So finally it was March 12 and without giving any thought to the 'Ides of Mach' and March the 13th, the Fifty Fivers got together at Lahore and enjoyed getting together on three different venues arranged by the hosts Lahore Chapter under the auspices of Zahir Khan and his team.
The idea to host a two day annual get together of the Fifty Fivers by the Lahore Chapter and Lahore was floated by Zahir Khan at Nathiagali get together in 2015 and duly seconded and supported by our good old Javed Baloch, though the Nature did not bless Javed a few days more to be part of the hosts at Lahore as he left for his heavenly abode before the dawn of year 2015. May his soul rest in peace. Aameen.
Zahir Khan and his team
Undeterred by this great setback, Zahir got together a team to prepare for the event ahead. And unknown to many of us, the team went from pillar to post to host the get together at some of the most historical sites of Lahore. It was paucity of funds and typical cold shoulder of the civil bureaucracy that their efforts could not be rewarded as planned and they had to tone down the venues to host the show as planned.
For those who missed the occasion, we witnessed the colourful flag lowering ceremony at Wagah and later a dinner followed by a warm musical evening at the Alhamrah Open Air Theatre at the Gaddafi Stadium on 12th March and brunch at the Rangers Officers' Mess on the following day. Read my subsequent posts exclusive to each event and venue in coming days.
And thus we had a two days of hugs and laughter with each other along with our families, children and even grandchildren - all made possible by Zahir and his team that included Attar, Abbas, Sher Zaman and Khalid Alizai. For administrative arrangements help from Tariq Khan and Zaheer ul Islam made it possible to arrange adequate guest rooms and availability of the Rangers Mess. For arrangements for the dinner and variety programme, Khalid Pervez helped in coordinating with the Alhamra Open Air Theatre.
We all of us enjoyed the hard work by Zahir Khan and his team and support from Tariq, Zaheer and Khalid Pervez for two days. And left Lahore with fond memories of meeting most of the Lahore Chapter. It was also a pleasure to find among ourselves Jamil and Tahir who had come from Canada and Altaf from USA.
So well done Lahore Chapter - we owe our happiness to you all. Stay blessed...
4 comments:
Thanks JHB for an elusive description of the biggest Course event of the year. On behalf of Lahore Chapter in general and Organising Team in particular, I feel delighted and satisfied on the kind compliments showered from all across.
Well, certainly it looked a gigantic task in the beginning to manage a much ambitious plan, more so with limited resources and ever reducing influence of the retired cader. However, it was the commitment and handwork of the dedicated team duly supported by the folks all around which made the mega event a proud success.
I feel that Lahore would always be a strong contender for the event after every couple of years.
Long live the four decades of comradeship. Long live the brotherhood of the 55ivers.
Thanks JHB for an elusive description of the biggest Course event of the year. On behalf of Lahore Chapter in general and Organising Team in particular, I feel delighted and satisfied on the kind compliments showered from all across.
Well, certainly it looked a gigantic task in the beginning to manage a much ambitious plan, more so with limited resources and ever reducing influence of the retired cader. However, it was the commitment and handwork of the dedicated team duly supported by the folks all around which made the mega event a proud success.
I feel that Lahore would always be a strong contender for the event after every couple of years.
Long live the four decades of comradeship. Long live the brotherhood of the 55ivers.
Thanks JHB for a befitting tribute to the organizing committee. From the very outset, it was a brave initiative on the part of Zahir Khan strongly supported by late Javed Iqbal Baloch to make a bid on the behalf of Lahore chapter to host 2016 GT at Lahore. Given paucity of influence in the post retirement era, holding an activity based on three events involving night stay was a daunting task. Today, while reflecting back with great satisfaction over the admirable arrangements one's heart is filed with gratitude to our valient organizing team but not without sadness for the absence of our late comrade Javed Baloch from the scene of action.
Long live the great 55th
Thanks JHB for a befitting tribute to the organizing committee. From the very outset, it was a brave initiative on the part of Zahir Khan strongly supported by late Javed Iqbal Baloch to make a bid on the behalf of Lahore chapter to host 2016 GT at Lahore. Given paucity of influence in the post retirement era, holding an activity based on three events involving night stay was a daunting task. Today, while reflecting back with great satisfaction over the admirable arrangements one's heart is filed with gratitude to our valient organizing team but not without sadness for the absence of our late comrade Javed Baloch from the scene of action.
Long live the great 55th
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