ARMED FORCES CAMARADERIE EXTRAORDINAIRE ON BOARD AIR INDIA VISTARA FLIGHT FROM GOA TO DELHI

 As our son Asheesh dropped us at the Dabolim Airport on 10 Feb 26 to embark the afternoon Vistara Flight No.AI 2628 to Lutyens, we were choked with emotions.20 days in Goa flew just like the Bulbuls that visited the balcony of my son's apartment- religiously in mornings & evenings & sang for us.

We could see the massive Juari River & a portion of the virgin & pristine jungle around the estuary that housed a variety of flora & fauna. On two different days, I fed two small 'langoors' from a distance- that had suddenly appeared out of the blues.

I daily sipped my morning 'chai' sitting on the balcony facing Juari- enjoying the cool breeze that came all the way from the Arabian Sea. Followed breakfast full of a variety of fruits & nuts, a major dish and of course my favourite 'poee' - topped up with coffee.

I accompanied my wife  for our morning walks towards Jai Ram Nagar & beyond. We did the same in the evenings as well. Our grandson followed us during our evening walks telling us many stories about his school & friends.

The highlights of our visit were our visit to International Book  Fest at Panaji & visit to many places of historical interest & a number of beaches- not of course forgetting the number of lunches & dinners in famous restaurants.

 After security clearance, we proceeded to the waiting hall.

Suddenly, my name was announced on the PA System & I got a message on my mobile that my checked in luggage has been tagged & I am required to go down the stairs to have the contents examined. My wife too had received the similar message & she proceeded to the security clearance counter. The security staff asked whether there were any electronic items,  etc, that were inside & wanted permission to check the contents of the suit case- which was promptly given. On detailed search ,the culprit found was an innocuous & loose battery of the BP equipment .It was removed & the matter was over.

Boarding for the subject AI Flight began at 1210 h sharp.

We started moving towards the gate & thereafter towards the boarding bridge. I was sporting my Regimental Cap with Regimental Insignia & name. As we were nearing the entrance of the aircraft- lo & behold, a tall , handsome & smart Senior Captain of Air India appeared from no where & wished me. We shook hands & exchanged pleasantries. He told me that he was watching me from a distance & looking forward to meeting us.

He told us that his father was from 16 Course NDA & was  a Sword of Honour Awardee at the IMA. He asked me whether I too was from NDA. 'Yes' I said  ' but I am pretty junior having joined NDA along with 29th Course. I am Rajdeep Singh' said he & he snatched swiftly our two pieces of cabin luggage like a magician & asked us to follow him.

'Gang Way' he continued telling the long line of people standing on the passage way & he guided us to our respective seats. The stewardesses & staff were wonder struck seeing him loading our hand luggage inside the top shelves. Turning towards the stewardesses, he commanded ' THEY ARE MY GUESTS & MUST BE LOOKED AFTER APPROPRIATELY'.

All inside the aircraft were watching this development & had a lot of praise for Rajdeep;s demeanour, gesture & humility.

My wife insisted that we take a photograph along with him & he obliged.

As we were talking, he told us that he too is a Fauji & served the illustrious Indian Navy as an Aviator for 23 Years & 4 months. He had opted for premature retirement. He has been Senior Captain of Indigo Airlines for more than 7 years & now he is Senior Captain of Air India for the past  4 years. 

I then told him that our son too is ex Indian Navy & passed out from INS MANDOVI .There was a sudden spark in his eyes. He promptly replied 'the tall Bhandari Sir- the toughie  who ran long distances. I know him well. He was my junior'.

We were overwhelmed with emotions & joy.

I told him 'RD,I see Asheesh in you. May God bless you, God Speed & Good Luck'.

RD while welcoming the guests paid special tributes to Serving  All Ranks & Veterans of the Indian Armed Forces. The plane took took off exactly at the scheduled time & landed 10 minutes prior to its appointed time. While I took out my cabin luggage,  my wife could not locate her cabin luggage. A ;little ahead stood smiling RD holding her cabin luggage paying us warm regards & wishing good luck.

We spoke about RD to Asheesh & the latter told me that they knew each other pretty well.

The world is too small.

Indian Armed Forces are well known the world over for their professionalism, regimentation, camaraderie & bonhomie.

Where do you find people like RD today ? It speaks volumes of his upbringing.

Well done RD- you have miles to go.

May your tribe increase !

 

 

FERDI-MY FRIEND IN DABOLIM, GOA

 FERDI-MY FRIEND IN DABOLIM, GOA

In my childhood days, my Ija (mother) told me many stories. One of these was that of 'Kabuliwallah'. Little then I knew that I will be meeting a live 'Poiwallah ( पोई वाला') in my friend Ferdi & recite the story of 'Poi'(पोई) of Goa especially to those who have not had this wonderful native product.

My grandson came running to me to say that the Poiwallah had arrived outside Palms-our home and was blowing the horn.This was a typical & interesting innovation somewhat like we had on old ROADWAYS/KMOU Buses but small & dainty.It produced shrill sounds- enough to attract the attention of people.Soon they would come down to purchase the 'poi'.

Since it was my first encounter with the 'Poiwallah', my grandson Arjun escorted me to the road side.My grandson was very excited & he started narrating the names of various 'pois' & bakery products like 'katri pao','Kadak Pao','loni', 'gavachi bhakri' & so on.

Arjun then showed me the electric scooter carrying a huge container that house the bakery products & also showed me a rectangular cardboard box having vegetarian & non vegetarian patties.It also had cream roles-much smaller in size compared to our bakeries up North.

It was exact 6 O'clock PM.

'Good Evening Sir', I am Fernandez ( you may call me Ferdi-if you please.I come at this place every day at 6 in the morning & at the same time in the evening.I have been delivering 'pois' regularly to your people.

I was highly impressed with his demeanour, body language & mannerism & we immediately became friends.

Later in the evening, while we were walking near Jai Ram Nagar,we saw him approaching us.He stopped ,promptly wished us in impeccable English & said that all his products were sold out.Luckily, I had purchased enough & more 'pois' from him in the morning.

He was now relaxed. I , my wife & Arjun were standing in the basement of a multistage building & Ferdi started briefing us.

"You know, the Portugese introduced bread making techniques to us Goans in the 16th Century.They taught the local bakery techniques as they could not import bread from Portugal for obvious reasons.This was the creation of rustic mud bakery concept that has kept our family traditions alive.

"What Portugese did was that they replaced  traditional yeast by local 'toddy'(palm sap) to create fermentation to create a floppy bread in clay ovens( wood fired).

"The Portugese taught the local Cardo Community(Former Khatriyas, Varni's etc converted to Christianity ) this innovative art.

"Today, 'poi' has become a 100%unique Goan product rather than imported bread.

"In entire Goa, there are more than 100 such Goan Bakers known as 'podars'.

"The word 'podar' is derived from Portugese 'padeiro'.

"Today 'poi'has become a part & parcel of local cuisine.

"Mr Godinho is 80 years old & runs one of the biggest wood fired ovens at Majorda.He still prepares the dough.you must visit his bakery"

Suddenly I realized that we had taken almost an hour of Ferdi's time.I apologized.

He replied that his work in the bakery would start at 2 AM & this cycle has continued ever since he grew up in family traditions.

Salute to you my dear Ferdi- my friend.

As we prepare to return home, I intend carrying as many 'pois' - the Air India can permit us to carry.

AUROBINDO

AUROBINDO

Folks.The VISION OF SRI AUROBINDO.
"THERE IS AN ASCENDING EVOLUTION IN NATURE WHICH GOES FROM THE STONE TO THE PLANT,FROM THE PLANT TO THE ANIMAL,FROM THE ANIMAL TO MAN.BECAUSE MAN IS,FOR THE MOMENT,THE LAST RUNG AT THE SUMMIT OF THE ASCENDING EVOLUTION,HE CONSIDERS HIMSELF AS THE FINAL STAGE IN THIS ASCENSION AND BELIEVES THERE CAN BE NOTHING ON EARTH SUPERIOR TO HIM.IN HIS PHYSICAL NATURE,HE IS YET ALMOST WHOLLY AN ANIMAL,A THINKING AND SPEAKING ANIMAL,BUT STILL AN ANIMAL IN HIS MATERIAL HABITS AND INSTINCTS.............................."
DURING THE WHOLE OF HIS LIFE UPON EARTH,SRI AUROBINDO GAVE ALL HIS TIME TO ESTABLISH IN HIMSELF THIS CONSCIOUSNESS,WHICH HE CALLED SUPRA-MENTAL,AND TO HELP THOSE GATHERED AROUND HIM "(MOTHER).
15 August- Sri Aurobindo's Birth Anniversary.
21 February- The Mother's Birth Anniversary
Have a Great Sunday!

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OPERATION JUPITER ( OPERATION PAWAN)

FROM THE HIMALAYAS TO THE ARABIAN SEA

Folks.In the true traditions of the Indian Armed Forces , to fulfill their vow to serve their Motherland by Land/Air/Sea, the 'BHULAS' of 7 Garhwal Rifles belonging to the Himalayan Region were airlifted by IL-76s all the way from Bareilly to Trivandrum on 26 July 1989 ,& later by helicopter embarkation from INS GARUDA,Cochin by Sea Kings & Chetaks on board INS VIRAAT - sailing in the High seas to execute a special Mission Operation 'JUPITER' ( Op PAWAN).
What a perfect blend ! From the Himalayas to the Arabian Sea !
INS VIRAAT had now became a Commando Carrier with her Harriers, C42s & Chetaks already landed - a floating city with 1800 plus on board & still having 200 Bunks vacant for emergency !
From a crack foot slogging infantry battalion,we converted into a formidable Assault Battalion after having trained day in & day out with C 42s & other Crafts.Hats off to the MARCOS !
We later disembarked at the Lions Gate, Mumbai to a rousing reception by the Top Brass of the three Services & the Mumbayites - with Military Band leading our long convoy up to Kalina Camp.
The Garhwal Rifles Regiment is combat affiliated with INS VIRAAT & also with 14 SQUADRON IAF that provided valuable ground & air support to 10,17 & 18 Garhwal Rifles during Operation VIJAY.
THE ILLUSTRIOUS GARHWAL RIFLES REGIMENT IS THE ONLY REGIMENT OF INDIAN ARMY TO HAVE THE SINGULAR DISTINCTION & HONOUR TO HAVE TRI-SERVICE COMBAT AFFILIATION.
JAI BADRI VISHAL.
JAI HIND.

GARHWALIS & THE VICTORIA CROSS

ON VICTORIA CROSS FROM BOOK OF DAYS,1869.

" On 8 Feb the London Gazette announced that Her Majesty

had under Royal Sign Manual been pleased to institute a new naval & military decoration entitled as the ' Victoria Cross'.This order is to be conferred for VALOUR only-irrespective of rank & station;& the recipient becomes entitled to a pension of 10 Pounds a year for life.

The Victoria Cross is a simple affair as a work of art.It consists of a bronze Maltese Cross with Royal Crest in the centre,and underneath it a scroll bearing the words ' FOR VALOUR ' ; It is suspended by a red ribbon if worn on the breast of a soldier and a blue ribbon if worn by a sailor"

Indians became eligible for the award only in 1911.

The following gallant GARHWALIS - PRIDE OF THE GARHWAL

RIFLES REGIMENT were awarded the coveted VICTORIA CROSS :-

1. Nk DARWAN Singh Negi - 1 Battalion 39 Garhwal Rifles .Battle of Festubert,France.23-24 November 1914.WW I.

2.Rifleman Gabar Singh Negi-2 Battalion 39 Garhwal Rifles.Battle of Neuve Chapelle,France.10 March 1915 ( Posthumous).

3.Lt WD Kenny.4 Battalion 39 Garhwal Rifles.Battle of Springhara Ridge. Kotkai. Waziristan.2 January 1920.(Posthumous).

Veero Tumhe Koti-Koti Pranam.

JAI BADRI VISHAL.

JAI HIND.

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FOLKS.TODAY IS SHIV RATRI.GREETINGS TO YOU ALL.

SHIV RATRI.

वाराणस्यां तु विश्वेशं त्रयंम्बकं गौतमीतटे ।
हिमालये तु केदारं घुश्मेशं च शिवालये ।
ऐतानि ज्योतिर्लिंगानि सायं प्रातः पठेन्नरः ।
सप्तजन्मकृतं पापं स्मरणेन विनश्यति ।
— Dwadasa Jyotirlinga Stotra by Adi Shankaracharya
The twelve Jyotirlingas are:
• Somnath at Prabhas Patan, Saurashtra, Gujarat.
• Sri Mallikarjun in Srisailam, near Kurnool,Andhra Pradesh, on the banks of river Krishna.Adi Sankaracharya composed his Sivanandalahiri here.
• Mahakaleshwar in Ujjain(Avanti), Madhya Pradesh.
• Omkareshwar in Omkareshwar, Madhya Pradesh, this jyotirlinga is situated on an island in the course of the river Narmada.
• Vaidyanath temple at Deoghar,Santal Parganas area of Jharkhand.
• Bhimashankar in Dakini and located in the Sahyadri hills,near Pune, Maharashtra.
• Ramalingeswar in Setubandanam, Tamil Nadu.This is situated on vast temple island of Rameswaram.It is the southernmost of the 12 Jyotirlinga shrines of India.
• Nagesh in Jageshwar.( District Almora.Uttarakhand).हिमाद्रेरूत्तरे पार्श्वे देवदारूवनं परम्पावनं शंकरस्थानं तत्र् सर्वे शिवार्चिताः।
• Vishwanath in Varanasi,Uttar Pradesh.
• Tryambakeswar Jyotirlinga shrine is intimately linked with the origin of the river Godavari near Nasik, Maharashtra.
• Kedareswar in Kedarnath in Himalayas,Uttarakhand.
• Ghrishneshwar in Devasrovar,near Ellora,Aurangabad, Maharashtra.
Remain Blessed.
Have a Great Day !!

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