Ruby Reunion of 1985 batch: Day2

RRB1985@40 The Josh was High The second day yesterday started at 6.00 AM with PT with Rana but as usual there was no fear of dies non many preferred to rest or take a leisure walk to Atal (Company) Garden. After a bath all members with their spouses participated in the fun hour of lemon and spoon race, musical chairs and tug of war competition. We thought Mahendra would win the lemon and spoon race but Srikant Baldi moved faster and Sanjeev Ranjan took it away. We all know that the lemon can't stay without the spoon and the spoon can't without the lemon! Mrs Sushila Samariya though had fever proved herself a dark horse winning Musical Chairs though Kavita ran upto runner up three with some faults. Sushila proved herself a power behind Hiralal’s success to not to leave the chair! Winners were awarded with dark chocolates that was shared by all. Jyotish was a favourite item but time was too short to see many horoscopes. The breakfast enjoyed thereafter with South Indian Idly and North Indian Paratha was delicious. Under a bright Sunshine, a formal programme took place ‘introduction with Director’ with felicitation, release of memories and group photographs. Prabhat and Surina shared their lessons of life and Sanjeev Chopra spoke words of wisdom. Dr. Prabhat's five Is could be the Is of many. The Director remembered some of us by name as he had good association of working with them in past. A frame of painting made on silk was presented to the Director as a symbol of our love to the academy. The lunch hosted by the Director was delicious. Evening resumed with the cultural programme. गाड़ी तो चलाना है, we missed our late Ram Niwas but his daughter Tarranum filled the space with her powerful singing गाड़ी को चलाना बाबू जरा हल्के हल्के हल्के. The programme formally started with Ganesh Vandana was followed by a beautiful couple dance of Anita and Ashu. Ashu was more rhythmic and youthful won many hearts. Archana and UP had sweet squabble with Shayari but neither of them winner or loser. The Medley by IAS Women Officers was catching eyes with rhythmic movements of Usha and Amita. The Safarnama of 1985 presented by Sudhir Tripathi in लखनवी तहज़ीब अदब और नज़ाकत was clean super made us more proud of our batch. The journey of our life as public servants and the journey of life our spouses presented through sonic time capsules of Hindi songs made us joyful. The team of dozen lead by Archana (w/o UP Singh) performed so well that double to them lead by Sanjay Ubale tried but couldn’t win. The home makers could tell us सायोंनारा but we the dependents could only say that कभी अलविदा न कहना. Home ministry always on a driving seat and more when the guys retired. The grand finale ‘bele’ 'dance of duty with grace' directed by Arun Arya and performed by ‘the nine’ was superb with it dress, stick and stylised dance courtships. Their moves to the rhythm of drum made the dance attractive. The question mark tried to break their courtship but the touch of ‘service’ reunited them. Tall RK Tiwari and Short Girish Murmu and in between our thin Mahendra and fatty Bhabu with beautiful lady partner filled the stage with romance. Renuka as a monitor, comparer and player was excellent. The last supper was tasty with a sweet dish of ‘rose khir’. And बाक़ी जो बचा था, all our जोश came out in front of the DJ (disc jokey); once again the home makers never tired against the retired. It was played and enjoyed with full energy. The RRB@40 took away 40 years from our ageing and brought us back to our academy days of youthfulness. In 1985, we came here as a group of nana bhasha nana mat nana paridhan but the academy groomed us as efficient public servants, a bonding and stimulating agent of Indian Nation. It satisfies us that we have served the nation and its people with the best of our ability and contributed in its growth journey in last four decades. Kudos to the organising team made the RRB@40 made successful and amemorable. We are ageing but our soul and mind are young and energetic therefore pledge to meet again in RRB@50 in 2035. फिर मिलेंगे। 👋 Punamchand Mussoorie 30 April 2025