SCRA Centenary Celebration In Jamalpur
Rajiv Upadhyay 
I have returned today after the centenary celebration of SCRA in Jamalpur . there were about forty people from outside including Sh/ Srimati Shyam Sundar from USA , Sh Pandya and Arvind Mathur were amongst the senior most people . SAS . S K Suri ’66 joined on line, the JA meeting . A seminar on Emerging Rolling Stock Technologies was organised in IRIMEE on 30 th and 31 st October because of which U Subba Rao GM/SR , P Ananth GM/SWR and Dimpy Garg GM/ ECR , DRM/Malda were able to join along with PCMEs. J.L.Singh’65 and Jamalpur Association’s Sushil Luthra and Naraynan were the principle coordinating officers with IRIMEE . DG/IRIMEE ( Old Principal ) and Dean Prem Prakash ( old PPT ) and their team did a very creditable job in looking after each guest . We all stayed in Gymkhana . Due to rain some morning programmes were washed out . One Tea in DG’s house and lunch in golf course were there .But mercifully we had a grand cultural programme in the evening in Gymkhana due to Rain God’s generosity. Srimati Joshi ( H C Joshi ’69) , Arora ( Arun Arora ), Smt Verma ( RituRaj Varma ) and a young girl , daughter presented very good songs. S K Prasad was the most enthusiastic singer also joined by D S Kunwar but apparently a talent developed after passing out. A professional group was also there .
Seminar included items on Hydrogen Train , Vande Bharat , Mono Rail etc . Sudhanshu Mani’s incredible performance in turning out a new train design in just 18 months was remembered just as much as the subsequent pettiness of Rly Board.
About Jamalpur , more wealth has now come as many car show rooms have opened along with small Malls . New bridge on Ganga at Munger has now permitted some direct trains to Munger . Roads in Bihar have visibly improved . Otherwise it is the ever un changing Bihar . In Jamalpur Water Works was painted for a get together ‘ knowledge averse ‘ guests including ladies . The Rly area including Golf Course is much greener. Shaw Store still runs by old Shaw’s son and grand son . Madras Hotel has become a multi cuisine restaurant . Hira Halwai shop was invisible .
JMP workshop makes wagons and some diesel and wagon POH , A Diesel Shed and a coaching depot has come up. IRIMEE is same minus SCAs.
JA Meeting was held in Gymkhana mess as usual . J L Singh was re elected as president , Arun Bhagra ‘ 67 as VP , Sushil Luthra as Secretary and members from almost all railways . New SAM Magazine was on display. Club Day will be in Delhi , a two day affair . 13 th night cultural programme by SAM/ SIMI volunteers.
Over all I was very happy that a grand and befitting programme was organised at Jamalpur and I along with many others were able to join . Thanks are due again to JA and DG/ IRIMEE Animesh Sinha .
I am sure with so much commitment 13 th / 14 th programme will be equally good.
