Conservatives vs Liberals

Shekhawat continues on his collection drive

Arun Patil, Yusuf R and Banoo Apa in heated discussions

In the run up to our biennial elections, the Club is beginning to look like some miniature parliament in a western democracy. On the one hand are the Conservatives – a rigid, highly disciplined, no-nonsense group, sworn to upholding the sanctity of the exercises every morning in the Garden.
On the other hand, there are the casual, demotivated, free-wheeling types, who have nothing but contempt toward discipline and are forever late and irregular for the exercises. To these so-called Liberals, the club is essentially a ‘social platform’ where you catch up with friends, indulge in idle/ vicious gossip, partake in eats/ parties whenever available and the exercises be damned.
Significantly, the composition of the two groups varies from time to time – which perhaps explains how they co-exist in spite of their extreme differences. Also there are several moderates who studiously keep to themselves and refuse to be part of either group – unless of course, rubbed the wrong way.
Then there are those like Siba Prasad Maitra, Bihari Milwani and Karun Sharma who, much as they would like, are unable to keep their appointment with the Club on a regular basis owing to professional compulsions.
These factors have suddenly come into play as Shekhawat goes about collecting subscriptions for renewal of annual membership. Being a Liberal by nature, it does not matter to him who is what so long as he is able to max the numbers – so much so that habitual offenders with no interest in the Club or the exercises are being approached to pay up.
To the likes of Arun Patil, this is sacrilege. He has drawn up a list of people who do not “deserve” to be members and must be immediately shown the door – failing which he threatens not to renew his own membership. The point is, not paying up would be a disqualification for taking part in the upcoming election.
Arun enjoys the support of Yusuf Rassiwala and Banoo Apa who also feel that there is no point in retaining members who have no interest in the Club and/or the exercises. “If they themselves do not realize what is good for them, why keep them at all?” reasons Yusuf R. “Nobody is a child here…” Above all, everybody should realize that ours is an “exercise club and not gossip club”, added Banoo Apa.

Lt Col Angad Singh (retd):
This is election time and feverish activities are taking place everywhere. The Club is no exception. However, ours is a well-knit group and a disciplined lot. A lot of hustle and bustle would take place but there should be no acrimony. Once the elections are over, we are again back to normal. Do rejoice and be happy.