Looking Back Detail Page

16 Mar

- (Late) Homi Rogers
Class of 1971

A story probably apocryphal is told of how an army officer risked his position by smuggling a prisoner of war out of captivity and escorting him clandestinely to the border on recognizing him as one who shared his alma mater. Closer to belief are stories of old school friends helping each other in business and at times even in getting jobs. The conglomeration of studying together loving hating sharing joys and sorrows from a tender and impressionable age forms a bond – an inseparable bond that continues to bind individuals together even after long years of separation.
Most schools hence have a union of ex-students – one which is willingly patronized and subscribed to by the school’s brains as well as back-benchers. Campion also had its old boys’ association but unfortunately somewhere down the years this body (first started in the early sixties) ceased to exist. Classmates of each division used to try and get together and many batches held such socials fairly successfully. But there was not a school association till early this year when a few exstudents spearheaded by Dara Masani (who passed out of school in 1959) Noshir Dubash (1958) Beji Khan (1961) with the encouragement of the Principal Rev. Fr. H Miranda SJ and the interest of Mr. P K Bhatia started the ball rolling for the revival of the Old Campionites’ Association (OCA).
The resurgence was greeted with enthusiasm-a small advertisement in the papers drew in over 200 Campionites to enroll immediately as members of the association and what better way to restart the activities than by holding the annual dinner with the same joie de vivre and at the same venue – The Taj.
The OCA under President Dara Masani and a devoted band of committee members swung into action. A sub-committee christened “Entertainment” was created and plans right down to the last farewell were drawn up.
On the evening of 16th March 198 by 7:30 p.m. the first Campionites flushed with the happiness of attending a reunion dinner after over 10 years started trickling in. The teachers’ wreathed in smiles and silent tears of joy as they recognized the acorns who had grown into huge oaks completed the happy occasions. One of the first to arrive was Miss Chico our kind and gentle teacher of the fifth standard who as we would quip never got “promoted”. Then there was Mr. de Sales (“Bonsoir Monsieur”) Arthur ‘Manju’ Menezes who performed the most successful ‘Operations’ with a piece of chalk. But the biggest applause was received for Mr. J S Hodiwala our P T instructor who has been longest with the school – for over 30 years – and is hence known to all Campionites.
If anyone stole the thunder from him it was – deservedly – Rev. F. E F More SJ the Principal who had from 1950 steered the school from its humble beginnings to its vantage position of one that ranks among the best in the city within less than 15 years. Fr. More was more than a Principal – he was to his students the traditional friend philosopher and guide. It was he who had earlier perceived the need to establish an old boys’ union and even drafted the first constitution. It was hence most befitting that Fr. More be invited to be present at the “Renaissance” dinner of the OCA. And all students and masters who were also guests of the OCA cheered Fr. More lustily for coming all the way from Bhopal and gracing the function with his presence.
It was indeed a ‘spirited’ hour from 8 to 9 p.m. over glasses of whisky and wine and soft drinks (for the less adventurous). Campionites swapped notes. And visiting cards. And probably even glasses (“doesn’t my Thumps Up taste like Rum?”) New alliances were forged. Old ones strengthened. Formal introductions dissolved into back-slapping sessions. I ran into two ‘clients’ – the prim-and-propah Mr. So-and-So was dropped from their first names. And as someone remarked – “I should have guessed you are also a Campionite”. The bravura continued; it crescendo as film star Randhir Kapor made his entry. Teeny boppers and old friends flocked to him; as they say “hitch your wagon to a star”.
Then came the speeches. Masani spoke first. He welcomed Fr. More and thanked Fr. Miranda for all his assistance in rejuvenating the OCA. He outlined the aims of the OCA and hoped that in the years to come the association would regain its former position and serve as a meeting point for Campionites. These sentiments were echoed by Fr. More who expressed his immense pleasure at being part of the gathering. He recalled his days with the school with pride and happiness. All present were indeed very pleased to note that though Fr. More had been away from their midst for over the past two decades, he wore his years lightly and had not added a single wrinkle to his forehead or a quaver to his voice. Fr Miranda too wished the OCA all success and hoped that as it grew from strength to strength it would also contribute to the school through its activities Vice President Sushil Bahl proposed a vote of thanks.
A sumptuous buffet dinner – as only the Taj could lay out – followed. And as the mammoth ice letterings ‘OCA’ continued to melt slowly into the stillness of the night fond farewells with promises to stay in touch reverberated through the air as the first grand function of a revitalized OCA drew to an end.
Like the legendary Phoenix the OCA has risen from the ashes. And judging from the initial response has come to stay.