Xavier's cornucopia

ALUMNI 2017 My anxiety to attend the meet started 6 months back when the date was announced by the permanent convenor to the alumni- C F Antony. Two over enthusiastic members; one from Mumbai,  booked the flight ticket immediately and the other  and another from Chennai offered his Mulanthuruthy house for a full day extravaganza.  I kept my emotions under control for the fear of not being permitted by my four pillars of support-wife and three children.  I feared that they may block my travel siting health reasons. When the final bell was chimed for the head count by the convenor, just two weeks before the date of meet I casually messaged my younger son Johny to look for the availability of ticket to Cochin and back on 7 th and 10 th of July.  There were mild protests whether I can withstand the travel alone.  When I told them that if in doubt, please join me for the two days outing, they relented, saying Paulose would be there to give compan...

After my appointment in the S & D department of ACCI in November 1979 my world was confined to Ennore office and my home in Tondiarpet.  Visits to meet my construction friend and guide in Valasaravakkam has become less frequent because of my preoccupation with other priorities and also of Ramakrishnan's family life.  He continued his job as construction engineer and has undertaken the task of turnkey projects at various north Indian sites. We continued our exchange of important events through letters at regular intervals.  As I  fondly  keep his association the letters written by him  are preserved along with the autographed books as a momento of our friendship.  In the year 1980 his marriage with Lalitha took place in Karaikudi and moved into a house in Valasaravakkam.  I have attended the wedding and he was very much pleased on my presence as I was the only representative from his friends group. His dream of starting some business o...