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| Xaverians enjoyed a cool and breezy evening on a dhow cruise on Dubai Creek |
Day One
If you were looking for a Xaverian at the international airport in Calcutta on the morning of April 14, all you had to do was follow your ear to the noisiest corner of the terminal building. There you would find bankers, lawyers, entrepreneurs, actors, musicians and academics — all headed for Dubai for the second edition of Beyond Boundaries, a three-day international convention of the St. Xavier’s College Calcutta Alumni Association (SXCCAA).
As can be expected, the five-hour journey from Calcutta soon turned the Emirates flight into the famed Green Benches of the college as Xaverians got busy catching up, poking fun, cracking jokes and having a whale of a time.
The flight landed in Dubai ahead of schedule. “What a start!” exclaimed a member of the group, only to be held up for ages at immigration. Once out of the airport, it was college days once again — a dash to grab the best seats in the bus to the hotel, fighting over rooms, et al.
After barely a couple of hours of rest, the Xaverians were ready for their first evening experience — a dhow cruise on Dubai Creek.
A dinner spread laid out over two decks and a DJ console on the third deck ensured that the two-hour cruise with the glittering Dubai city as backdrop was the perfect start to the convention.
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| Gautam Mohan Chakrabarti, Agnimitra Paul, Shaheb Chatterjee and Chakrabarti’s wife Tripti perform Seemar majhey aseem tumi |
Day two
The lobby of the hotel in Bur Dubai turned into a sea of blue blazers and striped ties as Xaverians trooped into the ballroom for the inauguration of Beyond Boundaries.
The guest of honour was Azad Moopen, an Indian doctor decorated with the Padma Shri, who is now based in Dubai.
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| SXCCAA members hand over a cheque for Rs 5 lakh to principal Father Felix Raj for the expansion of the college |
Everyone applauded with fervour as the first Global Xaverian Award was handed over to former commissioner of Calcutta police Gautam Mohan Chakrabarti. “I feel humbled by the recognition given to me. This award means more to me than any other because it comes from friends and family. They are your best critics, so praise from them means even more,” he said.
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| (From left) Arindam Sil, Bickram Ghosh and father Felix Raj enjoy Gautam Mohan Chakrabarti’s recitation of Tagore |
Chakrabarti, his wife Tripti, designer Agnimitra Paul, actor Shaheb Chatterjee and Xaverian Hasnu Mukherjee took the stage for Seemar majhey aseem tumi, a narration and song presentation, based on Xaverian Rabindranath Tagore’s songs and writings, compiled by the top cop.
A seminar on Indo-UAE relations was also part of the itinerary on Day II.
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| Gautam Mohan Chakrabarti receives the first Global Xaverian Award |
The evening was reserved for dance, music, backslapping and reminiscences as Xaverians from Dubai and Calcutta caught up.
“Prosenjit Raha was a junior and I had apparently threatened to slap him because he was acting smart with the girls. He came up to me here and narrated the incident. Now we have become friends,” laughed Xaverian and actor Arindam Sil.
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| Bickram Ghosh in performance |
Swastika Mukherjee and choreographer Sukalyan and his dance troupe took care of the entertainment, presenting Holi dances from different parts of India. Next followed Raaga Beats by Xaverian Bickram Ghosh.
“I love performing for my college and today was no different. The best part is, these people saw me play on the tables and benches in college and it is a challenge to give them something new every time,” smiled Ghosh.
DAY THREE
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| Pawan Ruia gets the Global Xaverian award from Father Felix Raj |
The morning of the third day was reserved for discussing all that had happened in the alumni association’s calendar in the past year and to draw up plans for the road ahead for the various chapters of the SXCCAA and the college itself. “All the batches pledged to raise money for a hostel and the Delhi Chapter proposed to hold the next international meet,” said convener of the convention Firdausul Hasan.
Work over, it was time for a quick lunch and the much-awaited Dubai tour. The shopaholics or those who came with shopaholics stayed back while others trooped into buses to grab the best seats.
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| Ustad Rashid Khan performs on the third evening of the convention with over 175 Xaverians in attendance |
First stop was the Gold Souk or gold market — a cluster of shops selling the yellow metal just as Gariahat sells bedcovers. The display windows dripped gold and there was not a guard in sight! Next was the Jumeirah Mosque — one of the largest and most attractive mosques in Dubai.
The man-made island Palm Jumeirah and the Atlantis hotel were much appreciated. Everyone rushed to the bus windows as the guide pointed out Shah Rukh Khan’s bungalow — “the one with the blue roof” at the end of one of the 16 fronds of the island.
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| The Dubai Gold Souk dazzled as much as it delighted. Husbands were seen walking into the shops with resigned expressions, knowing full well they would come out with lighter pockets |
The next destination in the “country of world records”, as the guide put it, was the world’s most luxurious and second tallest hotel — Burj Al Arab — which stands on an artificial island, off Jumeirah Beach. Some frantic shutter activity later, it was back to the bus for the next world record — Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building. The 2,712 ft tower is a mixed-use building with hotels (Armani), a mosque, offices and residences (psst... Shilpa Shetty has a property on the 90th floor, we were told). Right next to Burj Khalifa is Dubai Mall — an awe-inspiring shop stop with the biggest brands and miles of retail space.
Back to the hotel, tired but happy, the Xaverians dashed to their rooms to change for the evening’s cultural programmes. First was a screening of Xaverian Always — Part II, a film by Arindam Sil that made many relive their last day in college.
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| Jumeirah Mosque was a quick photo stop on the way to Jumeirah Beach |
Father Felix Raj presented the Global Xaverian Award to Pawan Ruia, chairman of the Ruia Group. “I have received many awards but nothing has ever touched me the way this has. There can’t be anything more honourable than getting recognition from one’s alma mater,” said Ruia.
“The international convention shows that St. Xaviers is going global, that the Xaverian spirit is not restricted to the college but is going beyond,” said the principal.
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| Burj Al Arab on Jumeirah Beach |
Another Xaverian living in Dubai who received the award was Rohit Walia, the CEO and founder of Bank Sarasin-Alpen and Alpen Capital.
The evening ended with a performance by Ustad Rashid Khan, cocktails and a sumptuous dinner spread.
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| Designer Agnimitra Paul with showstopper Paoli Dam, Shaheb Chatterjee and little Hiya |
Day four
Xaverians got up early on the final day in Dubai and disappeared into shopping malls during the first half of the day. While some headed out on their own to Dubai Mall, others followed their tour guide to Times Square. And emerged with LED televisions, cameras and laptops. Then they went to City Centre mall, which the aching feet said was at least three times the size of the one in Salt Lake.
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| Belly dancing was the most cheered event of the last evening in Dubai |
The afternoon was dedicated to capers in the sand — the famous desert safari. Loaded into some 30 Land Cruisers, the Xaverians went dune bashing in the sands of Al Badayer in Sharjah. And what a ride it was — grown men and women squealed like children as the SUVs zipped in and out of the dunes, skidding on the sand ever so often, in the middle of nowhere.
The almost two-hour ride, a photo stop included, passed in the blink of an eye and the thrilled troupe was led into a desert camp for the grand finale. With Pakora and Shawarma as appetisers, the Xaverian family got ready for some exotic entertainment.
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| Xaverians pose with Father Felix Raj in the middle of the desert |
Arindam Sil, the compere for the evening, turned heads in an Agnimitra Paul kurta. The actor had the audience in splits as he spilled stories about classmates and teachers from college with the polite prefix —“Father, you are not supposed to hear this”. The first act was Tanoura — an Egyptian dance form that closely resembles the Dervish dance, where men in skirts spin non-stop at mind-boggling speed.
Soon it was time for belly dancing, and the performer was greeted with loud cheers and whistles from the men and women alike.
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| The desert camp offered camel rides, henna tattoos, Arabian headdresses and dinner and entertainment amid cosy cushions |
The grand finale of the evening was a fashion show by Agnimitra Paul, choreographed by model Jessica Gomes. The show had five sequences with around 25 ensemble. Shaheb Chatterjee played a Xaverian boy who comes to Dubai to make a name and marries a princess — Paoli Dam. As part of the fashion show, members of the Dubai Chapter and their families sashayed in beautiful saris and flowing kaftans.
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| A Tanoura dance performance |
By the time the Bangali babu claimed the princess by defeating an Arabian prince, it was already 10pm and there was a flight to catch in under four hours!
Confusion reigned supreme at the airport as Xaverians struggled to manage their luggage, which had doubled in the last four days.
Back in Calcutta, a fervent exchange of phone numbers and many promises to stay in touch later, the second international convention of SXCCAA officially came to a close.
