By P Ramnath, PGP 1972
We celebrated our 2025 Reunion at Radisson Blu Resort temple Bay Mahabalipuram from 7 to 10 January 2025. This was organised by Subbu (Nilakanta Subramanian) and his wife Sundari Subramanian took care of Hospitality while Lalitha Sundaram took care of Entertainment and CB Nagi Reddy took care of Bar. On the 8th the group visited Dakshina Chitra, a cultural history museum and on the 9th visited sites in Mahabalipuram. On the 7th evening Bhavya performed two short plays, on the 8th evening Vinita Sidhartha gave a talk on Traditional Games. V. Sriram gave a talk on the History of Chennai on the 9th. Everyone received a memento of a traditional tumbler davara of ceramic showcasing Southern heritage.
A more lyrical record of the reunion is as follows–
Uttar to Dakshin
Southward ho! proclaimed Subbu after our last spiritual journey to Awadh territory for our Reunion last February.
And so it was, our batchmates evincing great interest in discovering the allure of the Pallavas of yore.
Radisson at Mahabalipuram was out of this world. An oasis touching the eastern expanse of blue ocean, chalets with a sea view and rooms overlooking a sea of green greeted our eager beavers early January ready to chill with old friends in this paradise. And chilly Chennai reserved its best for our friends from the northern winter, the rains had subsided, cool mornings invitingly poised for those inclined to watch the golden sunrise on their invigorating morning walks by the sea.
Did anyone still wish to go out and dip into the heritage beyond?
Yes, we were ready!
Heritage and nostalgia, entertainment and enlightenment, a heady mix it was that Subbu concocted. His sheer will and intent, the enthusiasm and dedication of Sundari and the drive and energy of Lalitha carried the day.
Do we wish to recount what we did and saw? ‘Unforgettable’, said everyone.
For posterity, though, we must.
Lalitha’s e-welcome itinerary itself promised an immersion into the festive mood of the season, the accompanying music transporting one to the ambience of a South Indian wedding, complete with nadaswaram, traditional welcome et al.
A window to the South was veritably opened for our participants at the aptly named Dakshina Chitra, a museum of the life and work of people from the southern states, all under one roof. Our group marvelled at the monolithic rock cuts of the pancha rathas, the historic shore temples of Mamallapuram,some still perhaps submerged and unreclaimed from the sea, the mystifying Krishna butter ball defying the laws of gravity and the intricate rock carvings depicting Arjuna’s penance.
How this errant group was kept together though was another story, some meandering off from the coach into rickshaws, buying trinkets and what have you and enjoying the refreshing coconut water as they cooled off in the gradually growing warmth of the day.
And all this was enough to whet the appetites of several first timers to the wonders of the South as they set off on their further voyages of discovery to explore the heritage, history and traditions of Tanjore, Madurai and Trivandrum.
The evenings were absorbing, Bhavya’s creative skits to celebrate growing old gracefully, bringing home the value of companionship; Vinita’s exposition of ancient games, some long forgotten, reminding us of the simple pleasures of our childhood activities and the friends we made then for life; historian Sriram’s humorous talk on Chennai then and now, bringing forth many a chuckle and the realisation that we can always learn to laugh at ourselves in a harmonious world.
And then of course the timeless appeal of Kanjeevaram sarees was not lost on the ladies as a collection was displayed.
The outdoor dinner, so expertly curated, under the twinkling stars, was as mellow as we, as the spirits kept flowing in the safe hands of our Bacchus, CBN.
And we were ready too for the Zumba session that wasn’t, enjoying instead Bollywood music of our times, inspiring all to move to the music, displaying the nippy footwork that might well have helped a Kohli negotiate the ones that went away!
The proximity of the expanse of the Bay of Bengal was exhilarating, the photo session on the lawns making one wonder whose Reunion this was as the ladies (the Hotties as they would have it) stole the afternoon, windswept hair and colourful outfits lighting up the horizon as they posed for the photographer that unusually pleasant day, us guys all but forgotten, till we did manage to squeeze ourselves into the frame!
Yes, it was the ladies who made the Reunion what it was. The exuberance a la Lalitha, the perseverance a la Sundari, the wholehearted participation of all the spouses in the get together, the presenters Jyoti, Anjali, Miriam et al raising the happiness quotient several notches -witness the spontaneous expression of tribute, love and togetherness in the lovely lines of poetry from Pervin and Syama- that made this Reunion one by the ladies all the way, and I am sure Subbu would agree.
There was many a little touch that went to make up the whole
Taking care of Jambu and Nimmi’s vegan diet
Looking at their scrumptious dessert
That Radisson conjured up with so much care
We are tempted to follow Jambu and Nimmi
And convert to vegan fare!
On the choice of memento
Filter coffee at Water’s Edge
Was served in style hamara
But Radisson missed a trick
They didn’t have Sundari’s Davara!
Life is a series of memories and this will always remain as a memorable memory!
