THE BLUE LOTUS ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION

Darshan recounts what went behind the scenes and to what we call a successful and enjoyable Blue Lotus 6th Anniversary celebrations.

1^st October, 2008. Seemed like an ordinary date for millions, but for some it was a day to cherish. Specially for team Blue lotus. It marked the 6^thanniversary of Blue Lotus. So what special as well as unusual thing should be done to make this day a memorable one. It was a BIG question for the Critical Hands to think of something which will make all the members of Team Blue, remember this day. The current economic scenario coupled with the budget given by me made it more difficult for even the critical hands to come up with an idea and implement it.

The HR manager came up with the idea of celebrating it on a Saturday as all would be more relaxed and there would be maximum participation. Also that everyone should be connected on a con call and Mouli should address all. This was a result of Mouli’s frequent travel and his occupancy in KEIP.

The Critical hands were sure of one thing that whatever they did must connect to Team Blue Lotus across India. Valuable contributions came from Pooja, Rajul and myself. But nothing could fit our budget and expectations.

Then came the idea of celebrating Blue Lotus’ birthday as if it were a six year young kid. Cakes, balloons, gathering, bouquets, etc. Not to forget the decoration competition for Rs. 600/-. It was decided that everyone should celebrate the event at the same time pan India. Then was the time to encounter another difficulty – “the logistics”. We couldn’t manage a single vendor to make the arrangements for cake & bouquet across all our Branches in the given budget. We then asked the office assistants in each of our branches to bring in the cake and bouquet without informing the other team members so that the suspense would not be disclosed. We owe a special thanks to all the office assistants, especially out there in the branches, for making it an enjoyable moment for everybody.

On the D-Day, everyone at the Mumbai office assembled at the open area with a lot of excitement and expectation. Other than a few of us, not many people knew what was going to happen. When everyone had settled, we got Mouli connected to all the offices simultaneously. The plan of the con call was a great success as every Blue Lotus member was able to listen to Mouli’s words on the occasion of our 6th anniversary at the same time. We then participated in the cake cutting ceremony and thereafter everyone proceeded to a get -together lunch.

By the time we completed this Pooja lost a couple of pounds, I lost half of my hair and Rajul, her mental stability. But the way things came about on Saturday, I suppose it was all worth it.