By Manohar Thakur on his visit to Netarhat for celebrating 50th year of 1968 batch
Fifty years is a long time in an individual's life, half a century, put another way. Things happen, both for good and for bad, giving back a bonus or taking their toll. That which remains deep inside is the original little child who left his parents and joined a new ''family'. I am talking of 17 November 1968. I am talking of the Netarhat 'family'.
When we met for our Batch reunion recently, the overwhelming feeling was of joy and conviviality, after all who would know you better, who would understand you better than your friend who spent five to seven years in almost constant company when you were that innocent person striving and struggling to make something of yourself.
As I said, a child had grown into a man, fulfilled many responsibilities and was now stepping into the boundaries of physical old age. A few had passed away, another few could not make it because of illness or other unavoidable circumstances, some did come but could not participate fully. However, all this could not stop anyone from 'becoming' the same ''old' child, albeit for only those few days. The good thing is that memories linger on, surrounding us in an invisible cloak of pleasure and inner joy.
If only these feelings could be shielded from the onslaught of the daily rigmarole we call life.
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