THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: You’ve heard of schools and colleges organising Old Boy reunions. But a hostel? Former inmates of the K George Hostel of YMCA Thiruvananthapuram will come together on March 24 as part of the 50th anniversary of the institution.
Present inmates and the YMCA have cast their net wide to trace people who had, over the years, made the hostel their second home since it was established in 1963. ‘’There are many people on the list who have gained eminence in later life. DGP Jacob Punnoose and M M Hassan, for example. But we are on the search for the seniormost inmates,’’ said Anoop M, a student of Government Engineering College and one of the three programme conveners.
The idea is to ensure participation of inmates who have stayed in the hostel between 1963 and 2011. Guesstimates say there are more than 300 people. ‘’We plan to honour the seniormost inmates at the function. But we don’t really know how many people will turn up,’’ Anoop said.
The YMCA Hostel is, in reality, older than the building it now occupies named after K George, a former chief secretary and YMCA president. ‘’The hostel used to be in the tile-roofed old block which still exists. In 1963, the new building was constructed and the hostel shifted there,’’ Kurian Philip, YMCA general secretary and hostel warden, said.
At present, the hostel has 60 seats, mostly single rooms and a few double rooms. The rooms are offered for a year, and the occupant has to apply afresh after that. The rooms are given only to students of colleges affiliated to the Kerala University. ‘’Others have to take guest rooms,’’ he said.
YMCA officials have requested former inmates to register their names with the following programme conveners for attending the event: Anoop M - 9020733794; Freddy Pius - 9895967808; Akhil Satheesh - 9447426998.