Reunion@1985 at Mussoorie: Day1

Reunion@1985 at Mussoorie (28-30 April 2025) It was a grand the first day of our get together at LBSNAA in Mussoorie yesterday. It was an experience of meeting the family members after a long break. We were never divorced but were dispersed in different states to perform public service therefore it is not reunion but a celebration of our joy of journey through IAS in last forty years. The formal programme began with memorial service of paying homage to our ten dear colleagues who left us earlier leaving their fragrance of success stories and services to humanity. The journey video of the batch presented by Ravikant was marvellous, picked up our moments of fun and ferry where the ladies had their day. Cadre stage walk was unexpectedly went very well by presenting glimpses of the culture of different states with a popular backdrop song of the respective state. How best was our adoption of the life style, dress and culture of the state which is not our home state but our workplace (कर्मभूमि) for more than three decades. It was truly a show of unity in diversity. The musical night brought back our joy in old songs of our generation. Vandana is a singer present herself the best. Anubha is universal sang well. Pawan’s wife Monika was one of the best with Sur and Taal. UP’s wife Archana also sang very well. The melodious couple of the evening Anita and Ashu not only sang very well but performed with emotions. Mahendra sang his great love for the friends. Sanjay Ubale and Sanjay Bhatia can fill their presence on any stage. Saraswati is our yadon ji barat of four decades. Bhanu sang two words but pumped joy and humour on the stage and Renuka’s gazal was an out of blue loved by all. Tripurari presented his love for his favourite Saigal sang a song of 1943. RK Tiwari’s tabala play made the evening trikit dhum. Sangram sang and compared the show well with his presence felt in each song. It was memorable musical night overlapped with dinner time after an hour therefore sparsely presented when the video song of Ram Niwas was played. Dinner of the academy reminded its taste after a long gap with sabji of jackfruit, mushroom, dal-rice, roti, curd, salad, papad and mohanbhog in sweet. The day has a sad moment to record as Divya wife of Sudhir Tripathi got injured in a car accident while coming to Mussoorie when they were just 9 kilometres away from the academy. It invited 15 stitches on her forehead. The driver lost the control of the car, hit it with the railing and a pole. The car was smashed but luckily the rallying saved them (4) from a free fall into the valley by the grace of God. The academy has been transformed over the years with some additions of new buildings and alterations of old buildings. It has now better infrastructure and facilities. The bust of Lal Bahadur Shastri turned full statue and the bust Sardar Patel reminded his pivotal role in establishing IAS which has bonded the states of India in firm union. IT has an edge in training young administrators. Elevators in the buildings have eased the legs of the probationers. Food is the same but improved water quality eased our stomach. Most of us were given accommodation in Monastery Estate building as we are in the age of living in monastery. But it is no less than a five star hotel accommodation with big size rooms fully furnished and a gym to try our fitness test. We have enjoyed the day and when climbed into the bed of the academy, our journey from 1985 to 2025 went in a flashback. जाम वही, जोश सही; दुनिया जवां, हम गवां. LBSNAA is our first and everlasting love when it comes to our carrier. Punamchand Mussoorie 29 April 2025