Rotary Surat Riverside got the opportunity of hosting the IYE felicitation “UTSAV” and we got it right. It was a nice wonderful Saturday evening on the 18th April 2005 with all the IYE stalwarts- past, present and future under one single roof with an ambience meticulously and creatively designed by Rtn Raju Pandit of RC Seaface. The evening was supposed to be of felicitation, fun and frolic and it was made one by the anchoring of our own Rtn Mihir Shukla and Annet Ruchika of Baroda. The welcome address by Pres. Divyang Parikh set the evening and charged up the nite.

An event like IYE felicitation cannot be done without the IYE chairman and father figure of all the IYE stalwarts - Rtn. Devang Munim. His wonderful welcome speech was greeted by everybody with a applause as huge as his accomplishment. One of the biggest feats has been his being the chairman for 5 consecutive years and sending 180 students from our district in this tenure. That is 360 students in exchange. BIG ACHIEVEMENT. He stressed on the importance of IYE and the purpose for the evening.

Co-chairman Rtn Nimesh Gosalia gave a few words of wisdom to Past IYE students and the way they can give back to Rotary. The felicitation was given a wonderful break by alternating speeches with the parade of all the IYE students past, present and future. (Not mentioning a few past IYE stalwarts who were elder to me too). This also shows the richness of this wonderful program. The absence of DG Ashis Roy in an eventful function like this, due to unavoidable circumstances, disappointed most of the guests.

The felicitation of past IYE stalwarts and Inbound IYE students was then done by PP Devang Munim, PP Nimesh Gosalia, PP Tarun Dave, PP Rajnikant Marfatia and incoming IYE chairman Mrugank Merchant. The evening got ecstatic by the dance performance of the inbound IYE students on various peppy Hindi numbers. This was followed by the wonderful duo performance by Jenny and Annet Parita Vashi.

The evening was not just of IYE stalwarts but also of Devang Munim and in the whole meeting he was given a standing ovation for his worthy contribution almost 5 times. The past IYE students Ranak Shah and Neha Dhamanwala imparted advice to the outbound students. PP Dr Ajay Bhardwaj gave an intimate thanks giving speech to Devang Munim and Pres. Divyang Parikh presented IYE Chairman with a memento of love from RSR. A spellbinding act with violin and piano was performed by inbound IYE students Meret (Switzerland) and Sumire (Japan) hosted by RC West and RC Udhna respectively. The icing on the cake was the vote of thanks presented by incoming Pres. Rtn Rajesh Patel.

No sooner did the dining arena of Gateway Hotel (more popularly remembered as Holiday Inn) get queued up for the Gala Food, the dance floor was flooded by IYE students and Rotarians. The last Chicken dance by the DJ was fun and hilarious.