Fresh Initiative

Yusuf Rassiwala delivers a pep talk for putting up the Annual Function 

A fresh proposal was made today to hold the club’s Annual Day function at the earliest. Plans (ref post of September 22) to meet the original deadline of December 8 have obviously fizzled out, presumably due to absence of initiative and/or interest from our members.
This morning, Yusuf Rassiwala summoned all members after the exercises and informed that Kiran Prakash would like to assume responsibility for organising the function like last time and that we ought to extend him every support and cooperation in making it a grand success.
If anybody was overjoyed by this announcement, it was Bijoy Gupta who had already scripted a couple of plays/ skits for the event. His only condition was that it should be mounted on a proper stage (with lighting and sound systems) so that “we get an audience”.
What Kiran Prakash had in mind though was a relatively low-key affair coinciding with our usual New Year’s party in the Garden – sans stage, props and effects. The suggestion was partly out of financial and time constraints, but mainly to ensure that the effort and time Gupta had invested (in his scripts) were not wasted.

Udaipur gajak from Bhaswati Bose

Udaipur gajak from Naheed Siddiqui (c)

No doubt, this would be a feeble compromise – more so, after expectations were raised last time, as many pointed out. Karun Sharma was also of the opinion that if we need to have a proper function, it had to be staged – even if it were to be at a slight elevation from the ground.
After discussions, it was settled that the space outside the Health Centre in the Garden would we appropriate. “We shall spread a durrie or carpet (for the performing area) and cover it around with a curtain while the audience will be seated on a lower plane,” he suggested.
As for the date, it was decided that instead of New Year’s Day, the function will be held in the first week of January and in the evening -- so that we get a good audience. Rehearsals shall begin as soon as programming is finalized. Razia Khan was asked to compere the show.