AN OBVIOUS FACT remains so much legible on our faces during the event, faces bearing a distinctive mark that was engraved on our seemingly endless smiles and vigor - as Asbabul Hidaya, the 31st Assembly is the first of our assemblies.

We can’t exactly tell whether those excited smiles and anticipating looks were normal phenomena every time the event arrives but we can say, in our case at least, the suspense was way much more intense. From the preparation to the culmination of the event – which was a celebration brought by the greater celebration – it created in us a series of connected and successive surprises which in its consequence generated a new form of adventure; a rare opportunity to know or meet good and big people from the organization, to set foot on different shore and watch and learn from the elders whose mere presence we could hardly regard but in admiration, to see RC in its fullest and true skin, and to finally feel the essence of being one of the RC family, all are deeply penetrative to the bones. It was not just a mere event committed for strict social obligation and to keep the blood of the organization runs through all its branches and veins… it was like some ritual in its effect, a sort of ancient ceremony of reconnection and sustenance, of union and unison, combined with a thanksgiving expressed in a bountiful feast. It sounded too much, but in venting the whole atmosphere of that particular night, I think I have done a little justice, if not a good one.

If we were to narrate the event chronologically, we have to turn back to that certain day, when the preparation was officially bestowed on us as the newly accepted members of the family – a tradition that has to be observed I guess. It seemed easy as we trod the path, at least not when the final draft of the invitation was made and was reproduced. A hundred copies of the letter and the confirmation slip to be distributed, if possible, to all RC members; and that was not an easy task to complete. RC members when taken as one, is diversified and is ubiquitous, which the practicality has lead us around our local vicinity only and not much further. We brought them personally to every household and did the same thing in collecting the confirmation slips. That way we finished the job. Well, strictly speaking it wasn’t done yet, but the limited time had forced us to terminate it. And we didn’t make it perfectly. There were complains among the members of not having received an invitations at all, and that we held responsibility. And if we are allowed to say our apology, we’ll take this opportunity.

The formal event started when the sun was about to hit its end for the day, and we dressed ourselves up quite sophisticatedly to fit in into the evening’s prominence. Yes, when we reflect back, what else defined that assembly’s setting but the homely sophistication that was lavished by the De Luxe Hotel, the diversified but complimentary moods of the participants and the presence of well-accomplished individuals gathering around to strengthen up what has already been fortified. In the course of this event, our place really was to organize everything within the limit of our capability, and we tried our best to make things flow in their proper course. Though there were many undetected perforations on our formal plans, we did make sure that the evening ends up well.

PART II

OUR GENERAL PICTURE of the assembly, if honesty will be pardoned, instills in us an emotion of exciting trepidation, or a little like it. It was, as what some had warned us, a very shocking event; which in its effect wears out the commitment of some members of the organization. Some said that in witnessing the mayhem others had, by the prejudices that were formed, sealed themselves completely away from any of their RC connection. One example to be more lucid is a case, as narrated by a prominent RC personage, when the newly accepted members had to be locked in one room to keep them from being involved or at least witnessed the fury of the kings – for, indeed we could not imagine it less than the battle of the kings in an arena meant for gladiators (though excessive as it sounds, we cannot betray the recalled impression). So generally we perceived it as an extension of the ritual night, but more elaborately intriguing. Aside from the obvious excitement and the fear of the uncertain as well, that particular sensation had been what populated our brain before the event.

Yet we expected a little worse, hopefully. None of the vulgar profanities, none of the rude gestures, none of the shouts and wraths had been unleashed in the course of the event. They did not require us to be locked and we did not have to be sent out. We did anticipate it to happen when the election for the new set of officers were starting, as there were some omens present, but in the end it turned out well, and peaceful too.

The election that happened was an admirable process, really. The whole procedure was working through a simple system called ‘TRUST’. And despite our naiveté in the whole history of the group, we know we could trust the people who were responsible in counting and declaring the new set of officers. Within this process, Bati Mark Khalid was re-elected as the President of the organizations, the rest of the Board of Trustees are as follow:

Elected RC BOD

As the general procedure, we too, the Student Assembly, had our own election. We gathered ourselves in a hotel room and the SA president at that time served as our own COMELEC. In voting for our own president, four of the most powerful names in the Student Assembly emerged: Datu, Adeeb, Amerand Bhong. We did expect the title to fall on any of them, and we are ready to agree that all the names deserve the right, thus, in the nomination itself, we felt we were on the right track. Abiding to the rule of formality, the four were asked to go out of the room, we were asked to close our eyes, and each name was called. We felt our hands rising not overwhelmingly collected but harmoniously autonomous, and then it was declared officially, Abdullah ‘Bhong’Andam was the chosen one. We can’t say the word ‘presidency’ that was given in him was an authority or power; we see it more as ‘respect.’ And that wouldn’t mean that the officers were there to do the organizing and everything alone. As we tread the path together, we realize that the election happened much for the sake of convention; as for us, we see ourselves as family, were everyone feels responsible for everybody’s sake. It was a natural process, like growing trees… we didn’t let it be, we care for it, till it grows on us and each other. In this we afforded you not a mere exaggeration but a humble understatement.

And as for the rest of the program, nothing had happened but in the side of fortune. The extravagance of energy was much provided for by Bati Rush and Bati Habiba, whose match as emcees deserves nothing but praises. They provided and sustained the vigor from the stage, and humor our tensed faces into easy smiles and laughter. Many prominent personages made their inspiring speeches, in their naturally wisdom-marked faces, and in their effect uplift in us a feeling of not a mere admiration; but a hope to become, one day, a somebody like them or much more.

In the end of the night, one is only forced to lean back and sigh, and realized for the first time the real gravity of becoming one of the RC members. And then we couldn’t help but to smile and appreciate what Allah has given us, for we think of this but a fated path, an opportunity to become truly an instrument of guidance for others.