Jim Corbett National Park, July 1, 2023.
Amidst the lush green hills, nestled by the Ramganga River on one side and Marchula natural spring on the other, forty people had gathered at the Corbett River Creek Resort to surprise my uncle, Arvind Rana as he retired from active duty for a second time.
My uncle served in the Indian Navy for 23 years (1982-2005), and upon voluntary retirement decided to embark on a new journey, to expand his horizons by learning the inner workings of corporate India. After 18 additional years of toil, dedication, uncertainty, and achievements later he decided to call it quits on the 30th of June 2023.
(Arvind Rana voluntarily retired from the Indian Navy as a Commander in 2005)
And so, as he stepped out of his mini-SUV on a rainy July Day when it looked like the heavens wept with joy. My aunt (his wife), myself, my brother, my mom, and my uncle’s two brothers (my father, and my youngest uncle) chaperoned him to the assigned meeting area (Machaan).
Unbeknownst to Arvind Chachu*, the so-called “Surprise Retirement Party” was the brainchild of Sapna Rana, his wife, and our doting aunt who had planned this event months ago. From selecting the venue, assigning duties to each member of her family, buying gifts, and arranging for Chachu's friends to be at the location, Sapna Chachi* gave us a rare glimpse of a dying breed of women. A multi-dimensional woman, playing the role of a mother, sister, wife, daughter, and event planner.
To be able to drive your pragmatic husband on a 6-hour journey under the pretense of “Attending a marriage” was another master stroke by our mastermind Chachi. It was all worth the wait…all the scheming, the white lies, and the false excuses were exposed when a bewildered Arvind Chachu stood in the Machaan, at a loss for words. As relatives and friends started garlanding him on his spectacular swansong of a career, Arvind Chachu, eyes glazed, and a smile plastered on his face was still coming to terms with what had just happened.
(The Rana's arrive at the Machaan)
The clock read 4 p.m. as everyone having had a hearty lunch headed towards their respective rooms, looking to catch a quick nap from their long drives. As a gentle reminder, Sapna Chachi let all the performers (cousins and friends who were a part of the evening gala) know that the evening festivities would begin at 7:30 p.m... I had a fundamental part to play in it all.
My bonds with both Arvind Chachu, and Sapna Chachi exist from the day I descended on this earthly plane, they have both loved me as their son, showering me with gifts, adoration, and more importantly affirmation. It was only befitting that I would preside over the evening Gala as the emcee.
Dressed in hues of red and black sarees the women gathered at the Machaan (venue for the Gala), the men were not far behind looking sharp in their respective attire. As a way of paying respect and passing good wishes my father (Alok Rana) was being given a get Retired soon party, hence both he and Arvind Chachu were the last to arrive dressed in a white kurta and pajama* with a long scarf draped around their necks.
"The evening that unfolded was nothing short of magical, encompassing a wide range of emotions. The performers danced, sang, acted in a short play (scripted by our aunties), and left the audience asking for more. Niharika (Arvind Chachu’s daughter, my sister) made a video compilation capturing memories and special moments from the years gone by. It was a special sight to cherish as some of Chachu’s closest friends were present with us, they reminisced and shared some wonderful anecdotes from their past times."For the people that were unable to make it, their messages were duly recorded and played in front of everyone. A special “Retirement Cake” was cut, a champagne bottle popped open and served along with a bevy of lip-smacking munchies courtesy of the wonderful restaurant staff. To top it all off, both the guests of honor (Arvind Chachu, and Pop) were showered with gifts.
Snippets from the Retirement Gala (July 1st, 2023)
As the evening drew to a close, a particular moment that stands out was what transpired after the performances had ended, and all the women along with their children had left for dinner, leaving the men by themselves with an open bar. Anil Chachu (the youngest uncle), Arvind Chachu (man of the moment), and his friends entertained us with stories from their early days as Navel cadets, leaving us laughing in splits. The rain kept falling, cooling the atmosphere around us whilst the drinks in our hands provided us with all the warmth we needed.
Celebrations continued the next day, while the men enjoyed playing sports (cricket, 8-ball pool, and table tennis), the women pampered themselves with some Spa. The Resort’s ambiance couldn’t have been better and just added to the overall vibe. As evening descended, everyone gathered indoors for a musical evening, singing classic Bollywood songs, and transporting themselves to a different era altogether. I did my best to provide some background music by strumming the guitar along, at the same time Sundar Raman uncle (Chachu’s close friend) joined me. It was a wonderful end to a fantastic weekend.
Monday arrived quicker than expected. While everyone said their goodbyes and promised each other to keep in touch, I couldn't help but feel as if something was amiss. Maybe it was a feeling of nostalgia creeping in as we packed our bags inside our cars and started homeward; nevertheless, what began as a Retirement party turned into a celebration of life, an ode to enjoying moments as they come.
I'd like to end this post with a poem I wrote dedicated to my grandfather, his wife, and their three children. For it is the sacrifice of the previous generation that allows us to stand on the shoulders of giants:
A father, a widow....and the three men of tomorrow Character... forged by the fires of fate. A father, lost at sea, ravaged by the brutality of war, which, although triumphed by our great nation, left behind many broken homes. And so, this father, a man of immeasurable brilliance, someone who was the apple of his family's eye, left in his absence... a widow and three sons. A widow who was a simple village girl, ignorant of the ways of the world, had to now fight in a man's world. And fight she did, taking the challenge by the scruff of the neck like a prodigious potter at the pottery wheel, finely crafting and shaping her three sons into men of tomorrow. That tomorrow is today, and these sons would go on to define themselves through the uncompromising character of their steely mother and the excellence passed down through the Rana bloodline. Of the three, all of whom are here today, two have reached the finish line of their careers. But as these men would like to point out to me and everyone here, the finish line is just a metaphor. In this race of life, there is always an opportunity to start afresh, to redraw the starting line, and to head toward excellence. As Chachu and Papa start their new journey, one that takes them towards their twilight years, let's wish them the best of luck and cheer them on as the linesman of life says, "On your mark, get set... Go!"
Clockwise: (1). Anand and Satya Rana, (2). Their three young sons, (3). All grown up now [from L-R]- Alok, Arvind, and Anil Rana, (4). Satya Rana [80 yrs old]
Glossary
Chachu: Uncle in Hindi
Chachi: Aunt in Hindi
Kurta and Pajama: traditional Indian Attire consisting of a collarless long-sleeve shirt and pants.
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