Chief
Personal Officer
Western
Railway HQ Office,
Churchgate,
Mumbai
Date:
15/02/99
Dear Editor,
It’s
been a long time since I left the dear old place. Inspite of sincere efforts
and a keen desire I couldn’t visit Jamalpur after I laid down the office of the
Director.
I have
been meeting the Gymmies who were at Gymkhana during my tenure from 1990-95. It
always gives me great pleasure to see that each one of them has been doing
brilliantly in the Railways and many of them have already become the most
sought after officers.
Ther
were a few others- perhaps more restless who charted out, a different course
for themselves by getting into Civil Services or IIMs or going abroad.
The
other day I met Rajgopal Sharma ’88, who has joined Indian Revenue Services and
has been posted at Mumbai. Rajgopal has married his batch mate Vinita and they
have been blessed with a daughter, Vasudha.
It is
not surprising to find that the Gymmie boys who have left Railways have been
excelling in their overseas careers. I am sure all those who have joined Civil
Services or IIMs or have gone abroad must have scaled new heights. All these
people who have been branching out into various disciplines but basically doing
a job either governance or research with the roots in Gymkhana, Jamalpur.
Last year S M
Sharma ’88 had sent invitation card for his marriage and had rung me up. During
discussion I suggested that as from the late ’80s there has been a steady
outflow of Gymmie boys in other walks of life, there is a need for setting up
something like a Youth Wing of the Jamalpur Association, so that all of you
remain in touch with each other and can benefit by what has been patently called
as “Old Boys’ Network”. Obviously someone posted at Delhi would only have to
take the lead in ensuring that whereabouts of those who have left Railways are
known through to everyone and that there should be periodical interaction which
would be possible at least in major metros. I wonder if my ever youthful and
enthusiastic friend, J L Singh ’65 would take it upon himself and organise
this. This is so not only because “Jael” and Sushma continue to be a young,
enthusiastic and fun loving couple but with their boys away they would have the
required time and energy to do thus. Anybody who feels younger than Jael and
assured of a permanent stay at Delhi is of course welcome to compete, but the
idea is certainly worth the consideration.
With the Very Best Wishes to All Gymkhanites.
Yours
sincerely,
S.S.GODBOLE ’63