RINGING OUT 2024 - THE YEAR THAT WAS

Full of travels and events, 2024 really rolled fast.

We rang it in at Cochin, or Kochi as it is now known in New India! It was a mix of old and new at Bolghatti Island: the hotel was new but the grounds were that of the old golf course where I used to play in the early 1970s. Remarkably, they have left the tee boxes still standing so old folks like me can hark back to their golfing days! Our group was coincidental but great with my cousin Sharad visiting from Australia, his daughter Shaumyika and son-in-law Ben from USA, Akhila and I from Delhi, and my cousin Reeta and her husband Sanjay stationed in Cochin itself.

As in previous years, the second half of January we were in Jaipur for the popular Literature Festival. This year, naval flavour was provided by Rear Admiral 'Gigi' Gupta, Mahavir Chakra awardee for his air strikes on East Pakistan in the '71 War and Commodore Gurnam Singh, Air Engineer on Vikrant during the War, in conversation with Commodore Srikant Kesnur about their book "Guardians of the Seas". Then there was Admiral Tahiliani's son,Tarun, holding forth on his book and fashion designs. The finale to the festival was provided by the Writers Ball in the new and beautifully constructed Leela Palace Hotel on the outskirts of Jaipur.

We were back in Delhi to view tulips from Amsterdam spectacularly lining up the Shanti Path. A sight to behold.

In April, helped by my friend and coursemate, General Ved Malik, we took a long-awaited trip to Bhutan, the country of the thunder dragon, and world leader in GNH or Gross National Happiness. Watching its people, you instantly realise that it is true, the people genuinely seem happy and peaceful. For five days, we heard no shouting, no car horns, total traffic discipline without lights and policemen, and courteous people all-round. And there was so much to see with numerous historic Dzongs spread all over the country.

June saw us catching a Swissair flight to Zurich, a place we had briefly visited 37 years ago. This time, Ruchir organised a 4-day stopover for us en route to the US. With the help his friend's friend, Natasha, and our driver, Mahu-ud-Din, originally from Pakistan, we not only went extensively around Zurich but drove to nearby towns and landmarks. There was the Limmat river with it's snowwhite swans, the gigantic Rhine Falls, Mount Titlis with the unique glacier cave and lifesize cutouts of Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol from "Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge" which was shot there, Vaduz castle in Liechtenstein, the fairyland village of Stein am Rhein with its charming frescoes, and, of course, irresistible chocolates of Lindt and Laderach.

Zurich to Miami where Shumita, Shiven and Raghav had preceded us. Familiar with the city in which we had spent a lot of time just two years ago, we escorted them to various sites including Wynwood District famous for its distinguishing, colourful murals. After a week, they left for New York while we stayed on for a few more days during which we visited my cousin Babbi and her husband, Solly, in the equestrian town of Wellington. They took us on a tour to ex and to-be President Trump's Mar-a-Lago Retreat (should we have called on him as many heads of governments from all over the world are doing before his swearing-in!) and the Aero Club, the rich aeronautical community with its exclusive runway and houses with hangars instead of garages to park the owners' planes!

End-June we joined Ruchir, Shumita and the boys in New York where Shiven was undergoing a 3-week summer course for "Creative Writing" at Columbia University. To give him a break and enjoyment for all, Ruchir organised a yacht trip down Hudson River to Statue of Liberty on to East River and back with a champagne lunch thrown in.

Shiven's course completed, Shumita and the boys left for India mid-July while we stayed on for another month. One of the musts for us was the daily walk in the Central Park, spots of which kept reminding me of popular songs associated with them. Another highlight was attending a concert in the famous Carnegie Hall where we were enthralled by Rimsky-Korsakov's "Scheherazade". Meanwhile, Ruchir was busy with the launch of his fifth book, "What Went Wrong With Capitalism".

Back in Delhi, a memorable event was the lunch by Navy Foundation to honour 14 nonagenarians with 11 of them gracing the occasion with their presence. Some were totally fit, some a bit less but all of them in good spirits and an inspiration to all of us to keep growing! I had personally known most of them and it was a delight to talk to them as also some younger ones who had served with me at one time or the other.  

A trip to Jaipur was overdue and it was expedited by a call from another nonagenarian, Captain RN Singh, a 2nd JSW Course ex-pilot holding a record of travel from UK to India by air, sea and land, having driven a car from London to Delhi in the '50s with two colleagues on completion of their training. Capt Singh wanted us to come to Jaipur to join in the celebrations on the 2nd birthday of his twin great grandson and great granddaughter from his elder daughter's daughter. How could we say no, so we went over for the party and stayed on in Jaipur for another ten days.

We returned to Delhi in time for Dussehra and Diwali. Ruchir came from the US for the latter festival and soon after Diwali, the CNS, Admiral Dinesh Tripathi, invited us over for dinner at the Navy House along with the retiring Supreme Court Chief Justice Chandrachud. It was an  engaging evening.

Some officers from the 23rd Course had a brilliant idea of organising a lunch for all from 1st to 28th Course at the Sam Maneckshaw Auditorium and that was another occasion to meet people from days long gone by. A truly emotional event.

Roses come in eye-catching colours and have a heady fragrance but also thorns which alert you to take beauty with a little pinch. So does life which has its ups and downs and warns you not to take things for granted. So I must pause here to pay homage to a very dear friend who passed away in October. Vice Admiral Kailash Kohli left us after being in and out of hospital but just when he actually appeared to be recovering. He and I served together in many places, played a lot of golf, shared a love for music and were in constant touch right to the day before his eternal departure. Irreparable loss. May his soul rest in peace!

After Diwali, Delhi gets bitterly cold and foggy and, worse, dangerously polluted. We have been getting away to better climes and air for the last few years and it was time to plan for this year too. After considering many places, I hit upon the idea of going to NDA Kharakvasla, a place I hadn't visited since I left it in May 1965 after a stint as Divisional Officer in 'J' Squadron. Additionally, I discovered there was a naval Commandant there and so I contacted my serving naval friend, Rear Admiral Venkatraman, for help. He said the Commandant was a personal friend and a commissioning shipmate from INS Brahmaputra and he would gladly speak to him. Soon after, the Commandant, Vice Admiral Gurcharan Singh, got in touch with me and said a guest room had been reserved for us.

So Akhila and I found ourselves ensconced in the "Hermitage", and after a game of golf at the Jourovlov Golf Course where I learnt the game 60 years ago, sat ringing out the old and ringing in the new year in nostalgic surroundings for me and moderate temperatures of 16*-30* Celsius and AQI less than 100. 

'Bye 2024, Hi 2025!