Raj Dutta

Thursday, 7 February 2019

JAB WE MET

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In the last week of past month, I was pleasantly enchanted to receive a call from my close smart buddy of KV Jamnagar, Bharat Shah. Bharat, who was our class leader of class IX and X. Bharat, who was a class apart. Bharat, who was endowed with a stupendous talent in Acting that could put some Bollywood actors to shame. Bharat, who was our Senior cadet of the Junior Division NCC troop, of which I was a part. Bharat, who was a live-wire of our School and created a void when he left us in X, when his parents got relocated to London along with their small family of 10 fine children; 3 daughters and 7 sons, of which Bharat is the youngest. I was bound to be as excited as a Kid, when he told me that he would be in Mumbai on 1^st Feb, visit Shirdi for two days and be back on 4th for a couple of days, before flying down back to London. I rang him up on the 5^th morning to check on his program and get a meeting fixed. An hour later I was driving down from Borivali to his hotel in Khar. I’d just wheeled my Manza on the Parking stilt when emerged Bharat from the lobby wearing a broad grin between his outstreched arms. He looked much brilliant than his school days frame. I inadvertently left the car door open as I walked towards him. We hugged each other after 44 long years. Having secured the car, we continued our exuberant chat as strolled out to explore the streets of Khar; unfamiliar to both of us. Glancing at a Restaurant, the epithet of which reminded us of another great classmate of ours, ‘Krishna Kumar Bhardwaj’….We entered ‘Krishna’ to bathe ourselves in the memories of the era we had left abaft long ago but yet did long for it.

We discussed and pontificated on our School/ classmates Balasaria brothers (Suresh, Subhash and Santosh), Francis, Narinder Sharma, Narinder Chawla, Ashok Jajoo, Sunil Shah, Anil Shah, Anil Jain, Anup Jain, Rajnikant Shah, Harish Shah, KK, Vijay Patel, Ashwin Vashishth, Vipin, Tuhina, Navina, Deepa, Narinder Kaur, Rekha Jain…etc....We recounted each and every class teacher of ours with respect ; Principal RK Jain, who taught the students lower Maths, Mr Solanki - crafts teacher, Mr Sony who taught higher maths, Mr Dattani our chemistry teacher, Mr Jha and Mrs Chhabra- Hindi, Mr Gangal & Mrs Asha Goyal- English (my FB Friend too), Mr Jami - Fine Arts, Mrs Dutta (Primary Hd Mistress) whose two daughters Kamlesh (our senior) and Sudesh (my Sister’s class) studied in our school. Mitra ma’am - Primary/Secondary Teacher. Principal EV Joseph….

During our two hour synergy in the hideaway we discussed our Sports days, NCC days (the naughty escapades, sans vulgarity, that we were privy to at the Baroda Annual Alembic Camp). Bharat was our NCC senior cadet of Junior Div with a rich commanding voice. At the Baroda state level camp, he was the undisputed choice for the Best Mono-Acting Prize, while I’d bagged the Best All-around cadet title. Bharat would have become a Bollywood star or joined the Armed Forces, had his parents not shifted to London. He owns a Photo studio ‘May-Fair’ that’s a commercial success at the London street. His Son and Daughter have both excelled in the Economics field. He and his elder sister had come to visit India to meet friends and relatives.

We ordered and relished Masala Dosa apart from special sandwiches among two rounds of steaming Cuppa, in which we dipped ample memories of our nostalgic school days to draw out a rich fragrant aroma. When her sister rang up, we popped out of our dream world after 2 hours. We re-tracked to his hotel and exchanged our surprise mementoes. There was an elegant Scarf of his favourite Blue colour for him, that I exchanged for a wonderful Tee Shirt together with the memories of our School Era that he had captured in an Album for me. Although we went along journeying nostalgia leafing through the Album, to my sheer delight he presented it to me sans any hesitation. I dropped Bharat and his elder Sister to the Santa Cruz Mall, where they intended to shop prior to their London departure next morning. We parted with a tight hug, bid great wishes to each other as I set course back to Borivali. Bharat is one person, who like a whiff of fresh air, enters with a Cheer, and leaves pleasant footprints when he leaves….Long live Bharat.

Saturday, 2 February 2019

COAST GUARD DAY 2019

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Grand people conduct grand events in a great style unmatched.

Event - 43^rd Coast Guard Day reception.

Venue - Regional Headquarters at CG Worli.

It was a majestic delight for Meena and I to be invited to this august assemblage (courtesy Cdr V Vadhera and Adm Rusi Contractor). I had flown over 600 hrs on the CG beauty - Fokker F-27 in the mid-80s, during deputation to the Premier Maritime Air Squadron CGAS-700 as its commissioning crew, and hence encountering some old buddies was on the cards during the evening. As we drove down the Sea-Link cantilever, the premises of RHQ(W) as it emerged from the bridge with its blueish glow exhibited exquisite charm. Even the well-lit parking lot was colour carpeted when our Tata Manza creeped-in directed by the marshalling staff.

COMCG(W), Inspector General VD Chafekar and his Staff-Officer were present at the archway to receive n greet the guests for the celebrations. As we stepped in, Cmdt Vivek Dogra, Regional Ops Offr was as delighted as a kid to welcome us. Vivek is the younger Son of late Cdr Shashipal, who had been my ExO in Naval Unit NCC, Mumbai. He mentioned to us of his long working hours but he found it challenging, sans any remorse. Sure his Dad must be blessing him from the yonder-world. Next, we met Surg Capt Ajit Gopinath and his good lady Bhargavi, prior to the arrival of the Chief Guest. The Doc was our PMO in Valsura in 2000-01. As H.E. Shri C Vidyasagar Rao, the Governor of Maharashtra stepped on the central Pedestal, the National Anthem was played. Screening of a CG movie followed, soon after the Governer was comfortably seated. The clip flaunted the White Water Navy, that has galloped to formidable force levels in the last 10 years with over 15,000 personnel manning 42 shore stns, 15 Air stns/enclaves, 137 ships and 44 aircraft dedicated to the nation 24x7x365, guarding and securing our coastal assets. After the movie, an adorable sand artist Sarvam Patel of ‘India’s Got Talent’ fame, showcased his mastery of the Art. He crafted and animated subjects fluidly and dedicated the final piece to the Coast Guard. He then deftly applied some glue on a blackboard and requested the governor to spay the coloured sand on the Board. What emerged was a breathtaking masterpiece of the Governor’s smiling face as displayed in the photos below. This was immediately followed by a presentation of CG Memento by ADG K Natarajan IG, CCG(WS) to the Governor and the release of Coffee Table Book by H.E.

We then moved around and interacted with young CG officers, greeted Cmde Vimal Kumar, who had been a Veteran Diver and retd as DoD in NHQ and Cmde SPS Bhatti an Engineering specialist who is presently heading Dynatron as its CEO. It was a pleasure to meet AVM R Hora, AOC MAO and RAdm PK Bahl, FOMA with whom I had recently interacted during the Veterans Day. Capt Rahul Sharma and his good lady Cmdt Lalima Sharma walked up to us. Rahul was a Lt in Valsura when he with Abhilash Tomy got stuck in the marsh in an enterprise in the receding tide and an IAF Helo had to be requisitioned for their rescue, even as darkness engulfed the sailing club, sans any commn with Boat. He recounted the tale reflecting back in time, when I had been directed to take over as OIC Sailing club after that incident. All the CG Pilots were excited to meet me as I recounted my days of CGAS-700. Dep Cmdt Balwinder narrated his harrowing experience of encountering terrible weather on return to Shikra and how he managed to break clouds to put his Helo back on the tarmac with little fuel. It’s a fact that time compression does take place when one deeply discusses topics of one’s passion.

The Feast was sumptuous with a great variety of main course and luscious desserts. We lauded the Coast Guard’s expansion and thanked COMCG(W) and his staff for inviting us to this exceptional evening of gala celebrations and prayed for even more Glory to the formidable Force in the coming years.

We Hail the Indian Coast Guard in its 43^rd Grand Anniv…Jai Hind.

Monday, 28 January 2019

‘KRYFS’ FELICITATES NAVY FOUNDATION

KRYFS is India's largest CRGO transformer core solutions & specialized material handling equipment company. With 7 factories & over 25 years of experience. It has a capacity to convert 50,000 MT per annum of CRGO Electrical Steel into transformer laminations and cores. Today, KRYFS services the entire value chain of energy supply from generation (of Solar Power), Transmission (through its EPC business) to distribution (through the manufacture of transformers, cores, and fabrication) and employs over 750 people, all over India.

KRYFS has nine manufacturing facilities for manufacturing of distribution and medium power transformers up to 10 MVA, 33 KV class, laminations, transformer cores, transformer tanks and lifting slings. Three units are located at Kherdi, in the Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli, one unit at Palghar- Maharashtra, three units in Baroda and one in Bhopal.

CRM is a strong hallmark of KRYFS, that draws them to Charity, Social Service and felicitation of Soldiers and Veterans. Their HR manager Priyanka Koli contacted Cdr Vijay Vadhera, Secy NFMC for felicitation on the occasion of 70^th Republic Day. I was requested to do the honours on behalf of NFMC, at my Borivali Home on 28th jan. Mr Prathmesh Naik, IT Executive along with two more executives of the company Dhairya Shah and Raunak Malkan came over to Felicitate our Naval Foundation with a Memento and a wonderful Objet D’Art that contained artistically calligraphed inspiring Patriotic Poetry scripted in Hindi.

It was great interacting with the smart executives of KRYFS over Tea and snacks and reading out the scripted Poetry. One on the top right, read as follows.

Kuchh Nasha Tirange ki Aan Ka hai,

Kuchh Nasha Matrubhoomi ki Shaan ka hai,

Hum lehrayeinge har jagah ye tiranga,

Nasha ye Hindustan ki Shaan ka hai.

Salute to the Real Heros of India

Hamare Desh ke Veer Jawano ko shat-shat Naman.

On behalf of NFMC it was my proud privilege to convey my appreciation and gratitude to KRYFS, even as I bid the executives Good Bye smilingly with Best Wishes.

(Notice the crest of RINS Himalaya in the backdrop)

Sunday, 27 January 2019

AMAR JAWAN MONUMENT BORIVALI - 26 JAN 2019

When a few like-minded Veterans assemble and bond together on a National Day, the euphoria created by them is bound to be priceless. It happened at 6pm on 26^th Jan 2019 at Immaculate School, Borivali(West), where about 20 Naval Veteran couples converged to celebrate 70^th Republic Day and pay their second Anniv homage to the ‘Amar Jawan’ monument, resurrected by Veteran Lt Shreekant Bhende.

When Lt Bhende shifted to this location 5 yrs ago, he noticed a dilapidated old statue peeping through the tall grass and plants on a traffic island, with its helmet missing and the gun in tatters. A pathetic sight it was and an insult to martyrs. Lt Bhende decided to restore its glory. But getting the requisite permission through the maze of municipal bureaucracy was a difficult task. He approached the municipal Commissioner who verbally approved the request to erect the ‘Amar Jawan’ monument. Lt Bhende then restored this monument by durable weather resistant FRP, that had been his lifeline for 22 yrs after his retirement. The monument was finally erected by Lt Bhende, and inaugurated by RAdm RM Bhatia, President NFMC, in the presence of RAdm S Mahindru (FOMA), Cdr Vijay Vadhera, Secy of the Foundation and other Veterans of the Navy on 07 Apr 2017, two yrs ago.

Shri Harish Raoji Chhedda, the Corporator of Borivali(West) was requested to grace the occasion as the Chief Guest to lay a wreath on the ‘Amar Jawan’ monument, followed by the sounding of the ‘Last Post’ as a homage to our martyrs and a minute of Silence. Subsequently, a gettogether was prearranged at the lawns of the Immaculate School. The Corporator could not join the festivities due to his preoccupation, but that did not dampen the spirit of the Veterans, as after the Wreath Laying by Col Unni Chandra Shekhar, Mrs Verma and Cdr KK Kutty, all Veterans assembled at the glowing decorated lawns for a scintillating evening of Gala, where the MC Cdr Raj Dutta after recounting his motivational story, enthused each and everyone present to share episodes of their service careers. Capt RS Sharma, Cdrs KK Sharma, Paranjpe, GB Singh, Alok Rastogi, KK Kutty, Peter Saldhana, M Hadish, Shukla, Midha, Vishnu Gaonkar, Col Unni, and Dr Bela Verma very enthusiastically narrated events of their glorious past with elan. We engrossingly listened to Mrs Bangar’s interesting courtship day tales with her late husband Cmde Bangar. A few ladies even sang a few melodious songs of the bygone era to create a nostalgic aura. Lt Bhende recounted his association with Late VAdm MP Awati, followed by a few more officers recounting episodes with Late Adms Ronnie L Pereira, MP Awati and other senior officers that they served with. A Fauji brat, Ms Priya Singh(an Airhostess in Qatar Airways) and her friend who were passing by during the wreath laying, gladly joined our festivities. She was highly appreciative of the Veterans contribution to our nation.

A sumptuous dinner culminated the festivities with a firm resolve of even greater participation of Veterans at the same location, for the Independence Day later this year. Jai Hind.