Raj Dutta: 2018

Monday, 31 December 2018

SAGAR PAWAN
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"NAVY ALSO FLIES, DADA"
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The Greatest tribute to our fallen Veterans we can pay is by remembering their good times.

When I was in Kolkata in 2007, Cmde Bhaskar Ranjan Sen(01420-A) (NOIC Kol), who'd been Chief Staff Officer in HQGNA had requisitioned Sagar Pawan for the Navy Week ..He had planned to showcase the Navy during the Navy Week in a big way...A lot of planning and preparation had gone into making it a grand show...During the evening hrs of last week of Nov ‘07, under the Formation leader, Cdr Yogesh Garud, Cdr Vartak (No-2) in 3 Kirans performed thrilling formation aeros, over the Hoogly between the two Howrah bridges..

The formation flew past the crowd at building heights to reappear doing two loops overhead followed by a barrel roll and steep turns...the formation then broke off and two of them approached each other from the opposite direction on a collision course and carried out scissoring...This was followed by bomb-burst and vertical Charlie...The formation then reassembled to peel off overhead as the leader finished it with a roll off the top and the wing-men did their respective rolls..... The Aeros were followed by a diving display by the Aircrew divers from helos and a spectacular vary's pistols demo from onboard the FACs, engulfing a very large part of Kolkata in its colourful charm during the dusk hrs, amidst the sonorous Orchestra of the Naval Band....

The Aeros and the Naval demo, as well as the live commentary by yours, truly was much appreciated by a very large gathering of Kolkatans assembled on the southern ghats and the Millennium Park...The Naval Aviators had stolen the hearts of Kolkatans was evident in the next day's press and local visual media(TV)...Never in history, had Kolkata witnessed such a marvellous Airshow over the Hoogly......

Indian Navy had made its presence felt as never before...Kudos to Cmde BR Sen, Cdr Yogesh Garud, Cdr Vartak and the team, and the spirit of Kolkatans, who had assembled in 10s of thousands...Awestruck, "Nebhi also Phlies, Dada, bhaanderphul"… Regards

(This article is a humble tribute to Navy Veteran Officer Commodore Bhaskar Ranjan Sen, whom we, unfortunately, lost on 30 Dec 2018 fighting Cancer. He besides being a true Naval Officer and a Gentleman, was a wonderful singer with a marvellous voice. RIP Sir, You shall never fade away in our hearts.)

Click the link below to view a short clip of SAGAR PAWAN

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SYRhWQnIUnc&t=7s

Tuesday, 11 December 2018

Baan Ganga, Mumbai 

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                   It was a surprise revelation from our Son Anuj regarding the flow of Ganga in Mumbai. A Jai Hind college classmate of his, Amit Mishra stays in the Walkeshwar locality of Malabar hill where flows the Ganga into a Large reservoir surrounded with steps, around which are built 108 small temples. So after the Beating Retreat at the Gateway of India  and the ‘At Home’ in C-in-C’s house on 04 Dec, we drove to the Malabar Hill and met up Amit, who not only escorted us to ‘Baan Ganga’  but narrated its history and mythological importance, as we sat on steps of its Ghats enjoying the refreshing cool breeze.

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                     The Tank was built in the 1127 AD, by Lakshman Prabhu, a minister in the court of Silhara dynasty kings of Thane. It was rebuilt in 1715 AD, out of a donation to the Walkeshwar Temple by Rama Kamath.  The main temple has been reconstructed since then and is at present a reinforced concrete structure of recent construction.

                         According to local legend, it sprang forth when Lord Rama, the exiled hero of the epic Ramayana, stopped at the spot in search of his kidnapped wife Sita. As the legend goes, overcome with fatigue and thirst, Rama asked his brother Lakshmana to bring him some water. Laxman instantly shot an arrow into the ground, and water gushed forth from the ground, creating a tributary of the Ganges, which flows over a thousand miles away, hence its name, Banganga, the Ganga created by a Baan (arrow). 

      The Baanganga also houses the 'Shri Kashi Math' and 'Shri  Kavale Math' of the Goud Saraswat Brahmins at its banks and samadhis of their various past heads of the Math. The area also has a Hindu cremation ground,  which after 2003, received a makeover to house a gas crematorium. The area still has an old Hindu cemetery consisting of samadhi shrines of various Advaita gurus, such as Sri Siddarameshwar Maharaj (1888–1936) and his disciple, Sri Ranjit Maharaj (1913–2000).

                      The tank today is a rectangular pool structure surrounded by steps on all four sides. At the entrance are two pillars in which diyas (oil lamps) were lit in ancient times. The tank is spring fed and so its water remains sweet, despite being located only a few dozen meters away from the sea. Apart from being a cultural hub, the place over the years has provided inspiration to many artists, be it on film or on canvas.

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                    Meena, self, Anuj and Amit took a parikrama of ‘Baan Ganga,’ on the upper steps of which quack a large number of ducks throughout the day and night. We sat on the step enjoying the soothing breeze, even as a small black and white Cat came and sat quietly behind Meena.

                  It was an enriching experience and comforting too for our Souls. We thanked Amit,  who is a humble lawyer who had recently earned his professional qualification for practising, bid him Goodbye and set course for ou Borivali home.

Sunday, 2 December 2018

Commander-in-Chief invites Veterans

One of the important and much awaited Naval tradition during the Navy week celebrations is the Veterans’ lunch being hosted by C-in-C every year. The bliss of interacting with like-minded Veterans is Priceless and evident during such a buoyant gathering. 02 Dec was the day when VAdm Girish Luthra, Flag Officer Commanding in Chief of the Sword-Arm of our fine Indian Navy invited all Veterans of Mumbai Chapter of Navy Foundation for lunch. All roads of Navy Colaba converged onto IMSC as hundreds of Veterans with their good ladies started gathering at the complex starting 11am. It was delightful to interact with senior veterans and former CNS Adm VS Shekhawat.

Cdr Vijay Vadhera, Secy NFMC had worked to a plan with ample seating arrangement close to the dais for senior aged Veterans and briefed everyone to maintain silence during C-in-C’s address. At the outset, Cdr Vadhera welcomed the C-in-C that was followed by an observance of 2 min silence in remembrance of those brother veterans who had left us for their heavenly abode in the past one year. VAdm Luthra in his address briefed the Veterans about the Naval activities in the year gone by, the Naval plans for the future and welfare measures by the Command particularly the ECHS issues.

Radm RM Bhatia then briefed everyone present on the wonderful efforts by NFMC Secy in enhancing the Chapter’s membership that had shot upto 1137 including 6 former CNS, and was the largest among the 15 Navy Foundation Chapters. He also mentioned about the successful maiden Tri-nation tour to Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand (24 Aug- 03 Sep) organised by the Secy , that has paved the way for a similar tour to Europe next year during the same period, planning for which is underway by him. Radm Bhatia also highlighted the plans that are underway for the celebration of Veteran’s Day on 14^th Jan 2019 on a grand scale with ample media publicity and pep talks by veterans in various schools.

Later the bars were opened and the veterans interacted with each other and dwelled on their past nostalgic memories in the Navy over a glass of beer and a delicious meal. Everyone captured enough memories to glance back in footprints of time to come. Until we meet again, Cheers and Jai Hind !