KENAVO 25th Reunion: A Weekend That Turned Back Time

Prelude: While we planned to start at 5 am from Kochi, none of us (Antony, Tom, Balaji and me) could sleep the previous night due to the excitement, as for Doc (as we call our friend Balaji), he was engulfed in both the excitement of the trip and the responsibility to check on his patients and ensure that the handover was proper. Doc, being Doc, had to ensure that his patients were taken care of (being a paediatric cardiothoracic surgeon) and also kept our patience tested while we waited for him to start, till 6:45 AM, from Kochi. Antony J (Doc Anto or Anto as I like to call him), our race car driver, had only one condition for the trip - his car and he would do all the driving!. Tom, Doc, and I had no complaints, and this ensured that we reached Coimbatore well ahead of time and had a crazy-large breakfast in Tamil Nadu as a way of setting the mood for getting back to school. On our way, we met Tarun (Tarunesh) and Vishnu at a McD not too far from our spot, where we saw Tarun downing a large burger under the pretext of having missed breakfast. Our next stop was at our friend Annadurai’s (or Durai as we like to call him), and the 6 of us decided to go together in 2 cars. Anto, being Anto, floored the gas, and Vishnu, hyped by Anto’s driving, decided to follow suit, giving poor Tarun a real bout of motion sickness. A lot of us met up at our dear friend Durai’s house in Salem, where we were showered with love and a sense of belonging (and the most refreshing coconut water), which set a beautiful stage for the start of the day’s event. We got to meet the Bangalore boys (Nirmal, Vardha), the boys who joined the Bangalore boys, James (from Dubai), Vinod George [Jeppo] (Canada), Pinga, and Hima (from Mizoram). Durai’s house was being flooded with everyone who was coming into Salem (Omm, Hari, MK Deepan), and the boys were at Salem (Arun [Nandhi]). As we met guys after a break of 25 years, lot of hugs, high fives and sometimes tears followed. Everybody else who were on their way for the reuniuon, Durai ensured that his house was their first stop before all of us gathered together for our first real meal together after 2 decades and a half.

This was followed by a grand lunch organised (and paid for) by the Salem boys (Subbu and gang) for about 30 of us @ Parashakthi (the bro love had already begun and the locals were showing us a thing or two about hospitality, known for its authentic biryani (Tom’s favourite and by the end ours too) and myriad complementary non-veg offerings - the day kept getting better and better. This was a fantastic start, and we topped it off with a large group photo in front of the restaurant (after the smokes, of course!)

Then began the all so familiar sojourn we were so thorough with during our years at Monfort, starting from the serene temple at the foothills before the first hairpin bend. We then all started to make our way up that beautiful road with its 20 hairpin bends and lush greenery. As we ascended up the hills, we could feel a lump in our throats…the nostalgia and joy was so overwhelming indeed. The air gets colder as you drive higher and this bought back some core memories for me (Shankkar), as a boy traveling from Sri Lanka after summer holidays and it was always bittersweet as you’re unsure of a new year in school and all the challenges that may bring, but then you think of meeting all your mates and that uncertainty dies down and is filled with excitement for what may come. It looked like Yercaud had changed significantly since I last visited in 2001! It was bustling with loads of new shops, and the lake was no longer a lazy zone for couples in love but was packed with families trying to get a boat ride in. Modernisation and commercialisation had certainly caught up with our laid-back town of Yercaud.

Reunion: By 2.00 pm, classmates from across states, countries and continents began arriving at the resort to catch the first item on the carefully planned itinerary.

The reception desk buzzed with excitement as familiar faces—some instantly recognisable, others slightly altered by time—exchanged warm handshakes, hugs, surprise laughter and the occasional silent, overwhelmed pause. “Come on, da, co-operate da” was heard when everyone needed to be herded for some tea. That’s when you knew you were back in school mode. It was magical to see how easily everyone slipped back into their teenage selves and began ribbing one another with abandon. There was already a sense that this weekend just would not suffice to fit all of the bottled emotions of 25 years.

You know the organisation committee Top Guns were on their game when you arrived into your villas and their on the beds sat gift kits personalised with name tags awaiting each of us a thoughtful touch that set the tone for what the committee (Puru, Ranga, Prasanna, Subbu, Abishek, Vikky, Karthi, Suraj, Charlie and many more) had envisioned: a reunion where every detail mattered. The kit comprised a white travel case which contained souvenirs and our attire for each upcoming event.

Tea and snacks were served at 4.00 pm, and this simple gathering quickly turned into an emotional avalanche. Conversations picked up exactly where they had paused 25 years ago—unfinished jokes were completed, long-forgotten nicknames echoed across the lawns and stories buried under responsibilities resurfaced effortlessly. It was hard to break away and get ready for the Class social that evening, as we wanted to be among our friends and not waste a single minute.

Morning came early for some, and for many, it was just a continuation of the previous night (for those who didn’t sleep at all!), but sleep deprivation did nothing to dull the excitement. Sleep could wait, as we had too much to say and too little time. It was as if the very air knew how precious and momentous this time together was; it was thick with nostalgia and camaraderie.

After breakfast, we departed in batches by buses looking out at the familiar sights that led us to the Montfort entrance. We entered the school entrance (replete with new arches that were absent in our days). We (re)entered the gorgeous campus drinking with delight the beautiful trees, lawns, buildings etc. Each one of us secretly wished that our school remained exactly the way it was when we left it. However that was not to be as time takes a toll on all. We first stopped at the entrance of our gorgeous chapel—a place sacred not just in structure, but in memory. Many an important memory was etched along those beautiful stone steps.

At 9:20 AM, the reunion’s most anticipated ritual took place: Kenavo boys in a specially designed white shirt with markings commemorating the reunion and beige pants lined up for the walk towards the school assembly - and like always, decided to wear it stylishly and without blazers (like the rebel group that we always were).

The lining up itself was a throwback to the numerous times we had to form lines to do anything - sports, movies, prize night, assemblies….you name it, and we had a line for it. It has to be said that the gentlemen looked great in their attire and gave special meaning to “Montfort boys shall aye be Men”

As we walked towards the assembly and took our seats, we felt a familiar sense of unity settle quietly between us. I’m sure we all thought back to the times we had to conduct assemblies and would add a little bit of spice to wake up the sleepyheads with a cool new song, action news, or even some jokes when we could sneak them in.

To reminisce the good old days of morning mass, Suresh, Bala, Anto and I (Joe) attended mass and also took part in the reading. Doc Bala had a bit of a fan following with top students asking for his picture and details and what it would take to be a doctor like him.

The final morning was calm and reflective. Over breakfast, conversations carried a softer tone.

There was gratitude.

There was nostalgia.

There was the unspoken understanding that weekends like this don’t come often — but when they do, they stay with us for years.

Check-out was officially until 11 AM, but goodbyes lingered far longer than that. Most guys, while still smiling, did have watery eyes for sure..! Everyone made sure that we did say a goodbye to each other backed with a hug.

No one was in a hurry to leave.

As we were driving down hill Doc Bala had this epifini to which Anto, Tom and I readily agreed, to meet with R Arun- as so all of us along with Omm and Annadurai figured out were Arun’s house was and gate crashed his place. He could not attend the reunion so we took the reunion to him and had a blast! We left Salem post lunch with Arun, Omm, Annadurai, Anto, Tom and I. With Doc Anto at the helm we were finally speeding back to Kochi, which I am sure none of us were in a hurry to get back after such an amazing reunion! Thanks to everyone who made it happen!