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THE LAWRENCE SCHOOL – LOVEDALE

CLASS OF 1971 – GOLDEN JUBILEE REUNION

(7^th January to 12^th January 2023)

Memories of the Reunion by Vikram Karve

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PROLOGUE

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Before I tell you about our wonderful reunion – let me make a confession.

Apropos of the Class of 1971 reunion – my role was akin to that of “Yossarian” of Catch-22 – and – while participating in various events of the reunion – I probably had the same feelings as Yossarian may have experienced when he visited the officers’ club that he did not help build.

I am sure you have read Catch-22.

All Officers posted in Pianosa decide to build a club on their own and they put in a tremendous amount of effort to build a good Officers’ Club in Pianosa.

However – the sole exception is Yossarian – who is proud of his ability to avoid work – he contributes nothing to help build the club – he does not go for even a single day to work on building the officers’ club.

But once the Officers’ Club is ready – Yossarian visits the club almost every day – and he makes maximum use of the facilities – which he had not helped build.

Let me quote a paragraph from Catch-22 which encapsulates this sentiment (emphasis mine):

“Actually there were many officers’ clubs that Yossarian had not helped build – but he was proudest of the one on Pianosa.

It was a sturdy and complex monument to his powers of determination.

Yossarian never went there to help until it was finished – then he went there often – so pleased was he with the large, fine, rambling shingled building.

It was a truly splendid building – and – Yossarian throbbed with a mighty sense of accomplishment each time he gazed at it – and reflected that – none of the work that had gone into it was his…”

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For me – it was a similar equation as far as the reunion was concerned.

Ranjit – from “Down Under” – was the “prime mover” of the reunion – coordinating everything with his indefatigable initiative – and motivating classmates to attend the reunion.

Madan – unassuming and assiduous – organized the Kerala leg, our transportation – and so much more – especially the “beverages”.

Some of our classmates hosted wonderful evenings of stimulating cocktails and sumptuous dinners at Ooty Club, Coonoor Club and The Culinarium – and – thanks to the redoubtable “Team Bunty” – we enjoyed an unforgettable day of boating and picnicking at Pykara Lake.

Everyone contributed – I must have been the sole exception.

Effort-wise – I contributed nothing – but – as far as enjoyment was concerned – I was at the forefront – thoroughly enjoying myself to the hilt – eating, drinking, merrymaking and participating in every event with joy, fervor and full gusto.

In hindsight – I feel that the least I can do – as my miniscule contribution – is to write about the reunion on my blog – as a memoir and record for posterity.

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In the next part – I will write about our visit to the school on the 8^th of January 2023.

And then – I shall try and tell you about all the events.

Meanwhile – here is a group photo of the “Classy Class of 1971”

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(L to R) Madan Pillai, OL Prabhu, Alagapan, Arjun Divecha, Muthappan, Mayur Patel, Rajeev Gupta, Mohan Jacob, Rajeev Verma, Vikram Karve, Valliamma, Shanmugham, Remani Barua, George Varghese, Shireen Cama, Shomir Mukherjee, Theivani, Ajay Desai, Geetha Gangadhar, Phillip Charles, Monty Bopiah, Riad Fyzee, Santosh, MM Sundaram, Ranjit Giri

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