If you can think of an organization which, strictly speaking has no name, no constitution, and no membership yet has been going on for the last over twenty five years – such in our get together. It was started by a few likeminded people who felt that social calls where inanities like “how are you? What is happening? Who is superseding who” etc. are talked about, are meaningless. They decided that they will get together once a month at somebody’s house and talk with ‘somepurpose. Any person can walk in or be introduced, or walk out at will. Its purpose travels only by the word of month. After a few early hiccups, this get together gained strength and direction. In its voluntary membership there are bureaucrats, journalists, doctors, professors, policemen, advocates, writers… At every get together a subject, a speaker, a host and a date (usually the first Monday of the month) is decided upon. The get together begins with ‘Tea’ Provided by the host, then the speaker introduces the subject, and then the subject is debated, often hotly and passionately – no holds barred – and ends with the decision for the next date, place, and subject, whatever may have been the tone of discussions, the end is always amicable. Everyone goes home with a feeling of satisfaction. The only means of communication is the lowly postcard which is sent to all members a week before the get together a few of the subjects discussed are 1. Total literacy, 2. Disaster in Dabwali, 3. Kabir, 4. Gender Question, 5. Eclipse of Culture, 6. Islam in India, 7. Urbanisation, 8. Short stories, 9. Wandering in Himalayas, 10. Creativity and literature… …

In brief this get together keeps going on to own momentum. There is no driving force behind it, no president, no secretary, no constitution and no substitution, no rules. That is its strength. That is perhaps also its purpose. It derives everything from within.

(Hand-written on stationary issued by School of Planning and Architecture, New Delhi)