I clearly remember it like yesterday. It was a sunny morning on 10th February 1996 when I visited the Indian School Muscat (ISM). Unlike an Alumnus, I walked around the school and sat down on the steps in the school ground. Looking around the school campus I felt I should do something for the school in any small way possible. That day I did go back home thinking of various options but after thoroughly analyzing each and every idea, one of the ideas which clearly stood out was to have an alumni association whereby all the ex-students of ISM could interact between themselves and also with the school once they left.

I initially thought along the lines of a club but somehow that did not seem very practical and so instead I crystallized my thoughts on forming an alumni association for ISM students. It was very clear from the beginning that something as simple but yet so powerful and useful as an alumni association could not just happen overnight nor would it happen on my own. I would need full support and co-operation from the school. It was also very evident that there would be a need for other ex-students currently residing in Oman to give their valuable time and dedication to build upon my idea and assist in setting up the alumni association. 

I started visiting the school with the purpose of discussing the formation of the Indian School Muscat Alumni (ISMA) association with Mr. Bharadwaj (the then Principal of ISM) and Late Mr. Rao (the then Vice - Principal of ISM). I was glad to know that both of them were enthusiastic and appreciative of the idea. Mr. Bharadwaj informed me that he had already thought of something along the same line and had in fact implemented the idea a year ago by charging R.O. 5/- per student who passed out from the school (12th Std.) for a life time membership. I was also informed that there were other ex-students who had previously approached him in connection with the same. I was told to go and meet Chetan Shah (current ISMA President) with the intent that it would be much easier to set up ISMA since we both had the same interests at heart. 

I did meet Chetan and we shared our ideas. The formation of ISMA was looking much brighter and also sooner that I had anticipated. We went back and forth to Mr. Bharadwaj & Mr. Rao asking for their support, advice, suggestions etc., which they willingly gave. 

We called upon other ex-students who were in Oman at that time to join our cause for the formation of ISMA. Although not very many were convinced that ISMA would actually happen let alone be beneficial to them, we kept our hopes alive and kept marching on.

We arranged several meetings in and out of the school and during one such meeting it was decided that we would have an informal gathering of all ex-students of ISM in the school library on 16th November 1997. This created a great deal of awareness of our mission and on the evening we had a turnout of 85 ex-students who were at that time residing in Muscat. Many positive ideas and suggestions were put forward by the ex-students. Mr. Bharadwaj, Mr. Rao, Mr. Chacko also attended the meeting along with Mrs. Ritu Malhotra and Mr. Mohana.

It was decided at the meeting that free and fair elections would be held on 16th December 1997 with the aim of electing the first official ISMA committee. In-between we went back and forth to the school to frame the initial rules and regulations and also the MOU for ISMA. 

The Big Day finally came. As was previously agreed, nominations were submitted for 11 positions for the ISMA committee - President, Vice-President, Treasurer, Secretary, Joint Secretary and 6 Executive Committee members. The elections were held at the ISM main hall. Many ex-students who attended the meeting paid R.O. 5/- for the ISMA lifetime membership. The nominee for each position had to speak a few words regarding their vision for ISMA and how they could contribute in achieving it. Understandably, there were not many nominees for the positions of Office Bearers due to the amount of time and dedication that would be involved. However, there were quite a few nominees for the Executive Committee positions. With all the noise and commotion in the school hall during the elections, for sometime I was taken back to my old school days. 

With the elections being completed that evening, the new ISMA committee was officially appointed and thus began the operation of ISMA as a full-fledged entity.