Alumni Meet – Platinum Jubilee Celebrations
The Platinum Jubilee Celebrations of the Blind Relief Association is not a one-time event, but a year-long commemoration. As one of the series of events we have had during the year, the alumni meet on 9 November, was unique in itself.
The gathering not just involved the former students of JPM Senior Secondary School but also their old teachers and volunteers.
Cheerful compering, symphonic musical pieces and kya-baat-hai poetry, not only took the students and teachers down the memory lane but instilled the joy of celebrating the ‘present.’ The former students and teachers walked in Gandhi Hall on the evening of 9 November with spouses, children, and some with even grandchildren.
Following the homage to the departed former teachers by Shri Ajay Dixit, a former student and one of the current Managing Committee Members of the Blind Relief Association, an auspicious beginning of the function with lighting of lamp was done by Shri Ajay Mittal, the first Principal of JPM School, Smt Benu Nath, Secretary of JPM, Smt Saroj Gurunani and Shri K. C. Pande and singing of managalacharan by Shri Santosh Chandel.
Besides the celebration, it was also a time of honoring the beloved teachers and principals. Shri Ajay Mittal, Shri Prem Dutt Sharma, Shri Chawala, Smt Chandrakanta Sharma, Smt Gurunani, Shri K. C. Pande, Shri K. J. Kuriyan were presented a token of remembrance of the event by former students.
A plethora of musical performances of various instruments by the alumni filled the evening. Endless performances included a piece on the sitar by Sri.P.D.Sharma, Gurubni, ghazals, flute, and violin.
The audience longed to hear from their teachers and the short speeches by Shri A . K. Mittal and Smt Chandrakanta Sharma, speaking of their time in the School received great applause from their once students.
The art-filled evening did not miss poetry. Poems written and recited by Shri Parihar, Shri Ravi Kahar and Shri Dayal Singh, brought both laughter and thoughtful moments to the gathering.
The Sawaru Nihongo (Touch Japanese) group of the Association sang ‘Saare Jahan Se Acha’ in a bilingual version of Hindi and Japanese.
As the compères, Shri Harish Gulati and Shri Kshemanand signed off for the evening, the big group met again at the dining hall for dinner together.