JOIN USFor them, every moment was nostalgic and precious. Time didn’t seem enough to gather all the memories of the past, so recollecting the smallest things gave them a joy that was unmatched by anything else.
Time has passed and they have all grown older, some of them with their kids studying in the same college. But Mount Carmel College’s class of 1988 that got together over the weekend, say that meeting people they had not met in 25 years, gave them a high. It was like going back to college.
There were not less than 162 women, some of whom had come down from different parts of the country and even from across the world to be there for the rare gathering.
Their hair was all done up, clothes neatly pressed to perfection – all in an effort to look their best.
Some of them even carried old pictures, clicked when they were in college. Metrolife interacted with a few members of the batch to judge their level of excitement.
After a brief formal programme, the women quickly branched out into groups and began clicking pictures. Sarayu Perumal, who was part of the organising committee, says that she had to first dust out the college register of the year 1983 and then source out the names.
“We then traced their telephone numbers and got their addresses. Most of the addresses had changed and we had to retrace them again. We sent out letters and it is perhaps for the first time that I was going to a post office in years to send out the letters. We sent out mails and followed it up with phone calls to ensure that all those we had invited would be there,” explains Sarayu.
Leela did arts and she recalls that she got married in 1988. She says that she was glad to meet her batchmate Sujatha.
“I remember we used to bunk classes and sit on the drive. We did everything together except attend classes,” recalls Leela. Sujatha feels that the college has a lot more buildings now than it did when they were studying.
Sr Juanita, principal of Mount Carmel College, taught zoology to the batch of 1988. “They are all successful women and it’s nice to see the transition from the really shy girls that I knew to such confident individuals,” observes Juanita.
Preethy, Nalini and Ameeta say that they were all a part of the dance team. “I am proud that our batch has produced the best of actors, models and IAS officers,” says Ameeta.
Prof Priya Mohanraj, who taught the batch economics, says, “Out of the class, we were all friends and shared a wonderful relationship. Today, I am thrilled to see most of whom I taught, strike a balance between family and their career. It’s great to see most of them lead a happy family life as well.”