I have never believed in forwarding forwarded mails in the name of staying in touch and so, when it came to wishing my favorite people on the occasion of a new year, I decided to club my friends into groups and wish them, with at least a couple of lines for each person. I have emailed those people whose ids I had and have requested others to do the forwarding for the remaining people! (forward with a difference, huh? ;)) I’m putting up all of the greetings here for posterity besides wishing the friends that I have made right here on lj. Here goes!

<div text="Gang@Surana (past and present continuous!)" class="ljcut">My colleagues@Surana Gang (past and present-continuous)

Radha madam: Ma'am, I take pleasure to wish you the first. Have a fabulous year in 2008. Do stay in touch and mail me snaps in case you decide to take off to Egypt or some other exotic place sometime soon! How is Kinga, Rachana and Anju? Say hi to them, your parents and Ramya from me.

Rashmi aka RPK: I trust you and Surya will have no shortage of surprises thanks to Surya Jr in the days to come! Have a wonderful year ahead!

Asha madam and Mamatha madam:I heard both of you had additions happening to your respective families. A pity I could not meet up with you when I was down in Bangalore. Do send me snaps of your little ones. Have a great year ahead and stay in touch!

Priya: Long time no hear! How are you? Do stay in touch. May 2008 be a satisfying and generous year for you!

Surabhi: Have fun, but stay in touch with reality and your priorities. I dedicate a stanza of the song 'Eye of the Tiger' by Survivor, to you:

So many times, it happens too fast
You change your passion for glory.
Don't lose your grip on the dreams of the past
You must fight just to keep them alive

Have a great new year in which your aspirations and dreams come true.

Mythili madam: How are you? How is Tushar? He must be quite a lot more naughty now, or has he quietened down? Stay in touch and have a great year in 2008.

ASR sir: Happy new year, 2008, to you and your family sir. My last two mails to you went unanswered. Maybe you are too busy, but please do keep me in your thoughts. Please do stay in touch.

Ravi sir: Havanur sir ge Prashanth maaduva namaskaaragalu. Nimage haagu nimma parivaarakke Hosa Varshada Haardhika Shubhaashayagalu, Stay in touch sir!

Ranganath sir: Wishing you and your family a very happy new year. Madhuk (hope I spelled the name right!) must have grown up quite a lot now. Do send me his snaps and stay in touch! I received your new year greeting. Many thanks.

Venugopal sir: How are you sir? You must have thought that I have forgotten about you, but you and your sense of humor (especially the Musharraf and Bill Gates jokes) are unforgettable. By the way, I'm typing even this letter in Dvorak layout, which was such a fond favorite of yours!!!! Please stay in touch. Have a fabulous new year in 2008.

The unlike-twins aka Shadakshari sir and Mouli sir!: Twins on account of their sharing their workspace in such close proximity and still staying the best of buddies!! Shadakshari sir and Mouli sir, I miss you both. May your blessings always stay with me.

Malini madam: If there were two people that I really admired in all of Surana college for their sunny disposition and never-say-die-spirit, one would be Chandramouli sir (above mentioned) while the other, without any doubt, would have to be Malini madam. Malini madam, you have brightened many a day of mine during my short stint at Surana with just your smile and I'm sure many, many others at Surana feel the same way about you too. Have a great new year madam and continue spreading the cheer. I'd love to hear from you.</div>


<div text="The Faculty and non-teaching staff gang@NCST (past and present-continuous!)" class="ljcut">The Faculty and non-teaching staff gang@NCST (past and present-continuous!)

Sasi sir: Warm wishes for a fabulous new year sir. Your posts on lj have become far and few between and it's an understatement to say that your posts are missed.

Ripul sir: Have a great new year sir! We (the NCSTians now at C-DAC Pune) still recollect with love, the passion with which you taught us. Please stay in touch.

Rahul Upakare sir: I strongly suspect that you have made much more of an impact on your students that you realize yourself. We really were and are fans of yours! Have a great year in '08.

Sreekanth sir: You hardly ever wasted your words, but were there to help, when help was most required. Warm new year wishes to you, sir.

Chintu sir: The motivator. Was always around with a patient ear and a helpful word, pushing people to perform more. Sir, wish you a great new year in 2008. Stay in touch.

Apoorv Sharma sir: The innovator. Be it the language improvement sessions that he conducted in the evenings for those weak in spoken English or his zeal in handling projects, he was refreshingly different, Sir, have a great new year and stay in touch!

Naveen Kumar sir: One of the most amazing listeners I have ever come across. He could listen to a student's gripes and grouses for extended periods of time paitiently and in the end, offer incredibly insightful inputs. Thanks for being there for us sir. Have a great new year sir.

Naveen Balakrishnan sir: A source of inspiration and a role-model for many of us to work harder. Linus Torvalds is quoted as having said 'Talk is cheap; Show me the code'. I'm sure Naveen sir lives by that line. Sir, have a fabulous new year.

Joju sir: Sir, if I have less fear for Mathematics today, it's only because of you. Thanks tons and have a fabulous new year!

Rekha madam: The ever smiling, ever helpful person who could take away all the headache of official forms and course details in a second and make you feel better in an instant, with her smile. Thanks madam, for everything. I was not feeling well enough to come to Mumbai for the last requiz, but I'll be bothering you soon for details about the next one. Have a great new year!

Sonali madam, Saroj madam and Birje sir: The number of times my friends and I have exasperated them by coming late for breakfast/lunch/dinner is countless. Though they did lose their patience on a couple of occasions (we pushed them really hard!), they went out of their ways to make us feel at home. They are amongst the sweetest and most genuine people I ever encountered. Sonali madam, Saroj madam and Birje sir, my heartfelt wishes for a fabulous new year for you! I look forward to meeting up with you and eating from the canteen when I next come to NCST.</div>


(more to come)