Asoka High School

My friends know I'm not normally a speechmaker, but I was willing to make the exception to express gratitude to a guest of honor, a very special Teacher Mr. Mari at our 40th school reunion in order to highlight his contributions to the school, the community, the alumni and to us as individuals.

Wow, we did it. For the past year and every Monday, the planning committee met online.

None of this would have been possible without the tireless effort and meticulous planning of our incredible Steerco.

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When asked to deliver the opening prayer for our reunion, I approached the task considering our diverse religious beliefs. The goal was to create an inclusive moment of reflection that would resonate with everyone present, regardless of their faith or spiritual practice.
In crafting a universal prayer, I focused on five essential elements that bind us together : 1/Heritage - Honoring our shared beginnings and the journey that brought us here, 2/Unity - Celebrating the bonds that have kept us connected through the years, 3/Gratitude - Acknowledging our collective achievements and individual growth,4/Aspiration - Sharing hopes for our continued success and future endeavors, 5/Celebration - Blessing this gathering and the memories we'll create together. With these themes in mind, I offered the following prayer:

Good evening, esteemed alumni, honored guests, and cherished friends,

It's with great pleasure and a sense of nostalgia that I stand before you today. As I look around this room, I see faces that bring back memories of our days at Asoka Secondary School. But more than that, I see a group of individuals who have come together to make a profound difference in our community.

Wow class of 85 you loook incredible tonight i feel so proud to be amongst you fine fine people. You come from the 9 & tonnite you dressed yo the nines Good evening, my lovelies, my most dearest & treasued friends ! I've titled my speech Roots and Wings: Honouring Our Foundation and Celebrating Our Flight" It’s an absolute pleasure to stand here today among you esteemed folks the faces that have shaped my life for approximately "forty remarkable years"—or as my knees like to remind me, approximately 14,600 days of gravity testing and gravity-defying adventures.

Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, esteemed classmates, and honoured guests.

It is my privilege tonight to introduce our guest speaker—a man whose influence has rippled far beyond the walls of the classroom. A mentor, a leader, and an exemplar of compassionate discipline: Mr. S. Mari.

In 2011, at New Forest High School in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, I began a transformative journey in STEM education and helped establish an FLL LEGO League robotics team at New Forest High School where I am an Educator. As a mentor, I watched a group of curious, bright-eyed learners embrace this new challenge, armed with nothing more than a LEGO kit and boundless enthusiasm. This initiative brought robotics and problem-solving skills to our students, fostering critical thinking, teamwork, and innovation. The experience not only impacted the young participants but also transformed my own perspective on education and mentorship. Thank you to the generosity of SAP. The sponsorship was obtained particularly through MDEF member Raj Dhaniraj who worked at SAP. With MDEF team support we were able to make a meaningful difference in the lives of many young South African students, setting them on a path of technological exploration and creativity. The programme spread to Asoka Secondary, my alumni school and subsequently to more than 100 children in KZN.

My dear friends, what a joy it is to see all your beautiful faces here tonight. Forty years may have passed since our school days, but looking around this room, I feel like we've stepped back in time to those cherished moments we shared.

To our beloved teachers, Mr. Mari and Mr. Ganas, your presence here warms my heart. You nurtured not just our minds, but our spirits too. The lessons you taught us, both from books and from life, have guided us through the years. We're so grateful to have you here to celebrate with us.

Good evening ladies and gentlemen. It’s an honour to be here tonight, as the guest of honour, at this milestone 40th year reunion of the 1985 Matric graduates of Asoka High School. Seeing so many familiar faces brings back a flood of memories and I am indeed proud to be a part of this special occasion. To the members of the organising committee I want to thank you for honoring me as you chief guest on this momentous occasion. I also wish to thank the committee for the time and effort you have put in to ensure that this occasion is attended by most of our Asokan graduates and the educators of 1985... continued. (S. MARI)

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