Rahul Banerji
We came to Rohetgarh agog and expectant, 47 in number from the AFCS Class of 1980. Forty-eight hours later, we left Rohetgarh sated and expectant, and already looking ahead to 2026.
We came in ones, two, batches and groups. By motorcycle, by train and by plane, drawn by the potent magic crafted and cast by innovative and hard-slogging Organising Committees past and present, and the magnet of shared Aravali nostalgia.
In essence, between November 14 and 15, 2025, Rohetgarh turned into a time capsule, taking those of us present back 45 years.
Anchored from one end of the globe by Ravi Grover in Perth, Australia, and the other by Pradeep Singh in Louisville, USA, and Madhu Datta in Manchester, England, the Class of 1980 arrived to whoops, oyes and abes, setting the tone perfectly for two days of fun, frolic, chit-chat, gossip and a jam-packed new album of memories.
The venue chosen this year after much filtration and thought by the OC —Nandita, Vaishali, Manish, Shailendra and Kirti — could not have been a better one, the best part being that the Class of 80 had the place to itself.
Not needing to cater to the senses and sensibilities of others to reconnect with classmates and friends was liberating. Residual reservations were speedily ejected into the nearby lake.
Rohetgarh’s seductive central lawn and the adjoining gazebo automatically became the social centre for the next two days, whether over cups of tea and coffee, or the other, more spirited stuff that flowed without end. Groups formed and reformed through the day as common interests were found and school-time friendships revived.
Law and governance (Rajan and Co.), business and finance (Billa, Bogey and Co.), workday pressures (all of our 10 present doctors) or just plain old mutual affinities (the rest of us) created a shifting vista through our stay while the nights were made memorable by desert camel-cart rides, fire dancers, folk singers and dancers, great food and disruptive deejays.
Thoughtfully curated meals, the highlights of which were Friday’s desert safari dinner and the Saturday Rajasthani thali lunch were truly memorable while the breakfast hall with its inclusive buffet menu was another popular meeting point much like the central lawn and party gazebo.
After Friday’s exertions in the desert, Saturday evening was set aside for the much-awaited goodie bag that included Namita’s scarf, Kirti’s volcanic drinking cup, Manish’s Tohl takeaway, Vaishali’s book of poems (which I forgot to get signed), the jacket of Jodhpur blue that was chosen by consent and seen through by Kirti, and Shailly’s sweet-powered walk down memory lane.
It was also finally, a tryst with Dony Kuriakose, whose sudden and untimely passing this August was a blow many of us are still struggling to come to grips with.
Thanks to Kishore, Vivek and Sharat, three of his closest mates in the early years of the OC, the Don became part of our Rohetgarh reunion. Their beautifully created tribute under a starlit sky brought Dony into our midst in voice and image that had many torn between smiles and tears.
But tears and laughter that blend without thought or prompt are a blessing afforded to the truly fortunate, which the Class of ’80 has become thanks to each of us who has stepped out of our cocoons of comfort to reach out and reconnect whenever the demands of life have allowed.
The screen is a little blurry now, and I can hear Dony’s voice quite clearly. “Abe, bas kar yaar Chanu. I was there with you guys every day at Rohetgarh, and I’ll be there whenever and wherever we meet. I’ve not gone anywhere.”
So on Donski’s word, and with a raised glass to our wonderful past and present OCs, it is Jao Sa Padharo to Rajasthan and Rohet Garh, and hopefully Vanakkam to Coonoor in 2026.
The Bash of 80 