QCinNZ_Part_1

Quarter Century in New Zealand

Two Quarter Century in New Zealand Welcome Join us in rewinding a quarter century back and journey forward fondly remem- bering places, people and milestones in our life, since we moved to New Zealand as immi- grants on the 29th day of June, 1996. We thank Vijayanthi Vishwanathan, Colonel Krishna Prasad, Uma Prasad, Vaishnavi, Malathy, Ramamoorthy, Rathi, Divya, Ram, Gotham, Arti, Amitabh, and Harriet Priddey for sharing their thoughts with us. -Jaya and Tiru 1996 29 June: We (Tiru, Jaya , Arti and Amit) landed on New Zealand Soil as migrants from India. Next week we lose all our passports, money before we move to 96, Mt Smart Road. We with gratitude remember our friends– Prabhakar, Acchu and Rajamani for their timely help to move on. Arun was the first one to visit us in NZ. 12 October: First MMP election brings National/New Zealand First coalition government.

Three 1997 Gotham Ar- thanari joins the rest of the family in New Zealand. Auckland's Sky Tower is opened. Jim Bolger resigns as prime min- ister and is replaced by New Zealand's first woman prime minis- ter, Jenny Shipley. Landmark visit to Kamahi Street, Mt. Eden , by SAVI & Mrs. SAVI (Appa & Amma and Thatha & Patti) in June 1998.

Four Vaijayanti Vishwanathan’s Recollections... “First, let me congratulate you on your completing 25 years of blissful life in New Zealand. When you phoned me 25 years ago to inform me about your immigration plan to New Zealand, I was having a mixed feel- ing...one we were going to miss you and the other you would be having a great life in a beautiful country. And of course, we’ll visit you one day and see the country of my dreams. That was a consolation thought. As expected you have a won- derful life there. The best part was all of us visited you, especially our par- ents. Appa and Amma were so happy to tell their experience there with you. Appa could write an article about the trip as well. And we can’t forget our trip to your place and the wonderful time we had in your company. With so much enthusiasm Tiru would ask us every morning, “ where do you want to go to- day?” I remember you packing lunches before we step out for our picnics cum sightseeing. Those were the unforgetta- ble memories, which even today we share. And of course our fabulous trip to Queens town which was the high light of Our tour. We are looking forward to our next trip. Our best wishes for your healthy and happy stay in New Zealand for many more years. Let us all meet once again there and have a great get togeth- er. Hope my dream comes true”. 1998 Auckland city businesses hit by a power cut lasting several weeks. The women's rugby team, the Black Ferns, become the world champions.

Click to add photo Click to add photo 1999 Wedding of Goutham & Jaya, Tiru, Vishwanathan and Jayanthi at Queenstown , 2012 Vidhya on 8th July. Jaya joined Certifi- cate in Commercial Floristry course at UNITEC. Alcohol purchase age for off- licenses reduced from 20 to 18 years of age. Helen Clark's Fifth Labour Government is sworn in. “Let us all meet once again there and have a great get together. Hope my dream comes true.” - Vaijayanti Vishwanathan

Six Colonel Krishna Prasad’s Recollections... “A quarter-century ago you left our shores and landed in New Zealand with only hope, confidence and professional compe- tence in your bag. You started from scratch and with sheer determination and grit has risen to this state. Commendable indeed. On this occasion, we wish you many, many more happy years with good health and prosperity. Our two visits to this beautiful country have been most enjoyable and memorable. You both are hosts par excellence. We do look forward to vis- iting you again once COVID grants us a visa!! All the very best.” Uma Prasad’s Recollections… ``In the 90s New Zealand was just another country on the world map. We had only heard of it but we didn't know any- thing else about it. People used to even holiday only to the USA or Europe. My sister, Jaya, and her family took a very brave decision and migrated to New Zealand in 1996. Even then we had no idea what New Zealand would come to mean to us in the future. After settling down there Jaya and Tiru told us a lot of good things about New Zealand. Finally, we decided to visit NZ and we fell in love! Nature at its utmost beauty and the people are so simple, kind, and polite. Tiru and Jaya you are living in a paradise on earth. If it were- n't for you we would have never visited such an amazing coun- try and would have missed an experience of a lifetime. Con- gratulations on completing 25 years of living in New Zealand.” 2000 New Zealand became the first inhab- ited part of the world to see the sun rise in the new millennium. Go- tham and Vidya move to Washington DC, USA. Vishnavi and her saved Squirrel Aanya, Uma at Chennai

2001 Great writer, Click to add photo Editor, Journalist Savi passed away. We become NZ citizens. Abhi our first grandson was born on November 1. We move to our first home at 5, Millstream Drive, Hender- son. Interest accrual is removed from student loans while studying. SCalinckktohya, Vaishnavi at Chennai add photo Col. Prasad, Jayanthi, Uma and Jaya at Chennai, 2017. “My trip to new Zealand and spending time with you all was wonderful, but beyond that, Vaishnavi Prasad’s Recollections… I can only congratulate you and perimma on 25 years successfully completed. I hope to visit again soon”

Malathy Ramamoorthy’s Recollections... Eight “Where do I begin? How do I begin? The thought that comes to my mind immediately is, you settling down in New Zealand with your lovely family and made it your home, sweet home. A place so green, beauti- ful, breath-taking with stunning scenic drives and never before seen blue water beaches. When I heard from you that you were moving to New Zea- land I had to search on the world map to make sure where it was exactly located. And I vaguely remembered this name associated with cricket because that was the only game talked and breathed about in India. Your letters were always full of ‘life in NZ’, how the peo- ple were simple and friendly, the welcome banner kept for Amitabh on his first day at school, your daily walks, most beautiful and colourful flowers, fruit trees in galore on the roadside, winding roads, overlooking ranges, green meadows and vineyards and through your letters, not just the English side of it but also came to know about the rich Māori culture. Memories unfold like the beautiful collage, painting and mosaic tile art you both create... Arti ‘s schooling and col- lege, graduating fashion technology, Jaya joining a floris- try course, Athimber’s slow and steady winning of the hearts of the University of Auckland, both of you being open to all your three children choosing their life part- ners - last but not the least- very Inspiring, lovable grandkids Abhishek, Sankhya, Ishan and Amara. They say that when you deeply yearn and dream for some- thing to happen which was the case with all of us especial- ly Rathi, God finds a way to fulfil our dreams. Words fail to express my feelings of utmost happiness when we first called you in NZ and told you that very soon you were going to have a Neighbour and asked you to guess who it was? You all jumped with joy when we told that Rathi was getting married and coming to Auckland. Indeed, She became Arti’s Neighbour. It has always been a double scoop of ice cream for us vis- iting Rathi’s family and your family all these years. There is so much warmth and love in your hearty hospitality each time we meet. 2002 Arti’s graduation. Obtained her BA in Fashion Technology. KIWI Bank is formed.

Nine Ramamoorthy’s family at Amit & Harriet’s Wedding on 18th May, 2018. The joyous moments we have had in Family get-togethers, 2003 Wedding of Arti weddings, outings, picnics, new year parties, festivals and birthday celebrations. To top these all, it was a great pleas- & Rajeev on 6th Febru- ure being part of Ami’s life journey/milestones - his wed- ary. Population of New ding, baby shower, the birth of Amara and her first birth- Zealand exceeds 4 million. day party. (Not because of our fam- Wishing the jubilant moments, days, years to continue for- ily wedding!) ever and ever. Ramamoorthy joins me in Wishing you and your sweet family many more jubilees to follow with much more happiness health and peace.”

Ten Gotham Arthanari’s Recollections... “My Dad embarked on a journey, bringing us along, from India to New Zealand to explore and discov- er a society that aligns with his ethical and moral values. To start a journey, one ought to leave the present state, which in many cases leaving behind your comfort zone, accumulated relationships, and acclimatized conditions. We landed in Auck- land with packed bags containing gathered memo- ries and heaps of hope. Days and years into the journey continued to be challenging, yet we marched forward by devouring memories and hope from our packed baggage from India. Over the years, the new land has given us new relation- ships, taught us new lessons, furnished new mem- ories, enriched our ethical and moral values, and provided us with a new comfort zone - a zone of freedom, unity, and tranquillity. As Steve Jobs said, \"You can't connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backward...so be confident and follow your heart...\" Yes, just like how my Dad embarked on his journey of hope.” 2004 Tiru’s mum (Attur Patti) visits us. Supreme Court of New Zealand established in 2003 starts functioning. Left: Amit and Abhishek at NZ Navy Museum Right: Gotham, Abhi, Jaya and Amit, before the start of the Pandemic.

Eleven Gotham signing at Amitabh & Harriet’s Wedding, 2018 2005 Sankhya was born on 16th of September. The next day, NZ has its general election. Labour-led govern- ment returned for a third term. Not the three monkeys of Mahatma Gandhi. Sathya, Gotham, and Rajeev.

Twelve Siddharti Pandey’s Recollections... Arti at Muriwai “When I first saw Auckland from the grey cloudy skies as Beach we landed, it didn’t look anything vaguely enticing. Dark mountainous landforms gently reminding me that I am no longer going to be on familiar grounds. There was an air of excitement yet a sense of caution that I felt. It was al- most like a new pet finding its way into its owner’s home. I cannot forget the wafting smells of vegetable pulav, chips, and sweet yogurt served by mum. It was our first meal in a foreign land. I thought mum was a genius to be able to quench some of our thirst for our homeland through her magical hands. She is love. Interest- ingly, we were blessed enough to have always been showered with plenty of such delightful, soul healing meals. Although times were tough financially, I never felt any kind of deficit, as mum and dad taught us to appreciate the richness of a different sort. These remain the funda- mentals for happiness I suppose. Countless nature walks we took. It was a simple life but a great one. I saw lotuses blossom on trees. Some call them Magnolias. Clean, cool winds blew over me chilling my spines alongside my face, leaving it with an ever so slightly colder nose like icing on a cake. At such times I consoled myself looking at the bright side - maybe it will help pre- serve my youthfulness for the future. It was paradise on earth. While I manoeuvred my teenage years through school it was an interesting struggle. They told me that my English was surprisingly good for an immi- grant. Yet I still struggled to understand the Kiwi ac- cent. It was all too fast and there were many things to adjust with. The staff and students were generally 2006 Our most loved Janaki Patti leaves us. Labour enacts its election promise to remove inter- est on loans to students living in New Zealand. Sankhya and their new pet

Thirteen In hindsight, I felt that it would have helped to have come here when I was much younger. I adapted enough but intuitively careful not to let go of the essence of what makes me the unique and fabulous me. It was a lot to take in let alone think about my future. So, I fo- cussed on forming friendships. Fast-forwarding to now. I am extremely proud of myself and my achievements. I became a teacher with full reg- istration. I have bought my own home, an investment property, and a car. I am able to contribute financially to my family. They are central to my wellbeing. I made and continue to make a difference to children, families, and the community through my job. My focus is to notice and uplift individuals in whatever way possible, one person at a time. That happiness is priceless. “ When it comes to life I have gone with the flow and made my own major life decisions. Not much was ever planned! I thank my parents for that and also my loving husband who is nothing short of my own personal genie. I will also thank my children and pets who have taught me to develop my interest in education, patience, and un- derstanding unconditional love. All praises to love which is the rarely acknowledged, un- derlying, and undeniable strong glue that binds us to things, people, animals, and places!” 2007 Shifted to 235 A Metcalfe Road, Ranui. Ram joined his engagement ceremony to Rathi on 22nd February at this resi- dence with Anita and Shankar. KiwiSaver retirement savings scheme introduced. Willie Apiata receives the first Victoria Cross for New Zealand. Rathi and Ram arrive on August 4th after their wedding on 11th July at Chennai.

Fourteen Amitabh Arthanari’s Recollections... “I often wonder what my life would have looked like if we had not immigrated to New Zealand. What kind of child- hood would I have had? What kind of man would I have grown into? It is difficult to reconcile aspects of my culture and the identity that have shaped me here and that of a different life in India. I consider my life here in New Zealand a paradise, where we live in normality, taking for granted what others in the world would consider a luxury. I have often reflected on how ‘blessed’ or ‘lucky’ we are to have a life here in New Zealand. However, I hardly think we are fated to live the lives that are put before us. I don’t believe in blessings or luck for that matter. Rather, I consider the words of the philosopher Emanual Kant who famously said: “Give me matter, and I will construct a world out of it!” Our paths have been hard-fought and founded by deci- sions. Decisions to leave the comfort of your home and seek out a better life; Decisions to stay when faced with adversity and meet the challenges that life throws at you; and ultimately, decisions to embrace a foreign way of life as your own and set down roots. I am thankful to my parents who have forged this path for me, as I reflect on how I can build a better future for my family.” 2008 Malathy and Ramamoorthy ‘s vis- it to NZ. 11 January: mountaineer Sir Edmund Hillary dies. The National Party gains the largest share ending 9 years of Labour-led govern- ment. Helen Clark is named Administrator of the United Nations Development Pro- gramme (UNDP).

Fifteen Harriet Priddey’s Recollections... 2009 “Congratulations on your anniversary of arrival! New Atea-1, Zealand is lucky to have you here – people who truly ap- the first preciate the beauty of the country and contribute so New Zea- much to it. I can only imagine what a huge decision it land rocket must have been to make the move. I am so happy you in space is did because of course it has brought me into your fami- launched. ly. Thank you for welcoming me with love and kindness. Best of luck for the next quarter century ahead.”

Rathi, Ram, Molaga and Svojas’s Recollections... “It all started with me waving goodbye to you all at the Madras In- ternational Airport. Then came the postcards from the cousins, fol- lowed by Savi thatha’s epic portrayal of NZ through his eyes. Thus started my scrapbook of NZ, with a picture of a single willow tree by a lake and myCliocktbo session of ferns under my signature. AsClickbtooth of you continued to adpdpahoitont mental images of rolling green meadoadwdphsoto and gur- gling brooks nearby, my fiery obsession for NZ was merely being stoked. And flash forward, you celebrated buying the Metcalfe house, just as Ram and I celebrated our engagement. Etched in the memory of 4th August 2007, when you both received Ram and me at the airport, with our friends Anitha & Shankar, to make us feel welcomed and start our brand new married life. Through the blur of 14 years since the road has a montage of memo- ries of us, smelling sweet pink magnolias at Albert park, of bush walks and listening to the cascade of Fairy falls at the Waitakeres, making mud cakes with Sankhya and her bribes of pink marshmallows, the birth of Ona (Sankhya’s pet name for Ishan), and of playing cricket with the whanau and rules written in water at Orewa beach. Encouraging us to look beyond the impossible and hoping for a vine- yard facing home, even while the knockbacks in the house hunt looked so bleak, the Cblicketo acon of your unbridled support shone soClibcktoright, we realised the adddrpheotoams of a house so Royal, for our dog-pradidnphcotoe loyal, as Molaga joined in, the pack became three. Through the ebbs and flows of life, as we straggled and leapt around life’s curveballs, and through the shadows and light, we saw the sparkling tears of joy emerge, as news of Svojas taking form dawned upon you. We became 4. Below Left: Rathi and Svojas Below Right: Rathi and Harriet on the occasion of the Baby Shower, 23rd February 2010 Ishan Pandey is born on 30th January. Prince William of Wales visits NZ. Broadcaster Paul Henry re- signs after questioning if New Zealand's ethnic minori- ty Governor-General Anand Satyanand, is a proper New Zealander. 19 November: Pike River mine explosion traps and kills 29 miners.

2011 Divya weds Karthik at Chennai. 22 February: A magnitude 6.3 earthquake strikes Christchurch causing widespread damage and 184 deaths. Uma & Col. Prasad’Cslicktmo emorable visit to NZ, made atddophowto atch Rug- by after a quick introduction by Jaya. 23 October: All Blacks win Rug- by World Cup against France, 8– Clickto 7 in Eden Park, New Zealand. add photo Kala, Svojas, Raja And then came the Sankhya, baby Svojas wedding of your dear youngest son, bestowing upon us the joy of union, as well as that of Svojas and Aadya meeting for the very first time. Despite red skies due to bush fires and the human struggles of viral confines, came the miracle of life, as NZ remembered its red poppy flowers, reminded us of yet another reason, for living this joyful adventure called life, with a name called Amara. And just as we shared and relished the birth, we shared and grieved a loss unlike or unheard, yet all through this steadfast you remained, strong and unrelenting, you gave us courage. Through coffees and beer pakodas shared many a time, with laughter and tears, and some harmless jibes, Peripa and Perima, and the rest of the Tiru clan, we join you in celebrating the silvers in our hairs and the crow's feet around our eyes, we wish you heartily a 25th Happy Kiwi-versary!!!”

Flowers, gardens and Ikebana’s…. Click to Click to add photo add photo Click to Click to add photo add photo “We are so happy to be entertained by the beauty, scents, structure and colours of flowers, gardens and flower arrangements. We were lucky to see plenty of them along this journey. 2012 Jayanthi & Vishwanathan make their memorable visit to NZ. Amit obtained his BE (Hons) degree. Charles, Prince of Wales and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall visit the coun- try as part of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Malathy, Ramamoorthy at the Golf Course bush walk entrance

Click to add photo Click to add photo Lake Panorama 2013 19 August: Same-sex marriage is legalised. 1 Decem- ber: Analogue television is switched off. 2013 5 March: The 2013 New Zealand census of Population and Dwellings is held. 19 August: Same-sex marriage is legalised. 1December: Analogue television is switched off.

Twenty

Twenty-one Opposite side: A scene from Metz Above: Hanging baskets, 235 Metcalfe Road Right: Ikebana by Jaya

Click to add photo Click to add photo Left: At the Graduation, Tiru, Davood, Prof Clickto Michael Myers add photo Top Left and Right : Arti’s Graduation, Town Hall, Aotea Square, Auckland Bottom Left: Amit, Tiru and Sankhya at Hobsonville, Bottom Right: Sankhya & Amit at Botanical Gardens 2014 Vaishnavi, Uma, and Col. Prasad visit NZ. New Zealand wins a seat on the United Nations Security Coun- cil, starting from 2015.

Click to add photo Janaki Patti, Savi Thatha, Jaya and Tiru at DevenPort,1998. Below Left: Writer Sivasakari and Jaya at the Business School Auckland. Below Right: Jaya, Foad, Mahsa and Tiru at Dr Foad and Mahsa’s Home, 2015 Attur Patti leaves us peacefully while having her afternoon siesta. 25 October: The All Blacks Win the Rugby World Cup, the only team to ever win the tournament twice in a row.

Click to Click to add photo add photo Click to add photo 2016 Queen's Diamond Jubilee The 2016 Kaikoura earthquake was a magnitude 7.8 (Mw) earthquake in the South Island

Click to add photo Jaya at Disney World, Orlando Tiru at Metz, France 2017 26 June: Emirates Team New Zealand wins the 35th Ameri- ca's Cup. 2 July: Waterview Tunnels open, NZ’s longest road tunnels. 26 October: Labour leader Jacinda Ardern becomes the 40th Prime Minister of New Zealand.

Click to add photo 2018 Tiru visits Neuchatel after twenty years., this time with Jaya. During the first visit Amitabh was born on 2nd August 1988, and Tiru returned to Chen- nai cutting short his visit. Tiru and Jaya were in Chengdu, China and visited the Giant Panda Breeding Centre. 11 May – A wave of about 24 metres (79 ft) height, the highest ever record- ed, is observed near Campbell Island south of New Zealand

Click to Click to add photo add photo Jaya and Tiru at Moyen Point, Metz Jaya and Tiru at Leshan, China Metz Click to Click to Click to add photo add photo add photo Jaya at Basel, Switzerland At Warsaw Posnan, Poland Jaya at Metz, France 2019 At Prague Tiru and Jaya were in Chengdu, China for the second time. Visited Shanghai on the way back just before the COVID-19 pandemic scare started. Gotham and Abhi visited NZ. 15 March: Christchurch mosque shootings, 51 peo- ple are killed during an attack on two mosques.

Click to Click to add photo add photo Click to add photo At Singapore Changi Airport, Waiting to board our first flight to Click to Auckland add photo 2020 Gotham and Abhi Left: Tiru, ICIS, Conference, Phoenix , Arizona, 2019. return to US be- Above: Profile of Tiru taken by Bacha,. fore COVID out- break. Started, after the family reunion. Amara was born on the Anzac day 25th April, during lock- down.

Click to Ramya, Tiru at the Hilton,Click to Fremont add photo add photo Attur Patti and Rajeev Seetha, Tiru, Ajay at Swagath, Fremantle Rathi, Amit, Ram , Jaya and Tiru at Sylvia Park Bacha, Tiru, at Sala Thai 2021 Seetha, Bacha at the Lake, 2010 We celebrate QC in NZ. Team New Zealand retains America’s Cup.

Weddings…. Thirty

Thirty-one Gotham weds Vidhya on 8th July 1999. Abhi and Gotham visit NZ in 2019 for a family reunion. Satya and Gotham visit NZ in 2018 during Amitabh and Harriet’s wedding.

Thirty-two Arti weds Rajeev on 6th February , 2003

Thirty-three

Thirty-four

Thirty-five Amitabh weds Harriet on 18th May, 2018

Places, People and pets… Thirty-six WaterJaya at Market Place, Warsaw, Poland Temple built during later Chola period at Janaki Patti’s native village Jayanthi, Jaya, Uma at Mambakkam Village Jaya , Abhi at the Aquarium, KL

Thirty-seven Jaya at Musée de l'Orangerie - Monet’s Water Lilies

Thirty-eight Tiru, Shanthi, Jaya, Raj at Greymouth Station Nirmala, Venkatraman, Pam, Stuart Laird at Amara’s Birthday Party

Thirty-nine

Divya’ Ramamoorthy’s I remember (the year seems vague.. was it 96’?) my mother seemed very excited after her call with Jaya Perima. I wondered what could be so exciting. After all, the con- Click to veradCsdlicpakhtootto ions usually circled around the menu add photo for lunch and if the tamarind pulp made it to the rasam (just for laughs). My mother was grinning so wide and informed that the Tirus were moving to New Zealand. I must have been 10 years old and I remember wondering “why not one of the other popular destinations such as the US, UK, or Singapore?”. People in our circle moving to NZ was unheard of. Two decades and more later, I un- derstand why. In a way, I’ve always felt that your family’s move catapulted a chain of events for many of us, most importantly, my sister Rathi. I look back and appreciate how I may have never seen what could possibly be considered the most beautiful place on Earth if your family had not stepped foot on the remarkableClickAto otearoa. Click to add photo add photo The 25 years, I’m sure felt like a breeze. So many memories, discoveries and events of beautiful times together. I think of the quote by an Amish au- thor, Sue Bender - “I went searching in a foreign land and found my way home” Here’s to an amazing 25 years in New Zealand! Karthik and Aadya join me in wishing your entire family a lifetime of togetherness and an ocean of memories in Oceania! Recollections...

Wainamu walk is an interesting 8-hour walk starting at the Click to Waitakere Golf course ending in Bethell’s Beach. Tiru , David add photo Sundaram and colleagues have done this twice. In this bush walk apart from trekking up and down the Waitakere ranges, Remember, we lost our passports soon after our arrival we cross five waterfalls, a marshy backwater river, a sand in NZ. Raghuraman, was my student at ISI, and was dune, and a beach. On the second trip, Tiru after the last wa- living in Wellington at that time. He bailed us out by terfall was swimming to the other side. David saw him in dis- paying the passport application fees to the Indian High tress and came swimming back and saved him. Thus Tiru Commission. Luckily the passports were found by the recalls this incident today sayCilinckgto, ‘Thank you David.’ NZ Police after eleven months. Then I requested the IHC to issue our new passports on Gratis. And they did. Our add photo thanks to Raghuraman, NZ police and IHC, and we could return the amount to Raghuraman with gratitude. Without generation Gap! But appears to be Social Distancing.

Ram’s Recollections... Forty-two “I have known you for 14 years. I remember we first met in Kingsland following the news of Rathi and me about to get engaged. Not knowing what to expect about formalities etc, you both made it so easy and welcoming me into your family. When you invited me for lunch at Ranui, we hit it off so well and didn’t feel like strangers. And the photos you sent to my in-laws and Rathi, their reaction was one of wonder and said it was as if we had known each other for years before meeting. For me, my fondest memories with you all, were when we went on bush walks to Fairy Falls, Cascade Falls and Waikowhai. And remem- ber Perima, we went for a midnight ice cream to Mission Bay and a drunkard was blocking the road not allowing us to pass! And the comforting home-cooked food that you always make, asking for my preferences whenever I come is very special, feels like my mum’s cooking. We are grateful for both of you being our pillar of support during our house hunting days. And still recall those days fondly. I am in a way happy Svojas gets to play with his Tiru thatha and Jaya paati due to COVID preventing you guys from travelling The most standout for me is my camaraderie with Peripa when we both gang up against perima, to tease her in good humour and for her being a sport. I want to end this trip down memory lane with our favourite quote which is our own inside joke - “Kaatula Mettula Roadula and Boatula”!!! and may you be blessed with another 25 years in a joyous manner.“ Amit, Arti, Rathi, Jaya, Tiru – Receiving the newly wed at the Airport Rathi having a glimpse of the new land and breathing in the magnolia’s greetings

Forty-three Amit’s completed painting — seascape Jaya, Emeline, Vidhya at 1, Kamahi Street, Mt Eden. Occasion: Celebrating Thalai Deepavali of Vidhya Kalinga Nardhanam statue, a present from BHEL Trichy presented to Rajamani, during their visit to 235 a Metcalfe Road, Ranui Tiru, DR Gujral, Amit, Harriet, Kiity, Jaya at A&H wedding, Raj, Shanthi at 235, Metcalfe Raod Mona Lisa and Mona, the artist Elke, Jaya, Thomas at Metz

Forty-four Last but not least A LOVELY FAMILY IN A LOVELY PICTURESQUE COUNTRY A new life with New Zeal “Jaya Arthanari, Arti, and Amit with Tiru giving up the cosy job of a Direc- tor at Indian Statistical Institute was certainly a major decision to move to New Zealand in their quest for the best life and surroundings. Awestruck though, still inspired us to look for our settling in this beautiful country full of abundant natural scenery, hill slopes with meadows and waterfalls. Per- haps it was this yearning to share the lovely beautiful moments that brought us all together. Rathi back in her school days used to draw and sketch fern leaf with her sig- nature. Her dream came true later when Rathi got married to Ram and landed in Auckland. Gave us relief that Tiru and Jaya have been great fami- ly support to them. Always at home with Tiru Jaya’s hospitality and the variety of food careful- ly chosen and prepared to suit our tastebuds. New Zealand is a blessed heav- en on earth. Tiru, Jaya with their lovely children and grandkids made it their heaven on earth. Looking back 25 years can only connect the dots of a beau- tiful life. No wonder Tirus enjoyed 25 years of blissful life here in NZ and wishing much more to come by.” Ramamoorthy’s Recollections...

Forty-five The Blue Spring at Te Waihou Walkway

Forty-six Students are welcomed at the beginning of the semester, Business school, the University of Auckland (Seen from Tiru’s room, 435 , Level 4 , OGGB, 12, Grafton Road Auckland) Dr Gujral, Tiru, at Jesu’s Wedding. David White, Ann, Jim Sheffield, Judith at Amara’s 1st B ’Day

Forty-seven Tiru at the National Automobile museum at Reno, Nevada. Below: A wise statement found on a wall in that museum.

Click to add photo Ram, Jaya, Priya, Malathy, Rathi, Gotham, Amit, Abhi, Vidya, Sankhya, Rajeev, Arti, Satya, Tiru and Ramamoorthy At Orewa , Auckland, Cut along the dotted line .5 inch margin for binding To be continued...