AFVOA Newletters of Year 2007

Page 64 of 68 a solemn wreath laying ceremony was conducted at this war memorial under the aegis of HQ ATNK&K Area. On behalf of Veterans wreaths were laid by our Patron, Lt Gen C Sundara Rao, PVSM, and our members Lt Gen S Pattabhiraman, PVSM, AVSM, SM, VSM, R Adm S Ramsagar, AVSM, VrC, NM, and Air Marshal S Raghavan, PVSM, AVSM, VSM. 3. Our Patron had expressed special words of appreciation for the marvelously befitting manner in which the 25 th Battalion of the MADRAS Regiment, the garrison infantry unit, had decked the Memorial for the occasion. Showcasing Navy Power On 16 Dec 2007 to commemorate the Navy Day the Indian Navy gave a marvelous demonstration of its prowess on the sea off the Marina Beach. The show began with a fly past by two Chetak helicopters with the Tricolor as INS Jalashwa, INS Kora, INS Sindhuja, INS Jyothi, INS Karmuk, INS Kirch, INS Khanjar and INS Kuthar sailed past in the background in a formation. A demonstration of landing and take off was performed by Karmov 25 anti- submarine helicopter on moving ships. The Navy displayed VBSS, an operation routinely done in neutral waters to ascertain whether a ship is an enemy or neutral, and to inspect its cargo. Marine Commandos (MARCOS) who form the Special Forces of the Navy demonstrated ingress on to a beach. They landed on the beach in inflatable boats and attacked a land bunker. They then exploded a mock-up oil rig. The commandos were later picked up by Sea King Helicopters. The Fast Attack Craft (FAC) of the Navy demonstrated its high speed maneuvers. Sagar Pawan Acrobatic Team of the Navy performed some breathtaking mid-air feats and maneuvers in their aircrafts. The Chief Guest of the day was His Excellency the Governor of Tamil Nadu. The Naval band played enchanting martial music and enthralled the crowd that had turned up in lakhs to witness this once in a life time show. GREAT STORY – MUST READ Vivek Pradhan was not a happy man. Even the plush comfort of the air-conditioned compartment of the Shatabdi express could not cool his frayed nerves. He was the Project Manager and still not entitled to air travel. It was not the prestige he sought; he had tried to reason with the admin person, it was the savings in time. As PM, he had so many things to do!! He opened his case and took out the laptop, determined to put the time to some good use. “Are you from the software industry sir,” the man beside him was staring appreciatively at the laptop. Vivek glanced briefly and mumbled in affirmation, handling the laptop now with exaggerated care and importance as if it were an expensive car. “You people have brought so much advancement to the country, Sir. Today everything is getting computerized.” “Thanks,” smiled Vivek, turning around to give the man a look. He always found it difficult to resist appreciation. The man was young and > well built like a sportsman. He looked simple and strangely out of place in that little lap of luxury like a small town boy in a prep school. He probably was a railway sportsman making the most of his free traveling pass.