AFVOA Newletters of Year 2013

Page 22 of 61 During the song session hot pakoras, tea and coffee were served. This was followed by prize distribution to winners of different competitions. President AFVOA appreciated and thanked the members who generously donated the prizes. He placed on record the special efforts of the Mohandas couple who contributed so much for the success of the day’s events. President, AFVOA, appreciated and thanked the AOC and the Station Officers who willingly spared their precious time and resources on a holiday to make the day most enjoyable and memorable for the veterans and their families. He did not forget to thank the ladies of the Station led by Smt Smita Bapat for their gracious presence. He then handed over a dagger shaped silver book marker for the Officers’ Mess to the AOC. He also thanked his own team of officers, each by name, who volunteered to shoulder different responsibilities to make the annual picnic 2013 a grand success. Very special thanks were proposed to Maj Gen. N Viswanathan who designed and got the memento fabricated at the GRT Jewelers, Chennai. The memento was taken around for all present to see. Air Cmde PK Bapat, AOC came on the stage and thanked the President and all veterans for accepting their offer and availing their facilities for the picnic. He spoke briefly about the role and function of the units located in the Air Force Station. He then handed over a memento to the President, AFVOA to commemorate the visit of the veterans and their families to the Air Force Station. Cheers were exchanged before calling it a day. Thereafter the veterans and families collected their dinner packets and boarded their respective buses and cars and departed to the loud cheering and bye byes from the hosts. Really enjoyable and memorable picnic! Thank you, Air Force Station, Avadi. We will always remember you and your hospitality. +++++++++++++++++ Capt Bala has also taken a large number of photographs during the picnic. He has put them on a google album. Should you desire that he sends the album to you, please mail him on usha.bala@gmail.com or contact him on 22630028. MATTERS MILITARY A GOD SENT OPPORTUNITY - VISIT TO DHAKA by Col (Retd) A Krishnaswami, VrC, VSM** Prologue Very seldom one gets an opportunity to visit the same place where one had fought an action that was initially "enemy territory” of East Pakistan and later became an Independent country - Bangladesh. I was fortunate to experience such an opportunity and wish to share it with you. On 15 Dec 2012, the Honourable Prime Minister of the Republic of Bangladesh, Madam Sheik Hasina, while inter acting with the delegates of the visiting Indian Army War Veterans, posed a question to me and my wife, to strike the usual social conversation. “When did you last visit Dhaka?” I paused and gave her the true and witty reply. I said “Madam, I visited, rather, I entered Dhaka on 15 Dec 1971, exactly 41