HAMLA OUTING - 2025
RENDEZVOUS HAMLA- 2025
A Veteran is one who has given his Life to something Bigger than himself ~~ Joseph Campbell
PRELUDE
Cdr Vadhera, President NFMC had organised a get-together in INS Hamla for Committee members and spouses 18-20 Oct 2021 and 14-17 Oct 2022. Then in Sep 2023 the CMs and spouses ventured out to INA Ezhimala for a shot trip. The Picnic at Hamla in Jan 2024 was amalgamated with Octos and Veer Naris gettogether. The recent outing at INS Hamla was the 4th Picnic in Hamla.
HAMLA CMs MEET
Cdr Vadhera spoke to Cmde Raahul Mahajan, CO Hamla who was delighted by the idea and booked 16 shacks for 27- 29 Sep . All the CMs were eagerly looking forward to the meet and greet. The menus chalked out by our young Veer Nari, Dr Kanta Mukherjee and Anahita, were approved sans discussion.
INS Hamla had dwelt into minutest details to plan our get-together, to ensure pampered comfort for the Veteran CMs. The Program chalked out by Team Hamla, stood us in awe and made us feel revered. The Program promulgated by Cdr Vadhera is reflective of the preparations afoot to make our Picnic jazzy.
FORMAT OF OUR GET TOGETHER WAS PLANNED AS FOLLOWS :-
Sat 27 Sep =
1200 hrs- Arrive Hamla and occupy ur allotted shacks
1230 -1430 hrs - Meet and Greet at Officers Institute. Beer �� followed by Biryani lunch
1430-1645 hrs- Compulsory Siesta
1700 - 1900 hrs- Water / Beach Sports & High Tea
1930 -2230 hrs- Music,Dance & Karaoke followed by Drinks & Dinner . Trial run to select the Karaoke Singers for Sunday’s musical evening would be conducted. Farokh (CJI) with Anahita, Blossom, Shashi & Sumi will decide who all will take part in Musical evening on Sunday.Dress- Casual ( No Shorts & Chappal / Sandals). Ladies to put on Dancing shoes.
Sunday 28 Sep =
0830-0930 hrs- Breakfast
0930- 1045 hrs- Visit Hamla Canteen & NWWA Shop
1100-1300 hrs- Assemble in Officers Institute for COMPULSORY BRAIN STORMING SESSION , to be actively taken part , by all CM’s and their own Spouses , on following topics. It would be moderated by Kanta Ma’am , Cdr Vadhera , Brahm & Farokh.
1) What have been your biggest regrets in life ??- Moderated by me.
2) If you were elected as President NFMC, what more you would do , to make it more vibrant.(Ladies can also take part) -Moderated by me
3) Amongst our CM’s and their wives, Who listens to whom more ?? Any practical solution to this problem ???- Moderated by Kanta Ma’am
4) Importance of Family log book. Moderated by Cdr Vadhera.
5) Importance of Living healthy. Moderated by Farokh
6) Accupresuure as alternate health medicine. Moderated by Brahm
1300-1430 hrs- Beer & Lunch, followed by Tambola by Meena.
1430-1700 hrs- Compulsory Siesta
1700-1800 hrs- High Tea
1900 -2230 hrs- After putting on your best attire ( both by Girls & Boys) assemble in the Institute latest by 1900 hrs for Karaoke evening, Cocktail & Dinner hosted by us for CO and HOD’s of Hamla. CSO(P&A), Col & Mrs Vijay Kumar and Capt & Mrs Gaurav Mahajan (CRSO) have also been invited.
Monday 29 Sep =
0800-0900 hrs- Breakfast. Pay your individual bills and depart after PAPPI JHAPPI .
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The shacks were spick and span to receive guests by 1000 hrs on the D Day. The CMs started arriving from various locations spread over Mumbai. By 1245 mostl had arrived after having dropped their paraphernalia in the allotted shacks. The Jhappi/Pappi endured till the Bar exquisitely rigged with beer and assorted drinks was opened. The Biryani lunch that followed subsequent to the beer session had been delectably catered for, topped up with mouth-watering ‘Angoor Rabdi Dessert’.
After a short Siesta, quite a few Veterans, spouses and kids mustered at 1700 hrs at the Sea Breeze Hard, Meena and Raj had fetched 2 Cakes enroute to celebrate NFMC darling Anahita’s Birthday. Everyone flocked around the celebration table and sang the Birthday Song as Anahita sliced the Cakes. Farokh offered her the first piece, after which the ladies cut the cakes for all to savour. The evening was dedicated to sports. Veterans tried their hand at beach Volleyball. Tony and Sumit the 2 appointed Capts selected their teams. The best of 3 match games were won by Team Tony. Meena and Srishthi were the 2 Ladies amongst the other players. Next it was time for a Tug of War match. Meena was the anchor-woman of Team A Captained by Tony Chacko. The other Team Capt was Sumit. The teams were equal in numbers and Josh. Tug of War too was handsomely won by Team Tony Chacko. (Snaps below)
The prized itinerary, Karaoke Evening with Barbeque commenced with arrival of LtCdr Nidhi Taneja, our MC for the show. Albeit it was a Practice evening for the next day's Finale. The First song was by Cdr Vadhera, who beckoned everyone to the floor for dance. Others to follow were Brahm Swaroop, Mukti Ghosh, Dr Kanta Mukherjee, Mamta Kankan, Archana Rai, Kalpana Swaroop, Shashi Anand, Blossom Bhatnagar, and Raj. We missed the crooning of Sonali and Siddhant who couldn’t join us in Hamla. The drinks and Barbeque servings continued till the Dinner was served. The guests called it a day entirely satiated by a wonderful melodious evening and delectable Continental spread.
Next morning even as the rains continued their fury relentless, after Breakfast, there was Brainstorming session coordinated by Cdr Vadhera, who spoke on the essentials of maintaining Family Log book/ Will nominations, Cdr Brahm Swaroop spoke on Acupressure while Farokh educated everyone of esentials of good health and wellness. The Chinese Lunch after the PLD was awesome. Due to the incessant rains, Our well meaning LO Lt Shruti had shifted the Location for the musical evening, from AOI hard to the Blue room.
All of us converged to the well setup Blue Room in Hamla Wardroom. In one corner was the DJ and Karaoke setup, with a Big screen for the Asia Cup Final. On the opposite end was the Dinner table laid up. The Bar was open offering drinks of choice and assorted small eats being served lavishly. Cdr Sandeep Sabat (ExO), Cdr Balveer Singh (GO), and Capt Vipul Vohra (TC) soon arrived with their good ladies and cheerfully met the CMs and spouses. The Core-Committee received the CO, Cmde and Mrs Raahul Mahajan and escorted them in and after the initial meet and greet, Cdr Vadhera took to stage and welcomed the Chief guest and on behalf of all CMs thanked him for the Funtastic two days at Hamla. He presented the NFMC memento of the Golden Sail Boat to Cmde Raahul Mahajan. The later in his talk expressed disappointment due to the RainGods playing spoil sport, and offered to book shacks for us in early Mar next year, and invited us for another Gala. Cmde and Mrs Mahajan took leave as they had a pre-committed engagement.
Raj invited LtCdr Nidhi Taneja to continue and compere the Musical evening. Soon the dance floor was abuzz with graceful couples even as Cdr Vadhera melodiously crooned “Aage bhi jaane na tu”. Other songs to follow were replica of last evening with a better finesse. Abhisheks BIL Ravi was a novel enterant who sang a superb Duet with Mamta. All songs have been uploaded on google drive link by Cdr Abhishek Kankan, posted in Video links below. Mukti and Brahm came in for thundering applause after their individual performances. All the Singers were presented beautiful Microphone mementos by our Arjuna Awardee LtCdr Farokh Tarapore after the wonderful Geeton bhari Shaam, well compered by Veteran LtCdr Nidhi Taneja. The Dinner spread was exquisite, appealing to every-ones tastebuds, topped up with delicious Navy favorite Trunk of tree.
Even as all guests left for Shacks, the Core-Committee of Cdr Vadhera, Farokh & Raj and Meena along with Mukti stayed back to cheer up Team India in Asia Cup to bag home the Trophy. It was a nail-biting finish in the final over, with Farokh’s analytic comments, that Tilak overheard, and swung his bat for a huge Six, sealing the fate of Pak for its 3rd succesive humiliating defeat.
The next morning it was a relaxed assorted Breakfast of Poori Bhajji, Bread- Omelette, reflecting on the wonderful two days at this majestic establishment. All individuals cleared their shacks, Catering and wine bills after breakfast. This was followed by Couples and group photos and Jhappi-Pappi and Sayonara and 3 Jai’s for Hamla.
Our utmost gratitude to the CO for the exceptional manner in which the Staff of Hamla left no stone unturned to ensure all comfort for Veteran Committee members to carry along sweetest memories to relish in foot-prints of time. (The memories are forever stored below to relive by a click).
Until we meet-up again in Mar 2026.
Those we missed during Hamla Picnic. They couldn’t join due to health or having been away : Mrs Sunita Vadhera and Ms Monica, Cdr Surinder-Gurinder, Surg Capt Ratna Mahindra, Cdr & Mrs SK Sharma, Cdr & Mrs Saorabh Agarwal, Cdr & Mrs Man Singh, Cdr & Mrs Nevil Malao,
Sam No Varunah
Jai Hind
PS: The Blog would'nt have been complete sans photography/ Videography by Ms Meena Dutta. Do watch the Reels in the Video Links below.
VIDEOS
For all songs
👇👇👇
(DOUBLE CLICK TO PLAY)
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/107GSo9faLJ6L0A8R13Og2MX-rmA1-9GS
GOOGLE DRIVE KARAOKE FINALE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BeGOA0Urg6c
KARAOKE NITE PART-1👆
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-zj-nvHwrqo
PHOTOS
