When we were young camping meant adventure and fun with friends and a time to enjoy the unique joys of childhood. I for one was always excited when our school announced a camp -whether a night camp at school or a few days camp at some jungle, hill or riverside. I would go home and start planning the snacks, games and the mix tape (yes millennials, this was a thing in the early 80s), to be carried to the campsite.
Like everything else, adulthood has killed the infinite joys of our childhood, especially with the word camp. Now, for the last 18 months, I stand guilty of announcing more than half a dozen BORING camps for residents of South City-1 at the dilapidated SCRWA office at B-84.
These camps have been organised for residents to get their Voter ID Aadhar Card, Parivaar Pehchan Patra, verification of DHBVN data, payment of Property Tax and camps for health check-ups. While most of these are very useful for Residents, they do not provide even an iota of fun for someone who associates camps with adventure.
The only adventure is visible at these camps is heated arguments among attendees about who came earlier and should be attended to first and how SCRWA office bearers are incompetent to organise even a proper queuing mechanism for such small camps.
Many residents, swearing me to utmost secrecy, have confided to me that organising such camps regularly is allowing them to mingle with Residents from other blocks and this is surely doing some good. Well, if they are finding some benefits, who am I to bore you with my stupid thoughts?
May such CAMPS continue but for me camps will always have a different meaning and now I am thinking of this wonderful song sung by the great Kishore Kumar that reminds me of a camp by a riverside:
Yeh raaten yeh mausam
Nadi ka kinara yeh chanchal hawa
PS: SCRWA EC members would like to thank a Resident who prefers anonymity and has donated 2 good-looking office tables with great storage options. We promise to take good care of your gift.
We are willing to thank any other Resident (even name them if they want) who can donate a few chairs, curtains and cabinets for the SCRWA office.
