AFVOA Newletters of Year 2004

Page 7 of 153 was the answer! Lunch 16. It was not only the intellect that had been sharpened by the morning’s session of imaginative and well-designed games/teasers. We were all ravenous (also thank to the nippy Chennai “winter” air), and so, when lunch was announced, it was a dignified rush to the sprawling lawns, wherein, from within the covered canopy that served so well for the purpose, Maharaj and Co had laid out two counters for the delicious lunch. The spread was truly, quite truly, delicious, an imaginative menu (thanks to Cdr SR Prasad) backed by Maharaj’s excellent preparation going much more than the extra mile in satisfying even the most critical palate. There was panneer muttar aloo, gobi, chana, malai kofta, vegetable pulao, dahi vada, salad, pickles, papads; puri (ordinary and palak), and chutneys. The sweet was the perennial favourite of malpua. The veterans lingered over the lip smacking lunch. All hail to Cdr Prasad and to Narendra Maharaj. Siesta? No way! 17. The pleasant weather notwithstanding, the stimulation of the activities so far had not abandoned us, and after lunch, it was a treat to listen to Jayanthi and Jeyashree (daughters of Gp Capt LV and Mrs Lalitha Mohandas), and to Lt Frank, the Armoured Corps son of Col and Mrs Samuel Raj, as they sang an old Cliff Richard favourite “BACHELOR BOY”. It was good of Jayanthi, married and settled in Mumbai, and currently, as they say in the Air Force, on “short finals”, to have come over and joined us at the picnic, as of her sister Jeyashree, who is on a short trip home from Dayton, Ohio, in the USA. Lt Frank, a bright and young serving officer, made one feel proud of parents who vote with what is most valuable to them in endorsing the Armed Forces as one of the best way-of-life options. Three cheers to the younger generation, and this also includes Shilpa, daughter of Wg Cdr Sukumar, who, along with Jeyashree, was active helping the organisers ceaselessly. 18. Maj CA Parthasarathy, then entertained the gathering with delightful pieces played on his mouth organ. After this, the feminine complement of Mohandas ménage got together, Mrs Lalitha, daughters Mrs Jayanthi and Ms Jeyashree, to sing, “It is a beautiful day”. And it was the truth! We missed you 19. Missed at this year’s picnic were our own “Karsh of Ottawa”-Maj Chitrapu, who did not attend, as he was grieving over the passing of a dear friend. The list includes our out- station members – Maj Gen RPRC and Smt Usha Naidu from Bangalore, Col and Mrs Ashok Choudry from Pondicherry and Cdr TJ Nagarajan from Ahmedabad, who could not make it. Gen Viswanathan, Gen Aban Naidu, Brig VA Subramanyam, Brig NB Subramaniam, and Gp Capt Ragahavachari, Cdr VSP Mudaliar, all regulars, also did not make it. Brig VA Subramanyam compensated by becoming a proud grandpa a week later. In the absence of Maj Chitrapu, Wg Cdr Sukumar wielded the camera. Prizes galore 20. No game is as much fun if there are no prizes, and prizes there were galore, thanks to the single handed efforts of Col RI Subramanian, whose efforts could not be complemented this year by our other generous well wishers, Maj Chitrapu and Col CR Sundar(for reasons that are no fault of theirs). AVM Krishnaswamy, and his charming wife Smt Jaya Krishnaswamy consented to distribute the prizes to all the winners as well as the participants. And, finally, all those who attended the picnic found that there was a keepsake at the end of it.