him secretary, he was instrumental in mobilizing the members and forging a consensus on the managing committee. Now, little known to many, he has been working tirelessly behind-the-scenes at giving a formal shape and structure to the Club – right from taking care of legal nitty-gritties and basics like designing the letter-head and purchasing stationery, to checking out on the bank, drafting the bye-laws/ memorandum of association, etc. This is no mean task. It is an investment Arora has been putting in voluntarily and uncomplainingly, the benefits of which would be reaped by everyone later.
Today, he was seen finalising the minutes of last Saturday’s general body meeting. What however set many tongues wagging was the undue interest certain non-members evinced towards the document. This was interpreted as needless interference, a means to win confidence and formalize entry into the Club through the back door. The apprehensions, discussed earlier in hushed tones, have become increasingly voluble. What should however, put these fears to rest is the membership being frozen (see Arora’s note in post of January 7, 2012) till such time a proposed entry is “approved by 80 per cent of the present members”. That should settle the matter effectively.
Dilip Babani:
Everybody in Garden knows that Arora-ji is doing a good job. Blog Monster, you are 100 per cent correct on what you have written about Arora-ji. That is why we all respect him. And that is why our Laughing Club is the best. We will always enjoy being with the Club.

Goa Exodus

With two days to go, preparations for the Goa trip have picked up. According to Hari Singh Shekhawat, altogether 19 people (including outsiders/ non-members) have paid up for this weekend getaway at Calangute Beach for a 4day/ 3night stay, beginning March 23. They have been booked at the following beach resort:
ESTRELA DO MAR,
Khobra Waddo,
Calangute, Goa 403516.
Tel: 0832 2279085
Since quite a few in the group are senior citizens and would not be accompanied by family members, Kishor Babani handed out printed slips detailing the address and contact numbers of the resort. Shekhawat’s cell number, 9321029686 has also been mentioned by way of abundant caution for the families in Mumbai to get in touch… just in case.
For many like Santosh Tyagi, Nafisa Sayyad and Nahid Khan, this would be their first trip to Goa and naturally, they are looking forward to it with growing excitement and nervousness – more so, since they have never before ventured out of home alone. The sad part however, is that Fehmida Khan would be pulling out due to illness. From the time this news came in, Shekhawat has been scouting for a replacement because no refunds would be made on her bookings.
There’s another bother, though minor: Who would conduct the exercises in the Garden when the Goa group is gone? In the absence of ‘regular teachers’ like Nahid, Razia Khan and Yusuf Rassiwala, the burden would fall mainly on Srichand Arora and Sitaram Hivarkar. Chances are one of them would have to do double duty – conducting both the laughter and free-hand exercises.
Amid these deliberations, Vinod Sehgal (right) of the local Punjabi Association came in to invite us for the Baisakhi celebration on April 14. This is a ticketed event, held every year at the neighboring Garden No 2 to usher in the Hindu new year. But there would be enough complimentary passes floating around since many of our people are members of Sehgal’s association also.
Renu Babani's PICSPEAK:
* "Hey, listen to this one, it is really funny."
* "I am not a member, but can I say something please."
Harish Wadhwa:
* Met another sher puttar in Vinod Sehgal-saab of the Punjabi Club, who was great company today at the BC Chai. Hey, did you notice he had salt-and-pepper hair and good looks like me?
* Don't worry Blog Monster, there are many in our team who can shoulder the responsibility of the exercise and laugh sessions. We are not short of good people. By the way, let us have more fun when the big cats are away, rejoicing at Goa!
Renu Babani:
Harish-bhai, perhaps you should start conducting the exercises while the rest are having a blast in Goa. It will be interesting to see that.

Cap Capers

Ever since they were brought in, the blue ‘club caps’ have become a cause for much mirth and merriment among us. Invariably, someone or the other would turn up bare-headed, having forgotten his/her cap back home. Today it was Geeta Sardana’s turn, just that she had not left it behind at home but forgot to take it out of her bag. When Srichand Arora questioned her, she slowly extricated it out of its sealed polythene packing in her bag, as though it was something precious. Seeing how careful she was, Arora quipped that rather than carry the cap and risk losing it, she should keep it secure in a bank locker. Instantly Bapu Rane intervened: “Instead of a bank locker, why don’t you deposit all your caps with me? I’ll carry them home and back every morning and each of you may pay me ten rupees a day!”
Significantly, Rane is the one who has been pressing for a penalty for not wearing caps. From asking the defaulters to pay a fine to making them stand on a bench, even barring them from exercising, he comes up with a new ‘punishment’ every day. Some members take his threats so seriously that they have returned home midway when they discovered their caps were not on their heads. Santosh Tyagi keeps her shoes and cap together at home, lest she forgets. Others say that if there was a way, they would rather nail their caps to their shoes! This fixation about the caps prompted Nafisa Sayyad to come up with a wisecrack (as only she can): “Today we have blue caps. Tomorrow, we’ll have blue T-shirts and same-colour uniforms. Then we'll have water bottles. What fun, we'll get our childhood back!”
The only dampener in all this merriment was Sunita Jajodia’s illness. She has contracted some kind of infection, leaving her bedridden with high fever for the past few days. Still, she briefly managed to come to the Garden this morning, just to see us. It was kind of her to do so. Like Arora comforting her (bottom pic), we can only wish and pray for her early recovery.
Harish Wadhwa:
Wishing Sunita-ji an early recovery from her illness. Let's grow up, no caps or dress or attire should be compulsory. Let people wear what they like, in which they feel comfortable. Those who like to wear it can certainly do so. The decision should be left to individuals.
Bhaswati Bose:
But who wants to grow up? We come to the Garden to be children. Or else how can you laugh?
Harish Wadhwa:
Bhaswati-ji, yes, it is wonderful to retain the child in us. As for laafs, it can be done regardless of age and for sure, even without caps too! Join the BC Chai often.
Renu Babani's PICSPEAK:
* "See, I am responsible... wearing my cap and proving I am the right choice for Treasurer."
* "Don't worry, you will be fine soon. We all wish you a speedy recovery!"

Day 594

Pic of the Week

"TUJHKO RAKHE RAM TUJHKO ALLAH RAKHE..."

"Distress Appeal! Please help us with your donations!!!" --Kishor Babani

"I come in peace. Kindly donate for a good cause. Kuchh bhi dedo" --Renu Babani

"Allah ke naam pe de-de baba, tumhare kaam mein barkat hogi, das bachcho ki maa banoge, das flat dega Allah, das Honda car dega Allah, das crore rupaiye tumhare jholi mein dega Allah, daan se dua milte hai..." --Anonymous

She is collecting money for the needy, e.g. poor girls who have no money for studies, people with no money to eat or buy basic things... What a noble cause! Please donate with an open heart. I request she is given the Nobel Prize for her noble cause. All Big Laaf members should learn from this noble young lady. -- Dilip Babani

She is sharing the goodies and not asking for favours. Look at the brighter side! Renu-ji is generous and large-hearted with one and all, including the two beautiful ladies in the pic. --Harish Wadhwa

Dilip, please do not put me up so high on a pedestal. I don't deserve so much praise because I am not a saint. --Renu Babani

Historic Day

Effective today, the Club ceased to be a nebulous, free-floating group and has transformed itself into a formal, well-structured body with an elected managing committee at its helm. Hari Singh Shekhawat was elected the first official chairman and Yusuf Rassiwala, his deputy. Srichand Arora took charge as secretary, Razia Khan as joint-secretary and Monthi Serrao as treasurer. Their tenure is for one year – ending with a fresh managing committee assuming office in 2013.
The election process today, conducted by voice vote, met with complete unanimity of all 25 members who had gathered in the Chinese Hut after the exercises. Bose officiated as presiding officer and proposed the names of individual office bearers. This was in turn seconded by one member or the other before the proposal was put to vote in the general body.
The meeting had its lighter moments too. For instance, Bapu Rane wanted a resolution passed on the penalty for not wearing the cap in the morning. Santosh Tyagi was anxious about another resolution to ensure that exercises start on the dot of 7.00 a.m. But Monthi Serrao was more keen on ensuring that the exercises ended by a specific time. When some members insisted on a punishment for those who talk too much (thus delaying the exercises), the proposal was summarily “overruled” and not even recorded in the minutes of the meeting!
Clearly, for many participating in the general body meeting, this was a first-time experience. Amidst all the confusion and hilarious asides, the first serious business of the day was transacted by the new managing committee with the Treasurer officially taking charge of the Rs1,900 collected towards opening a bank account for the Club. Also, G.R.Garg and his wife, Neelam (both chartered accountants) were formally appointed auditors for the Club’s accounts.
The meeting ended with a vote of thanks by the newly-elected Chairman.
Harish Wadhwa:
Hurray! It is also historic as we crossed the 90,000 viewership mark. Speaks a little about our popularity. Congratulations, to the office bearers and thanks Mr Presiding Officer, Bose-babu for the management. The next important step is the bank account. A penalty should be imposed on those who come for any serious business into the group. We are together for a 'big laaf' and no other motive should deter us from doing so. Period. The new management committee owes everyone a party -- goes without saying, a simple one.
Renu Babani's PICSPEAK:
* "I get my chance to express myself. I will not let this moment go waste!"
* "Why is everyone talking at the same time? Do they realise no one is listening?"
[P.S.: Congratulations to the new Managing Committee! I am sure they will prove their worth.]

Frontrunners

With one day to go for the Club's first-ever general body meeting, an air of expectancy hung over the members through the morning. A broad consensus has been reached on what activities the Club would pursue and how work should be distributed among the five office-bearers of its managing committee:
Chairman: Will largely oversee the activities of the Club, including administration and maintaining discipline, allocation of work and convening meetings. The buck stops with him. He will also be responsible for organizing special events, such as parties, excursions and celebrations.
Vice-chairman: Will officiate as chairman in his absence, liaise between secretary and treasurer and serve as a front of the committee for all members. Their grievances will also be addressed by him.
Secretary: Will take care of all major activities -- from planning and programming to PR, conceiving new projects, generating revenue, trouble shooting and maintaining records and correspondence. He will be assisted in this by the joint secretary.
Joint Secretary: Will specifically handle membership issues (admissions), attendance and decide upon aid and assistance to members (wherever possible) in times of personal exigencies. Also, will work in close coordination with the secretary.
Treasurer: Will exercise financial prudence while monitoring flow of funds, banking transactions, recoveries and allocation of resources. Shall keep the chairman and secretary in the loop at all times.
The frontrunners for the posts are Hari Singh Shekhawat (for chairman), Yusuf Rassiwala (vice-chairman), Srichand Arora (secretary), Razia Khan (joint secretary) and Monthi Serrao (treasurer) – of course, subject to the approval of the general body tomorrow. Watch this space.
Renu Babani's PICSPEAK:
"We are able and competent people and shall prove it!"

‘Standing’ Committee

The Club’s ‘Big Five’ (in pic) today decided to convene a meeting on Saturday, March 17 to chart a road map for the future. Srichand Arora initially wanted the meeting to be held at his residence. But it was later decided to have it in the Chinese Hut (after the exercises) in keeping with the convenience of his colleagues on the managing committee – Yusuf Rassiwala, Hari Singh Shekhawat, Razia Khan and Monthi Serrao.
Top-most on the agenda is the opening of a bank account, for which a nominal Rs50 was collected from every member. Now, the account would be possible only after a ‘resolution’ to the effect is passed by the Club. And that in turn, would require constituting a well-structured body, with clear identification of office bearers, defining their duties and responsibilities and the ratification/ approval of all members concerned. Related to this is the subject of authorization of signatories for operating the bank account – on which the committee would eventually have to take a call.
Arora has issued a circular by e-mail, requesting everyone to be present at the meeting and make whatever suggestions they might like. These are all procedural matters about which none of us can claim any expertise. But the intentions are noble and in good faith. Big Laaf therefore appeals to all to share the wisdom of their experience, put forth new ideas and extend all cooperation and support to the committee. After all, this could be a major turning point as the Club enters its 10th year today.

Yo-Yo Attendance

The Club seems to be afflicted by a strange phenomenon that causes attendance to swing between extremes. There’s no midway. On a good day, we could be faced with an embarrassment of numbers with people literally spilling out of our defined circle in the Garden – even crowding the hedges alongside. On another day, for no particular reason, the turnout would drop so drastically that it would appear there’s been a conspiracy to boycott the exercises. So like today, when a few members did not show up, seniors like Srichand Arora, Sitaram Hivarkar and Santosh Tyagi also decided to absent themselves. (Or was it the other way around?) We can never know how word gets around them so early in the morning. In effect, from an over-full house yesterday and the day-before (we had lost count of those present), we found ourselves reduced to less than 20 this morning – many of them non-members.
The good thing though, was Mrs Shekhawat (pic above) showing up after a long, long time. We were told that she was not keeping well and had been advised against exerting herself in any manner. But today, since her husband had left behind his spectacles by mistake, she found an excuse to come to the Garden and deliver them. It also gave her the opportunity to catch up with old friends.
On the flip side, we shall be missing Hari Naraiyani (right) for some time. He is leaving today for Beas, a riverfront township in Punjab, close to Amritsar. He has an appointment with his spiritual guru and shall be spending time in an ashram. We wish him a safe and happy trip.
Renu Babani's PICSPEAK:
* "We have a surprise today. So nice to see her after so long!"
* "If anyone dares to say I am old, they will have to answer to me!"
Harish Wadhwa:
* Like Mrs Shekhawat who brought the spectacles which Shekhawat-ji forgot at home, I wish someone would have come to the Garden with the cap from my home too. Needlessly, I got brickbats from member colleagues (Hee hee)!
[I can already hear someone say, "Harish, go climb a tree... and branch out!"]
* Very few people might know how creative Arun-bhai is in the film-arts or how lively Kishor-da is at his jokes or Bose-babu is at his comments and pleasing company. How about lunch or dinner to chill out on this Sunday?
* Hey, we are nearing another milestone of 90,000 views and should touch it tomorrow. Just great, Monster... I mean Blog Monster!

Boys Will Be Boyz

A youngish, somewhat attractive lady today walked into our group and took part in the exercises. The moment she took our permission to join, we knew she’d create a minor flutter, especially among the males. And there, within minutes, she had got the most quiet and subdued of them blabbering and shouting out of turn. Those known to be sticklers for discipline also began to shoot their mouth, exchanging wisecracks across the circle. Even Hari Naraiyani, who was sitting quietly on a bench, suddenly stirred himself erect and took his chance at being the alpha male. He stretched up and down, twisted left and right, breathed deeply in and out... all the while counting aloud – something he normally does not do.
Sensing the commotion she had caused, the lady abruptly pointed at the gate, excused herself and was gone. Instantly, the chatter subsided and everything was back to normal. Hari-bhai retired quietly to his bench, back to his brooding self. The men exercised in silence, but for a mischievous Bapu Rane, who exclaimed, “Ladki bhaag gayi! Ha-Ha-Ha!!!”
On a serious note, the question of adopting some of the exercises of the adjoining laughter club (see post of March 10) was thrown open to discussion. The subject, raised by Srichand Arora (in pic above), met with all-round approval. But when it came to the nitty-gritty -- which exercise to accept and what to reject given our limited time frame -- people started having second thoughts. Sitaram Hivarkar and Nahid Khan vehemently opposed the idea, arguing that “our exercises are the best” and "what they do is a joke". The discussions remained inconclusive as everyone tried to outdo one another at mimicking some of the seemingly idiotic acts which pass off for exercises.
Finally, for the record, ‘our ladies who movie’ went for the afternoon screening of Sujoy Ghosh’s Kahaani at Cinemax. With Vidya Balan in the lead, this unusual thriller about a seven-month pregnant woman searching for her husband in the alleyways of Kolkata, has been receiving rave reviews. How could Santosh Tyagi, Sunita Jajodia, Bhaswati Bose, Renu Babani, etc. give it a miss?
Renu Babani's PICSPEAK:
"Hey, remember that exercise in Garden No2? We should add that to our routine! What do you think?"
[Kahaani was a great movie. Will not reveal anything, or else it will spoil the fun for those deciding to watch it.]
Bhaswati Bose:
What a film! So many twists and turns. Vidya Balan, as expected was good, but the supporting actors were equally good. The IB officer Khan was excellent. Would recommend that everyone in the Club watch it. Men, please note, there is no item number in the movie!
Harish Wadhwa:
* I am sure many 'boyz' will be eyeing the gate tomorrow to see if she returns for the exercises. Let us monitor the roving eyes! Arora-ji, Nahid-ji, Yusuf-bhai, Razia-ji -- there is no harm in including some nice and jazzy exercises which make the sessions interesting and new. It is NOT a question of our exercises being ‘better’ or ‘enough’ or their exercises being a joke. Anything that brings variety, novelty, cheer and a smile should be welcome. Many people will recall how the claps of “Very Good, Very Good – Yeah” were included long back. One should always be open to adopt good from others without any commotion.
* Bhaswati-ji, if there is no item number, we're not interested. Paisa wasool nahin hota hai, kharch bahut jyada ho jata ha. A movie has its own superfluities like popcorn, samose, cold coffee, dosa, moongfali, etc.
Dimas Geel:
I haven't watched it yet. But it looks interesting!

Lull After Storm

Effects of the hectic week gone by have yet to wear off. After all that kanji drinking, gorging on (Tara Chand’s and then Sunita Jajodia’s) sweets, the Holi madness and the big breakfast bash on Saturday at Garden No 2, what we witnessed today was complete calm -- a lull after the storm.
But it gave us time to reflect. Arun Patil could not help commenting how we stood out in the crowd at Garden No 2 because of our blue caps. Hari Naraiyani was curious to know whether we would copy their exercises while Nafisa Sayyad kept everyone amused by demonstrating some of their comical numbers. Geeta Sardana recounted the “good times’ she had on her recent pilgrimage to Mayapur, the birthplace of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu near Kolkata. Razia Khan, Nafisa, Nahid Khan and others were already preparing for their Goa trip on March 23.
Pratap Bhatt brought chocolates (in pic) to celebrate his Australia-based daughter scoring 90 per cent marks in her first year MBBS exams. The mother of two will now be able to switch universities and join her family in Melbourne. So far she has been staying away, in a hostel, at Sydney. Heartiest congratulations to her!
Renu Babani's PICSPEAK:
"I come with sweets to share my happiness with you."
Harish Wadhwa:
Congrats to Bhatt-sah'b and his daughter for the meritorious achievement. I am sure she must be one of those studious kids who scored so well, despite being a mother. Just great. Intelligent father ki super- intelligent daughter. Happy to have a 'docterani in the making' for our group, as we age.

Day 587

Pic of the Week

HOLI 2012: The event we can never forget...

"Just like the vibrant colours of Holi, our members look like the beautiful colours of the rainbow. No worries, no care! Holi Hai!!!" --Renu Babani

"What a lovely Sunday pic of Maa Kali worshipers!" --Harish Wadhwa

Garden No 2

The unending caravan of daily celebrations took us to Garden No 2 this morning. Instead of exercising on home ground, we trooped in to take part in the laughter exercises of our neighbors across the road, courtesy Hem Chand Jain. His grandson had got married in Delhi recently and he wanted us to rejoice with him and his friends. Srichand Arora gracefully accepted his invite on our behalf and to our pleasant surprise, a lavish spread had already been laid out to mark the grand meet of members of both the laughter clubs.
To many of us, the laughter exercises of our neighbors came as eye-openers. We do not mimic the Charlie Chaplin waddle, or the act of pouring lassi, hold our ears for no reason or say, shoot an invisible arrow or slap our thighs while trying to walk awkwardly...
Whatever the benefits of these comical acts, they surely raised many laughs among first-timers – more so, when they failed to catch up with the breathless pace of our hosts. No wonder, an exasperated Nahid Khan dared us to emulate the exercises by ourselves in our Garden. She would rather we remain content doing our own thing, including the rigorous free-hand exercises and go home happily.
We also discovered that they too have a jokes' session like us to sign off the exercises. Kishor Babani pitched in from our side with his HDFC joke. Hari Naraiyani did not exercise, but wandered around, shaking hands with old friends. Yusuf Rassiwala looked a past master with the new set of exercises, as were Hari Singh Shekhawat, Razia Khan and Santosh Tyagi. The best part was the lusty rap number sung at the end by an elderly gentleman. “Oh my dear, come on near…” he intoned, while everyone else clapped along in unison. Perhaps we too must try this after our exercises with Harish Wadhwa leading a male chorus… or should it be Sitaram Hivarkar?
Renu Babani's PICS-SPEAK:
* "We can adjust wherever we go. A group that is able to join in and be a part of the crowd!"
[P.S.: Yes, it was interesting to watch some new exercises which were really different. Thank you, the members of Garden No 2 for inviting us and making us feel welcome.]
Harish Wadhwa:
Unke paas nayee exercises hain toh kya hua?
Unki exercises hamse tez hain toh kya hua?
Unke paas bhi jokes aur shayari hai to kya hua?
Hamare paas apna blog aur Ganju-Panju hai.
Hamare paas baatein, baatein aur zyada baatein hai.
Hamare paas Badmaash Company hai.
Hamare paas dilwale log hain. Balle Balle!!!
Srichand Arora:
* I agree, some of their exercises are really good. So let us discuss with our group in the Garden and if all agree, we may try out some of them. But then, we might have to reduce all our repeat actions in order to provide time for the new laughter exercises. I agree with our Harish-ji also, that hamare paas toh bahut kuchh hai.
* I am really thankful to all in Garden 2 for the warm welcome extended to Big Laaf members. Thanks a lot, Mr Jain especially.
Harish Wadhwa adds:
Arora-ji, let us include some of their exercises in our routine. It will make things more interesting and quick!

Police Swoop

Our worst fears were confirmed today. For after the club’s Holi festivities yesterday morning and all members having dispersed, some people hung around in the Garden for what was to be an extended, but private celebration of sorts.
Bottles were uncorked, chicken roast and salads ordered and amidst raucous laughter, jokes and songs, everyone was having a ball… till 10:45 a.m. when out of the blue, the police descended on the group and spoilt the party. The miscreants were rounded up and taken in a van to Oshiwara Police Station... only to be let off after a while.
This was the big talking point for the club today. As is natural in such cases, many versions of the incident were making the rounds with no one getting any wiser. What was clear though was that residents of neighboring buildings had objected and called in the cops. The watchman of the Garden had also warned the men several times. An eyewitness, who took refuge in a chemist’s shop (munching a chocolate to evade suspicion) recounted that it was nothing but false bravado that had landed the revelers in a soup. The same men who bragged about their ‘connections’ with the cops were the first to run helter-skelter for their lives. And funnily, they were the ones today taking a moral high ground, pointing fingers at those caught with their hands in the cookie jar!
On his part though, Hari Singh Shekhawat cleared the air of all misgivings (top pic), assuring members that nobody from the Club was involved in the incident in any manner. This obviously makes us 'good boys'. But Srichand Arora sounded a note of caution, lest any of us be ever caught on the wrong foot in future.
Amid all the posturing and moralising, our little friend Ali (Nazma Sayyad’s grandson) strayed into our midst. He was in school uniform and had expected to find gran’ma in the Garden. As the school buses were on strike, he apparently could not find his way home. Shekhawat offered to drop him after the exercises, but Kishor Babani intervened and like a good, caring samaritan (bottom pic) took the boy in his car and deposited him where he belongs.
Renu Babani's PICSPEAK:
* "I am telling you to please stop worrying. Listen to me, I know what I am saying."
* "Maybe this uncle can help me find my way. I AM LOST!"
Harish Wadhwa:
Kishor-da is the bade-dilwala man in our group -- always willing to extend a helping hand. An adorable example of how grounded and good a gentleman he is. Keeping up the high values of the Babani family, Dilip- bhai is no less when he rushed to the police station yesterday to rescue his fellowmates. Arora-ji was in a jovial mood as usual, or maybe a little high due to the extra dose of the 'green herb' of Holi and the daylong sessions of ingestion. After all, Holi is meant to be celebrated like this, he remarked during Chai. Arora-ji khush to hum sab khush. Love you Arora-ji for your zinda-dil attitude.

Colours of Holi

When colours speak louder than words... particularly on

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY

Before:

After:

Check the slideshow alongside for more images of the HOLI FESTIVITIES in the Garden.
Renu Babani's PICSPEAK:
"We bring colour to an otherwise black-and-white world. What power he has given us... amazing!"
Dilip Babani:
* Oh my God! Such lovely women looking like lovely girls!!!
* Everyone knows of women's power. All men are useless without women. If the wife is happy, she will make the man's life wonderful and lovely. This world will become swarg for the man. If the woman is unhappy, she will make the life of her husband hell. Every man should therefore please his wife. Yeda bankey peda khao. Jai ho Women's Day!
Bhaswati Bose:
* More power and COLOUR to us... Happy Women's Day!
* Very well said, Dilip-bhai. If only all men took your advice, life will be so beautiful!
Harish Wadhwa:
* What a lovely transformation! The laal mooh ke... khiladi are looking really great. The Holi pics on the slideshow are equally worth seeing. It depicts the "true colours" of each member. Also shows the enthusiasm and what fun-loving people we are. Very nicely blogged today.
* Hey, our Badmaash Company had many guests joining us today. All the badmaashes enjoyed gujia, a typical Holi snack. The ones who did not join, missed it. Thanks to the good lady (I don't recall her name), who brought them.

Kanji Day

The long-awaited 'Kanji Day' for the Club finally dawned this morning. But it had to leave us with a tinge of guilt. For Santosh Tyagi, the lady who near-institutionalized the consumption of this tangy carrot-beetroot drink on Holi-eve, has not been keeping well (left pic) of late. A debilitating attack of viral fever had forced her to remain home-bound during the past few days. She almost did not come today, but had made appropriate arrangements in advance with the Babanis for carrying the heavy kanji bottles to the Garden… just in case.
Now, everybody knows that nobody makes kanji better than Santosh Tyagi and sure enough, they are all there – nearly 40 of them descending out of nowhere. Even Neelam Garg and Kiran Arora were there. Anticipating the heavy turnout, Santosh carried an extra bottle with her when she came in briefly towards the end of the exercises. Her foresight paid off and she did not run short, even after some people had shamelessly gobbled down several glasses like there was no tomorrow. If at all the lady could have any regret, it was for the absence of her biggest fan, Harish Wadhwa. She made Shekhawat call him specially on the phone, only to be told that he was sitting in Kolkata on work. Serves him right! Harish’s loss was our gain.
Amidst all the kanji-guzzling, Srichand Arora went around presenting photo ID-cards to members individually. This also happens to be his brainchild (after the caps) and he had to remind everybody not to use the card in an ATM by mistake. But Bapu Rane was so impressed that he wanted to keep it securely displayed in his room and carry around a black-and-white laminated copy. For the record though, we urge all members – especially those coming alone from long distances – to keep the ID card in their person at all times. Rather than risk losing the PAN card, driving license, passport or voter’s ID, this is a far more convenient instrument for self-identification in the event of an emergency.
Renu Babani's PICSSPEAK:
"Cheers! Tastes so good and worth every drop. The atmosphere is just right for such a worthy drink."