Mysuru | 22 August 2026
After months of planning, anticipation, and countless conversations, our much-awaited St. Joseph’s 1980 Batch Reunion was grandly held in Mysuru on 22 August 2026.
It was not merely a reunion; it was a celebration of friendship, cherished memories, laughter, happiness, and the golden days we spent together as schoolmates.
Our dear friends Lion Manoj and Vidushi Kamala played a key role in bringing everyone together. We were also honoured to have our dear friends and distinguished guests Mr. H. N. Premkumar and Mrs. Rathna Premkumar, along with our beloved friend and former MLA Mr. H. P. Manjunath, as special guests.
A beautiful farmhouse near Hinkal, Mysuru, surrounded by lush greenery, was chosen as the venue. From the morning onwards, our friends began arriving from Bengaluru, Hunsur, Mysuru, Hassan, and various other places.
Manoj, Kamala, and Kumar arrived from Bengaluru. Noorjahan, Victoria, Francina, Jacob, Girish, Ravi, Ramachandra, Aruna, Krishnamurthy, Mohan (Vidyadhar), Rani, Shailaja, Venkatesh, Ashok, Shivaprakash, Johna, Mamatha from Hassan, and many other friends arrived with great enthusiasm.
Manoj had specially arranged 35 beautiful varsity pullovers for all of us. Even selecting the sizes became a little adventure, continuing right up to 21 August! Our friends Japan Deepu and Arun also helped in collecting everyone’s sizes.
As we entered the venue, the beautiful surroundings and greenery immediately created a warm and welcoming atmosphere. We were greeted with wonderful hospitality, along with hot samosas and refreshing drinks.
The moment we saw one another, our faces lit up with happiness, surprise, and the familiar smiles of old friends. It felt as though the years had simply disappeared. In no time, we were once again the same school friends we had been decades ago.
The programme began with a devotional song by our friend Mamatha. This was followed by beautiful songs by Kamala, Noorjahan, Srinivas, and Venkatesh, which touched everyone’s hearts and added a musical charm to the occasion.
Soon afterwards, our dear friend and former MLA Mr. H. P. Manjunath arrived. He was warmly welcomed by everyone. Handshakes, hugs, laughter, and conversations about the old days filled the atmosphere with even greater joy.
The fun continued with balloon chasing and easy-chair games, bringing back the excitement and innocence of our childhood. Everyone participated enthusiastically, completely forgetting age and simply enjoying the moment.
Then came the much-awaited grand feast!
The non-vegetarian spread included delicious dishes such as fish fry, chicken kebab, and kalmi kebab, among many others. The fish fry, in particular, was a favourite among everyone.
The vegetarian live counter was equally impressive. The butter crispy beans and ghee dosa were exceptionally delicious—so good that it felt difficult to find such flavours even in Bengaluru.
There were also a variety of vegetable dishes, chilli bajji, lime rice, puliyogare, and several other delicacies.
The meal was completed with traditional sweets and treats including obbattu, payasa, beeda, and fresh fruits.
Later, our chief guests Mr. H. N. Premkumar and Mrs. Rathna Premkumar arrived. Everyone warmly interacted with them, exchanged greetings, and expressed their affection and good wishes. They were respectfully honoured, and Mr. H. P. Manjunath was also warmly felicitated.
Several friends, including Ashok, Kamala, Noorjahan, Francina, Manoj, Shivaprakash, Venkatesh, Srinivas, Kumar, Krishnamurthy, and others, shared their thoughts and memories. They recalled amusing incidents from our school days, their experiences and friendship with Manjunath, and the beautiful memories we have shared over the years.
One of the most joyful moments of the day was the birthday celebration of our dear friend Manoj. A delicious cake was cut, and Venkatesh presented him with a gift. Everyone wished Manoj a very happy birthday with warmth and affection.
Then came the much-awaited group photograph.
That single photograph captured far more than our faces. It captured four decades of friendship, memories, affection, laughter, and togetherness.
The celebrations continued with more games, dancing, and laughter. A particularly memorable moment was when Prajwal, Manoj’s son, taught everyone the steps of Kolata. Holding the sticks and dancing together, everyone participated with youthful enthusiasm.
At the end of the programme, Manoj presented each of us with a special varsity pullover. It became a beautiful and lasting souvenir of an unforgettable day.
As evening approached, Venkatesh, Mohan (Vidyadhar), Johna, Murthy, Gopi, Chuti, and many other friends gathered around the table. They continued chatting, recalling their school days, laughing over old memories, and sharing the happiness of being together once again.
Another special highlight was the participation of our friends Vishwakoti, Bhanu Prakash, and Anish Uthappa, who are living abroad. They joined us through a video call and happily interacted with everyone, sharing laughter and reminiscing about the old days. Their virtual presence made the reunion even more special.
Eventually, the time came to say goodbye and return home.
But no one really wanted the day to end.
The reunion of 22 August 2026 was much more than an event. It reminded us once again that true friendship does not fade with time.
We came together as classmates from the 1980 batch, but when we returned home, we carried with us something much more precious—we were once again the same old friends, carrying new memories in our hearts.
Some days become memories.
Some memories become treasures.
And some friendships remain with us for a lifetime.
22 August 2026 — a golden day our St. Joseph’s 1980 Batch will cherish and remember forever.
