THE ELSA ANNUAL DINNER
FUNDRAISER GALA

The ELSA Annual Dinner cum Fundraiser Gala, on 14th January 2023 at the India Habitat Centre New Delhi was a roaring success!

The Executive Committee Members of the Association supported by a set of wonderful volunteers had worked tirelessly to make sure that the event was nothing short of perfection, from making sure the technical arrangements were top-notch to ensuring that the logistics were flawless.

Our President Smita Premchander warmly welcomed the gathering, thanked our very generous sponsors, and indeed last but not the least all the ELSAs and the volunteers who had gathered there to make it an evening to remember!

Evening of Saturday, 14th Jan 2023 ELSA Tanushri our MC called upon Sharon and boy, what a power packed performance she gave! She had us on our feet, on the stage, rocking and grooving with not a care for (some of our) creaking old bones😂😂!

ELSAs Dimple Wanchoo and Neeru Mehta sportingly went up on stage and sang - after all - this was less a professional performance, and more a homecoming of sorts! Oh what fun we all had!

The Manohar Lal Jeweller family graciously came up chose the lucky draw and we had two very surprised, utterly delighted winners - an LSR volunteer, and an ELSA mum!

The prizes were given away by Justice Gita Mittal and by Sharon.

We were delighted to have Dr Meenakshi Gopinath join us for a while and address all of us, before we broke for dinner and mingled and danced some more till almost midnight..

SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS

We would like to express our deepest gratitude to Times Internet, ITC hotels, Manohar Lal Jewellers, Tanishq by Titan, Sriram Welfare Trust and Joyville Shapoorji Pallonji for sponsoring our annual dinner. Their generous support and commitment to the success of the event are greatly appreciated. Thanks to them, and to the generous ELSA donors, those who gifted passes, and those who attended the evening, we were able to raise upwards of Rs 25 lacs!!!

Times Internet, India’s leading digital consumer company, owns and operates 35+ properties that aspire to bring people closer to their interests and aspirations every day. Its media portfolio spans news, music, sports, and video, with leading positions in each segment. Times Internet further engages its audiences across a suite of transactional marketplaces, in segments such as real estate, personal finance, education, jobs, table booking, and more. With over 600 million monthly consumers who spend nearly 21 billion minutes per month on its properties, Times Internet is the largest reaching and highest engaging digital ecosystem in India.

ITC Hotels: ITC Hotels is one of the most renowned hotel chains in India, known for delivering luxurious hospitality experiences. ITC Hotels works hard to provide guests with exceptional service, exquisite cuisine, and a range of leisure activities. They offer a range of promotional offers such as discounts on bookings, complimentary stays, and exclusive rewards. ITC Hotels also engages in a variety of CSR initiatives, such as supporting local communities and conservation projects

Manoharlal Jewellers: Manoharlal Jewellers is one of the oldest jewellery brands in India, offering a wide range of traditional and modern jewellery designs. Manoharlal Jewellers offers a variety of promotional offers such as discounts on purchases, free consultations, and exclusive rewards. The brand is also committed to providing its customers with the highest quality of jewellery and excellent customer service. Lucky Draw: Manoharlal Jewellers offered two lucky draws, worth one lakh each, at the ELSA Gala.

Tanishq by Titan: Tanishq is one of the leading jewellery brands in India, known for its exquisite designs and craftsmanship. Tanishq by Titan Co. offers a variety of promotional offers such as discounts on purchases, free consultations, and exclusive rewards. Tanishq by Titan is committed to delivering the highest quality jewellery, as well as providing customers with an enjoyable shopping experience.

Joyville by Shapoorji Pallonji: Joyville by Shapoorji Pallonji is a real estate brand, which develops luxury residential properties in India. Joyville by Shapoorji Pallonji offers a variety of promotional activities such as discounts on purchases, free consultations, and exclusive rewards. Joyville by Shapoorji Pallonji is committed to delivering the highest quality of real estate services and providing customers with an enjoyable living experience.

Sriram Welfare Trust: Sriram Welfare Trust is an Indian non-profit organization, which works to improve the lives of marginalized communities in India.

Sriram Welfare Trust engages in a number of promotional activities such as organizing events, providing scholarships and grants, and hosting workshops. Sriram Welfare Trust also works with corporate partners, to provide vocational training and employment opportunities.

The Dinner Gala was a night to remember, filled with celebration and joy, laughter and conversations. The Lady Shri Ram College Alumni Association would like to thank all its members and guests for making the event such a tremendous success!

We look forward to many more such events in the future!

P.S. Pics and videos will soon be available on our website and Youtube.

VISIT TO DARGAH AND QAWWALI EVENING

The ELSA Gala had a lot of side events around it, including the lovely evening at the Qutbuddin Bakhtiyar Kaki Dargah in Mehrauli.

The Qutbuddin Bakhtiyar Dargah is a spiritual destination that holds a special place in the hearts of the people of Delhi, The dargah was built in memory of Qutbuddin Bakhtiyar, a Sufi saint and is known for its unique architecture and spiritual significance. ELSAs had a wonderful time visiting the dargah, listening to soulful qawwalis that kept us enthralled and mesmerized! The Dargah was a sight to behold with its quiet and peaceful atmosphere, and the qawwali was a great way to start the evening.

We felt a sense of connection and belonging as we swapped stories, laughed and enjoyed the evening together. The night ended with a special treat at the Qla Restaurant, where we were given the red-carpet treatment - with cocktails specially curated for us - such as the Gin based ‘wonder woman’; ‘Martini on heels; and whisky-based ‘Powerhouse’.

The view of the lit-up Qutb Minar was a perfect way to end the evening, as it was a reminder of the strength and power of the ELSA community and of the bonds that were created that day.

NOSTALGIA WALK

The morning of Saturday, 14th January 2023, saw ELSAs gather around 10 am to take a 'Nostalgia Walk' across the 55 pillars and red walls of their alma mater Lady Shri Ram College.

Amidst the cold Delhi winter, the warm sunshine welcomed ELSAs, who had graduated up to 50 years ago, as they reminisced and marveled at the changes the college had undergone since their departure.

The college was soon bustling with excitement as students walked around and interacted with the ELSAs, seeking advice related to careers and handling the day to day stresses of undergraduate studies. The administration welcomed the alumnae with a beautifully and tastefully done 'Welcome ELSAs' 'rangoli' of flowers laid out in the exhibition arena.

The ELSAs, led by the ELSA EC: President Smita Premchander, Vice President Bulbul Dhar James, Honorary Secretary Suki Iyer, Founding Member Snimer Kaur Sahni, and the Youngest EC member Aanya Wig, along with other ELSAs,( some of whom had flown in for the event) gathered in the lower seminar hall for a chat with the principal, Dr Suman Sharma .

The participating ELSAs gathered for some snacks and conversations. The college magazine team interviewed the EC members and got some valuable advice from the alumnae. In the end, the ELSAs left feeling proud of their alma mater and excited for its future, having had the opportunity to catch up with old classmates and reminisce about their college days.

There was palpable excitement amongst the ELSAs for the upcoming Gala - as they left for some rest before getting set to let their hair down!

VISIT TO HUMAYUN TOMB & LUNCH AT
SUNDER NURSERY

Post the Gala Dinner, several of us got together and made the most of a Delhi trip by joining the Heritage walk organized by ELSA. We visited the majestic Humayun’s Tomb, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, to explore its cultural significance and history. This mausoleum-style tomb built in the 16th century is dedicated to the Mughal emperor Humayun. It is an important symbol of Mughal-era architecture and is a unique example of Persian-style architecture and art, commissioned by Humayun's widow Hamida Banu Begum in 1562 and constructed by a Persian architect, Mirak Mirza Ghiyas.

Snimer Kaur Sahni and Vinita Sethi were the guides - and ably helped us uncover the fables and facts behind the Humayun’s Tomb and its structures. The site is divided into four sections: the main tomb, the mosque, the Charbagh gardens, and the other tombs of the Mughal dynasty. The main tomb is a square chamber with a double-dome roof. The walls of the chamber are decorated with marble inlays and paintings. The walls also feature intricate cravings. The cenotaph of Humayun is at the centre of the chamber and is made of sandstone and marble.

These Heritage Walks are an important part of preserving and understanding India’s heritage. After the visit, the alumni members had lunch at the Sunder Nursery and had an engaging conversation about their experiences.

Sunder Nursery, which is located in the heart of Delhi, is a beautiful garden that was built during the Mughal era. It is a peaceful oasis away from the hustle and bustle of the city and offers visitors a chance to take a break from the chaos.

Share your Stories
Please share your stories with us...our community gets closer as we get to know each other better and share in the joys and successes of our alum...!

Volunteering
ELSA will have multiple networking events over the year 2023 and we would love if many of you join us in organizing these. You may wish to join the organizing committees of an ELSA Bazaar, and ELSA Reunion - Jashne E ELSA. Some of you may want to involve in enrolling new members. Pl email ec@lsralumna.org, and we would love to welcome you on board the committees of volunteers.

We need social media practitioners, nutritionists, mental health professionals, financial planning ones, and language support experts ( Hindi to English). If you have the interest and the time and can run a program for us, or lead or be part of a team, please do email us at ec@lsralumna.org

Social Media
And please visit ELSA handles and share your stories, insights, achievements, blog/sub-stack writing...we'd love to hear more and amplify the lives of our vibrant community!
Join now/Follow:

LinkedIn - bit.ly/LSRAlumni_LinkedIn

Twitter - twitter.com/LSR_Alumni

Instagram - instagram.com/lsr.alumna

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/groups/LSR.alumnae

(P.S. Please note that only Chapters are allowed to use the ELSA name and logo in their SM and communication and such use by individuals or personal groups {unless they are amplifying an official message} is not permitted as per the Association ByeLaws)

Looking forward to meeting you soon in Delhi!
Comms Team