by Mona Bhardwaj
This year AIKGA decided to hold Udyan Mela on 17th and 18th September at Gulmohar Park Club grounds, entry was free like always. The Mela inaugurated with Ganesh Vandana. Rain Gods were caring and it was clear on both days. This is the best time to shop for winter plants. Besides plants and seeds there were live workshops and display of water garden, books on gardening, organic vegetables and pulses, free ceramic pots as gifts, micro greens, super foods without sugar and preservatives, mouth-watering homemade delicacies and much more. Renu Sharma, Asha Kapur and Sujata Jain from Unit 39 put up their stalls.
Unit 39 is happy to announce the joining in of new convenors and moving of two senior Convenors to Mentorship. The head office of AIKGA has given its consent to this movement. The new positions would be as following
Convenors – Ila Sharma, Beena Jaikrishnan and Poornima Savargaonkar
Mentors – Hema Ganpati and Reenu Sood.
New Convenors have taken up the responsibility with a new approach. A change is visible and this will take the unit to greater heights.
A candid conversation with the mentors and founders of the Unit was fixed on 23rd September via Zoom platform. Senior founder and Convenors were invited to share their experiences. They were, Mrs. Neera Bhargava, Mrs. Indra Misra, Mrs Hema Ganpati, Mrs Renu Sood, Mrs. Seema Sud and Mrs. Ila Sharma and Mrs Sukirta Chopra.
After a brief introduction about AIKGA and its founders Smt. Lalita Shastri ji and Smt Sarla Bhargava ji, Poornima ji requested the guest speakers to share their journey and experiences one by one.
The main takeaway of the day was, gardening is a group activity, one needs to volunteer and participate, share and help each other, appreciate and spread the joy of gardening. It was interesting to know about the journey of connecting with the members by sending postcards for the monthly meetings, to phone calls, emails, whatsapp and now via zoom links.
All members are eager to start the offline meetings. It will bring more sense of belonging and the willing ness to work together for the unit and this humble and honoured association.
