Mount Abu “Batch of 69” catching up 40 years

Catching up 40 years 

The batch of 69 St Mary's School Mount Abu

The batch of 69 St Mary's School Mount Abu

Can you spot yourself in these two photographs? One was taken in 1963 and the other 40 years ago in 1969. The chances are you would probably recognize yourself and quite a few of the others. Try recognizing us blokes who were here for the 40th reunion of our batch on the 28th and 29th of November 09.

I’m glad that Kishore Parmar took the initiative in June this year to track down quite a handful of us blokes from the batch of 69. It must have been tough getting the addresses, emails and phone numbers of all the blokes living around the globe. His initial response to his emails must have left him floored, as not a single bum from our batch responded. It was as if his emails had either boomeranged or taken off to the outer realms of space.

The batch of 69 Paddy's Bridge

A lot of water has flowed under Paddy’s bridge since leaving school; I was pretty disappointed when not a single soul from the batch of 69 showed up for the Annual function at school this year. Disappointments have a way of springing back and surprising one with renewed fresh hope. Kishore’s email to all paid off with a positive response within our circle, with the enthusiasm for meeting each other at the end of November. The snap above is proof of our reunion after 40 years.


When we left our Alma Mater four decades ago, we each had a unique set of goals and dreams. We were naïve, and some of our dreams have come to pass, while we have swapped others for something more realistic. But no matter how well we have done, and if Brother Kean had been amongst our gathering, he would have quoted, ‘All fall short in the eyes of the Lord.’ Our last toast is to our 40th reunion. Fortitude and gratitude marked our departure for the time we've had and the time to come.
 When I gaze into the crystal ball, I cannot see how many grains of sand remain in the hourglass handed to each of us at Nativity. But despite how much elation life gives us, this last toast is to a better future for us all, for we can all shuffle closer to the place called Paradise, day by day. May the next time we meet find us all better people than we were 40 years ago, and better than this wonderful reunion! A toast, TO All."TO LIFE."

You know you are getting old when everything either dries up or leaks.

Old age is when former classmates are so grey and wrinkled and bald, they don't recognize you.

Have a GREAT day........and keep laughing!

It's good for the soul.


Tomorrow will post more snaps of the reunion