After successfully organising 2010 Alumni Day, GAA gathered all the energy to organise the event this year with the venue being Godavari School upon huge demand by the alumni. With equal demand, Bungalow Night was also organised a night before on september 16, 2011 with over 35 enjoying tented camp and meals at the school dining hall.
September 17, 2011 saw over 350 excited Xavierians taking full advantage of the facilties and others were seen touring the school premises with thier children proudly showing them the places they slept at, studied at and also pool they swam in. The pool had refreshing spring water that proved to be too tempting to many that took a dip in it. The program started with the President making a welcome speech in which he highlighted the efforts GAA has been making to bring the Xaverians together to capitalize on the individual strength and converting it into a collective strength. He also highlighted the achievments GAA has made in the recent days and declared anyone to bring projects in which GAA would provide sercretarial support and also some seed money to start it, if found to be worth attempting.
Fr. Lawrence Maniyar spoke of the pride and energy the Jesuits got from witnessing the alumni and their contribution to the society. Fr. Boniface thanked everybody for coming to godavari and also requested the alumni to get connected with the school and lend a helping hand as it was in high need of renovations. Mr. Bijaya Man Sherchan emphasized that GAA has taken strides towards a positive change and that the batch of 1961 had recently organized the 50th anniversary of graduation paving the road to a new exercise that others could follow.
The Board of Trustees Chairman Mr. Lalit Bikram Shah summarised the role of the Board of Trustees role as safeguards of the constitution and also presentations made by the speakers ahead of him. In the end he thanked everybody for taking the time to attend the event.
After the speeches, Mukti Shakya and his band took over the the stage to rock away the afternoon with their melodious songs that captivated the old and young alike. One could see the whole of the school scattered with alumni, their spouses, children and teachers talking, playing, eating the delicous snacks being served and drinking away the beverages available. Children were busy playing games that the dedicated volunteers had arranged and painting thier faces bringing a sense of festivity and color to the event. Two horses were hired for the children to take turns riding while many had taken to the swimming pool challening themselves to dip in the cold but refreshing water. You could see these old and young shivering but smiling with faces blue of cold but gleeming with excitement. Overall, it was a pleasant sight to see all enjoying the day GAA has dedicated and organised for them and their families.
As typical of the Godavari landscape and weather, it started darkening once the concert was over at around 4 PM and luckily after most had consumed the mouth watering lunch that had the taste buds of all activated to send a signal of satisfaction had many going for second rounds. Seatings were arranged in such a way that those having thier lunch on the tables right above the football field were heard commenting that it was close to a star hotel feeling eating there. The alumni day has been successful in attracting a wide number of Xavierians and thier families as the event has now become a moment that one can mingle with friends and fellow Xavierians but also becuase the day is usually equipped with well managed seatings, muscial performances by reknowned artists and food that had all asking who catered it. Children were not bored as they had games to engage themselves with and many were giving thier parents a hard time by wanting to stay on and playing the slides, swings and the many other games. It was a pleasant sight to see the spouses happy to see thier husbands getting excited and narrating thier life time achivements and experiences to their children which not only brought back good old memories to the xaverians but delight to the family who could relate to why the school and the Xavierian spirit is so strong, capable to bring tears of joy, happiness and love for the school that they graduated from over 50 years back or even just recently.
This is what makes the Xavierian community different. We cherish the days we spent together and the friendship that we built during the years which we value even after so many years of graduating.
View Photos of Alumni Day 2011
