VETERANS GET-TOGETHER AT INS TANAJI

       I know it seems hard sometimes, but remember one thing - Through every Dark night there is a Bright day after that; So no matter how hard it gets, stick your chest out keep your head up and handle it. – Tupac Shakur

PRELUDE

 'Hope' is a powerful tool for mankind. It works like wizardry, like a torch within you when you are certain that bliss shall presage eventually. You can make things happen.  Even as the COVID-19 gripped the world in its clutches commencing early last year, some extraordinary people, most of them unsung heroes emerged as Corona Warriors. They comprised Health Care workers, Armed Forces, Paramilitary, Policemen, Delivery men and the like. The World bows to them. 2020 and 2021 owes it to them.

Even as the dark clouds of the Pandemic seem to be  withering away, even as majority of humanity have been vaccinated against Covid, we cannot let our guards down and need to observe the precautions, when we do socialize.

RENDEVOUS OF NFMC VETERANS AT TANAJI

       A tenable idea was mooted by our Senior Veteran Cdr SK Jana, 2 yrs ago for AGM RGC(West) as an Agenda Point, to allow Cash Card facility for Veterans in INS Tanaji Officers’ Mess. Our former C-in-C had requested CO Tanaji to study the feasibility. The issue was shelved due to the Pandemic that shook the World early last year. Now with ray of Hope in sight, the issue was rekindled in HQWNC by President NFMC. CO Tanaji agreed for holding Tombola followed by Biryani Lunch every Sunday for Veterans on an experimental basis for 3 months on Cash Card at nominal charges. An inaugural function was originally planned for 19 Sep 2021, but got deferred to subsequent Sundays, due to weather and other constraints. It was finally executed with elan by the CO and staff on 10 Oct, when 30 Veteran couples from Kharghar and Suburbs converged to Mankhurd at 1130 hrs. The function was to be graced by COS HQWNC, but due to busy schedule of the Flag Officer, President NFMC Cdr Vijay Vadhera was requested to grace the Occasion. 

 

     A post was promulgated for 60 Veterans with Spouses for the inaugural function on first come basis, well in time and the list conveyed to Tanaji. Cmde Upal Kundu (CO) and his staff personally greeted the Guests at the Wardroom and escorted them to the large open arena where elaborate arrangements had been made with multiple bar counters. A large coloured Banner welcomed the Veterans for the occasion. The Veterans and ladies were meeting each other after about a year and half and the excitement and euphoria writ large on their smiling faces, evidently visible (as seen in the photos below).

    The meet and greet session over Beer was briefly interrupted by the Mess Secy Cdr M Arun, who warmly welcomed all and handed over the stage to smart and dynamic Cmde Kundu.  The CO once again greeted and welcomed the Veterans for the get-together. He was glad about the future regular interactions, spelling out the modus for future meets. He inaugurated the operandi by opening the maiden cash-card for Cdr Vijay Vadhera, President NFMC, who in his address elaborated upon the genesis of this meet and thanked HQWNC for this benediction for Veterans. Cmde Kundu was presented the NFMC memento of the wonderful Golden Sail boat by Cdr Vadhera. The Senior most Veteran Cmde Vimal Kumar then presented a copy of Quarter Deck-2021. All those presented were handed over 3 free tickets for the game of Tombola that was called by Cdr Raj Dutta, Hon Secy NFMC. The winners were presented with Gifts sponsored by INCS.

     The Biryani Lunch was delectably prepared by our Mess cooks,  topped up with mouth watering Angoori Gulab-jamun in Rabdi. The enjoyment was boosted further with an impromptu session of Karaoke on a lead by Cdr Vadhera followed by Cdr Manjul Mayank  and LOIC Navpen Cmde Sridar (blessed with vocal chords of a fine texture).

   The departure was preceded by Gp photo Op by Tanaji Photographer and our very own Mrs Meena Dutta (NFMC Hon. Photographer). All Veterans were high praise for INS Tanaji, a Naval base that’s immaculately maintained in top gear by the staff and conveyed it to Cmde Upal Kundu during the Sayonara time.

Sam No Varunah

Jai Hind.

P.S.- The blog wouldn't have been complete without the untiring efforts of Photographer Mrs Meena Dutta. 

CDR M ARUN WELCOMES VETERANS

CMDE UPAL KUNDU, CO TANAJI

CDR VADHERA ELABORATES ON  GENESIS OF GET-TOGETHER

PRESENTATION OF NFMC MEMENTO

CMDE VIMAL KUMAR PRESENTS Q.DECK 2021 TO CO TANAJI 

CDR PVR KRISHNAN WITH LOIC NAVPEN, CMDE SRIDAR

CDRS RAVI,AJAY & CMDE  VIMAL KUMAR

ALKA & POONAM

CMDE SRIDAR WITH MRS DVS VERMA & MEENA

TOMBOLA CALLER  CDR RAJ DUTTA

GUESTS PLAY TOMBOLA WITH BEER

GUESTS PLAY TOMBOLA (BIJOY, ALKA & MANOJ)

LADIES AT TOMBOLA

GUESTS AT TOMBOLA

FAROKH & ANAHITA

TOMBOLA  SESSION

TOMBOLA  SESSION

VIP  TABLE (CMDE SHRIDAR,CDR VADHERA,CMDE KUNDU & MEENA)

MRS MADHU RAI

CDR NARENDRA CHATURVEDI & MRS NEELAM CHATURVEDI

CDR & MRS MOHINDER SINGH

CDR & MRS MOHINDER SINGH, MRS MADHU RAI AND 

CDR & MRS N  CHATURVEDI

CDRS HC DHAMIJA &  S TULI

ANAHITA  &  FAROKH TARAPORE

CDR & MRS DASONDA SINGH WITH SURG CDR & MRS DK BOSE

CDRS MOHINDER, SULAKSHAN & BIJOY

CDR SULAKSHAN,BIJOY, ALKA & MANOJ KHANKA

SURG CAPT MK GUPTA, CDR SK JANA & SURG CDR DK BOSE 

MRS KRISHNAN, MRS JANA & MRS BOSE

RAJ, POONAM & KULDIP KOCHAR

POONAM, RAJ & MEENA

AJAY, KULDIP, MANJUL & CMDE MUKESH

CAPT RAKESH AGRAWALA WITH CDRS TULI & GIAN PRAKASH

THE VETERANS GROUP PHOTO

THE MEET  VIDEO 

(DOUBLE CLICK ZOOM)

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