1. 14 SEPTEMBER 2016 BANDRABUZZ NEWS
As an initiative towards having better
neighbourhood co-operation & social inter-
action, we took feedback from society
members in Bandra; so as to understand
their views & expectations from their Soci-
eties. Bandra has many large societies – and
we started with ‘Sebastian Society’, which
covers certain areas around Mehboob Stu-
dio & Supari Talao grounds.
The common questions asked to society
residents, were:
1) In your opinion, do you think that Se-
bastian Society has progressed in the last
5 – 6 years? Please give examples.
2) Where do you see your society in the
next 3 – 5 years?
Here is the feedback, that we got:
Malcolm Lopez: “We have progressed
tremendously in the last 3 – 5 years. We
have revived the Rest Ranwar Club, under
the auspices of St. Sebastian - who had
leased it to them for 998 years. So the Rest
Ranwar secretary has handed it over in
1997. Since then, through my initiative; we
have revived that club since 2012 - as an
open space that our society members need.
Now, we have good facilities, the annual
picnics (I suggest a summer & winter pic-
nic), socials, Christmas parties for children
& elders, Christmas Bazaar, the Carnival -
thereby encouraging a lot of social interac-
tion. We look forward to celebrate our cen-
tenary in about two year’s time - 2018.”
Daphne Sardinha: “I feel there has been
tremendous progress in the last three
years. St. Sebastian was hardly known in
Bandra previously - but with the number
of activities the Managing Committee had
undertaken in the last three years, espe-
cially in the recreation club; this has
brought a lot of bonding among members
- and visibility in our neighbourhood. With
co-operation from Managing Committee
members, Sancia Sequeira and Gerard
Murzello we have been able to achieve a
lot. We have a WhatsApp group, where a lot
of information is transmitted very fast.
Now, we are known as an active society.
And yes... we revived the Christmas Dance
at Rest Ranwar after a gap of 30 years.
Many plots got conveyed in this period,
with legal aid & assistance from the M.C.
I hope this progress will continue to
grow in the coming years.”
Maurice Pinto: “Yes, in the last 5 – 6 years,
Sebastian Society has progressed. As senior
citizens, my wife & myself have enjoyed
very nice social activity programmes at
Ranwar Grounds - where we had a lot of
warmth & bonhomie.” I wish this progress
continues.
Allen Fernandes: “Yes, there has been
progress. The Society has assisted certain
sub-societies to obtain the conveyance of
their property - with guidelines, to get this
done. After 2 years, our society will be com-
pleting 100 years - as we were established
in 1918. The society rules framed at our in-
ception, was the forerunner of all the co-
operative housing societies thereafter. Our
founding fathers set up laws & bye-laws in
the early 1900’s, which finally set the pre-
amble & mission. The registrar of co-oper-
ative societies today, have taken a lot of
clues from these pioneers, to formulate the
present Model Society Bye-laws.”
John Pires: “Yes, there has been progress
now. Before, we did not have so many oc-
casions, to meet one another. It was just
the Annual AGM. Now, we have many
events at Rest Ranwar. Warren has done a
lot of work. Now, we have a lot of pressures
- and it depends how the present managing
committee works towards sustaining the
good work, in spite of changes. With
younger mgmt., we get better progress.”
Adrian Pereira: “There has been tremen-
dous progress. The Club House has been
re-activated for the society & Ranwar mem-
bers. Now, we have & a lot of other get-to-
gethers. The way we are going currently is
excellent and we look forward to a lot of
progress with the right attitude from the
management.”
Vivian Pereira: “We are progressing ahead
from the time we started, inspite of govt.
related issues of passing plans. I see our so-
ciety moving upwards in the next 3 - 5 yrs.”
Dennis D’lima: “Yes, we have progressed.
The sports and recreation centre at Ranwar
Club has been revived - from a ruined state.
Now, we are given vouchers to get items
from Sarkari Bazaar - which is great. I can-
not say anything about the future.”
Vere Carneiro: “Much progress has hap-
pened in the last 5 years. A lot of activities
at the Ranwar Club has brought bonding
within Sebastian Society. Informative sem-
inars have kept us abreast of current situa-
tions. As far as the next 5 years, I do not see
much development. But, we should main-
tain the pace of progress.”
With such feedback, we can conclude that
the last 3 – 5 years has seen Sebastian Soci-
ety progressing a lot – with better bonding
opportunities & social interaction among
members & others. We would be featuring
many societies in the coming issues. Mail
your feedback to bandrabuzz@gmail.com
Your views are important to the vitality of
your neighbourhood.
Kiran Patel
Sebastian Society’s
recent progress,
a role model?
Inauguration of St. Sebastian Society display board
Carnival organized by St. Sebastian Society
Seminar organized for a Better Mumbai focussed on DP 2034
Sebastian Society Picnic