Tuesday, June 10, 2008

ALUMNI PROFILE





STEVEN GURUNG

A Perfect Host. A Proud Father. A North Pointer.

NP 1987 -1997


Steve, Steven or simply Ritt-hé.

Apart from the initial education at Himalayan Nursery, he studied in NP and then was the first batch of the +2 Commerce batch in school and finally completed his studies in NP College.


So he is a Himalayan-Josephite through and through.


A sports enthusiast, he is probably one of the few to have played football in all divisions from ‘F’ right through to ‘A’. (His grades meanwhile travelled the other way round and went from 'A' to 'F' )


He was also in the first 4’10” NP team to play in the “Goethals 4-10 Tournament” and they beat SAS 4-1 in the final. (Wow with so many numbers in that last sentence it’s a wonder he didn’t top the class in maths too).

Anyway, SAS have never been good losers and as any North Pointer knows we are always magnanimous in victory. After the final when the SAS bus broke down the good ol’ NP bus (with good ol Bharat daju at the wheel) gave them a lift back, but as Steve mentions, only upto Jorebunglow. (why only jorebunglow you have to ask him)



A Blue Coat holder in Football, Steve was a vital member of the team who won the Phagura Cup and was also the first NP team in 10 years to reach the Quarter Finals of the Hurley cup.

Steve is currently working in Dubai but he still manages to play football. However I am not sure if it is still in the 4’10” category or if he has moved up.


While in class 9 he was selected for the [fSports Authority of India (football camp] but quit after just 5 days.

Don’t get me wrong, his football skills were still good, the food at the camp however sucked. And that’s why he quit.


A complete foodie, he still manages to serve the choicest of morsels to whoever visits his place in Dubai and as his wife, Doma, would testify, people do seem to visit a little too often.

“Guys: No Shirt, No Service - Gals: No Shirt, No Charge” –Sign at a Bar in Sydney

While at college, his was the first batch to reach the finals of the Darjeeling 'A' Div League after 30 yrs but unfortunately lost in the finals 5-0.


The startling loss however, was not due to lack of skills but due to the distractions, as that was the only day that all the girls of the college landed in Lebong to cheer for the team. There are also unsubstantiated rumours that a certain someone had also come down from VVA that day to watch the game resulting in Steve ‘shooting’ many goals towards the stands. But we need to check with Doma for verification on that.


musu musu haasi deuna lai lai, musu musu....


Now if all that were not enough Steve also represented the North Bengal University 97' in the All India University Tournament held in Ranchi. (And for his friends, Ranchi explains sooooooooo many things)


He also represented Darjeeling 11 for the Governors Gold Cup in Gangtok in 97' 98' and 99. (In 2000 however, he was too busy with Governor Doma to play the Governor’s Cup… see details below)


He then represented the school athletics team and just so that All Play did not make Steve a Dull Boy, he decided to diversify his skills and play the role of sexy Fathima in the school drama production of Ali Baba & The 40 Thieves. (Samir and Steve often get together, draped in sarees, reminiscing of those fond school times)


He was in Laenen (yellow) house all the way and also captained it in his final year. Holy Shit!

In the 12th standard he was made the school prefect and keeping in mind the colour of his house, was actively involved in cleaning toilets (his own words I swear).
Again, Holy Shit Indeed!



“Last night I lay in bed looking up at the stars in the sky and I thought to myself, where the heck is the ceiling.” – Anon



Then quite astonishingly he managed to captain the Volleyball team in class 10 with teammate Vishant, and they quite un-astonishingly, managed to prove, that to win at volleyball, you’d need to be a ‘little’ more than 4’10”.
Even today, Steve & Vishant can vividly remember those cries of “purké, purké” still reverberating from the stands (again his own words I swear).


FYI: Vishant has since taken to Gym-ming.


If I can’t grow vertically,” he reasons practically, “well, horizontal will have to do.”

By the way Vishant when asked to describe Steve in 1 line said “Doma and Ryan his life, Football his mistress and friends his strength but he's highly toxic when doused in booze.............Mind it!!!!”



“24 hours in a day 24 beers in a case. Coincidence? I think not” - Anon


Steve meanwhile met his wife Doma in 2000 and after 2 months “Love Gave Him Wings” and he migrated to Dubai.

Dubai initially was hell (so much to study so little booze) but he did manage to complete his- Masters of International Business from The University of Wollongong, Dubai Campus.

And finally after 6 years of winging it he finally proposed (rumors are that he sang the proposal) to Doma in 2006. She accepted and they got married in April 2006.


And then just to make sure, they got married twice more.
So 3 times in total, Once in Church, Once a Nepali wedding and Once a Buddhist ceremony. Talk of being well & truly hitched.

“He early on let his wife know who the boss was. He looked her right in the eye and clearly said, "You're the boss." - Anonymous

They were blessed with a son Ryan on 18th September 2007.


The little tot has not only grown up to become extremely cute and amazingly fair but also wonderfully well tempered. Almost anyone who meets him can only marvel at his ability to adapt with people and at his lack of crying and tantrums.


“How Come You Are Chooo Calm & Tranquil?” someone once asked him and in reply he lisped “Me Father Makes Up For Both Of Us That’s Why.”



By the way some of his grandmother, Miss Viveka’s, genes surely have passed on as the little guy already knows how to plunk on the piano..Steve in the meantime started his career with shipping and logistics and is currently working as Groupage Incharge (sic) at Swift Freight International LLC in Dubai.


Steve believes that "Nothing is impossible - you just have to find a way"

And as Van Damme once famously said “A computer once beat me at chess, but it was no match for me at kick boxing”

By the way Steve can give Brangelina a run for their money any day.
His Mom Viveka is a Christian, Dad Bhushan a Hindu and wife Doma a Buddhist….
so he just loves to celebrate it all… Loshar, Dashain, Christmas, even Hannukah…

Again as Doma will testify, Steve does NOT need an excuse to party.

Or sing for that matter and while in class 12 he competed in the 1st ISC fest held in St. Pauls and came second in the solo. All present during that fest say he should have come first as he is a truly wonderful singer and he would have too, if only he wasn’t talking as much as singing.

Samir when asked to describe Steve said “He is a rabble rouser, gregarious, perfect host, party animal, fun to have around, trustworthy, passionate & extremely friendly.”
(I guess they can’t help but be passionate when sitting beside each other, 1 beer in hand, 4 in the gut and draped in a silky chiffon saree.. but that’s another story for another day and another blog)

Steve also heads a Band here in Dubai called The 11th Hour.

As he helpfully explained, the name is because no party begins before the 9th Hour and no song begins unless Steve has spoken for another 2 hours, hence The 11th Hour.


I could go on but in Steve’s own words, ammamam.. abho bhayo laah da... oberai lamoo bhayo .. so here’s to a wonderful guy, a passionate North Pointer and a loving Husband & Dad.


And I end with a quote which I am sure he would completely agree with “A good friend is one who will bail you out of jail, but your best friend is the one sitting next to you saying, "Damn That Was Awesome".

Cheers to you Steve! Cheers Indeed!

SURSUM CORDA


Steven Gurung can be contacted at steven.gurung@swiftfreight.com

No comments: