Reflections on a 33-Year BCJ Reunion

When you hear the word reunion, what’s the first thing that comes to your mind? For me its joy. I have to say that I have been fortunate to be a part of three such sweet reunions over the last six months. First for those completed MCJ in Osmania and moved on to Communication & Journalism careers in Universities, second one my MCJ colleagues of 1986-87 batch of Osmania and last the sweetest of all, our BCJ batch.

So what’s so special about reunions? As you know, mostly reunions happen in the circle after not seeing each other in person for decades, though you might be in touch with them through technology which did not happen in my case for 33 years--too long a periods. 

Even as I write this article, I am excited for all the reunions held at my place specifically designed for those. It’s great to meet many of them whom I haven’t seen for a while, who come from outside the state too.

33 years later, does reality bite?

It was 1984, but it could have been any year. Those days were filled with emotion and excitement as everyone was well under 25 years. Week-end cricket matches, late night parties for some guys, some lucubrating ladies, Hostel boarders with a mixed bag of awesome and worst conditions and day scholars like me all rejoiced the extended one-year stay of our life that's for sure in Osmania which isn't a University but emotion.

The times we live in have changed, but actual things don’t change much, and people don’t either. I think that’s a good thing. Reality doesn’t bite as hard at the 33-year mark, despite what one may anticipate. And at our 33-year old BCJ batch reunion, those memories are crystal-clear. Except for one we have remembered every face or every name in our New Delhi Education Tour Group photograph.

Everyone is really nice, and everyone seems really happy — no matter how many different choices we all made. Some leaving Government jobs to find a lucrative career in IT and business, addict becoming a change counsellor, some leaving newspaper jobs to safer Government and Corporate jobs while some entering business and lobbying careers. This is how we turned out.

 No, we’re not perfect. We take our first Reunion also lightly with only 12 out of the identified 20 members attending. We still try to gossip about the little things not in unison but in groups. The reunion was nothing more than a moment in time. It’s only in these moments after that many of us realise how much we miss those days.