Reunion photo recollections from Srianee (Bunter) Dias

Reunion photo recollections from Srianee (Bunter) Dias

Two collages. You have to guess who they are! Thanks, Srianee.

Negombo 2017

2017 reunion photos of evening function- well worth revisiting. Here is the link:

https://colombomedgrads1962.blogspot.com/2017/03/batch-reunion-2017-part-6-banquet-and_16.html#comment-form

REUNION RECOLLECTIONS - Kumar Gunawardane

REUNION RECOLLECTIONS

Kumar Gunawardane

The first reunion I attended was in 1992, the twenty-fifth anniversary of our release from the hallowed but restricted haunts of Kynsey Road. My onetime Bloem roommate K (Kumar aka Con) Bala, who was also one of the organisers, invited me to talk on Cardiology Down Under. It was scheduled for the afternoon of the symposium, the pretext for what was really a fete for buddies and comrades. 

The preceding speakers, without exception, had exceeded their time limits, and Mahen asked me to drop my piece de resistance; perhaps a blessing in disguise, as it may have averted the spectacle of both the speaker and the audience falling asleep simultaneously. I rushed off to bed to catch up on sleep in preparation for the bacchanalian fiesta which was to follow. On the way, I was treated to the spectacle of a colleague’s unsuccessful attempts to open his room door. An analogue of the opening scene of Charlie Chaplin’s masterpiece “Limelight”; the inebriated Calvero (CC) fumbling with his front door lock. 

The summer of 1997 was good; a real summer disputing the calumny that the English winter ends in July and begins in August. The sun shone, the sky was blue with wispy white clouds, and migrant birds twittered in Regent’s Park. The afternoons were long and the evenings cool. Kanthi, her mother and I had arrived for a sojourn in London well before the Reunion to be followed by a tour of Scandinavia. The ladies enjoyed shopping in Oxford Street to the full while I went sightseeing. We had a good look around Windsor too, as we stayed a couple of days there with a good friend. 

The festivities started with a dinner dance. An unusual feature was the separate party for the youths of whom there were many, the offspring of our colleagues. A standout figure was the rotund Razaque whose daughter’s special birthday coincided with our celebrations. He wore a Scottish Highland dress complete with kilt, sporran, hose and flashes, provoking many bawdy comments. The girls looked glamorous in gorgeous sarees, and men were smart and elegantly attired; all seemed untouched by the passage of years. I recall a witty and humorous speech by Ranjith Dambawinna which evoked not only uproarious laughter but also embarrassed giggles. He was particularly savage on some of his close mates in the nicest possible way. The night merged with the trembling dawn before we crawled to our beds drained but joyous. 

The next day we trooped to the seminar as duty had to prevail. The lectures were scholarly, but mostly floated over our befuddled heads. 

There was boundless joy in catching up with old friends, particularly those who had been at school with me like Bora. Both of us had come together to England too and started working in the same hospital. Somehow the anecdotes sounded much better in the retelling; another advantage was that disagreeable memories were either forgotten or very deep in the psyche. There were, of course, newfound friends no less precious. 

The dinner dance on the second night was glittering. Our table had Bora and Harshi, Swyrie and Ken Balendra and the three of us. The conversation was brilliant, the food delicious, the wine free-flowing, and the music melodious. Those who could dance swayed gracefully to the music, but everyone took to the floor when the ‘baila’ session began. 

There were poignant moments too.It was the last time I met our divine confrere Sue R. As always, she was gracious and ethereal. When we hugged goodbye, she remarked wistfully that the Colombo years were a blank, due to the trauma of moving away from Peradeniya. 

It was also the first and last time I met Chandrasiri, since the ‘great dispersal’ of 1962. He had been sponsored by some colleagues for achieving the distinction of becoming the acting Vice-Chancellor of Ruhuna University. Bora and I have previously detailed our close association with him in our final year. This time, however, the emotion was dispassionate. 

My Galle internship mates Chitra and Dharmini were captivating in stylish saris. We hadn’t met since our “leus annees de gloire” in the hamlet of Mahamodera. Chitra had become an acclaimed obstetrician and gynaecologist in NewYork. Her talents were perceived early by our chief, Dr Wilfred Perera; she also benefited from my spraining a wrist, which kept me out of the operating theatre. 

The chief guest was Professor Nandadasa Kodagoda, who lectured to us about forensic medicine and went on to become Professor and Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and eventually Vice-Chancellor of the Colombo University. He hailed from Hikkaduwa, the town which produced our own Lucky Abey. 

The professor in our time was the genial, elegant and eloquent H.V.J. Fernando who succeeded the foundation professor G.S.W. De Saram, a giant in his field.

The latter’s most famous case was the Sathasivam murder trial where his evidence was challenged by Sir Sidney Smith who had mentored him in Edinburgh. Kanthi and I were lucky to make the acquaintance of his wife during a long rail journey to Ella. She invited us along with my brother and his wife to high tea at her holiday cottage there. The charm and sophistication of bygone generations arouse a winsome nostalgia. 

All good things must come to an end, and we made our tearful farewells, promising to keep in touch and meet again sooner rather than later. I too resolved to engage as much as possible in future reunions. 

More of those later.

Note from Speedy.

Planned Batch Reunion 60th, in Colombo, 2027.  Pram gave us preliminary notice of a Grand 60th Anniversary Reunion (which I dubbed the "super-sixty-soiree") planned for the 23rd of January 2027 in Colombo. Details will follow.

The first two photos were sent to me by Srianee (Bunter) and the third by Kumar.

And some of the souvenir pages from my post on our Blog, "Batch Reunion in 1992 held at Windsor Holiday Inn in England". Link to the post is, https://colombomedgrads1962.blogspot.com/2014/04/batch-reunion-in-1992-held-at-windsor.html#comment-form

The scientific programme here is provisional and differs from the final one posted above this

THE ANNUAL LONDON BATCH REUNION: 2026. Organised by Pram

THE ANNUAL LONDON BATCH REUNION: 2026. Organised by Pram

Recollections by Mahendra and Nihal

This took place at the usual venue, The Royal Society of Medicine in Wimpole Street, London, on Monday the 6th of July 2026.

We had a spacious private dining room to ourselves and enjoyed the meal we had chosen from the Menu Pram had previously circulated. (Click on the menu photo if you like a clearer text).

As many of you know, Pram visits London during the Wimbledon Tennis tournament and makes it a point to arrange a meeting of Batchmates and spouses at the RSM. Of course we enjoyed the meal and drinks, but what mattered most was the opportunity to meet and reminisce. It is hard to believe that we "passed out" (while remaining conscious- apart from 65 dear departed colleagues), 60 years ago. Pram gave us preliminary notice of a Grand 60th Anniversary Reunion (which I dubbed the "super-sixty-soiree") planned for the 23rd of January 2027 in Colombo. Details will follow.

It was great to circulate, chat, and finally sit down to enjoy the meal. We had 16 attendees and apologies from a few "usuals" who were sadly unable to attend.

MAHENDRA GONSALKORALE

SUNIL and SIRIMA ABEYSURIYA

NIHAL AMERASEKERA

JIMMY WICKREMASINGHE

PRAMILLA SENANAYAKE

SUSHEILA KANAGASABAI

DHUSHYANTHI  VEDAVANAM

SAKUNTALA BALAKUMAR

NARADA WIJEYATILEKA (senior batch)

LORETTA BALACHANDRAN

ATTALE – SUSIL AND RUPA

HARSHI AND HARSHA BORALESSA

SHRIYANI GEETHA BATUWITAGE

Special mention must be made of the loyal Batch spouses: Sirima, Dhushy, Sakuntala, Loretta, Harshi, Rupa, and Shriyani. They are regular attendees, and it is always a pleasure to meet them and catch up.

Bora, Narada, Dhushy, Sakuntala, Loretta

Loretta, Sirima, Harshi, Sunil, Speedy, Shriyani

Sakuntala, Loretta, Shriyani, Sirima, Pram

Pram, Jimmy, Mahendra (Speedy), Sunil, Nihal (ND)

ND, Jimmy, Narada, Rupa, Speedy, Susheila, Susil, Pram, Sriyani, Dhushy, Sakuntala, Loretta, Bora, Harshi, Sirima, Sunil

I am pleased to add Nihal's account of the event.

Thanks, Mahen, for the photos and the script. I wrote a short account of my recollections of the event. 

In the 1960s, the Faculty of Medicine was the premier institution for the training of medical professionals since its inception in 1870. It started as the Colombo Medical College and is the second-oldest medical school in South Asia. It was an immense honour and privilege to be students in an institution with that long history and heritage. There has always been a certain loyalty, bond and allegiance to this institution hence our regular reunions both in Colombo and in London. 

Naturally, we consider our batch of 1962 so very special. Since so many of us now live in countries other than Sri Lanka, the link to our previous life is through these reunions. Here, we meet people with whom we have had similar experiences, a shared pride in the Faculty. There is a tinge of sadness that the institution doesn’t exist as we knew it and many of our friends who shared our experience are no more. We proudly remember the spectacle of the Law Medical match the Block Night and the eccentricities the final year trip.

When I arrived at 12 midday, a group had already gathered in the plush bar area of the Royal Society of Medicine. It was the welcoming smiles of our organiser Pram that greeted me first. There were hugs, handshakes, smiles, questions and exclamations, "I haven't seen you since"...! Where....? How....? Do you remember...?" After the initial photos we moved to our special room for the lunch. It was a sumptuous lunch of our choice which we all enjoyed with the usual banter recalling our memories of those years learning our trade.

After the lunch there were more photos. The goodbyes took as long as the lunch itself. This was indeed a most enjoyable get-together and our thanks to Pram for planning and organising it so well.

FOREVER 62 GROUP December 2025

FOREVER 62 GROUP- Lunch on Dec 4th 2025.

I am sure you all know that Pram has been THE key figure in promoting regular meetings of our batchmates in Sri Lanka. These happen once a month. Also, whenever overseas friends visit Sri Lanka, she does her best to arrange a social gathering of batchmates and spouses. She has been doing this for years. 

Pram says, "It was held at the library. Cinnamon Lakeside.  We had a few 'visitors" Bunter, H & H Boralassa & Shanthi Nalliah."

When she visits London, she does the same, and ND, Bora and I are always happy to assist her. Three hearty cheers for Pram! 

I am posting the latest meeting photos, which Pram sent me. Keep your brain active by attempting to identify everybody! Update: Just added names in the penultimate photo)

L to R. Mahendra(Suri), Senarath, Hemantha(Senarath), Lama, Kusum, Bandula J, Bora
Lalantha, Srianee, Harshi (Bora), Swyrie, Pram, Chira, Shanty Nalliah, Suri

THE ANNUAL LONDON BATCH REUNION 2025. Organised by Pram

THE ANNUAL LONDON BATCH REUNION: 2025. Organised by Pram.

Dr Nihal D Amerasekera

The annual reunion of the batch of 1962 was held on the 4^th of July at the iconic Royal Society of Medicine in London. Pram couldn’t have chosen a better venue than the RSM founded in 1907 and moved to the present site in 1910. With Its pristine location, elegant façade and the luxury and grandeur of the glorious interior, the RSM is fit for Royalty.

Pramila was in her elegant best, busy as the mistress of ceremonies. As always, she has been the catalyst to bring us all together. With her charm and gentle arm twist, who could refuse to attend? Pram brought with her some warm sunshine making our journeys easier and the ambience happy and lively.

Some arrived earlier than others to be seated in the dining area where the chat began. As everyone trickled in we moved to our exclusive dining room which was most elegantly decorated for this our special occasion. We chatted away amidst the grace and sophistication of this beautiful room. We looked beyond the grey hairs, the lines and furrows in our faces and the extra pounds to embrace our friends from way back. After the warm greetings and handshakes, we sat down for lunch.

There was never a dull moment. The chatter started straight away, and the conversation flowed freely as we shared our favourite anecdotes and recollections of our faculty experiences. Susheila and Harshi were in good form relating hilarious stories about their time as interns at the GHC. We were so happy to have Indrani Subramaniam’s daughter Rosemarie and granddaughter Maria to attend the function. Harshi and Harsha Boralessa have been regulars at our meetings and, as always, wonderful company. I took the opportunity to catch up with Harsha. Rupa and Susil Attale decided to grace us with their presence all the way from Farnborough. Sirima and Sunil too are regulars at our meetings in London. Ranjith and Hemantha Kariyawasam are welcome newbies to our London Reunion. We hope they will return. Shanthi Nalliah has been a regular at these meetings. She always has her own brand of amusing stories, and it was so lovely to see her. Sunil and Sirima too contributed generously to the fun of the occasion. We thank David and Malkanthi Anthonisz for attending the event. They are such a friendly couple. We do sincerely hope they will continue to grace the London Reunion.

We remembered fondly our absent friends and also some who have now departed this world. There was a tinge of sadness as we remembered friends.

This was a great occasion and a nostalgic one, which we all enjoyed. There was that customary photo shoot. The RSM gave us an opportunity to savour the atmosphere of an institution that traces its roots to Edwardian times. After a sumptuous meal and delightful company, it was sad to say goodbye. Every reunion has its own lesson to impart, and we come away deeply grateful to our wonderful organiser, Pram, for giving us an experience we would treasure. Pram was also our marvellous hostess without whom none of the London reunions would have happened. We hope she will enjoy the Wimbledon Final. We all wish her a safe journey home. May you come again to bring us all together.

Blogs, Batch mates – Reminiscing and Reliving- revisited

Blogs, Batch mates – Reminiscing and Reliving

A few changes from the Original post of 23 January 2018

Another year is drawing to a close. Here is something to reflect on.

When Lucky started the Blog, it was an electronic medium to supplement and enhance our Reunions. It has achieved that and much more.

I began to ask myself questions like, “What is the purpose of bringing together people who shared a significant era of their lives but have since drifted apart?”. Some have maintained contact, others haven’t. A lot of water has flown under the bridge, and it is unrealistic to believe that 50 years of eventful life since we were together has not changed us. When we are about to meet a batch fellow after 20 years or more, we are already preconditioned with a mental image of that person as he/she used to be, including the personality, character and even physical appearance. When the meeting happens, the reality is often a bit of a shock and could be pretty disappointing. But very soon, the gap in years seems to melt away. We often hear expressions like, “You haven’t changed at all apart from a few grey hairs and loss of cephalic foliage”.

 Interestingly, from that moment, your mental image of the person changes from the stored memory of 50 years ago to that most recent contact. A new relationship arises depending on shared interests, but life often reverts to the familiar. Nothing is wrong or unusual with that, and one must never lose the reality behind it.

We shared 5 years of formative life together in varying degrees of intimacy (some were very intimate!). The intimacy first depended on your surname, which determined your immediate neighbours. There were other groups such as schoolmates and sports and other recreational interests. Within this, close friendships arose and persisted for varying lengths of time depending on circumstances. It is a strange fact that some very close associations made at that time also drifted away slowly to the extent that some were attenuated while others were totally lost. This is perfectly natural. Change after all, is the only permanent variable. 

At Reunions, fond hope arose when looking forward to meeting your once close mate. Sometimes, this resulted in disappointment because both parties had changed so much that the meeting was of two very different people who once shared the same spot on Mother Earth.

Reunions and Blog chats are rewarding if one’s expectations are realistic. We are now old enough and mature enough to know where we stand in our Community. Close family and close friends come first, and this centre is surrounded by rings of others according to time, associations, interests and so on. A Batch colleague may be within that circle of close friends but not because he was a batch colleague. That was the start, but what happened between then and now is the determining factor. Human nature is such that we prefer some to others, and we have our own preferences regarding long-term friendships. On the other hand, you may have a very negative image of a person and find it a pleasant surprise to see a very changed person, much more to your liking. New friendships are created and maintained.

In my view, is important to reflect on the fact that there is something we all share, and that is the good fortune to have had a wonderful education in a country with free education. (I would never have been a Doctor without Free Education. My parents had 6 sons and 1 girl!).  I don’t think we should ever forget that, and whenever the opportunity arises, we must support our Institutions and, indeed, not wait for opportunities to arise but create them. I hasten not to use the term Patriotism. Being grateful and thankful is a good human characteristic, it has nothing to do with Patriotism which is questionably not a worthy attribute to have when what we need in the World today is Humanism and love for all human beings with as few barriers as possible.

So, my dear friends,

Let us communicate, reminisce, and be aware of our good fortune. 

Let us always remember our Teachers, both academic and clinical. 

Let us not expect too much when we meet. 

Let us accept people as they are and rejoice in our common medical heritage. 

Let us help each other in any way we can. 

Let us use the Blog to be creative, share our experiences, and rejoice in the successes of our colleagues and families.

Vivat Blog! Long live the Blog!

Footnote: BIRTH OF THE BLOG -WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16, 2011. Created by lucky 

Mahendra (Speedy) Gonsalkorale

FOREVER 62 GROUP MEETS AGAIN

FOREVER 62 GROUP MEETS AGAIN

Pram sent these lovely photos of their latest meeting - Pram, the catalyst!

Forever 62 high tea in the new Ahasa restaurant at the Ratnadipa Hotel Galle Face Colombo.

Ahasa, described as nestled between the towers and inside a unique architectural marvel and promises live music, sundowners and exclusive beverages. From carefully curated cocktails to panoramic views of the endless Indian Ocean, the bustling city and the Beira Lake, Ahasa is guaranteed to create unforgettable memories with your loved ones.- Trip Advisor

Gathering in London to greet Chirasri Jayaweera Bandara on Saturday 7th Sept. 2024

Gathering in London to greet Chirasri Jayaweera Bandara on Saturday 7th Sept. 2024

Dr Nihal D Amerasekera 

It was a rather murky day on the 7th of September and Autumn was well on its way. The purpose of this gathering in Gants Hill of the ‘great and the good’ was to welcome Chira Jayaweera Bandara and to congratulate her daughter for gaining her Fellowship in Ophthalmology and wish them both well. The venue was the Mandarin Palace, a plush Chinese restaurant.

Anjali and Chirasri

When looking  for the venue it was most heartwarming to see Harsha Boralessa in the Gants Hill station accompanying Sunil and Sirima Abeysuriya escorting them to the restaurant. We joined Shanthy Nalliah and Mahendra G and went inside the restaurant. The restaurant was lavishly decorated with traditional Chinese wooden carvings and furnishings showcasing the perfect oriental ambience.

After the bear hugs and kisses we took our seats around two large round tables as we waited for our chief guests. As is customary, Chira and her daughter arrived once we had settled in and this was followed by warm greetings to them both. As the food arrived the chatting began and stories emerged of our time together in the faculty. We recalled the years that followed in the profession and also caring for our families. We remembered fondly those absent friends and the ones who have departed this world.

The quality of the food was spectacularly good and so very tasty. There was plenty of it too. In fact, there was so much food that there was enough to take back home for those who wished to do so. The restaurant owner was well known to Harsha and Harshi over several decades. They came to speak with us. The service we received from the waitresses was friendly, very professional and excellent.

It was lovely to see Bernadette and Joe Samaranayake. Bernice and I worked together in the Central Blood Bank in Colombo for 4 years. We caught up some of those lost years. It was so lovely to see Hemanthi and Ranjit Kariyawasam. I hadn’t seen Ranjit since we said our goodbyes in the Faculty lobby in 1967. We spoke of the time in the faculty, our work commitments and our hobbies in retirement. David and Malkanthi Anthonisz were friends of Chira and also of the Boralessa’s. They indeed mixed well with the rest of the crowd. Sunil and Sirima are regulars at our London reunions and it was such a pleasure to see them. We appreciate Mahendra coming all the way from Manchester for our reunions and gatherings. He did keep us amused with his playful and teasing remarks. Shanthy too has attended our meetings at the RSM this year. She always has interesting anecdotes for a good laugh. Chira’ daughter was with us briefly and had to leave due to a prior engagement. Chira mingled with us all and we had the opportunity to speak with her at leisure. Now she is well known for her beautiful paintings on the blog as much as for her services to ophthalmology in Sri Lanka!!

This was a party we all enjoyed. It was a welcome for Chira and it also had the feel of a fine batch reunion. We are all at an age when life is less certain. As always it was sad to say goodbye not knowing when we will meet again. We must all remember the song that was made famous in 1956 – Que sera sera. “Whatever will be will be”. Those words that rang true then, rings true even today. 

We are greatly indebted to Harshi and Harsha Boralessa for the expert manner in the way the meeting and the lunch was organised. The attention to detail, the kindness and the care they both showed us will be long remembered. Here’s a big thank you from us all.

Speedy adds: Grateful thanks to Bora, who did all the work while I did my best to help with notifications, etc. Those present: Harsha and Harshi Boralessa, Chirasri, Mahendra (Speedy), Shanti Nalliah. David and Malkanthi Anthonisz, Bernadette and Joe Samaranayake , Nihal (ND), Ranjit and Hemanthi Kariyawasam, Sunil and Sirima Abeysuriya. (14)- Guest appearance- Anjali-FRCOphth

Ranjit Kariyawasam, Hemanthi K, Bora, Chira, David and Malkanthi Anthonisz

Malkanthi, Sunil, Harshi, Sirima, Speedy, Shanti, ND, Bernadette, Joe

Shanti, Bernadette, Joe, Kari, Hemanthi, Bora, Chira, David, Malkanthi, Sunil, Harshi, Sirima, Mahen

Chira, David, Malkanthi, Sunil, Harshi, Sirima

Speedy and Ranjit Kariyawasam

Speedy and Shanti

LONDON MINI-REUNION ON 7th AUGUST 2024

ANOTHER LONDON MINI-REUNION - 7^th AUGUST 2024

Report by Dr Nihal D Amerasekera

Once again, on the 7th of August, Pram hurriedly organised a reunion of our batch of 62 before her return to Sri Lanka. It was held at the iconic Royal Society of Medicine in London. Pram had booked an exclusive room for our lunch, which was elegantly decorated for the occasion. We met at 12 p.m. on a hot, sunny day.  

We looked beyond the grey hairs, the lines and furrows in our faces and the extra pounds to embrace our friends from way back. After the warm greetings and handshakes, we sat down for lunch.

There was never a dull moment. The chatter started straight away, and the conversation flowed freely as we shared our favourite anecdotes and recollections of our faculty experiences. We were so happy to have Indrani Subramaniam’s daughter, Rose, and son-in-law, John Moore, with us. We thank them for making the journey to join us. It was so lovely to have Sakuntala Balakumar and Dhushy Vedavanam with us, who partook in the fun and laughter of the occasion. Dhushy Vedavanam kept the southern end of the table well entertained with her amusing narratives of the trials and tribulations of ageing.

Harshi and Harsha Boralessa have been regulars at our meetings and, as always, wonderful company. Rupa and Susil Attale decided to grace us with their presence all the way from Farnborough. Sirima and Sunil are regulars at our meetings in London, too. Sushila Canagasabay brought with her some interesting stories.  Her experiences on board a flight being called upon to help out as a doctor out of the blue were absolutely hilarious. Being the only medicine available, It seems she doled out diazepam-like Smarties. Sushila has the wonderful ability to relate a story. Her comical tales kept us in stitches. Harsha Boralessa, too, was his usual self with a fund of hilarious anecdotes. 

This was a great occasion and a nostalgic one, which we all enjoyed. After a sumptuous meal and delightful company, it was sad to say goodbye. Every reunion has its own lesson to impart, and we come away deeply grateful to the organiser for giving us an experience we would treasure. Our thanks to our marvellous hostess, Pram, without whom none of the London reunions would have happened. We wish her a safe journey home.

Note from Speedy.

I was sorry to miss this one. Bora and I are planning the next one for SATURDAY, the 7th of SEPTEMBER, at a different London venue (RSM is closed at weekends). The main reason for this is that Chirasri wanted to meet as many of her colleagues as possible during her visit to the UK to attend the convocation ceremony for her daughter Anjali, who passed the finals of the FRCOphth London

London Mini-Reunion June 11th 2024- Nihal D Amarasekera

A brief sojourn into our glorious past

Dr Nihal D Amarasekera

Yes, indeed, you guessed right!! Pramilla is in London. She couldn’t have chosen a better venue than the Royal Society of Medicine in the heart of this great city.

On June 11th, we gathered in the elegant lobby of the RSM. Our wonderful host quickly ushered us into a dining area. The dining room was specially decorated and prepared for us as we chatted away amidst the grace and sophistication of this beautiful room. The RSM gave us an opportunity to savour the atmosphere of an institution that traces its roots to Victorian times.

The BBC couldn’t describe the weather better than Susil Attale when he said, “Summer has been postponed”. Susil was with his wife Rupa. Pramila was in her elegant best, busy as the mistress of ceremonies. It was lovely to see Shanti Nalliah sharing her jokes and making us laugh. Jimmy finally told us why he was called Jimmy, a name not on his birth certificate. Sunil and Sirima told us the harrowing tale of their last visit to Colombo and how they had just escaped the sadness that followed. Mahen entertained us with a song sung beautifully and with much feeling. We remember fondly Sushila and Jeyaratnam who agreed to join us but couldn’t make it.

Every time I attend a Reunion, I am reminded of the best things in life: gratitude to our teachers, the glorious friendship we made, and the joyfulness of experiencing both. At the end of a Reunion, we come away deeply grateful to our wonderful host and our superb organizer. The Reunion brought back for me the wonderful memories of my student days and the knowledge of how much they meant to me.

Reunions have a magic value of their own. During our meetings we bask in the memory of days gone by. One looks forward to future times as warm and as nostalgic as our past Reunions. It comforts us that the friends we made during those ‘halcyon’ days remain true.

Whatever the venue or the season, there is a common thread that linked all the Reunions, the tireless passion of Pramila, taking on the difficult task of playing host and paying immense attention to the tiniest detail that could contribute to the comfort and enjoyment of those who cared to make the long journey. There are no words to thank Pramila sufficiently. How on earth does one thank her for enriching our lives by harking back to a part of our past that we might well have put aside. Take a bow Pramilla! You are simply magnificent and have our heartfelt thanks.

Mahen's song. This was played back on a Mobile

"Where No One Stands Alone"- posting my YouTube version of it.