EDITOR'S BLOCK

Foreword

It gives me great pleasure to present yet another issue of our annual Smaranika. I was afraid that due to lack of time our youngsters may not be able to contribute to the Smaranika this year. But thanks to Sanika Samant and Khyati Sindhwani, we have the essays and drawings from our budding writers and artists. We have to thank Neena Kulkarni for judging the essays and Soha Kulkarni for the drawings.

I have to thank those who contributed to the Smaranika with articles and poems (without having to organize a competition!). Mr. V.V. Nigudkar’s experience of running the half marathon is inspiring. Mrs. Vijaya Dande easily takes the reader along with her on the nostalgic journey about the rains. Mr. S.S Datar brings the fragrance of Parijaat to the Smaranika. Salil Datar’s article on the two investment options is informative. While Gurukaka Rege’s tongue in cheek observations about the everyday life in provincial France and its customs, are a must read. Ravi Abhyankar’s narration of his old neighbour is moving. Congratulations to Nissim and his friends for their initiative in city farming and let us hope more people join them. Soha Kulkarni’s article will bring a smile to all of us who grew up here and have our own special ‘katta memories’.

I wish the schools taught EVS with the help of poems like ‘Suryachi Aarti’, by Mr. Balkrishna Kulkarni. Shyamala Datar, Mihika Barve, S.S. Datar and Nissim Gore Datar’s poems add a touch of humour to the Smaranika. While a poem by ‘Ek Sabhasad’ gives our Smaranika a touch of mystery. This year we have an overseas contribution to the Smaranika, a poem by Natasha Halrankar (Suja Shridhankar’s daughter). We have another ‘overseas’ contribution (well she lives in Bandra, so I guess one could call it that), from Anika Havaldar, who has sent us an excellent article. Let us hope this starts a new trend and more and more of our cousins participate in the activities here.

This year we had a group of professionals who performed a play on Saturday night of the Society Day. One has to applaud Mrs. Manisha Dande’s efforts who kept the ‘Saturday night play’ tradition going against all odds. But when I first heard that there would be this play instead of the regular Mothya Mansanche Naatak (pun unintentional), I was not sure how I felt about this new precedent.

Having lived here all my life and participated actively in the society day celebrations throughout my childhood, it is difficult for me look at this event objectively and question its relevance in today’s time. But I think that maybe it is time to rethink on the format of our society day. Of course more people are needed to participate in this process and generate new ideas to revive this ‘tradition’, which is fast losing its earlier enthusiasm (this last is my opinion, others, may disagree). I am glad that Meeramaushi (Pratima Havaladar) came to my rescue and agreed to put her thoughts on paper in order to initiate this process. Let us hope that the next society day will see the return of that enthusiasm and maybe even a new format that is more suitable for the present times.

Thanks to the efforts put in by Soha Kulkarni, the Smaranika is going on line from this year and will be available on:

Blog: http://makarandmemories.blogspot.com/

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Mrunalini Jog

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