a newsletter of the Mother’s Blossoms

Alumni of The Mother's International School

SURABHI-2018

SOUVENIR-2018

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Celebrating our Foundation Day

‘The Mother’s International School’

SOUVENIR

“Almost all human miseries come from the fact that men are nearly always convinced that they

know better than the Divine what they need and what life ought to give them.”

~The Mother~

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“The two who are the secret of all power, The Two who are one are the might and right in things.”

~ Sri Aurobindo ~

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The Batch of 1993 Celebrated their 25 years of Passing out from the School

First we were a part of it

Now it’s a part of us

There is nothing small in God’s eyes; let there be nothing small in thine

Our School

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Shweta Sharma Arora

Rahul Nangia

Abhishek Lakhotia

Vivek Dahiya

Arti Jain

Ashu Sharma

Rachna Bansal

Shalu Bhandari Malhotra

Manish Saxena

Glorious years of class of 1993 ..... Annual Alumni Meet 2018

Core Committee25

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Ashwini JharwalGurgaon - India9971399119C-101 Power grid TownshipSector 43 GurgaonHaryana -122001

Prashant VashishtGurgaon - India9582229517prash_vash@gmail.comBirch StreetHouse no 5, Malibu TowneSohna road, Gurgaon

Kapil RalliUSA12019608449kapilralli@gmail.com

Kumud JainDelhi - IndiaSection C9810027477kumudjain@hotmail.comK-15, Green Park main, New Delhi-110016

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Anita Dhingra AhujaDelhi - India9818748880anniedhingrahuja@gmail.comA-91, Ashok Vihar, Phase 1New Delhi-110052

Vinay UnniDelhi - India9999969801Section Cvunni78@yahoo.comE-99, 2nd floor,SaketNew Delhi-110017

Chandrayee BasuKolkata - India7059387732basu.chandrayee@gmail.com11, Pratapgarh, GarfaKolkata -700075

Sonal Khanna KhuranaSurat - India937777788sonalk1888@gmail.com302, Parle Point Place, Parle PointSurat, Gujarat

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Manish SaxenaDelhi - India9810282012Section Cmanish.saxena75@gmail.com2384 Sector D, Pocket 2Vasant Kunj, New Delhi-110070

Digvijay SinghDelhi - India+971501455883digvijays1976@gmail.comT134, Aram BaghAndheria Morh, MehrauliNew Delhi-110030

Sukanya Ray MukherjeeUSASection D150104091337raysukanya@gmail.comSan Francisco, Bay Area, California

Apoorva BagchiGurgaon - IndiaSection A - 9811660402apoorvabagchi@gmail.comY-41, Regency park-2, DLF phase 4, Gurgaon-122002, Haryana

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Naveen SharmaCanadaSection C18606801234224, Diiorio Circle, Ancaster, OntarioL9K1T1, Canada

Shweta Upadhyay KhannaGurgaon - India9873442844Parsvnath GreenvilleSohna road, Gurgaon

Suumit SethiDelhi - IndiaSection C9873407934Sumit Sethi.astropoint@gmail.comG-H-13/718, Paschim vihar, New Delhi-110087

Saurabh SharmaDelh - IndiaSection A - 9810983559mail.saurabhsharma1975@gmail.comH.No 126/4, First floor, KilokariOpp. Maharani Bagh, New Delhi-110014

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Shweta Sharma AroraDelhi - India9899004082shwetasarora.sa@gmail.com25, Gujranwala TownPart 2nd , Delhi -110009

Bhavana Lal WilliamUSA+6306746789bhavana_6@yahoo.com717 W Forest AvenueWest Chicago, IL-60185USA

Monica GuptaDubai - UAESection C00971568489730aaravdoc@yahoo.co.inAL Bafta Gran, Behind Burjman But Dubai

Sugandha SwaroopBareilly - IndiaSection A9720002626

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Shammi DuaDelhi - IndiaSection D9654246633shammi_du@yahoo.comD-244, Second floor, Sarvodaya enclaveNew Delhi-110017

Pooja Jasuja BajajDelhi - IndiaSection C9810704722poojajasuja@hotmail.comD-4/4170, Vasant KunjNew Delhi-110070

Nisha SikariaUSASection C001425449115nisha@sikaria.com1575, 236th CT NE, Sammamish, WA 98074, USA

Harsh GoyalUSASection C+244916580050harsh.goyal@chevron.comA-497, Sarita vihar, New Delhi-110044

Indrani Dasgupta GoyalUSASection C+244914466259indrani_goyal@hotmail.comA-49, Sarita viharNew Delhi-110044

Navdeep SinghUSASection C+15713399212navdeepsb@gmail.com43644, Cather CTAshburn VA 20147, USA

Pankaj AnandBengaluru - IndiaSection D - 09972585014panand75@gmail.comConcert -910, HM Symphony, Kasavanahalli Main Road, Bengaluru-560035

Smitha G SomanCochin - IndiaSection C - 9645872880simmi_soman@hotmail.comShivam, Pampaimoola, EdakochiNear Gyanodayam School, Cochin-682001

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Akhilesh VermaUSASection D0015105011182akhi_leshverma@hotmail.com5675, Wells Lane, San RamonCA 94582, USA

Anurag SinghalUSASection D+19783947753anuragsinghal@gmail.com44851, Trout CT, FremontCA 94539, USA

Rahul NangiaNoida - IndiaSection C - 9740990630nangiarahul1@gmail.comFlat 103, Tower 9 , Lotus boulevardSector 100, Noida -201303

Anjana NarayananSingaporeSection C - +6596366145anhaina@yahoo.comBLK 97, Beelok North Avenue 4 #08-1515, Singapore -460097

Deepika Sarin TapariaDelhi - IndiaSection C9810854094deepika.sarin@gmail.comN-109 Panscheel ParkFirst floor, New Delhi-110017

Shubhabrata MarmarMumbai - IndiaSection D9821136378shumi@overdrive.co.inG-1003, Lake Homes Phase IOpposite Adi Shankaracharya MargPowai, Mumbai -400076

Virender Mohan SharmaDelhi - IndiaSection C - 9953444044virender.m.sharma@gmail.com13A / 24A, DDA FlatsKalkaji Extension, New Delhi

Shalu Bhandari MalhotraDelhi,IndiaSection A - 9871766311shalushalu1974@gmail.comA-1/404, Glaxo ApartmentsMayur vihar phase I extension, Delhi-110091

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Vivek DahiyaDelhi, IndiaSection Dvivekdahiya@yahoo.ComM-104 1st floor, SaketNew Delhi-110017

Abhishek Lakhotia Delhi, IndiaSection C9971797097

Name -Nikhil GuptaSection in XII - D+1 201-208-1176nikhilg10@gmail.com3228 Greystone Drive GarnetValley PA 19060 USA

Nikunj ManochaDelhi, IndiaSection D9740733200manocha@gmail.ComC-79, Second floorSouth extension part 2New Delhi-110049

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Arti JainDelhi , IndiaSection A9999339770artijainin@gmail.comA-1/136 Second floorSafadarajng EnclaveNew Delhi -110029

Ashu SharmaDelhi, IndiaSection C9899411935sharma.ashu.d@gmail.com1552/5 Gurudwara road, Koyla MubarakpurNew Delhi-110003

Rachna Bansal Delhi, IndiaSection Arachnabansal.unifiers@gmail.com

Vikrant AbrolDelhi, IndiaSection Dabrol.vikrant@gmail.com

Mainak RayBengaluru, IndiaSection D9742258813mainakray@gmail.com2024, Prestige Wellington RoadJalahalli, Bengaluru-560013

AnubhavDelhi, IndiaSection Akanubhav123@gmail.comB-1002 Shipra Krishna VistaIndirapuram, Ghaziabad-201010

Atul CellyGurgaon, IndiaSection C9811297055

Krishnashish ChaudharySection D00190189672298863, Mission Hills DriveMemphis TN 38125

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Bhargavi RamanujanSection Bbhargavi.ramanujam@gmail.com1773, sector BPocket 1, Vasant KunjNew delhi

Sudha HariharanSection CBengaluru, India9840799156sudha18h@googlemail.com

Kakoli MannLondon, United KingdomSection C

Hemant Guptahemant@alviindia.comB-1/45 Safadarajng EnclaveNew Delhi-1100299810429039

Rajeev BaeniwalSection C+4407810655596rajeev74kb@yahoo.comLondon, UK

Shilpi Bhargavashilpi_bharg@yahoo.com4087105379143 Fremont AvenueLos Altos, CA 94029

Vijay Raghuramanvr68@yahoo.com+1 4128 9767315960 via LuganoFremont, CA 94555

Maanosh Das 81304601019854028212

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Rajdeep SalujaSection CMumbai,India9920573818

Neetu SethiSection C+0031611921941neetuvish@gmail.comAttachments area

Elora GuhathakurtaSection A9911335515ellora_guha@yahoo.comB-1/71, Azad ApartmentSri Aurobindo Marg, New Delhi-110016

Roopashree ShankerSection A97130184069899918400roopashreeshanker@yahoo.comL-26/2, DLF Phase 2, Gurgaon-122002

Shreya JhaSection A9818448773shreyajha00@gmail.comB-180, Sector 31Noida-201301, UP

Neeti Chaudharyneeti8@gmail.com9845166160Bengaluru,India

Naina KunjappaSection B+18132300030

Vashisth DasSection B9845022273vashisth@gmail.com

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Nipun Bhatia9810054284Gurgaon, India

Akshay Dawar9899972644Gurgaon, India

Praveen BajajSection B9811867816Australia

Ayan MajumdarSection B9830281764ayanmajumdar76@gmail.com127, PB road, Shyamapalli,BehalaKolkata-700034

Sonia PoddarSection C+84903812039

Mallika BhattacharyaSection A9811579342New Delhi, India

Ambarish SatwikSection BNew Delhi, India9810079179

Tiyash BandhopadhyaySection D+14044290538

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Bharat GuptaSection D+14043863838

Pankaj GoyalSection D9811789014pankaj.goyal@gmail.com121, Ankur Apartments7, IP extension, Delhi-110092

Architaa ChatterjeeMumbai, India9619889428

Rajev T Korpal+17324855634

Shanny Kapoor shannykapoor@hotmail.com9910566629

Siddharth Sardana9811013031

Sharad KumarSection D9871876653

Shalu MalhotraSection C9810742294

Mayur Chirag AroraVancouver, Canada+16047251000

Menka Goyal+972563483414

Hemant RathiDelhi, India9711435678

Mukund Iyer RajamonyCanadaSection D+15146532349mukund.rajamony@mail.mcgill.ca4164 AVNorthcliffeMontreal, QCH4A3L3Canada

Neeraj SharmaDelhi, India9811184740

Kritika SinghSection A09980526272

Sulakshana NandiSection A9406090595

Divya ShekharDelhi, IndiaSection A9811212152

Madhumita Guhathakurta+19144143410

Rohini BhattacharyaLondon, UKSection B00447771637540

Gurpreet NarangSection B+17785511762

Aruna ThyagarajanCanadaSection A+17097711767

Apoorva Jha BansalUSASection D+7149086564

Rashi Goel8828025877

Subhashish ChakrabortySection D+3196406746

Ekta Singh KapoorSection B+5079903904

Mahim

Roopam KhanijoGurgaon, India9811049112

Ashutosh Sharma9717933533

Prajna Dasgupta

Prashant KhulkarUSASection B

Smitha KhullarUSASection B

Vinita NegiUSASection A+15712325976negi_vinita@yahoo.com14801Murdock StreetSuite 120-AChantillyVA-20151

Rashi Gupta Sehgal+61412372781

Shveta Srivastava+97466841644

Sucheta Sabharwal+9906021158

Shirin KhannaSection D+13019063510

Rohit TripathiSection D+13019063510

Akhil SethSection D+14083863278

Supriya Barge GohilUSASection C+18479426256supriya_b@hotmail.com3955Ludington CtHanover ParkIllinois , USA

Bidisha FouzdarDelhi, IndiaSection A9833565401

Bijit HoreUSASection D09493223211

Charoo Dhawan VohraDelhi, IndiaSection A9350547804

Deepak BalakrishnanBengaluru, IndiaSection C9801984495

Dipen SharmaDelhi, IndiaSection D9717007448dipensharma@me.com596, C R ParkNew Delhi-110075

Preeti Khanna Delhi, IndiaSection C9811099833

Madhumita Guha Thakurta+19144143410mita.g.roy@gmail.com68 Random Farms Dr.,Chappaqua, NY 10514

Ramya Vishwanathan

Ruchi Grover

Sesh Sampath

Shweta SachdevaDelhi, IndiaSection C

Dhiraj BansalSection DUSA1408251853

Vikram BhallaDelhi, India9818551333

Manvi Kela

Deepali

Anjali Verma

Ruchi Bhardwaj

Hina Singh

Arpita Joardar

Arijit Sengupta

Sameena Siddiqui

Suresh Kumar

Gaurav LoombaDelhi, India8130555116

Meghna SharmaGurgaon, India9811560656

Monisha Ghosh+31641722697

Shiwali AggarwalSection C+841285462674shiwali_aggarwal@yahoo.com

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MEMORIES OF THE MOTHER’ S INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL (MIS)AMIT JAIN

My journey at ‘MIS’ started in 1967 from Nursery, admission no. N-275. I passed out in 1981, after eventful 14 years.

Robinson Ma’am taught the 3 R’s. In primary classes Seth & Joshi Ma’am helped in getting good grades. The spirit imbibed to excel helped in middle school, continued topping the class. The princely monthly scholarship of Rs. 30/-, 20/- & 10/- was given to student standing1st, 2nd and 3rd respectively. Still treasure, EXCELLENT given in IXth chemistry by Dhawan Sir for 50/50. Remember– Mr. Shekhar, Mr. Mohan Kumar, Mr. Vyawahare, Mr. Dubey, Mr. Singh, Mrs. Bhalla, Mrs. Goswami, Miss Raizada, Miss Sharma & legendary Mrs. Mukherjee. ‘Communication is the key for growth’, she taught.

There was balance of Sports and studies with great sports facilities. Remember captaining ‘School Cricket Team’ & ‘Honest House’ in sports.

The Mass PT, where every student participated in synchronised exercise, was unique to school. For overall development, remember the Inter House Sports, Board Decoration, Dramatics, Debates and Declamation…. There was BENEVOLENT FUND, for needy. Everyone contributed Rs.2/- per month. I learnt leadership skills, as Vice President of Student’s Council, in Xth standard.

The great time had on Pondicherry and Nainital trip. At tender age learnt to manage on our own. Remember being part of naughty gang at Pondicherry.

The BEST PART of school was the MORNING ASSEMBLY with Bhajans by Anna Di, meditation and ‘Thought for the Day’ read by student. Daily reading from Sri Aurobindo’s Books by Mr. Madan, Principal. Class Ist student, coming running to blur out, ‘GOD IS LOVE’. Lessons learnt during IC period from Parashar Sir. All imbibed the right SPIRITUAL balance……

KOI LOTA DE MERE BEETE HUE DIN ………….

5 THINgS I wISH I kNEw bACk THENBidisha Fouzdar

School was 24 years ago, and I am at an age now that at 18, we considered ‘very old’. If I could go back to the early ‘90s and have a chat with my late teenage self, I’d tell her five things.

1. There will always be someone better than you, and that’s completely okay. It’s not always about coming out on top. Sometimes it’s about learning. About having something you can look up to, admire, or aspire towards. Identify the attribute that makes someone better than you: is it their test scores? Their ability to paint? The way they look? If it’s something that interests you, try it out. If it isn’t, just appreciate a good thing!

2. Learn to enjoy the difficult things. If you consider something a tedious chore, it probably will be. I used to find revision so tiresome I would skip it altogether – and it showed. Now, if I find a task boring or repetitive, I put on some music, read up some different ways to approach it, try to complete it first thing in the morning – basically have strategies in place that turn tedium into enjoyment.

3. Value friends. Learning to get along with people around you will help you have a more well-rounded personality that knows values such as empathy and respect. In Corporate speak, such traits are called ‘people skills’ – and yes, even leaders need them.

4. Question assumptions – about yourself and others. Don’t like someone? Assess the ‘feeling’ to see how much of it is based on facts. Feel like you are ‘no good’ at Math? Sit with a mentor and discuss the problem rather than buy this impression wholesale. Your parents telling you marks are everything? Google the question. You’ll be surprised at the diversity that exists and thrives in the world out there: from school dropouts who are Founders of companies to people who have had multiple failed relationships before finding ‘the one’.

5. Fail well. Mistakes are okay as long as they aren’t wildly dysfunctional and don’t harm yourself and others. Unless you try out different things – some of which you will make a hash of – it will be quite tough to do something really well eventually.

Managing Partner, Athena Initiatives LLP +91-9833565401

www.aninitiative.com

fonD MeMorIesVijay Raghuraman

I have fond memories of school...tandon ma’am, Sashi ma’am, Joshi ma’am, bhalla sir, school bus, lunchtime cricket, table tennis, morning assembly with justice shivdayal who would keep talking, testing our patience and physical ability to sit cross legged, spic macay concerts with jugalbandi between zakir hussain and fateh Ali sir, supw, taekwondo and digvijay’s black belts, kulcha Chana...miss those days..!

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“ soMeDAys I wIsh I couLD go bAck In LIfe. not to chAnge AnythIng,

but to feeL A few thIngs twIce”remembering school Days

Saurabh Sharma

On 26th January this year, while returning back from the Almuni Program hosted by the 1993 batch of which I was a part, just when I was crossing the School Playground, rather than moving out straight away from the Gate I took a right turn. As I moved a little ahead I saw the building of Mira Nursery on my left. The very sight of a much changed Nursery School brought instantly to my mind the memories of way back 1979 when I began my journey as a student of Mother’s International School, when I was admitted to Mira Nursery, the Kiddis section of MIS. It seemed to be a different world all together then when WE (the students coming from Saket, then called Malviya Nagar extension) used to travel to School in a Black & Yellow ambassador car driven by a well built but gentle Sardarji called Billa uncle. The car used to pick & drop us at the side gate (more appropriate if I can term it as wooden door), which was the main entrance to Mira Nursery from Sarvodya Enclave.

As we entered from the side gate into the Nursery School, while the class rooms were on our right, on our left used to be the playground which used to be our favorite place not only because it had swings in it and place to run around but on the corner of this playground were the rabbits and pigeons in small cages. Rushing towards these cages and watching these birds and animals was used to be one of our favourite pass times.

I still remember that the day at Mira Nursery used to start with ringing of a handheld bell by Sushila Didi, a middle aged lady who used to serve as an aunty in the Nursery School. We used to play with wooden blocks, spend our time in drawing and play games like a ringa ringa roses. Some of my friends at Mira Nursery Vikrant Abrol, Manish Saxena, Anubhav were integral part of my friend circle and continue to be so till date. Reminiscing the time spent in the Mira Nursery, it feels as though it was altogether a different world we were living in.

After passing from Mira Nursery I graduated to Class 1-B. I still remember as I entered the class my friend Anubhav who was siting on the very first bench called me loudly by name “Saurabh come here and sit with me”. Little did I know that my association with sitting along with Anubhav was to continue for many years right till class 12 A when both of us found ourselves in utter microscopic minority of a class having 22 girls and 2 boys in all in the Arts stream. In the journey from Mira Nursery to Class 12 spanning a total of 14 years some of the most vivid memories I still have are :-

going to class 1 of MIs and that too in a single front door Dtc bus.

Attending the morning assembly and sitting there for long durations. Some of the recitations, bhajans and marching songs I still remember. These assembly used to stretch for longer period when Chachji (Late Surendranath Jauhar ‘ Fakir’ the founder of the MIS) and various guests used to address the students. Though long but it was fun.

When in Senior School having Chole Bhature at the Canteen, it was a daily ritual for some of us to take ‘N’ number of donas of Choleys by using a single pair of Kulchas. Of course it needed a team effort from few of us to complete this task with Ashish Sir keeping a keen eye as to who all were coming repeatedly for the Cholas.

Running on the track for one round when the PT period started. At times this used to be a tough task. As soon as we were permitted to play the games of our choice by PT Sirs both Ashish and Gulshan Sirs, picking up the Table Tennis Racket and rushing to the basement in the Table Tennis room beneath the canteen and in an effort to make sure that we get the Table Tennis Table, throwing the racket on the table. I remember having many such sprints to the table tennis room with my friend Vinay Unni . I also remember Unni for the Dosas he used to bring many of which we ate during or even prior to the lunch break.

As we reached class 11th and 12th the teachers like Shekhar Sir and Mrs. Pillay came in our lives. Shekhar Sir had his own inimitable style of teaching, talking and sharing jokes in the class which kept us interested in the History class. It was fun going to Home Science lab specially when we were asked by Madhulika Ma’m to taste the food items prepared by our classmates for which I and Anubhav were sometimes invited to the lab. It was enjoyable when in class 12 we used to move out from the English class of Mrs. Mukherjee (Mako) one by one in a pack to get a single glass of water. Once we were caught by Shekhar Sir in the corridor and he asked us “How many people do you require for getting a single glass of water ?

It is now 25 years since I passed out from the School but the memories are still vivid and many more then I can write down at this moment.

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bITS OF MESmitha Soman

Memories! Memories! Memories! flooded by them. A simple walk down a corridor was all it took. Somethings had changed – change is a must. But a lot of things now made sense, which never did – not this way. The ‘I’ was moulded here. That was such a revelation because the thought never crossed my mind about the extent and influence. After school was college then post grad then job – well duh ! So caught up in the race that to give thought about the ‘who’ in me was never up on the priority list. Stepping into those corridors, walking down the buildings, strolling the grounds just brought back so many memories and – Friends !! They were such an important part of me. But ‘how important’ in my growing years, influencing my thoughts and shaping the who in me struck me then. We are so alike – and so so different and then so alike. Through the differences, insecurities, competition an attitude was born. To be tough on yourself, perfection, appreciation of art and literature, creating things using own two hands and questioning everything that is thrown at you are qualities that all of us share. Maybe in different degrees to be fair. But then all of us together there at the reunion – such a fantastic lot. Achievers in our own rights with so much to be proud about. Much more maybe of friends’ achievements than own. But proud nonetheless. All through the banter, hugs and reminiscences I realised that the ‘who I am today’ owes so much to my school and my friends. Much more then I ever gave credit for. So thank-you friends. You may not realise but you do make a difference.

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MeMories froM My school daysManish Saxena

My journey with school started from nursery and ended in Class XII. It used to be a small space then and when the time came to pass out, it had grown up into one of the most celebrated schools of the country.

Today when I look back, I have fond memories around the school assembly (we never loved morning games more), cultural events (Tabla performance by Zakir Hussain, SPIC MACAY/Time of India), annual sport events, finishing the lunch well before the lunch time (and eating all the food that was available in class), SUPW periods and ways to successfully bunk classes (but sheer thought of Shekhar sir ensured nil success), girls (in Class XII) reading M&Bs and we looking at awwww, 8 out of 9 periods free in Class XI, travelling in school bus, having choley and kulchey (one plate of kulchey would translate into 10-15 katories of choley). There is so much to write but do not have space allowance to pen down all my memories in toto.

I am proud and fortunate to be a part of 1993 batch, which recently celebrated Sliver Jubilee Year of passing out from school. We were (still are!) a bunch of fun-loving, caring and carefree, ahead of our times kind of a group. This article is a small gesture of gratitude to my school, my teachers, my friends – they have made memories that always bring a smile.

The school gave me much more than I would have ever expected and I owe so much to my alma mater – made me a good human being (so would I believe), gave me pillars of strength (friends) and laid the strong foundation to fight and stay strong in this world.

I would wish and love to re-live the same time, with same set of friends and teachers. But alas that would be not more than wishful thinking.I have figured out a way though, courtesy my twin kids, who happen to study in MIS.

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With Best ComplimentsRAGHVINDER SINGH

JAI SRI MAA

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