The batch of 1988 ( St.Xaviers High School Loyola Hall Ahmedabad , Association of Past Xavierites, APX ) met up on Saturday, 5th January to celebrate their silver jubilee re-union.
Plans were made long ago, registrations confirmed , venue decided and tickets and bookings done on time by batch mates living out of Ahmedabad , a group of 60 batch-mates met up on the school campus at 10 am. Recognizing each other, with all living now in different parts of the world, excelling in their respective fields, having the same snacks prepared by the same old canteen guys who served us in 1988 and earlier too, and then sitting in our old classroom, addressed by our the then Principal Rev.Fr. O. Coutinho S.J. ( and he was still as gracious and commanding as he was then, tough yet soft , aura undiminished ) brought back unlimited memories. T-shirts were given to all, with the school emblem and 25 years mentioned and all wore the same with pride. Anecdotes were shared, experiences, past and present were exchanged and all mentioned how the Jesuit education has helped them in their lives. Fr. Morondo, the ever young dynamic Jesuit ( now in Spain ) and Fr. Charlie Dias were mentioned. The current management ( Rev. Fr. Durai and Rev Fr. Raj ) were appreciated for their co-operation and graciously giving us all the school pins, and making all arrangements for this gathering on the school premises. Unfortunately they could not be present as the school staff picnic was scheduled for the same date. The fantastic work carried out by the present management was well appreciated by all those present, most having their kids in school now. A special silver memento was given to all the teachers who taught this batch, with 25 written on one side, and the school emblem on one side, gratitude and grace with appreciation.
In the evening the group was joined by more batch mates and also by their spouses, and a grand dinner with lots of music, entertainment and warmth in the severe cold was held at a club , some distance away form the city, and we had more than 100 people in attendance. Music, bonfires, gossip, old stories, anecdotes and leg pulling made the evening fun filled. Spouse members came to know the then secrets and left many batch mates red faced, all in good humor.
Last year too , a silver jubilee celebration of the batch of 1987 took place, this year it was the batch of '88 and the batch of '89 is already making plans for their re-union. APX supports such re-unions, and some time is spared in explaining the hierarchy of the Alumni to all those present, from Local association to the State level, Zone, JAAI and WUJA.
Province:
- Gujarat
City:
- Ahmedabad