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| It was billed as the OCA’s largest event ever, by a long shot. For months counting down to the Diamond Jubilee function, committee chaps planned, organised, and prayed. A musical evening with three bands. An Achievers’ Nite, honouring Columbans from varied walks of life. Food courts, the compulsory watering hole, security, sponsorships, parking, ticketing… Walking into the OCA Centre in those days, you would have mistaken it for a war zone. People on the phone, people scribbling into writing pads, people telling other people to shut up, and yet other people making an impromptu lunch out of tepid tea and potato chips. |
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| And at the end of each matter discussed, each activity debated and concretised, was a humbling fear, “Will it work?” And work it did. This is not to slap backs and stuff, but St. Columba’s met its tryst with the calendar in true Columban style. A packed house, a gala event, and an evening to remember. |
| A Diamond Jubilee is two things. From the nostalgic viewpoint, it’s a milestone, a cause for celebration. From the other side, it’s just another notch on the inexorable calendar. As time passes, jubilees will come. For the Association though, this was a special opportunity. It was a chance to re-live the glorious history of our institution, and celebrate its excellence. Sixty years of being the best school in Delhi is not easy. And more, it was our big chance to galvanise the Old Boys, and establish a benchmark for stronger interaction and involvement in the future. On both counts, anyone who attended on 16th November would say that we passed muster. |
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| As night swept Delhi into its heady lilt, the Columbans poured in, some three thousand of them, with parents, children, wives and other ladies of equal distinction. From greying veterans of the forties batches, to present kindergartens, people entered, savoured the aura of the turf, and partied. Old-timers kidded the youngsters about the days when they had socials. Long-lost tweedledums met equally long-lost tweedledees, and had a drink. |
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| Wives were introduced, and business cards exchanged (thankfully, no reversals of role). Old school stories were rampant, and wherever one went, one heard about the day Rahul had planted a bomb in the loo, or the time Nikhil successfully bunked Biology. Teachers were mimicked, and when they turned up, met with affection and respect. They took all the ragging we gave them, and still always got their way. And the older we get, the ‘righter’ they become. In lots of semicircles therefore, people spoke about whose period it was, and about letting the air-force come in. |
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| The windows, of heart and spirit, were open. The evening was planned on the lines of Bollywood’s now repetitious filmi award functions, with essential improvements. No commercial breaks, no bad jokes, and most importantly, no rigged awards for mediocre performances. |
| There was music, lots of it. Three big Delhi bands, “Euphoria”, “Parikrama”, and “Joshilay”, with Columbans in their ranks, and the all-gal “Viva” brought the crowd to varying degrees of foot-tapping. Euphoria’s signature blend of stentorian Indi-pop, Parikrama’s distinctive fare of rock, Joshilay doing the ‘bhangra’ act, and Viva adding the CJM factor… all found their audience, and St. Columba’s rocked. |
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| Our Achievers are true achievers, people who have made a real difference. From the armed forces to culture and social service, from business and industry to sports, Columbans who have done us proud were venerated, awarded, and celebrated. These great guys are among many who leveraged what St. Columba’s gave them. Many got nostalgic. Some rattled off a carefully memorised list of “Thank You’s”. We listened, cheered, and waited for the next recipient, just as we used to rag a new teacher. But somewhere in the subconscious, everyone said “Good Show”. |
| Had we been in tennis dress, Brother O’Farrell would have seen nirvana. Never have so many people graced our tennis court. The bar was there. Columbans in droves walked in, said “love-all”, and took advantage. Several aces were served, and luckily, no serves were broken. The barmen seemed the only lot having a tough time of it, as prodigals plied themselves, took off for a bit, and returned. The food court, displaying a variety of fare, Indian, Chinese, kababs, etc., was cleaned out, which probably means the grub was good as well. |
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| People lolled on the sweet-smelling grass, wielding their plastic forks, and tucked in. Between mouthfuls of chow, the legendary school patty was discussed. Portly men spoke longingly of the days they spent break-time pinching peoples’ tiffins. |
| So the Diamond Jubilee evening went. Good fun for everyone, or nearly everyone, for I must not be presumptuous. In some ways though, the label “fun” is inadequate. In some ways, it was a special feeling. We met friends, shared old times, attended a whiz event, tapped feet and clapped hands through some nice music… that’s fun. But then, it’s not every day one can become a Columban again. |
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