EUROPE  CALLING 

“It is always sad to leave a place to which one knows one will never return. Such are the melancholies du voyage: perhaps they are one of the most rewarding things about travelling.” 

― Gustave Flaubert, 

“See the world. It's more fantastic than any dream made or paid for in factories. Ask for no guarantees, ask for no security.” ― Ray Bradbury, Fahrenheit 451

“The journey is the destination.” 
― Dan Eldon

                        IMSC was a Fun destination on 07 Jul 2019, for the Mumbai enthusiasts proceeding to Italy, Switzerland and France. The second edition of this tri-nation tour is also the brainchild of Cdr Vijay Vadhera, Secy NFMC after the successful 40 Naval veterans trip to Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand last year. This was a maiden meet with the primary Aim of a detailed tour briefing by the organizers Mr Veer Vikram and his better half Mrs Rupali. The additional  take away of the meet  has been  the team formation, albeit some had met at the Visa Office last month for the documentation, but meeting again in person in a buoyant  mood, today has ensured greater bonding, catalysed by the leading Pillars of our group LtCdr MS Grewal (Jt SOPA), Mrs Kanta Mukherjee(NFMC Committee member) and Cdr Vadhera, the Team Leader. We were  delighted to welcome our outstation members, Cdr & Mrs TN Reddy from Hyderabad and Cdr & Mrs Vinay Rai from Pune.

                The programme commenced at 1100 hrs with solemn Rituals being performed by the Temple Pandit Mishraji amidst mantra chanting for the Tour’s success. This was followed by members introducing themselves for greater Bonhomie, as Meena snapped each one (Photos below). Veer and Rupali then explained for about an hour the entire 11 days tour programme starting with the flight on 03rd Aug from Mumbai until landing back on 14/15 Aug, clearing doubts of all members. There were, of course, humorous moments too and the mood of everyone present remained buoyant. Cdr Vadhera then requested Mrs Kanta Mukherjee to present Veer and Rupali with an NFMC Memento. Cdr Vadhera distributed Veterans Caps to all the Members. This was followed by PLD and Lunch amidst the Karaoke singing session organised by Cdr Vadhera on the Karaoke Set that he recently has bought…The Lunch comprised delicious Chicken and Veg Biryani complemented with sweet Gulab Jamuns …..A Funtastic Day that we relished, in the countdown to the ‘D’ Day-Sat 03 August…What an August Day to commence the Tour abroad !! We albeit did miss our outstation members.

  Now that all formalities for the tour members are over in terms of Visas and Tickets, here's for you all,

Zindagi ki asli udan abhi baki hai,
zindagi ke kayi arman abhi baki hain
Abhi toh napi hai ek muthi zameen Apne,
Aage saara Aasman baki hai...
Aage saara Samadar baki hai....
Aage saara Europe baki hai. 

       We wish each other Super wishes till we meet again at Mumbai Airport on the midnight 02/03 Aug for departure to the second edition of  Tri-nation Tour abroad to Far West….Until then Shano Varuna…Jai Hind.

    For itinerary refer my previous Blog by clicking on link below;

http://rajdutta26.blogspot.com/2019/05/nfmcs-europe-tour-come-02-aug-2019-each.html  

P.S. - There are numerous DSLR photos of each one below, that you could easily zoom for better viewing  

  

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About the Author: 

     Commander Rajinder Dutta (Retd 2014) has been a Naval Pilot and a Qualified Flying Instructor with about 3000 hrs of flying on various fixed wing Aircraft of Indian Navy, viz HT-2, HPT-32, Kirans, Islander, Super-Connie, Fokker F-27 and IL-38. 

He is a   trainer for SSB aspirants, Master of Ceremonies and a Blogger.

http://rajdutta26.blogspot.com/   

                              

‘BARFF’ – BURNS  MORE  THAN  FIRE

“People love scandal; people love drama. They love stripping away the layers to see what's really in there, and they'll do anything - as well as make it up - to get it.”

                                               -- Julia Roberts

        When Saurabh Shukla, Sunil Kumar Palwal and Sadiya Siddiqui, performed in Mulla Auditorium on the evening 07^th Jul, their veil seemed non-existent as they transported us to our northern Paradise (Kashmir) about which Firdaus had once quipped regarding it being the Heaven on Earth,  “Gar firdaus bar-rue zamin ast, hamin asto, hamin asto, hamin ast.” …The ‘BARFF’ Drama seemed Real and flawless. The draw of curtains presented us with an authentic and tantalising set of snowfall in Kashmir. The esoteric set of a wooden house with a loft bathed in pronounced blue lighting enhanced the intrigue. In that dimly lit snowy night, the torchlight appears to lead the way as two silhouettes trudge up. A Kashmiri taxi driver, Ghulam Rasool, is guiding a senior doctor to his house, ensconced in a far-flung Kashmiri village, to have his ailing son treated. The road leading up to his house is not motorable in that harsh weather, so the trek is inevitable.

The engrossing narrative is replete with uncanny humour and witty remarks of the social-political scenario in J&K. The audience in Mulla was in a spell, caught between reality, faith, belief for over two hours punctuated with a short interval after an hour. When the curtains fell the spectators were in a state of amazing disbelief and pure delight. The audience exulted in a standing ovation to applaud the wonderful cast of this Grand show as we admired in awe the magical spell cast by the Actor-Writer-Director Saurabh Shukla, Sunil Palwal and Sadiya. The three, whom I later interacted are empathy driven down to Earth humans.

        The seeds for this Mega event were sown when Cdr Vijay Vadhera, Secy NFMC  chanced to meet up with Mr Ashvin Gidwani, who has made an enviable position for himself  by constructing a multinational media company ‘AGP World’ in 1995. AGP World is a premier production company of high-quality theatre, arts & signature experiences with a presence in 12 countries and 17 cities globally. By his able Leadership, Mr Ashvin has ensured an unstinted growth for his company that organises stage shows involving Bollywood stars who are enigmatic champions in the field of Theatre. Mr Ashwin is a talented Fauji Kid with Naval roots. A dutiful Son of Late Surg Cdr D Gidwani, ex-PMO Vikrant and Mrs Kamla Gidwani, he had kindly offered to stage his Hindi Play “BARFF” in their honour in Mulla Auditorium at 1800 hrs on Sun 07 Jul 2019.

          As Meena and I entered the Auditorium and met Cdr Vijay Vadhera, the architect of this show, Cmde Ravi came and embraced me. Meena spontaneously clicked our photo with Lyn Ma’am and got busy snapping the Veteran spectators in the hall. Incidentally, Cmde Ravi had directed the Mulla Auditorium’s Inaugural Play long ago.  

         VAdm Ajit Kumar P, FOC-in-C (West) was invited to be the Chief Guest, but due to Admiral's pre-occupation, VAdm RB Pandit, Chief of Staff WNC graced the occasion and felicitated the Cast and crew on stage after the show.  The jubilant spectators in the Housefull Auditorium were a rich amalgamation of the young serving officers and the youthful Veterans of our fine Indian Navy.

          It was indeed a pleasure for the Headquarters staff & Senior Veterans to have interacted with Mr Ashvin Gidwani and his cast and crew at the Command Mess lounge over drinks and assorted snacks. The Actor-Writer-Director of ‘Barff’ Mr Saurabh Shukla mentioned that he wrote the engrossing script about 10 yrs ago and the play has run over 100 shows all over India. The Officers and ladies interacted with the cast as the Official photographer Mrs Meena Dutta continued to click snaps (displayed below)  Thereafter  Cdr Vadhera hosted the Cast team for Dinner at the US Club. Meena and I had ample opportunity to interact with our Naval friends and  befriend Sunil Paliwal and Anchal Chauhan (AGP Actress) who are the lead cast of ‘Devdas’. Anchal is a Fauji Brat herself, whose Dad Col Chauhan retired recently.

        A stupendous evening had been blessed to the Naval Fraternity due to a chance rendezvous of Secy NFMC and Mr Ashvin Gidwani of AGP World last year….Shano Varuna, Jai Hind.

To view the Preview Blog click link below:

https://rajdutta26.blogspot.com/2019/06/barff-07-jul-2019-cdr-vijay-vadhera.html

About the Author 

Commander Rajinder Dutta (Retd) has been a Naval Pilot and a Qualified Flying Instructor with about 3000 hrs of flying on various fixed wing Aircraft of Indian Navy, viz HT-2, HPT-32, Kirans, Islander, Super Connie, Fokker F-27 and IL-38.

 He is a Committee Member of NFMC, a Master of Ceremonies and an avid blogger. 

http://rajdutta26.blogspot.com/