’Belleans get together in Mumbai to show Unity and Solidarity’

By Oliver Quadros
Bellevision Media Network

Mumbai,20 Nov 2013: It is heartening to note that with a view to bring together the large number of Belleans living in Mumbai, Bellevision (Mumbai) was launched on Sunday 10 November 2013 at the Thunga Hospital Auditorium, Mira Road in the presence of a large number of Belleans.

The meeting was commenced at 5:00pm. Prior to the meeting some of those who had taken lead in organizing the meeting had tried to reach as many Belleans as possible by phone, mail, what’s app and facebook and  advertisement in Bellevision.com  and Udayavani newspaper. As a result around 50 had turned up to the meeting.

The  Agenda of the meeting included: The forthcoming centenary celebrations of the Church Aided Higher Primary School  and how to support  the school; and  the need for an association to bind all Belleans of Mumbai and outskirts of Mumbai together.
Following welcome address by Oliver Quadros, the guests who had come from Belle were invied to the stage by offering them flowers. These guests included:  Gerald Fernandes:President - Parents Teachers Association of the Church Aided Higher Primary School; Rajendra Shetty : President - Old Students Association Belle School;  John Rebello: Director of Aircare Services Pvt. Ltd.a Well-known businessman and political leader from Mumbai; Suhas Shetty: Owner the Greens Restaurant ; G D Almeida: Well-known personality from Film Producer Hail from Belle.

Speaking at the meeting Gerald Fernandes spoke about the achievements of Belleans who studied from our Belle School and now holding recognition nationally and internationally. He also pressed on the need of forming an association of Belle people to express their unity, like how  Bellevision is uniting all Belle people in Dubai by organising various programs. He further said that  people of Belle  need to meet often and  help each other in need and deed, help may be in the form of employment , medical related matters, matrimonial or any other kind. He expressed the need for  a super powerful association as many Belleans  are in  top  positions in Mumbai.

All members introduced each other. This introduction was very sentimental and touchy and everyone is so happy to meet each other that all had a flash back of memories of their  childhood days.

 John Rebello cherished all good old days’ memories and about village culture, good old school days etc. and mentioned that  he too realised the need of establishing an association of people of Belle in Mumbai years ago. But due to some reasons  it did not work out.

Suhas Shetty, a well know Hotelier in Mumbai who has couple of hotels attended  the meeting hoping  that he could meet his old friend and classmates.

 

 

Rajendra Shetty expressed how old students association at native place is working aggressively for he need of the school in order to get a quality education in the  primary school which has been neglected for past few years as English medium schools are now popular. But there are still potential students from Belle and surroundings. He said that there is a need  to support the school for the sake of poor students and bring up its level of education. He further said that it is the duty of every old student  to give back something to the  school.

A seed sown by Belle Dassappayya a century ago has become a massive tree and created a history by expanding its branches in all directions. Thousands of students benefited from the  school and it is the  duty of everyone  to preserve this treasure.
Centenary of school will be celebrated on December 29 and 30th 2013. Programmes of December 29th have been  kept exclusively for Old Students.

Probably many people had not shown up for the meeting assuming that representatives for Belle had come to ask for donations. However, the representatives made it clear that their visit had nothing to do with donations. Those who would like to contribute to the school  can do it directly. The only motto of this meeting was to bring all Belleans under one roof and to build a super strong network.

On the suggestion of John Rebello, the committee members of the newly formed Bellevision (Mumbai) will be decided during the next meeting which will be held on 8 December 2013 at Hotel Greens, Near Inorbit Mall, Link Road Malad at 5:00 PM.
Gerald Fernandes thanked the Management of Thunga Hospital for providing such a beautiful auditorium and others who were responsible for making meting successful.

Meeting ended with snacks and  tea. Belleans have been requested to attend the meeting on 8 December 2013 at Hotel Greens, Near Inorbit Mall, Link Road Malad at 5:00 PM.