C-IN-C HOSTS VETERAN OFFICERS-07 NOV 2021
It
cannot be inherited, nor can it ever be purchased, I have earned it with my Blood, Sweat and Tears.
I own it,
forever the Title : “VETERAN”
One
of the significant and much awaited Naval tradition during the Navy week
celebrations is the Veterans’ lunch being
hosted by CinC every year. The
bliss of interacting with like minded Veterans is priceless and evident during
such a buoyant gathering. 07 Nov 2021 was the day when VAdm R Hari
Kumar PVSM, AVSM, VSM, ADC, Flag Officer
Commanding in Chief of the Sword-Arm of our fine Indian Navy invited all
Veterans with spouses of Maharashtra, Gujarat and Karnataka for lunch. Invitation was flashed in major
local dailies much in advance. All roads of Navy Colaba converged onto IMSC as
hundreds of Veterans with their good ladies started gathering at Dhanush
complex starting 11:30 AM. It was absolute delight for the NFMC managing
committee to interact with senior veterans and usher them in to the Sea Lounge.
Among the Senior Veterans who graced the occasion were Adm L Ramdas and Adm
Vijai Shekhawat our former CsNS, VAdm Girish Luthra and VAdm SPS Cheema, our
former Patrons and Cs-in-C, VAdm IC Rao, VAdm SKK Krishnan, RAdm GC Thadani, RAdm PK Sinha, RAdm RK Shrawat & RAdm RJ Nadkarni with their good ladies. Cmde PK Malhotra, President NFPC
and Veer Nari Poonam Gulati from Pune drove down to be with us.
Cdr Vijay Vadhera, President NFMC
had suggested to LtCdr Subin, Secy IMSC for ample seating
arrangement close to the dais for senior
aged at the Drona hard. The
Commander-in-Chief was welcomed by
VAdm K Swaminathan (COS), RAdm Sanjeev Sharma
(CSO(P&A)) and Cdr Vijay Vadhera, President
NFMC on arrival at 1215 hrs and escorted to the Drona hard. The Secy NFMC took to the dias and announced
for 2 mins silence as homage to the Veterans and Veer Naris who had departed
for the heavenly abode since the last gettogether. He then requested the
Commander in Chief to address the Veterans. The C-in-C in
his address briefed the gathering about
the Naval activities in the year gone by, clouded by the Pandemic of
Corona, the Naval plans for the future and the welfare measures by the Command particularly the ECHS issues and efforts on
the welfare measures for Veterans in Pune. The CinC then presented to President NFMC a
cheque of Rs One Lakh for the welfare of Veterans’ fraternity. NFMC is grateful
to the CinC for the goodwill gesture.
Cdr Vijay Vadhera was then invited on
stage and briefed everyone present on the continued efforts by NFMC in
enhancing the Chapter’s membership that had shot upto 1292 including 4 former
CNS (amongst them Adm L Ramdas and Adm VS Shekhawat were present), 13 former
C-inCs (including VAdm Girish Luthra and VAdm Cheema, who were present), 269
outstation, 49 overseas members, 65 Octogenarians, 45 Gallantry awardees and 91
Veer Naaris, NFMC being the largest among the 16 Navy Foundation Chapters. He then
mentioned about the activities spread throughout the year. He also highlghted
the plans that are afoot for the celebration of the 2nd Veteran’s
Day activites on a grander scale with ample media publicity. The Trophies are
ready for the Serving offrs Vs Veterans for the Cricket competition and J-24 Sailing Race 0n 02 and 03 Jan 2022,
followed by the 2nd Vetrans Day Parade on 09 Jan. The Veterans Day, 14 Jan shall start with
homage to the Martyrs at the Colaba War memorial by laying of wreath by all the
three arms of the Service, President NFMC and other Veteran foundations. This
will be followed by the 19th Soman Memorial lecture for which VAdm Pradeep
(Billoo) Chauhan, DG NMF, a well-known
defence and strategic affairs analyst has been invited. He then mentioned about our active, updated
and vibrant NFMC website that boasts of a matrimonial portal that has been
successful in 3 matrimonial alliances so far. Cdr Vadhera assured the CinC on
behalf of the Veterans that whenever a
need arises, for additional manpower by the Sword Arm of our Great Navy, we
Veterans, who are retired but not yet tired, will always be there to chip in at
an instant notice, to defeat the nefarious designs of the enemy. (Link of Videos below after the
Pics that speak) He was grateful to INHS Asvini to have rendered immediate
medical help to Veterans during the Pandemic. INS Angre, Shikra, Kunjali, Tanaji, ND and
Hamla are always forthcoming and could always be banked upon in crisis. We are
indeed blessed to be in the Lap of Indian Navy that cares for its Veterans and
Veer Naris.
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 delectable meal. All the
Veterans and Veer Naris that I interacted with were of immense praise for the
arrangements made by IMSC for the function, including additional designer
shamiyana with Karaoke and dance music. The southern corner of IMSC was vibrant
with buoyant Veterans dancing away (Vids below). Everyone captured enough
memories to glance back in footprints of time to come. Until we meet again for the Beating Retreat,
Ladies and Gentlemen; Cheers.
Shano
Varuna … Jai Hind !
PS- Kindly double click and zoom the Videos attached at the bottom.
THE PHOTOS
THAT SPEAK
The blog is made very professionally. Covered all events very systematically .Very crisp and to the point. Dil mange more.
ReplyDeleteGrateful for your humbling remark Sire..Naman....Have added more Videos...Regards.
DeleteSir
ReplyDeleteAs usual an excellent blog by Dutta Sir. Sir you must agree that this time it would not have been possible for you to have covered the entire event singlehandly without the support of your good lady who made it possible by capturing the happy moments where the veterans were seen busy hugging punching their buddies all around the lawns of the beautiful IMSC. Thank you and to Mrs Dutta also for the excellent coverage.🙏
Rajeev, that's a very humbling comment from you and Meena is delighted to read it ... Acts as a booster.... Naman.
ReplyDelete