AFVOA Newletters of Year 2013

Page 23 of 61 years ago, with my soldiers and a weapon in my hand, but today, because of your invitation, I am here with my wife holding my hand.” She smiled and was quick with her repartee and pointing to my wife said,” you know Colonel, she is certainly more potent than the weapons you carried!!” I was informed later that this informal sound byte was carried both by the print as well as the television media with captioned photographs!! What bonhomie and an air of informality that prevailed on that pleasant evening. Truly, it was an unforgettable event in our life. It was a pleasant surprise for us to receive a telephone call on 16 Nov 2012 from the Military Intelligence Directorate of Army Headquarters, to confirm our willingness, availability and possession of passports to visit Dhaka from 12 to 18 Dec 2012, to attend the Victory Day celebrations on an invitation from the Government of Bangladesh. The process started on my affirmative reply of confirmation to accept the invitation with grace as it was a God sent opportunity. 12 Dec 2012 We assembled at the Battle Honours Mess at SP Marg New Delhi on the 12th for detailed briefing. The delegation was to be led by Lt Gen VK Singh, PVSM, Madras Regt. The other members were Lt Gens JS Verma, PVSM, AVSM, AC and Nirbhay Sharma, PVSM, AVSM, VSM, Para, Brigadiers VK Chopra, SM, SU, VS Ruhil, VrC, Arty, OP Batra, (had to withdraw, at the last minute after boarding the flight, and was deplaned, due to breathing difficulty experienced by Mrs Batra), RS Siddu, SM, SLI, DS Dhadwal, AC, GS Uppal, Kumaon Regt, Colonels A. Krishnaswami, VrC, VSM** JAK RIF, DS Rajput, VrC, PARA, M. Zikrya, Madras Regt, Rajinder Kumar, Kumaon Regt, Lt Cols Surjit Singh, VrC, PARA, AN Mukherji, Sikh Regt, RADM Subir Paul, IN, Air Cmde NC Chatrath, VrC. Four serving officers, Maj Gen RN Nair, SM, JAK LI, RADM LVS Babu, IN, Gp Capt S Mehra, VM, and Lt Col Ritesh Chandra Singh, Kumaon Regt, the LO, also formed part of the delegation. 13 Dec 2012 We took the Al direct flight to Dhaka that was delayed due to inclement weather and landed at the Hazrat Shahjalal Intl Airport, around 1200 hrs Bangladesh Standard Time (30 minutes ahead of IST). After the ceremonial and cordial welcome at the airport and the completion of Immigration and Customs formalities, the delegation less the accompanying spouses, proceeded to the newly constructed Army HQ Officers’ Mess, to call on the Chief of the Army Staff General Iqbal Karim Bhuiyan, psc. After our brief introduction and exchanges of pleasantries and mementos, we, along with the other principal staff officers moved over for a cup of tea and to a spread of snacks and sweets. The Veterans were presented with a bone china mug with the Bangladesh Army logo. After the group photograph, we were led to the Radisson Hotel for settling down in our allotted rooms. The spouses had reached the hotel directly from the airport. This 5 star hotel is owned by the Army and managed professionally by the Radisson group. The Chefs have been trained by internationally acclaimed professionals. One amongst them, a Bihari Muslim, hailed from India and was trained by our acclaimed Chef Sanjeev Kapoor. He gave us choice Indian cuisine during our stay. Our rooms were very comfortable and well furnished. The hotel was gaily decorated with the approaching Christmas season and was full of foreigners. In the evening, the Defence Attache, Brig PC Thimmaya, Kumaon Regt and his charming Bengali wife, hosted a sumptuous dinner at the Dhaka Regency Hotel.