LOSS OF A DEAR ONE
I firmly believe that we essentially are travellers from outer mysterious space, revelling our designated time on this Planet. The past two months have been tragic for some of us. NFMC members Veer Nari Urmila Bakshi (Meena's Mother)(09 Jun), Cdr Vikram Inamdar (15 Jun), LtCdr Ashok Sandhu (01Jul), Cmde BL Sharma (13 Jul), Capt Kamal Singh Dadhwal (18 Jul), Mrs Lakshmi Bose (08 Aug) & Mrs Nalini Kaith (19 Aug), left us in quick succession, leaving a large void in the lives of their family members, that would reduce with Time, but never erased.
Meena and I were in the Jhansi Bungalow for over a month, after her Mother’s unfortunate demise. She had been living there alone, while her children visiting her in turns. We returned back to Borivali on 08 Aug and just past midnight Surg Cdr DK Bose, VSM rang up and mentioned of the unfortunate demise of his good Lady, Mrs Lakshmi Bose due to Cardiac arrest at his Tarapore Towers residence. After trying CPR attempts She was taken to Kokilaben Hosp, where even the Docs couldn’t revive her. Next morning both his Sons : Joy from Dubai and Sanjay from Gurgaon arrived and Funeral and last rites were conducted at the Goregaon Shiv Dham Elec Crematorium at Noon Time. On behalf of President NFMC and all Veterans Dr Kanta Mukherjee laid the wreath, in the presence of a few Naval Veterans from adjoining areas.
Mrs Lakshmi Bose
Lakshmi Bose was born and brought up in Silchar, Assam and accomplished her graduation in Arts from Gauhati Univ. She had been an outstanding sports woman in Badminton, Table tennis and Lawn Tennis. Her Mother had been Radio singer, in Dacca prior partition and later in Calcutta and Gauhati. Singing was an inherent talent in her. She was always smiling in a jovial mood, and well known in the Aviation circle, as Surg Cdr Bose spent 25 yrs in Navy, most of it on Vikrant, Hansa, Kunjali, Asvini and Himgiri. He is a VSM awardee from INS Kuthar (1971 War). The young couple used to welcome the Aviators at their home, as they used to barge in uninvited. During their Naval tenure they were blessed with handsome boys Joy and Sanjay. After retiring in 1994, after 25 yrs of glorious service in the Navy, the dynamic couple settled down in Tarapore Towers, Lokhadwala. Most trees around the Tarapore Towers have been planted by the dynamic couple. He served his second innings as Med Dir. at Ridhibhai Chest Hosp, Mahim (1995-2000), followed by third innings as Med Dir in Karuna Hosp (2000-2018). They enjoyed Navy Foundation get-togethers in IMSC, as Meena used to snap the charming couple doing Masti. She used to tell him, : “Tu toh Buddha ho gaya hai,” and he used to laugh it off....Profound memories. Lakshmi Bose although transited to higher realms on the midnight of 08-09 Aug, but her presence can be felt around even today. Naman Lokhi Di.
A Flier was promulgated announcing the Shraddhanjali Prayer meet in the O Block Community Hall on Sun 20 Aug starting 1000 hrs. Cdr Bose personally called me up to attend the meet. We Picked up Veer Nari Mukti Ghosh enroute to Tarapore Towers and enroute discussed about Mrs lakshmi Bose, whom Mukti refered to as Lokhi Di, in Bengali. I dropped Meena and Mukti at the O block and went out for Parking, where I met the ever smiling young couple Lt S Bhende and Mrs Indira, whom we’d called on on the Independence Day to wish them. As we arrived at the portico we met our good friends Cdr and Mrs Jasbir Singh and Surg Capt and Mrs KM Shah. The Havan was nearing completion and Veteran Cdr Shailendra Sharma and our dynamic Veer nari Dr Kanta Mukherjee had just left. Dr Kanta had an important Soc meeting to attend. We entered the Prayer Hall and paid our respects to Lokhi Di, whose fairly large garlanded smiling photo adorned the Puja table, against a havan kund. Cdr Bose introduced his younger Son Sanjay, who along with his good lady Shalini and handsome son Shlok had organised the Shraddhanjali meet. Sanjay the MC of the Day, beckoned everyone inside for a short movie on the Life and times of Lokhi Di, being projected on the screen. Going into nostalgic times, Surg Cdr Bose, seated by my side could not hold back his tears, even as I placed my hand on his shoulder to console him. It was a home made Reel collabing a nostalgic Song, mostly about their times in the Navy. After the movie Sanjay called upon friends to recall and recount their association with his Mother. Dr Daksha Shah and Surg Capt KM Shah recalled their close association with the Bose couple during their long association in the Navy, Cdr Jasbir recalled his Badminton games in Hansa with Lakshmi Maam, Docs Of Karuna Hosp and Mukti Ghosh shared the nostalgic times with her. I mentioned about her brief profile and on behalf of President and members of NFMC prayed for her wellbeing in Heavens above and her blessings to all present. The staff of Karuna Hosp who came for Shaddhanjali were Dr Tendulkar & Dr Mrs Tendulkar, Dr Bindi, Dr Pritam, Dr Yogesh Mehta, Dr Kavita, Dr Laila, Dr Sampad.
After the Shraddhanjali samaroh, it was time to meet and greet over the delectable Lunch. it was a pleasure to meet Surg Cdr Bose's Samdhi Mr & Mrs CD Sahay, former Dir R&AW and his good Lady Neelam. The two make a Royal Couple. He could easily be mistaken for a Veteran Naval Admiral. He was the negotiator during 814 hijack, and discussed it in brief. Mr Sahay was aware of Navy Foundation and was very appreciative of welfare measures by NF, vis a vis other 2 services. He had operated with VAdm Rusi Contractor in 1983 in Mauritius and desired to re-establish contact with Adm Contractor. I shared the no with him...He is settled in Gurgaon and graciously invited us over, when in Delhi. It was also a pleasure to meet our NFMC members : Cmde SPS Shahid, Cdr-At-Arms and Mrs DS Randhawa, Surg Capt and Mrs KM Shah, Cdr & Mrs Jasbir Singh, Cdr Nozar Engineer, Lt and Mrs Bhende, Cdr RS Yadav (Khuthar Shipmate of Surg Cdr Bose) Veer Nari Suparna Debnath. (Pics below)
We bade our Good byes and Best Wishes to Dr Bose and his near and dear ones before setting course back home. Enroute we dropped Mrs Mukti Ghosh at her Kandivili residence.
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Our CM from Thane Cdr Abhishek Kankan lost his dear Father, Shri Subhash Kankan, 79 yrs on 07 Aug, On behalf of President and Committee Members Cdr Surinder Paul laid the wreath. The Prayer Meeting on 20 Aug was attended by Cdr Vijay Vadhera, President NFMC and Veterans from Thane at Club House, Hiranandani Estate, Thane. (Pics and Vid below)
Sam No Varunah
Jai Hind
VID-7
Dear Raj hats off to your commitment. You are doing a great job. God bless
ReplyDeleteThanks Sir....Naman.
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