PLATINUM BIRTHDAY OF A SANTA CLAUS
Seldom is one witness to a Celebration Birthday of a Santa Claus. We were honoured to be a part of one such gala on 28th Jan 2022 at Kino's Cottage-Juhu when Adorable Sonali and her wonderful family Kunal Bharti (Hubby) and their loving kids Aalika and Siddhant (Indian Chess prodigy), firmed up on the grand celebration of her Mom’s Platinum Jubilee Birthday bash. Dr Capt (AMC) Kanta Mukherjee is more than a Santa Claus. Santa gives you gifts on Christmas, albeit Kanta is a Society’s Santa distributing freebies to the needy often throughout the year, whether it’s the environmental watch, the anti-encroachment drives, distribution of PPE kits, free dental treatment to needy or distribution of dollars to workers during her foreign tours; everyone who comes to her door, leaves with a Smile. And the coincident whelming part : She shares her Birthday with Jesus Christ (25 Dec) and Mrs Rekha Sharma (better half of Cmde IJ Sharma) present amongst the guests.
Brief Write-up on the Work Done by the Nominee
Dr (Capt) Kanta Mukherjee, 75 yrs, is a Social
reformer, a renowned environmental enthusiast and a Veer Nari with a Vision.
Having graduated in dental surgery from Mumbai, in 1968 and internship in Willingdon
and Safdarjung Hospital's burns department in Delhi, She Joined Army Dental
corps in January 1971 and treated soldiers with and facial and jaw casualties
during the 1971 War. She displayed tremendous courage in expeditious surgery
and care of soldiers being brought in from War zones to Base hospital, Delhi
Cantt. She was later posted to Army Dental Centre Panjim in 1972 and gave cover
to all Army centres around. She Got married in 1972 at Goa, to a Naval Doctor,
Late Vice-Admiral HP Mukherjee (former Director General Medical Services
(NAVY)). After quitting service in January 1976, She started private practice
at Dimapur where Admiral Mukherjee was then posted with Border Roads. After
Nagaland She has practiced in Mumbai, then Cochin, back to Mumbai at Kemps
corner and Hughes road. Finally shifted to own residence at Versova in February
1989. Not one to rest on her past laurels, She involved herself in upliftment
of Society. She is a renowned social worker and an environmentalist of Andheri
and Juhu and has solved all local issues of water, sanitation, upkeep of roads,
illegal encroachments and beautification of surroundings. She involved herself
extensively working for removal of encroachment and beautification of area
under “Saaf Aangan Scheme” of BMC. Her Contribution to welfare of handicapped
and providing free dental treatment to poor in the area, has been appreciated
by BMC Commissioner in various forums. She formed an NGO (Access Smile
Foundation) to treat children born with birth defect of cleft lip and cleft
palate. During COVID times in the past two years, her NGO supplied Smart COVID
OPDs to all the government hospitals in Mumbai for protection of doctors
working on COVID patients. This noble gesture deservedly was much appreciated
by the fraternity of health care workers. She had shifted to Versova along with
her husband about 30 yrs ago. Their building is next to the mangroves. Her
heart used to cry seeing the people cutting and destroying the mangroves for
fire wood and used to stop them. Although she tried to teach them the
importance of Mangroves in helping against soil erosion, it fell on deaf ears
of locals. One fine morning she was horrified to see all the mangroves in front
of the building cut down to stumps. It sent shockwaves to all the residents and
that was the beginning of her participation in environmental activities of her
Area. High Court was moved and mangroves of Versova area were saved by erecting
a fence along the 2 km stretch of the mangroves. Citizens then decided to be active
and formed an Advanced Locality Management, a recognised body by Mumbai
Municipal Corporation of which She became the Chairperson. Her organisation not
only keeps an environment infringement watch, but also deals with illegal
encroachments in the public areas and gardens. She engages in beautification of
specific areas by adopting it under ‘Saaf Angan Scheme’ of BMC, besides
educating and training the Societies in Waste segregation and Composting. She
was honoured for her work by BMC under the Swatch Bharat Scheme. Her message of
Swatch Bharat is also propagated via the musical shows organised in the
Societies of the Area. She was faced with opposition from uncivil rowdy
elements against encroachment drives. She filed an FIR against the encroachers and
fought against them in civil courts to remove encroachments. A Social Worker
with a difference She is regarded as the “Durga” of her area. On the occasion
of 75th Independence Day of India, ‘Hindi Academy’ decided to honour prominent
Veterans of Mumbai by the Governor of Maharashtra, H.E. Shri Bhagat Singh
Koshiyari. The Academy felicitated Dr Kanta Mukherjee with the Award of
Matrubhoomi Bhushan Samman 2021, for relentlessly serving the Society. She is
also an active Committee Member of the NFMC (Navy Foundation Mumbai Chapter),
largest of the 16 Chapters Pan India with over 1300 Naval Veterans and Veer
Naris. Despite being a Senior Veer Nari herself, she has been looking after the
welfare of all Veer Naris of NFMC whole heartedly. She is a worthy mentor to
them and not only facilitates the Armed Forces Veer Naris pension formalities,
but additionally provides them moral and social support by visiting them often.
Her personal involvement in Social upliftment, environmental conservation,
Patient care and welfare of Veer Naris, beyond the call of Duty, is worthy of
emulation and needs National recognition. In consideration of the foregoing,
Commander Vijay Vadhera, the President of the Navy Foundation Mumbai Chapter
has strongly recommended Veer Nari Dr (Capt) Kanta Mukherjee for the award of
Nari Shakti Puraskar 2021/2022 by the Government of India. Jai Hind.
KINO's COTTAGE
Kino Cottage, Andheri West, Mumbai is a
charmingly offbeat venue that offers the best to the guests. This venue has
pebbled pathways, wood, and stone-carved benches, blooming flowerbeds, dense
foliage and a view to the Arabian Sea through the Versova Beach to enchant you.
Sonali and Kunal aptly decided on the ‘Gate to Heavens’ destination for their
Mother, and secretly planned the surprises for her on her most Auspicious Day.
The guest list comprised residents of Anchorage Society, NFMC Committee members
and a few close friends of Dr Kanta.
We were the early few birds to enter Kenos,
which boasts of Wallet parking on the busy Juhu Road. The entrance was a
colourfully lit Archway resembling Gate to heaven. Courteously we were greeted
and escorted in and were charmed to walk into stone carved interior leading to
an exquisite Garden with decorative flowerbeds and pebbled pathway open to a
Promenade with an expansive view of the Arabian Sea, the orange textured waxing
crescent of the Lovely moon. On either side there were 6 mts high statues of ancient
goddesses smiling down and blessing the guests. We were greeted by the Birthday
Girl Kanta, who looked charming in her embraided Pink Suit. We wished her as
she hugged us smilingly. Sonali looked a Princess in Silver shimmering outfit.
Siddhant was in black and white and complemented Meena’s dress. Kunal looked
great in all black. Aalika was chatting with her peer group friends. Dr Kanta introduced us to her Bhabhi, Mrs Rita Chaudhry, a cheerful lady who'd come from Delhi for the celebration. Slowly
guests started trickling in and the place looked majestically abuzz. All our
Committee members and the beautiful ladies were mighty pleased to interact
after the Hamla get-together 2 months ago. Cdr Vadhera and Sunita Ma'am, took
some time to arrive after having tasted the traffic jams at Kurla. It took them
almost 3 hrs from Kharghar. It was a bliss to interact with our Senior Veterans Cmde & Mrs HC Sharma, Capt ML Nichani, Cdr PP Singh, Surg Capt Kamal Shah, Surg Lt Arun and Cdr Darshan Lal and
their charming ladies. The Jungee author, jubilant Priya and her hubby Shaikh
accompanied parents Cmde and Mrs IJ Sharma. (Mrs Rekha Sharma too shares her
Birthday with Dr Kanta. We had celebrated her 80th in grand style
two yrs ago at their Anchorage home). Cdr Darshan Lal recalled his challenging tenure
in Vikrant during the 1971 War, when he was its ExO, his association and times
with various Veterans of that era. We also met Mr Jagdish Joshi IAS, and his
good lady, who recounted his tenures in Maharashtra (Pune and Beed) as Chief Secy.
Sonali commenced the proceedings recalling her
times with her parents and how wonderful her Mom had been in her growing years.
Siddhant sang a melodious Birthday song for his adorable Nani playing his Guitar, Aalika read out a Poem in praise of her Nani, Raj
read out the Citation for Dr Kanta Mukherjee’s Nomination for the Nari Shakti
Award 2022 that has been forwarded to PMO. Cdr Vadhera took to stage and on
behalf of all Veterans wished a Very Happy 75th Birthday to the
Birthday Girl. He also briefed all present on the essence of Veterans Day and
the most awaited second Veterans Day Parade at Marine Drive on 08 Jan 2023. Later
the guests were requested to move into the Dance room inside for the
exceptional presentation prepared by young Siddhant on the Life and Times of
his Dear Kanta Nani. It was much
appreciated by all with a huge round of applause. This was followed by Meena’s
Video on her association with NFMC, which also drew huge applause from all present.
The dinner to follow was indeed delectable with
varied cuisine topped up with mouth watering dessert - Jalebi, Kulfi and
Gajrela.
Even
as the guests commenced to leave paying their respects to Dr Kanta, the close
few moved to the Dance floor and grooved till past midnight besides a round of
Karaoke by Cdr Vadhera, Raj and Sonali.
An event that has been etched in the minds of
guests, captured well in the cameras of Marshal and Meena, to be recalled in
footprints of time to come. The photos and Videos are placed below to marvel
and the splendid Organisation of the grand Gala by Kunal and Sonali for their
dear Mom Dr Kanta Mukherjee, the Queen of Hearts.
Jai Hind
Sam No Varunah
CDR
VADHERA’S WA MSG :
Thanks
Kanta Ma’am for a Lovely & most enjoyable evening yesterday . Sonali &
Kunal had got excellent decorations done consistent with the theme. It was like
a destination B’day celeberations. Even though we started from Kharghar at 1740
hrs, reached the Venue at 2025 hrs and finally reached Kharghar at 0215 hrs,
it was worth attending the Platinum jubilee Bday celebrations of our most
gracious Kanta Ma'am.🙏🏽🙏🏽
Next
Bday Bash will be when u reach the milestone of 80 yrs and start earning 20%
extra pension. Cheers 🍻
PS- Please double click the Videos at the bottom to play.
