AFVOA Newletters of Year 2004

Page 5 of 153 Committee, everybody assembled (a goodly gathering of 107) thoroughly enjoyed themselves in the beautiful and sylvan surroundings, with nary a worry in view of the excellent amenities that Camp Gloria has by way of water, toilets, trees, space, a glorious hall designed in a kind of Laurie Baker style, and superb arrangements for laying out food etc. In retrospect, it is clear that since the environs were superb, the gathering simply enjoyed itself in the most important activity - intense and enjoyable interaction with each other, leading to a rejuvenation of spirits. We missed our old friend Mr Robin Briggs, the caretaker, who has moved on to another assignment, but in his place, there was his replacement, Mr V Dinakaran, the resident manager, as also, as a special gesture, the Manager Mr BSK Nair, as well as the other staff. As ever, the staff were courteous and helpful. Col N Viswanathan deserves our gratitude for ensuring the arrangements were perfect. Activity # 1 8. You guessed it: a HEARTY breakfast! No sooner had the veterans disembarked from the first coach, we were rallied to attack the superb piping hot breakfast of idlis, vadas, pongal, chutney, sambar, and hot coffee/tea laid out by Narendra Maharaj and his staff. The breakfast was laid out on tables surrounding the covered central hall. This year, Maharaj himself had turned up to ensure that we got the best that he could deliver. As the veterans lined up, evidently ravenously hungry after the nearly hour-long drive, the well-oiled precision with which the food was served did much to set the tone for the day. We were joined shortly by the second coach load, and things went down well, so well that the vadas were exhausted double quick, leaving a few tail-enders to make up with idlis and pongal. This despite Maharaj having catered for 120. Col RI Subramanian, never one to make his presence felt too conspicuously, was his usual helpful self, handing out delicious éclairs. On the serving line, one found Wg Cdr Sukumar helping out by ladling out the goodies. “Am anfang” - Mrs Chitkala Govidaswamy and Col Krishnaswami 9. “In the beginning”, in reverse order of the names mentioned above, Col A Krishnaswami, wielding the baton of the EMCEE, welcomed one and all. Mrs Govindaswamy then took charge of the first part of the entertainment, with a very imaginative game designed to test the attention with which veterans read the usual accompaniment of their morning cuppa: “The Hindu”. This game comprised of pictorial cuttings accompanying the Madras Miscellany columns written by the historian-story teller Mr Subbiah Muthiah. The game was to identify the places of interest, all of which were centred on Mount Road, less famously known as the Anna Salai. Six teams were formed of four members each. The landmarks included the Connemara Hotel, Cosmopolitan Club, the Wallajah Rd/Mount Rd Junction, The Hindu’s Office, the HQ of the Southern Railways, Government Estate, The Agri Horticultural Society Gardens, Spencers (the old building, now pulled down), St Thomas Mount, Gemini Studio, Higginbothams, etc. It is obvious that this game was imaginatively conceived, and it is also true that most of us were wide off the mark in recognising landmarks that have been embedded in our subconscious since early childhood. It just goes to show that most see, but do not look. Winners were Mrs Sridevi Parthasarathy and team (including Wg Cdr Sukumar etc). Runners up were the team led by Mrs Premila Rajan. In introducing the next activity, which consisted of describing the appropriate precious stone for every fifth anniversary of marital bliss/misery from D-Day onwards, Mrs Chitkala Govindaswamy did, unwittingly (or was it deliberate), let the cat among the pigeons when she informed the gathering that she was able to ensure that, on every major anniversary, Gen Govindaswamy did his bit to contribute to the well-being of the precious stone merchants of Madras. You could see the gentlemen squirming in their seats, as could one see the gleam in the eyes of the fairer ones.