The 2013 Alumni Reunion was a Grand success and a memorable one.
OakGrovians young and old returned to their Alma Mater from all around the Globe. The Reunion provided an opportunity for all to:
1. Relive past moments
2. Dwell on great childhood memories
3. See the changes Oak Grove has undergone
4. Make new friends and form some more life lasting bonds
5. Enjoy the cool weather
6. And it was an opportunity to party (dine and wine, sing, dance etc)
Everybody is already, talking about the next reunion!!!!
Congratulations and a Big Thank you to all who made this happen (Thanks Organisers)
Nostalgia sweetens memories during reunion at Oak Grove
Ajay Ramola
Tribune News Service
 WALKING DOWN MEMORY LANE:Student of the 1946 batch Lt-Gen Eric Kerr (retd) being felicitated during the 125th reunion celebrations at Oak Grove School, Mussoorie, on Monday. |
Mussoorie, November 11
Nostalgia sweetened the memories as the school song was sung by the former students during the three-day 125th year reunion celebrations at Oak Grove School, Jharipani, in Mussoorie that concluded yesterday.
Around 250 former students dating back as far as 1946 batch filled with childlike excitement took a journey down memory lane and shared the anecdotes of their days spent in the school.
The three-day event was inaugurated by Railway Minister of State Adhir Ranjan Chaudhry by lighting the ceremonial lamp on November 8.
The school students presented several cultural items which were much appreciated by the gathered audience.
The former students were filled with emotions when they were called on the stage to sing the school song ”We love this school of ours and we are Oak Grove children true, we will serve her in her darkest hours and in her glory too.” A cake to mark the completion of 125 years of the school was also cut on the occasion.
The members of The Old Oak Grovian Association (TOGA) welcomed the chief guest by presenting a flower bouquet and felicitated the oldest student of 1946 batch Eric Kerr (retired Lt. General) along with former teacher PK Bagchi on the occasion.
Eric Kerr, speaking on the occasion, said that it was indeed an emotional moment for him to come back to the school on its 125th year and relive the cherished moments he spent in the school.
The Railway Minister for State Adhir Ranjan Chaudhry congratulated the school for completing 125 years of successful existence and said that it was indeed heartening to see so many former students from around the globe attending the school and leading a successful life. Lt.General (Retd) Eric Kerr was felicitated on the occasion by the TOGA members.
The member of the staff railway board Subodh Jain and adviser to the Railway Board, also former students, speaking on the occasion said that for them it was a chance to experience ”fun days again.”
Another former student Dharmendar Kumar from 1988 batch, Medical Superintendent HCG, SMH Curie, Cancer Centre, Delhi, said that it was due to the values and the education imparted by the school that he was able to serve the patients, in what is considered South East Asia’s largest cancer care provider. He further said that the former students would be glad to serve the people by conducting several free cancer related camps and seminars to create awareness and provide help to the cancer patients in and around Mussoorie and give something back to society in the process.
Shivani Malhotra,Seema Madan,PVR Verma,Hanish Ahuja and Rupak Biswas, elated to attend the function, said that reunions are something that people can’t afford to miss as one could see the alumni excitedly hugging their friends. “Meeting your friends is one of the best feelings. We wrote messages on our friends’ shirts to keep the memory of the reunion function alive,” said Ajit Asthana and RS Cheema from the batch of 1987.
The TOGA secretary Brijesh Bhutani thanked all the former students for attending the function despite their busy schedule and also thanked the Northern Railways and the school administration for its support to the function.
Rajesh Srivastava, who runs DPS School in Bihar and is a former student of the school, commended the efforts of the executive committee members of TOGA, specially, Venkat Gandikota, T.Gupta, Brijesh Bhutani and Bal Krishan Tanwar for organising a successful reunion.
Anoopa Prasad,PVR Verma,Sanjiv Rishi,Sunny Bakshi,ChunmunVyas,Vinod Kapoor,Deepak Kohli,BN Singh,Puneet Monga,Sudip Bajpai,Ramesh Tanwar,Madhumita Singha, Hanish Ahuja,Seema Madaan, Alka Sharma and other former students were present on the occasion.