I’m looking forward to staying up all night, chatting and singing with old friends,” shares Saba Karim, former Indian cricketer and TV commentator, who is among the 200 old boys attending the Hostellers Alumni Night at Hindu College today. He shares, “My whole idea of hostel life was staying up all night and chatting with friends over Maggi and chai. I want to relive those moments again. I remember Vishal Bhardwaj’s room was next to mine and he used to play the harmonium. So, this time we will make him play the guitar and sing for us all night long.”
The boys’ night out attendees include IPS and IAS officers, and Bollywood bigshots like filmmaker Vishal Bhardwaj, Imitiaz Ali and director Nalin Singh of Gandhi to Hitler fame. “It’s all about bringing the old hostellers together to spend a night in the hostel premises exactly the way they did in their graduation days,” says Pradeep Kumar Loyalka, a former Chemistry student of the 1984 batch, who along with alumnus P.K. Vijayan, has organised the get-together.
Adding to the fun will be exciting activities. “They will all be here by afternoon and then they’ll head to the mess for lunch. As Sunday used to be the day for special lunch in hostel, we have organised the same old menu. The biryani and raita, rajma-chawal and rasmalai will be prepared by the same old mess staff,” says Chandrachur Singh, warden, Hindu College.
The hostellers will also play a T-20 cricket match and attend a classical programme in the auditorium. After a lecture by the college principal, it’ll be time for a party hosted by the warden. “As a warden is supposed to be strict, I wanted to break the jinx, so I have organised a small party for them followed by dinner. We have the same room and bunk beds slotted for them. The rest of the night will be all about catching up and singing sessions,” says the warden.
Filmmaker Nalin of 1994 English (Hons) batch shares that all of them plan to roam around in shorts, hawai chappals and tees. “Also, we will be talking in the same dirty college lingo, gossiping about Miranda House and PG hostel girls. I’m really looking forward to rum punch and trying crazy things tonight.”