KHALSA COLLEGE, BA, FIJI REUNION ALL SET TO GO IN AUCKLAND

Thakur Ranjit Singh

There appears to be a common belief in Fiji that there is something in the dusts, the waters, the soils and environment of Ba that those coming from that district tend to excel in whatever they venture into.

The town has given most businessmen millionaires, number of writers and authors, scholars, politicians, and its biggest feat lies in its craze for soccer, and holding the unbeaten soccer records in Fiji. (We also have our large share of Ojhas!)

Lately secondary schools in Ba have been known to have held international school reunions. Xavier College, DAV College and Khalsa College have been in the news for its reunions.

Our salute to JOGINDAR SINGH KANWAL (1927 -2017), pioneer principal of Khalsa College, Ba, Fiji (1960 -1987). A poet, a writer, a historian and an accomplished school administrator and teacher. Khalsa College without mention of Kanwal is incomplete. We salute you, Sardarji, for an extremely rich heritage at Khalsa College, Ba. You were especially honored during school's diamond jubilee.

High decile non-Indian high schools in Fiji have been known to hold reunions like Suva Grammar, Natabua College, Jasper Williams and Xavier College, among others. However, Indian and Girmitiya-origin schools have almost been unheard of doing this. However, DAV College in Ba broke this drought with its three respective biennial reunions in Vancouver Canada in April 2015, Auckland New Zealand in 2017 and the latest one in Fiji in July, 2019. Khalsa College is also known to have held one locally-based reunion in Sacramento, USA in 2018.

Where did Khalsa Reunion in Auckland begin? Historically, DAV College and Khalsa College in Ba shared close bonds. In 1973 DAV College Ba had outstanding results in NZ School Certificated (Form 5) but had no facility for form six (University Entrance-UE). Khalsa College had form 6. Hence, a large group of students from DAV joined Khalsa College in 1974 to complete UE.  And in this group were two veterans behind the DAV Reunions - Sadasivan Naicker and (Thakur) Ranjit Singh. In late 2018, they mooted the idea of a Khalsa reunion to our current Secretary, Satish Chand and so rolled the initiation move for Khalsa reunion.

The venue, Mangere United Sports Club, VIP Lounge at Centre Park, Mangere, Auckland. This is where we will have our function, in a very attractive and different setting.

There was a desire to create an opportunity for Khalsa College ex-students to meet their old classmates, walk down memory lane, share life experiences and laugh and cry together, and have a great party before we pass on, as many of us are becoming sexagenarians (over 60)!

There was also a wish to salute the visionary leaders of the community who strived to provide this educational facility for us. Khalsa College, Ba, Fiji was established in 1959 by an enterprising group of Sikhs who saw education as a means to bringing success to their children and future generations. We honour those stalwarts and teachers particularly Mr Jogindar Singh Kanwal, the first substantive Principal whose dedication and hard work brought such lasting success to this erstwhile institution. We look forward to meeting our fellow mates we have not met for decades, spread around the globe. We wish to meet to walk down the memory lane, celebrate the legacy of Khalsa College, and salute those visionary leaders.

Mangere Centre Park Sports Stadium, the outside area outside the VIP Lounge where people can mingle, network and relax during long daylight hours, and see the sun set in the west, while enjoying their drinks - or yagona. Sun is scheduled to set at 8.16 pm on 23 November, 2019.

Therefore, with all this in mind, the organising committee has been in full gear. Initial meeting was held on 18 November 2018 in Te Atatu South, Auckland, and the organising Committee was finalised. We were fortunate to have the student of the formative year of 1959, and a former Senior Civil Servant to lead us. Madhavan Raman, the bright scholar from class of 1959 is our President, ably supported by an Auckland soccer personality Dinesh Chand as vice president. Satish Chand was elected Secretary while Asha Singh is supporting him as his assistant. Yours truly, Thakur Ranjit Singh was appointed Media and Communications Spokesperson, with a two team committee members of Samila Chand and Shashi Kala Singh. And this small team of committee and dedicated members have taken this mammoth task of bringing together scattered children of Khalsa College, Ba. 

The harworking Khalsa Reunion organizing Committee at VIP Lounge at Centre Park where reunion will take place. A very diverse group, with ladies equally represented:
Sitting from left: Dinesh Chand (Vice President), the big boss, President  Madhavan Raman and Secretary, Satish Chand.
Standing at the back, (L-R) Shashi Kala Singh (Committee), Asha Singh (Asst Secretary) and Samila Chand (Committee).
Missing is the photographer, your truly Thakur Ranjit Singh, the Media representative.

As has already been notified via Facebook, the Khalsa Reunion event will be held at Mangere United Football Club, (Mangere Centre Park), 101 Robertson Road, Mangere, Auckland, New Zealand on 23 November, 2019 from 6.30pm.

The venue is a good one, in the picturesque Mangere with open sprawling sports fields and very presentable hall, with opportunity for people to mix and mingle outside on the stadium for sharing and reliving on school secrets, those jokes and hilarious and serious events.

The entrance to the venue at 101 Robertson Road, Mangere with sun setting in the background. This will be the environment on 23 November 2019 when the sun will set at 8.16pm. 

The programme would include time for us to share our experience, it will be a night for the students, to have drinks, nice food and dance the night away. As for food, special attention is given to make sure overseas visitors and local have the best available in Auckland.

Tickets are already on sale online and details are already posted on Facebook. Those with any difficulties are to e-mail to our official e-mail or call Thakur on +6421 235 4559, if really stuck. 

[Here is the link for ticket purchase (PLEASE COPY AND PASTE TO YOUR BROWSER): 
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/khalsa-college-ba-fiji-2019-reunion-new-zealand-tickets-67839583019

The venue at Centre Park from outside, with Sahil Shah Grand Stand in the background, where former Khalsa students will be able mix and mingle.

We are looking forward to meeting you all in Auckland on 23 November, 2019. Please buy your tickets online.

See you all on 23 November, 2019 in Auckland.

[Thakur Ranjit Singh is a journalist and media commentator, and runs his blog, FIJI PUNDIT. He, with his wife, attended Khalsa College in 1974. He lives in Auckland, New Zealand. E-mail: thakurji@xtra.co.nz]