Mandatory Meeting

Saying it with flowers...

Saying it with a shawl...

Bijoy Gupta also has his say

Big Laaf turned the corner today. A crucial meeting, mandatory within 15 days of the Club elections, was convened this morning by the new president, Mallika Kagzi. She was accompanied by Sheher Banoo Khan and Kajal Babani, the newly-elected secretary and treasurer respectively

Mallika Kagzi flanked by Banoo Apa (l) and Kajal Babani (r)

as well as other members of the managing committee – Razia Khan, Kiran Prakash, Nahid Khan, Bhaswati Bose, Geeta Latte and Bijoy Gupta.
The China Hut was packed to the rafters with as many as 31 members in attendance and what’s more, a group of Garden regulars turned up to felicitate Mallika (she is apparently “Didi” to them) on the occasion.

Mallika Kagzi

In what turned out to be an unprecedented but thoughtful gesture, they gifted her a beautiful memento, apart from a bouquet of flowers (presented by a little girl) and Navin Shah and his wife wrapping a ceremonial shawl around Mallika’s shoulders. Never before have we had so many so-called non-members rejoicing with us in a Club celebration imbued by the spirit of warm conviviality and inclusivity.
As usual Yusuf Rassiwala called the meeting to order, with Mallika making her opening remarks followed by Banoo Apa and Kajal Babani. Soon, other members of the committee were to join, though in a manner of wisecracks and witticisms, before settling down to serious business.

Well-wishers from Garden gather to felicitate their "didi"

A clutch of five resolutions were adopted on matters ranging from changing the registered address of the Club to re-appointment of the auditor for the new financial year and authorizing signatories for operating bank accounts.
Separately, it was decided to delegate certain key activities of the Club to six sub-committees, each headed by a managing committee member who would, in turn, report directly to the secretary/ president. The sub-committees would be entrusted with (a) Admissions (and expulsions);
(b) Ensuring smooth and uninterrupted conduct of exercises daily;
(c) Maintaining discipline;

Presidential address greeted with round of applause

(d) Organising cultural programs and recreational activities;
(e) Revenue generation; and
(f) Complaints and redressal.
One common strand ran through all discussions. Be it Banoo or Razia, Bhaswati or Geeta, everyone stressed on the need for unity and refraining from any infighting and use of foul language in the Club. But the piece de resistance came from Bijoy Gupta in his thanksgiving speech: “Thank you all for finding me worthy of being on the managing committee. I’ve been coming to the Garden for the last 15 years and nobody had found me fit to be even a chowkidar. You people have bestowed on me a rare honor. I don’t know what is expected of me, but I am happy. Thank you very much.”
After the customary vote of thanks, the meeting broke for refreshments, courtesy Mallika. Amid all the backslapping and congratulatory handshakes, Yusuf R was to have the last word. He described the meeting as free-wheeling and fun-filled... "But more importantly, it was dignified and civilised”, he underlined.

Meeting in progress

Time to wrap up

Light refreshments

Lt Col Angad Singh (from Mohali):
The first meeting of the newly-elected management committee, duly empowered by an all-women team had nicely deliberated on all the issues. The refreshments could not have been 'light', when arranged by Mallika Kagzi!