1. pets
2. birds

clublife
May 2015 • Vol. 5 • No. 19
Delhi Gymkhana Club, 2, Safdarjung Road,New Delhi 110011
www.delhigymkhana.org.in
A monthly inhouse newsletter
for private circulation only
and astute politician has only sharpened his humour with
the passage of time and as a result, kept the packed house
spell bound.
Dear Members,
From the
President’s
Desk
George Bernard Shaw once said “ You don’t stop playing
because you are getting old, you start getting old if you
stop playing”. With this adage in mind April kicked off
with the Outdoor Sports Sub Committee in the lead.
Commencing with ‘Rendezvous with Roland Garros’ an
Indo-French endeavor which witnessed strapping young
players displaying their tennis prowess on the newly
laid magnificent clay courts, was followed by “Road to
Wimbledon”, another magnum opus on the grass courts.
It was great to see tennis icons Tim Henmen and Goran
Ivanisevic rubbing shoulders with our tennis players
both young and old. The excitement was palpable. The
players got a flavour of Wimbledon when they savoured
strawberries with fresh cream during the high tea that
followed. Kudos to the Outdoor Sports Sub-Committee
with a request to keep up the tempo. The Knowledge Club also continued its outstanding work
with some excellent events. The talk on the strategic
importance of Indian hinterland islands by Mr. Sanat
Kaul, was particularly informative. The reminiscences
shared by Ms. Meira Kumar on her political forays and as
the Speaker of Lok Sabha won the hearts of the audience. Her simplicity and humility was indeed endearing and
reflected her uncanny ability to handle the charged
atmosphere of the Parliament with smiling ease. Shri
Ram Jethmalani’s talk on his life experiences was a hard
hitting talk, as expected. It was evident that the maverick
The Entertainment Sub Committee has been equally
prolific with a variety of programmes. The Qawwali
Muqabla brought in an altogether different flavour,
while “Taj Mahal ka Udhghatan’ was a subtle satire on
contemporary systems. The Club is indeed proud of the
histrionics of Ms Rashmi Vaidialingam and her team of
artists which included her equally talented children. I am
informed that a members talent nite is scheduled in May
to showcase our inhouse talent. I am sure we are in for a
packed event.
The Bar Sub Committee brought in a lot of cheers with
the Black Dog evening with the musical group ‘Black
Slade’ in attendance. If the record sales that evening is to
be a yard-stick, the evening was a huge success. Despite
being a Thursday Night, several senior members stayed
till late and enjoyed the atmosphere and lively music till
the end. I am happy to inform that the Lady Willingdon Bath in
its new look is ready with steam and chill shower facilities.
Similarly, the environment friendly integrated project
on Effluent, Sewage and Solid Waste management in
collaboration with Brisanzia and TERI would soon be
underway. The process of tendering for the New Projects
has commenced. Appropriate date and time is being
worked out for kick starting the construction.
Taking note of the demand for an “All weather” party
venue, the Works & Housing Sub Committee has
approved the integrated redesigning of the erstwhile party
cottage, by merging the two adjacent cottages, which are
grossly under-utilised. On completion, we would have
an all weather party venue which can cater to upto 100
guests.
The General Committee has for the past several weeks
been seriously engaged in addressing the Membership
issues. The sense of the house is that aspirations of various
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May 2015
Members and their children can only be addressed in a
holistic manner. While we are committed to provide a
legal framework for a fast-track route for Membership for
UCP / Green Card holders, the expectation of Members
whose children are not similarly placed also requires our
attention. It is, therefore, proposed to provide limited
usage facility for such categories while embedding the
right of UCP / Green Card holders for membership. All
these suggestions form part of a draft revised Article of
Association which we hope to finalise shortly. Thereafter,
the matter would be placed before EGM for consideration
by the Permanent Members. While I cannot claim that
the solution suggested is the very best as that would be
a matter of opinion, I can only assure all Members that
the proposal is an outcome of laboured discussions and
an honest attempt at finding a sustainable way forward. I
am looking forward to an early resolution in this matter
by all Members of General Committee before we finalise a
schedule for an EGM.
Lastly, I share the sense of grief with fellow Members
on the terrible tragedy that has struck large parts of the
neighbouring Nepal, as well as some of our northern
States. I appeal to all Members, to contribute at least, a
sum of Rs.500/- per head to express our solidarity with
the affected population which will be deposited with the
Prime Minister’s Relief Fund. Should Members want to
contribute a higher amount, they are most welcome.
With Best Wishes!
Qawali Muqabla
Great lines by KV Ramachandran Swamy:
"Change cannot be given to you every time.
You must bring the change"
Now, who is KV Ramachandran Swamy?
He is a bus conducter. NOW READ THE LINES AGAIN.
2 • www.delhigymkhana.org.in
Bhai Vijay Chhibber,
President
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May 2015
God could not be every where
So he created mothers
Rudyard Kipling
mmer Vacations
u
S
Creative Writing
Radio Jockey
Theatre Workshop
Stage and TV
anchoring
Editorial
I
nternational Labour Day or
May Day. The idea of using a
proletarian holiday as a means
to attain the 8 hour Labour Day
was first born in Australia in
1856. The labourers there decided
to organise a day of complete
stoppage of work, together with
meetings and entertainment.
This was followed up by a show
of strength in the Hay Market of
Chicago in 1886. Labour unions
and others adopted it to make it an International Labour Day.
“May Day” is also used as a distress signal by ships, aircraft
and others when in distress. SOS, the terminology commonly
used, was very easy to transmit in morse code in terms of dots
and dashes.
Mothers Day is a modern celebration which honours ones
own mother, motherhood, maternal bonds and the influence
of mothers in society. In some countries it is in consonance
with other traditions such as the Greek cult to Cybele, the
Roman festival of Hilaria or the Christian Mothering Sunday
celebration. The latter is more related to mother church
than to motherhood. In India Mothers Day is called “Mata
Tirtha Aunshi” or Mother Pilgrimage Fortnight, celebrated
in the month of Baisakh ( April / May) and predates the
US inspired celebration by at least a few centuries. It is also
celebrated in the Arab world.
Bird watching is a way of observing wild life in which
observation of birds becomes a recreational activity. Bird
watching involves a high auditory component as many bird
species are more easily detected by sound than by sight. Did
you know, that we have a wide variety of birds inhabiting the
Gymkhana Club ? We have amongst our club members an
avid bird watcher, Mr. J L Singh who has written an article
appearing in this News Letter. I am certain, that henceforth
all of us will be keeping a sharp look out for our elegant
feathered friends as we move around the club.
The Knowledge Club has in the last few months invited well
known and articulate speakers who have, in turn, added to
the prestige of the Club. Not only have they donated books
to the Library but also contributed in the form of a superbly
crafted railway engine; a replica of the Darjeeling Toy Train
presented to the Club by Shri Suresh Prabhu Union Railway
Minister. It occupies pride of place amongst our trophies
opposite the Reception counter. Ms Meira Kumar former
Speaker of the Lok Sabha presented a beautiful copy of the
Constitution of India written in Calligraphy and signed
by the original members of the Constituent Assembly. It
is currently displayed opposite the Reception counter from
where after being enclosed in a glass case, it will be placed in
the Reading Room of the Library for posterity.
For the month of May we are scheduled to have Mr Manish
Tiwari former Union Minister (I&B), noted journalist and
writer, Mr Suhel Seth, Marketing and Management guru
known for his forthright views. In addition we shall have
Mr Navtej Sarna, currently Secretary (West), MEA, a club
member who will tell us about the historic connection
between India and Jerusalem.
Based on the success of the “Night of the Mountaineers” and
the “Railway Night” the Knowledge Club has on Saturday
29th May scheduled “Saga of the Indian Policeman: a tribute
to our Police colleagues”. For this event, stalwarts like Mr Ved
Marwah, Mr Arun Bhagat and Mr KK Mitra (all members)
will give us an insight into, and highlight the dedicated
service rendered to the nation by our Police Forces. These
include the BSF, CRPF, IB, RAW etc. Mr BS Bassi Delhi
Police Commissioner will be a Guest Speaker who will dwell
on some of the problems faced by the Police in Delhi. All
this will be rounded off by a good entertainment programme,
dinner and dance, the same evening.
Summer holidays are approaching. While it is great to have
children at home, there is also need to channelise their creative
energy, as also achieve some peace in the house from high
decibel music. Under the aegis of the Knowledge club we
are therefore organising short courses on Creative Writing,
Radio Jockey, Theatre Workshop and a Stage and Anchoring
Workshop. Outlines are given in this issue of Club Life and
likely to start in mid May. Please get in touch with Harish
Negi, Chief Librarian for details and registration. Based
on your responses a further communication will follow,
incorporating changes if necessary.
Till we meet again.
3 • www.delhigymkhana.org.in
GS UBAN
[email protected] • + 91 98 100 76770
clublife
May 2015
Administration Sub Committee
I
t is heartening to get accolades from the
members regarding the improvement in
the administrative aspects of the Club. The
promptitude and alacrity in service with
courtesy by the staff is one of the USPs of
this club. Efforts are on to maintain the
sanctity of the Club be it guest control, dress
code or general conduct. Cooperation of members is always
solicited. I intend having a few sessions with the members
over coffee to elicit their suggestions and views for further
overall improvement. The staff have been issued with fresh
accoutrements for summer, and we are working towards the
Wage Agreement, besides providing medical insurance to
them and their dependents. Regarding session with members
over coffee, you are requested to give your name to the
Secretary's office so that we can have the first session on May
11, 2015, at around 5.00pm.
SC Khanna
Works & Housing Sub Committee
F
irst of all let me apologize to swimmers
since re-opening of the pool has been
delayed by a month. At the same time I
would like to state that this was not due to
any shortcoming in work and effort put into
it, but is what I would call a "Club Project
Syndrome". Let me elucidate:
The Pool renovation was approved and sanctioned by the last
Committee and should have started 8 months ago, but users
did not want this done till winter. When winter arrived midDecember was set as the start time, but the new committee
decided to have a re-look at the Plans and Costing. The
project was re-examined in detail by structural engineers
based on which plans were altered (to retain a part of the
existing Change rooms), estimates re-tendered etc. We finally
got the green signal to go ahead in mid Jan – and that is when
the real trouble started!! Seeing that work was in progress
many members came in with new ideas and suggestions
which again had to be integrated into the approved plan.
There were repeated pulls and pressures, and many of these
were accommodated. The greatest pressure was that the Pool
should be ready by mid-April and that, therefore, became the
target date. In my opinion, seeing the magnitude and scope of
specialized pool work like shotcreting involving teams of two
different contractors, this was more of a “Wish” date . But, as
I said above, the fault is ours as we should not have accepted
the "Wish" date imposed on us, and will not do so in future.
The Pool is now almost ready and should be operational by
the time you get this newsletter.
Meantime we have completed a few works which, though not
high profile like the Pool, are very important for the Club.
The main building Roof Solar Project for generation of 60
kW electricity has been installed and will be on-line shortly.
The long awaited Black- topping of internal roads has finally
taken off and this project should be finished in 2/3 weeks. We
have also started work on the Rs 1.2 crore integrated ETP/
STP & solid waste management projects, which are required
for environmental reasons as per law. When completed within
6 months, these will generate cooking gas/recycled water/soil
conditioner and will save bore-well water & electricity, will
reduce garbage collections payments to NDMC, all of which
could save about Rs.2.00 lacs per month for the Club.
The renovation of the Party Cottage into a mid-size open hall
space will commence in May. We found that two residential
cottage rooms in the same building adjoining this Cottage are
rarely let out due to the noise/activity there. The Committee
has therefore decided to add these rooms to expand the Party
Cottage to accommodate approximately 125/150 persons,
and provide an all weather air-conditioned Party venue
presently badly needed in our Club.
Karamjit Singh Bedi
Bar & Beverages Sub Committee
B
ar and Beverages Sub Committee, lived
up to its promise and delivered to its
members a pleasant and rollicking evening
with the “Black Dog Jazz Evening” on 16th
April. The ambiance in the Rose Garden was
par excellence. Music by the “Black Slade
Band” pulsating and the golden elixir flowing
freely due to the special promotional offers was evident. We
proudly announce, that, your bar had a record sale of Rs.6.45
lakhs on this occasion. Higher the spirits, higher the sales.
We promise to maintain your spirits and adrenalin at a
continuous high! The tempo continued with a “Cutty Sark
Whisky Introduction Evening” on 29th April. Since April
is a promise that May is bound to keep, we look forward to
hearing from our members. – “you don’t say!!”
Nisha Bahadur
Entertainment Sub Committee
A
Members Talent Nite 'Shaam-eGuldasta' is being planned on 16th May.
With the onset of summer the event will be
held in the Ball Room. Auditions will be held
on 9 May 2015 starting at 7.00pm. This is to
call upon all enthusiasts to give their names as
soon as possible at the reception to enable us
to make this a memorable event. All members
and their families are welcome to participate. The last date for
receiving the names is 9th May, the date of the audition. We
are also planning a good event on the 'Police Nite' on 29th
May. Details will follow.
Finance Sub Committee
T
SP Rawal
he FSC has furthered the proposal to
stop taking Service charges from its
members which was approved by the Working
Committee and then the General Committee.
You would be happy to note therefore with
effect from 1st April, there will be no Service
Charges on your bills.
The Finance section is mainly busy with the Year end bookclosing work besides the Provident Fund and E.S.I. dues
being worked out.
Rupinder Anand
4 • www.delhigymkhana.org.in
clublife
May 2015
Of Mothers and Grandmothers
(Some reflections on Mother’s Day)
S
trange are the perambulations
of memory…Some years ago,
during the George Bush visit to
India, I saw on a TV channel, one of our
prized buffaloes refusing to yield milk
before the US President! The buffalo
was referred to as Maru, but I knew
immediately that she was one of the
famed Mora buffaloes of Haryana, who
for years have beaten all records in their yield of milk. I first
met them leaving this proud country quite devastated, bare
of even the basics needed for survival. I was at that time,
almost forty years ago, no not in India, but in Vietnam,
part of a media delegation on a goodwill visit to that war
decimated country. We were taken to the Buffaloes and
Meadows Research Centre some distance from what was
then known as Saigon, now Ho Chi Minh City. The US
troops had recently left Vietnam, after facing the grit and
determination of the Vietnamese people. Our government
rushed in aid, and one of the most precious gifts was the
five hundred Mora buffaloes from Hissar whose legendary
yield of milk saved thousands of Vietnamese children
as well as the wounded and sick from certain death…. I
watched on Indian TV, years later as one of them stubbornly
refused to display her munificence of yielding milk before
President Bush, a mischievous thought crossed my mind.
Perhaps her granny was among the lot sent to Vietnam,
and had told her about the horrendous treatment meted
out to them when they arrived. Now she was showing her
ire! Obviously her memory - and moral outrage- was not
as short lived as us humans!!
So much for grandmother’s tales all of us are so familiar
with….But this somewhat innocuous incident with my
frivolous reaction, took me back to another incident, also
in Vietnam’s capital Hanoi…
Both the horrors of napalm, and the resilience of the
human spirit were evident as soon as our flight touched
down on Vietnamese soil. But nowhere was this starkness
of tragedy more visible than in our hotel. From the windows
we watched, with utter disbelief, an avalanche of bicycles,
morning and evening, carrying the young and beautiful
to and from work- loose black trousers and white shirts,
and conical straw hats- chatting ,laughing, singing, the
ubiquitous rifle slung across their shoulders, never again
to be caught napping….And then inside, within the hotel,
heartbreaking shortages of what even we would consider
the most basic – milk, bread, butter…caringly camouflaged
by smiling faces and touching hospitality. One felt guilty
tucking into cornflakes and buttered toast, marmalade
and coffee. especially arranged for us….
Back in my room I could sense the acute embarrassment
felt by the young woman attached to me for my personal
needs, when she hesitantly asked if I could pick up some
Bakers biscuits for her child when we visited the “Dollar
Shop”, exclusively meant for foreigners... This coveted
shop looked poor and forlorn compared to its appetising
counterparts in other cities of the prosperous world.
Its most prized displays were Soviet fountain pens,
555 State Express cigarettes (Vietnamese favourites)
Hungarian brandy and of course, Bakers biscuits!! I
bought several of these and presented them to a visibly
overwhelmed young lady. Could this have happened in
any other capital city of the world I wondered...
While in Hanoi, I was to interview Vietnam’s dynamic
and personable Foreign Minister. On the appointed day
I woke up with a high fever, and so I decided to skip the
morning engagements so as to be well enough to meet
the Minister in the afternoon. It would also provide me
with a break from a hitherto exhausting schedule and
an opportunity to catch up with my diary jottings. The
others of our group had left, and the hotel was quiet and
peaceful. I was drifting into a reverie when the doorbell
rang. Now who could that be I wondered. I was in my
dressing gown, so I opened the door just wide enough
to peep out. Standing outside, faces beaming, a young
man and a woman, barely out of their teens. "Happy
Mother’s Day Ma’m" and with that joyful greeting they
presented me an armful of beautiful flowers, a card and
a box of chocolates. For a moment I was speechless,
dumbfounded. Was it Mother’s Day? Thousands of miles
away from home and my three kids, there was no way
of knowing. I almost cried as I asked them in. My heart
was full; I could barely utter a few words of thanks and.
gave them a hug. Their flushed happy smiles reminded
me of my own children….My day was made…I already
felt better and fit enough to meet a king!!
Chitra Narain
P-1576
Former Dy Director General AIR and Doordarshan
A mothers happiness is like a beacon lighting up
the future, but reflected also in the past, in the
guise of fond memories.
5 • www.delhigymkhana.org.in
Honoré de Balzac
clublife
May 2015
Our Feathered Friends at Gymkhana
E
ven a casual Delhi Gymkhana Club
watcher would not have failed to
note the large number of Generals,
Admirals, Air Marshals; Secretaries and
other Government bigwigs; Excellencies
in various walks of life; etc. who throng
its restaurants, bars, card rooms, library,
reading room, sports fields, and so forth.
What is missed is that apart from these
eminent members, the premises of our
Club is also host to a large number of feathered avian visitors
who can be spotted easily if one looks for them. That’s right –
owing to its green environs, our Club is host to a large variety
of birds that are a delight to watch and a pleasure to hear.
One of the more obvious birds that you see around the
Club is the Jungle babbler. As the name implies,
it babbles continuously and is found in almost
all outdoor parts of the Club, be it the Kashmir
lawn, the trees near the swimming pool or among
the cottages. Referred to as Seven Sisters owing to
their tendency to be invariably found in groups of
6-7, this is a noisy gregarious bird. Dirty brown in
colour and with a yellow beak, it is easy to spot and recognize.
You will find them hopping around on the ground or perched
on the lower branches of trees.
As noisy as the babblers but primarily arboreal are
the Rose-ringed parakeets. These are the ordinary
totas that are popular cage birds and have a
reputation for being able to learn human speech.
Green in colour and with a thick red beak and a
long tail, most of you would easily recognize them
but perhaps would not have noticed the rose ring
around the neck sported by the male that gives it its
name. The female does not have this ring.
Even if you see these parakeets everyday and
get used to them, always have a second look at each
specimen. This is because there are two other parakeets
that you can occasionally see in the Club. One is the
Alexandrine parakeet and the other is the Plum-headed
parakeet. The former is larger than the Rose-ringed and has
a maroon patch on its shoulder. Its call is hoarser and once
recognised will draw your attention. The latter, as the name
implies, has a plum-coloured head. As is usually the case with
birds where there is a difference between sexes, the male is
brighter and has more adornments. The plum colour is thus
limited to the male bird; the female has a grey head. This
parakeet whistles musically and does not screech like the
Rose-ringed.
Perhaps the most common birds around the Club
are the House crows and the Common mynas. These
are two birds that most of you would recognize but,
here again, have a second look at any crow or myna
that you may see. There is a good chance that you will
spot a Long-billed crow or a Bank myna.
The Long-billed crow is all black, unlike the
Common crow which has a dark grey neck. It
also has a much hoarser caw compared to its
more common relative. Not as rare as the Longbilled crow is the Bank myna. You can usually
see some of them foraging for insects on the
ground along the path that leads out of the Club. On the
entry side I have usually seen Common mynas only. The bank
myna looks like a Common myna that has shrunk slightly in
size and has fallen into a coal bin. It is a duller greyer colour
and the yellow of the beak and eye patch of the common
myna is replaced by orange in the case of this bird.
Two other very common birds are the Rock
pigeon and the Black kite. The Rock pigeon is the
common kabootar and I am sure all of you are very
familiar with it. The Black kite used to be called
the Pariah kite and is the most common hawk that
you will see gliding on outstretched wings in Delhi’s
skies. Sitting in the Kashmir lawn, I once saw as many
as a dozen in the sky at the same time. You will often
see them sitting on the trees around the Club. Their
high-pitched quivering call is also heard frequently. During
the recent winter, I saw some of them diving for and picking
up culinary tidbits from unoccupied tables at lunchtime.
Perhaps nearly as common but tending to be overlooked are
the two barbets that are found in the upper branches of the
tall trees in the Club. Both barbets are primarily green in
colour and are thus well camouflaged in their arboreal way
of life. However, they give themselves away by their sharp
monotonously repetitive calls. The Brown head barbet’s call
goes kuturrr-kuturrr-kuturrr, ad infinitum while that of the
smaller Crimson breasted barbet goes kutkut-kut…. The latter is also referred to as
a Coppersmith as its call is reminiscent of
the sounds created by the traditional village
coppersmiths when they were at work. Barbets
have big heads and heavy bills, with which they
can excavate holes in trees, for the purpose of
nesting.
Another tree-hole nester seen occasionally among the trees
in the Club is the Grey hornbill. This is a large grey bird with
a distinctive pattern on its wings and tail. Its characteristic
feature is a growth on it upper mandible. Unlike the barbets
though, it does not excavate the tree hole itself, but looks for
a natural one.
All birds referred to above are medium to large in size and
therefore easily observed. The smallest one that you will
normally see on the Club premises is the Purple sunbird.
Scarcely 10 cms. in length, the male is an iridescent dark
purple, tending to look black, in colour. It has a thin
long curved beak with which it probes flowers to
get to the nectar. The male has this colour only
in the breeding season; the rest of the year it
is a pale yellowish green like the female. The
We are here on earth to do good unto others; What the others are here for, I have no idea.
WH Auden
6 • www.delhigymkhana.org.in
clublife
May 2015
only difference
between the male and female at
this time
is a longitudinal purple streak
along the male’s
throat and breast.
One bird conspicuous by its absence around the
Club is the House sparrow, the humble chidiya. Once
ubiquitous around all Indian towns and cities, this bird
is vanishing fast, for the simple reason that our houses,
in and around which it nests, have been converted to airconditioned fortresses, whose defences it cannot breach. In
the good old days, it would find suitable holes in our house
walls and nooks and corners all over the house where it
Knowledge Club - Shri Sanat Kaul
found sites for nesting. Alas, these are all gone, leading to
this bird beginning to disappear from our midst. It may not
be a bad idea to put up nest boxes at suitable locations in
the Club where sparrows could nest. In this way, the Club
can contribute to the conservation and continuation of this
species.
Editor. What a noble idea. Any volunteers?
The above is just a short list of birds around the Club that
even a casual observation would not fail to notice. For the
more serious birder, there are at least 15 other species that you
are bound to see around the Club. I will write about them in
a future issue of Clublife.
JL Singh (P-1033)
Knowledge Club - Smt Meira Kumar
The first piece of luggage on the carousel never belongs to anyone.
George Roberts
7 • www.delhigymkhana.org.in
clublife
May 2015
On Pak Railway Tracks in the 1971 war
Pakistan Railway a portion of the area that our Army had
over-run. After spending a couple of hours in a trench in the
bitter cold, since the bombing ceased to abate, we went around
to see if our men were safe. Fortunately they were. Along with
Major OP Nayar, my second-in-Command, I spent the rest of
the night in the Station Master's office assessing the damage
and planning for the future.
T
he dilapidated road sign: Welcome to the land of 5
S's – Sand, Sandstorms, Sand-dunes, Snakes and
Scorpions. We were crossing the International
Border between Munabao in India en route to Khokhrapar in
Pakistan and beyond towards Hyderabad in Pakistan's Sindh
province. It was December 1971, and the Indo-Pak war had
just begun. We – a Territorial Army (TA) battalion of about
1000 railwaymen-turned -armymen – were called upon to
activate and then operate 40 kms rail line of the Pakistan
Railways in the middle of the Thar desert that straddles the
two countries at this point. Our task acquired great urgency
as our advancing troops were left with meagre rations of food,
water and ammunition. Our Army's speedy advance was
creating a logistics nightmare as supply lines became longer
and stocks dwindled by the hour. With no road in the desert
for plying of Army trucks, the problem was becoming critical
and the running of supply trains imperative. Our unit, the
1033 Railway Engineeers (TA), comprising railwaymen from
the then Western Railway Zone of the Indian Railways and
had been called upon when war was declared, to don Army
uniforms and assist the war effort by giving support to the
fighting troops.
Our first task was to bridge the gap between the two lines
on the Indian and the Pakistani sides. This was accomplished
in a day and the first train carrying water in rail tankers and
some other supplies steamed into Khokhrapar the following
day. Since we were always in danger of air attacks, the non-TA
railwaymen who had helped run this train were evacuated and
leading contingents of the TA took over. However, this was
only the beginning of our task: the supplies had now to be
carried 30 kms to the front line where the battle raged.
The last contingent of our unit was still on its way in a
special military train which was approaching Barmer and
was scheduled to arrive there at 8 pm. Apparently, Pakistani
intelligence had got a whiff of this and their planes bombed
and strafed the Barmer Railway station area that very night,
with the aim of destroying the unit that was to activate the
Quite obviously, the target of the sustained bombing by
Pakistan's bombers was the military special that was carrying
the last part of our unit according to its scheduled arrival.
What the pakistanis did not know was that by a subsequent
order (half by anticipation and half by sixth sense) the train
had been halted 20 kms away. Safe and in one piece, the train
resumed its movement towards its destination soon after the
air raids receded.
It was on the next morning that we arrived at the above
mentioned signboard (the 5s's). It was dark when we reached
Khokrapar Railway Station in Pakistan. The last act of the day
was a late night conference in total darkness when plans for
the next day and allocation of duties were decided - to survey
and repair the next 30 kms of track right up to the front line
where our infantry had dug in and were surviving on minimal
supplies. To add to our woes, the enemy had damaged and
destroyed many of the culverts and parts of the tracks as they
retreated.
The next day saw the unit working at a feverish pace. We
worked the whole day, restoring the line to a minimum
level of fitness. As the sun sank over the distant dunes and
darkness draped the desert, we returned to Khokhrapar, now
our advance base. As we were fortifying ourselves for dinner,
Pakistani planes struck again. They withdrew after setting
an ammunition dump on fire. Guessing that they would not
return till dawn, we quickly assembled the first supply train
of about 20 wagons loaded with food, water and above all
ammunition.
...directing rail operations on Pak rail
8 • www.delhigymkhana.org.in
clublife
May 2015
Our supply train in Pak with mounted 'Ackack' gun
It was past midnight when the train moved slowly and
stealthily into the darkness. In time, we stopped near a
station deep inside Pakistani territory just behind the fornt
line. After a few moments of jubilation, unloading began and
was almost completed when dawn broke with the arrival of
more pakistani planes. In the bombing that followed, the
locomotive driver, Durga Shanker, suffered burn injuries
from a napalm bomb. To avoid further losses, the train was
ordered back to khokhrapar, the brave driver offering to work
the train with his elbows as his hands were burnt. The train in
reverse motion had covered about 12 kms when 4 rail tankers
derailed between two high sand dunes, where visibility was
nil. Pishing of a long train is hazardous at the best of times
and is normally not resorted to in peace time movement.
Our next task was clearing the obstruction caused by derailed
tankers. Working during the day in open was an invitation
for air attacks. We were fortunate that we were able to work
till 4pm without any disturbance from the air. This is when
our luck ran out as 4 Pakistani Starfighters returning from
a bombing mission over India spotted us. Luckily, they had
exhausted their bombs on the mission. However, one of the
planes circled back and dived to strafe us. As he dived, I could
see the Pakistani Pilot adjusting his guns, before opening fire
and spraying the desert around us with thousands of bullets.
The desert has no place to take cover, so the 100 of us lay
motionless awaiting the worst. The bullets missed us by inches.
What saved us was an anti-aircraft gun we had mounted on
the train as a last minute innovation. We knew that planes
would come back fully loaded and charged. So, we finished
the work quickly and returned to Khokhrapar. On arrival, we
found Khokhrapar ablaze. Luckily, all our men were safe and
the morale of those part-time Army men was high.
We continued running these supply trains not only till the
end of the war on december 16 but for a few months beyond
while India held Pakistani territory between our border and
Naya Chor. The Army recognised the contribution of the
railwaymen and our unit was decorated with one Vir Chakra,
two Vishishth Sewa Medals and 3 Mention in Despatches.
The Vir Chakra was won by the driver Durga Shanker. To
this day, this is the only Vir Chakra won by a member of the
Railway Territorial Army.
Finally I wish to add that the 11 Infantry Division Troops
fighting on the front line treated us like angels who had come
to deliver daily rations, water and munitions.
Knowledge Club - Shri Ram Jethmalani
9 • www.delhigymkhana.org.in
Lt Col (TA) ML Khanna VSM
(NDC 17th Course) P-2031
clublife
May 2015
Saving the Best for Sixty & Beyond
T
here are many, many things that I
love about the Delhi Gymkhana
Club.
a large family.
I’m proud of our storied history; we are one
of the oldest clubs in India. Our prestige
and facilities make us one of the most
coveted clubs in the Capital. Yet, the thing
that I celebrate most about DGC is its
ability to foster the feeling of belonging to
Having become a member of this proud institution nearly four
decades ago, my husband & I have made deep and abiding
friendships with so many like-minded members; many forged
in the bridge room, some over a glass of wine and some more
over exchanging views on a good book. It has been a privilege
to spend so many years with so many wonderful people. Since
my husband’s retirement from the government service over
a decade ago, Delhi Gymkhana has played an increasingly
bigger role in filling our day purposefully. I felt very reassured
about a fulfilling life in the years ahead.
That was until I came across Antara Senior Living!
Being built on sprawling 20 acres in scenic Dehradun, just at
the foothills of Mussoorie, Antara is a residential community
for people in their sixties and beyond. A part of the Max India
Group, Antara focuses keenly on service and is crafted on the
philosophy of wanting to provide their residents the highest
quality of life. Each aspect of Antara has been meticulously
fashioned to take the hassle out of everyday life and allowing
us to live happy, healthy and active lives.
inspired my husband and me to undertake a site visit to
Dehradun where we were welcomed by no less than Antara’s
CEO, Tara Singh Vachani. Extensive interaction with her over
a lunch gave us full confidence that Antara is being developed
as a community with detailed planning and foresight; without
any compromise with exacting standards and self-imposed
excellence. We felt assured that the community would ensure
the quality of life we have been all along used to, having spent
so many years abroad as diplomats.
As the years pass, I find it more and more cumbersome to
handle the minutia of running a home. Antara is the perfect
solution; from housekeeping, to a 24/7 concierge, to on-site
nutritionist and dietician; the community allows for carefully
curated care.
What is even more amazing for me is that apartments are
built in clusters - to encourage a neighborhood vibe. Residents
might feel spoilt for choice when it comes to activities - from
gardening to indoor swimming, to yoga and pilates and a vast
list of activity groups. There will be so many ways to make
new, wonderful friends; who can share a laugh on the putting
greens or enjoy a delicious meal at the on-site restaurant.
I am excited to become a part of a vibrant family at Antara
Dehradun, where I can share my coming years with likeminded people in an inspiring setting designed specifically
for us.
I have been telling all my friends to look at Antara as an
option for a carefree and secure future with assured quality of
life in their post-60 journey.
Rinku Singh (P-1930)
A visit to Antara’s Experiential Studio at Defence Colony
Knowledge Club - Summer Activities For Children
Programmme Hours per
Name
Day
Creative*
Writing
1 hour
No of Days
Age Group
Max
Enrolment
Programme
Takeaway
Fee
Date and Time
12
Mon, Wed, Fri
9-12 years
13-16 years
15 per age
group
Certificate
`3000/-
9-12 years: 9-10 am
13-16 years: 10-11 am
Radio Jockey
Workshop
1 hour 30
minutes
5
9-14 years
15
Theatre
Workshop
1 hour 30
minutes
20
8-14 years
20
Stage and TV
Anchoring
1 hour 30
minutes
5
9-14 years
15
Certificate
/ Radio
Programme
created by
participants
Certificate
/ Stage
performance on
culmination
Certificate / TV
Anchoring links
(shot on camera)
* For creative writing, books, journals, stationery, colour pencils etc will be provided by the teacher
10 • www.delhigymkhana.org.in
`2800/-
`3900/-
2800/-
18 May - 12 June
18 May - 22 May
2:00 pm - 3:30 pm
18 May - 12 June
11.30 am - 1:00 pm
1 June - 5 June
9.30 am - 11:00 am
clublife
May 2015
Multiplication is Vexation
T
Division is bad
The rule of three
Does puzzle me
And addition makes me mad
his little ditty was often sung by
children when they had to show
that they were fluent in English. It
was also an accurate description of me in
the second standard of my most respectable
school in Montogomery (later rechristened Sahiwal to meet
modern sentiments).
My father had taught me the Urdu Qaida and to count to a
whole hundred. This knowledge had been enough for me to
be admitted to school and also promote me to the next class,
all in the space of four months.
That is where my troubles began. Our teacher who was
actually marking time to become a Postal Clerk, gave us
little cheers to exult in the joys of Maths. His patience
being somewhat limited, he rushed us through addition and
subtraction, even as he readied for the multiplication process.
Hurried explanations and even faster demonstrations left us
reeling. Only my lifelong friend, sardar Hukum Singh (later
to become Speaker and then Governor of Rajasthan) could
comprehend and help us with the correct answers. The rest of
the class could make no sense of the jumble on our slates. We
were the non-starters of the race. A choice of punishments
were regularly dealt out. Mine was to suffer a Rumi Topi
of Abdul Karim on my head. I squirmed at the titter that
went around. Having endured this treatment for a few days,
I decided that the aspiring postal employee had had his fun.
So I played truant.
I would leave home after my
breakfast of lassi and roti,
collect my basta, thakti and
dawat and leave the courtyard
with a purposeful look. I
would then quietly slip up the
flight of steps from the outer
courtyard of our home.
My perch was on the top-most
step. Like a hill raven, I would
solemnly watch the boys going
to school, come out at breaktime and later return home
in twos and three. My heart
was sick with loneliness. I sorely missed the dustlicking and
marble playing of the return journey. I was nearly tempted to
give Masterji a second chance.
In the evening my friends easily accepted my lame excuses.
We were always too eager to play. Masterji, of course was too
busy delivering imaginary mail, to pay any attention to my
regular absence from his class.
Much as I wished it to end, I could not work out a strategy.
My father found me one day, when he returned home midmorning. He immediately guessed what had happened. He
surprised me by gently reprimanding me, then coaxed the
truth out of me, and later reassured me about my problem.
He took me to school himself the next day, and upheld my
dignity by giving a plausible reason for my absence. I suspect
that Masterji may have been told the real reason. My father's
instructions of two times four were much better. I was soon
able to match speed with accuracy. Thereafter, the Rumi Topi
stayed on its rightful head.
The top step in my house also remained empty ever after.
Sarojine Chopra (L-1813)
Radio Jockey: Workshop Plan, research, organize & present a radio show of your own. Become a Radio jockey &
understand what it takes to host a radio show. In this workshop you will understand the process involved in hosting a
radio show, building team spirit and work on techniques like voice modulation, role play & dramatization etc. A fun &
learning experience summed up together.
Theatre Workshop:-The programme is designed to make public speaking fun, build self-confidence and feeling of
acceptance. The Programme helps participants work on their Voice, body language, Creativity, and gain confidence on
stage. The workshop culminates in to a stage play enacted by the participants
Stage & TV Anchoring Workshop: Come summer, let’s step on stage before live audience or face the camera and speak
on the word go. Here is a weeklong workshop for children that will prepare them to fight stage fright, handle mighty
microphone, formal audience and daunting camera. Participants will write their own script, work on their voice, body
language, look and expressions. Their final individual presentations will be shot on camera, edited , packaged and handed
over to them(in a driver CD) at the time of culmination.
11 • www.delhigymkhana.org.in
clublife
May 2015
Mayday! Mayday! Mayday!
(International distress call by planes and ships)
I
n the early 1940s, I went to school in
Bangalore where my father was posted as
an army doctor. World War II was on and
although we were far removed from the actual
scene of operations, those were heady days for
young and impressionable minds.
On the outskirts of the town there was a
large maintenance base for the RAF and
the USAF. Fighter planes and bombers used
to fly low over the house and, invariably, I would rush out to
try and identify each plane and catch a glimpse of the pilot in
his cockpit. There was a flurry of excitement one day when a
German plane, a Messerschmitt Bf 109, which had been shot
down over England, was displayed at the local parade ground.
One day, while I was alone at home, the drone of an aeroplane
drew me to the open verandah. Directly above I spotted a P-38
Lockheed Lightning fighter plane, its silver-grey colouring just
visible against the clear blue sky. The P-38 was a unique US-built
plane with two fuselages, each connected to the other at the front
and rear by the wingspan and tail-strut respectively. The pilot sat in
a small nacelle located between the two fuselages. It more closely
resembled a flying hollow square than a conventional aeroplane.
I had barely sighted it when it started disintegrating. To my
horror, I saw the tail-strut tumble lazily in the air, just as if I was
watching a slow-motion sequence in a film. I froze as the rest of
the aeroplane carved an arc in the sky and then dipped below
the distant horizon. My eyes remained riveted to the spot and
after an eerie silence for a couple of seconds, there was a muffled
explosion and thick black smoke spewed in all directions. A little
later against the now-darkened sky, I could see a parachute slowly
descending. I rushed to tell my parents who had gone to meet
a neighbour. My outpourings were greeted with disbelief; they
Social Worker
I
belong to a family of social workers. I do
not remember my father but people say he
was very stout and powerful. I have also heard
people say that I took my beauty from my
mother and physique from my father.
From times immemorial we have been
involved in ferrying pilgrims to the Holy
shrine which is over 14 km one way. It takes
well over four hours to reach the Shrine and
while coming back it takes around three hours. The journey
is quite tiring. We do not charge any money in cash and only
accept whatever is given to us in kind. A variety of people come
to have a Darshan of The God.
We come across interesting incidents every day. The other day
a gandson aged about eighteen came with his grandfather aged
around seventy. The grand son was insisting that the old man
take a pony but the grandfather would not oblige. The youngster
then volunteered to carry him on his own back but the old man
would not agree to even this mode of travel.
thought it was the result of my having read too many comics!
Vindication came the following morning. The newspapers
splashed on the front page the story of the plane crash under
mysterious circumstances. A couple of days later, an uncle of
mine who worked at the maintenance base, presented me a
piece of twisted metal with fire-blackened rivets which had been
recovered from the crash site.
Over the past many years I have often wondered what had
caused the plane to disintegrate and whether the pilot had
survived after bailing out. My hopes of finding out more details
had almost evaporated when, 71 years after the event, the
Internet came to my rescue!
Last year, while idly browsing the Internet, I came across the
website of the Seattle Museum of Flight in the USA. On
exploring the site I found out that Sandy Morton, one of the
volunteers at the museum, often talked to visitors of how his
elder brother, while in the American Air Force, was involved in
a mid-aid collision over Bangalore in 1943! I quickly shot off
an e-mail to Sandy Morton and the very next day I got a reply
expressing great surprise to know that I was a witness to what
happened. He also filled me in with the missing details.
It was on 8 November 1943 at 11:45 am to be precise, that the
P-38, being flown by his elder brother Paul Morton, was hit by
a Hawker Hurricane being piloted by a Royal Air Force Staff
Seargant, who did not survive the collision. Paul Morton, despite
the near death experience, was not injured and continued to fly
for the Americans till the end of the World War II. He later
become a civilian pilot and taught instrument flying for many
years. In 2005 at the age of 89 he received the Wright Brothers
Master Pilot Award having flown actively for 72 consecutive years
starting at the age of 17. He passed away in 2011 at the age of 96.
If Providence had not smiled on Paul Morton 72 years back,
and if there was no Internet, there would have been no story for
me to tell!
Ravi Batra (P-0501)
Then there was this polio stricken young man of around thirty
who was accompanied by his friend. Here also the companion
was offering a pony for his disabled friend, but the latter would
not agree, nor would he accept his friend’s help in climbing. They
were also quibbling about the mode of climbing all through the
climb just as the grandfather grandson duo mentioned earlier.
Then there was this rather bulky man of around fifty who wanted
to hire a pony/palki at the start point. The pony/palki wallahs
were asking for an exorbitant price which the business man was
not ready to pay. Despite long and at times heated arguments
they were unable to reach a settlement.
That was a very fateful day. When I reached the Shrine at the
end of the climb, I found to my great surprise and pleasure that
the grandfather-grandson duo as well as the differently abled
young man with his friend had managed to reach the Shrine. We
returned to the base after 'darshan' of the holy Shrine and what
do we see at the base-the fat business man was still trying to settle
a compromised formula for his journey.
Guess who I am ? Well I am a pony.
Lt Col RL Bhanot (P-3085)
12 • www.delhigymkhana.org.in
clublife
May 2015
Golden Jubilee of the Everest Triumph of 1965
T
he Indian Mountaineering Foundation, supported by the Ministry of youth Affairs and
Sports, has planned a yearlong celebration of India's first successful ascent of Mount
Everest in 1965. Led by Captain MS Kohli and assisted by 50 sherpas and 900 porters, 19
bravehearts stretched themselves beyond limits and put 9 colleagues on top of the world, rejuvenating
a whole generation, and opening the floodgates of adventure and mountaineering in India. In the
wake of international euphoria the then Prime Minister, along with the Defence Minister, headed
the airport reception and Capt MS Kohli was invited to address members of Parliament of both
Houses in the Central Hall in New Delhi, and Alpine Clubs of over 50 countries. Chief Minsters
of almost all States organised Grand Receptions in their State Capitals.
After the successful "Night of the Mountaineers" at the Gymkhana Club, during the last days
of May 2015 nine living legends of the team will attend Special Felicitation Functions in Delhi,
Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kolkata and Darjeeling. They will share the magic, enchantment and above all
the exemplary team spirit of their expedition with mountaineers and adventure lovers. The original
highly acclaimed 1965 Everest movie, with historic footage and music by Shankar Jaikishan, will be screened at the receptions.
Capt (IN) MS Kohli
Leader Everest Expedition 1965
P-0694
Play 'Taj Mahal ka Udghatan'
Black Dog Jazz Evening
13 • www.delhigymkhana.org.in
clublife
May 2015
Club Tennis
The
‘Road
to
Wimbledon’ clinic on 9
April at the grass courts
by Tim Henman, former
four times semi-finalist
at Wimbledon, Goran
Ivanisevic,
former
world number 1 and Head coach of
the All England Club, Dan Bloxham
was a grand success. There were over
100 juniors who gained immensely
from the tips from these great experts.
Subsequently, our members got an
opportunity to hit some balls and even
win some rallies from these legends. It
was a great honour for the Club to see
regulars at Wimbledon playing on our
courts.
The Club hosted the ‘Road to Roland
Garros’ in the first week of April for
a AITA Juniors tournament. The
tournament was well attended but
unfortunately the finals could not be
played on our courts on account of
untimely rains.
Arjun Sawhny
Annual Billiards and Snooker Tournaments
The annual Billiards and Snooker Tournaments for 2014 have
just been concluded. The results are given below.
TournamentWinner
Open Billiards
Open Snooker
Handicap Billiards
Handicap Snooker
Seniors Billiards
Seniors Snooker
Rakesh Mahindroo
Sandeep Verma
Rakesh Mahindroo
Karan Anand
Pradeep Kukreja
D P S Seth
Runner-up
Rajiv Kohli
Rajiv Kohli
Karan Anand
Rakesh Mahindroo
Anil Sud
Rakesh Mahindroo
A computer once beat me at chess, but it was no match for me at kickboxing.
Emo Philips
14 • www.delhigymkhana.org.in
clublife
May 2015
Achievements
Bridge Results April 2015
TEAM OF FOUR
1st Mr Anand Virmani, Brig Ravi Batra, Mr Yogesh
Tewari, Mr Dilip Coehlo, Mr Mukesh Shivdasani and
Mr Ashok Singh
2nd Mr Arujun Sawhney, Mr S Sundareshan,
Mr S Behura, Ms Ritu Chowksi
3rd Mr Sudhir Nair, Mr Vijit Bery, Mr D D Gulhati, Mr
Vikram Jain, Mrs Veena Viswanathan, Mr Sajiv Bery
PAIRS
North-South
1st Mr Kawaljit Singh – Mr Dilip Coehlo
2ndDr R L Sanghi - Mrs Saroj Vasudeva
3rd Ms Sheena Khorana – Mr Sanjiv Bery
Ravi Kapur's, (P3495) book titled
The Cosmic Contact
autographed by His
Holiness Dalai Lama.
Malini Agarwal (G-3590) founder
of MissMalini.com, has been invited
to be on the panel of the 6th Annual
Young Changemakers Conclave
hosted by the United Nations
Information Centre for India and
Bhutan.
East-West
1st Ms Sunita Singh – Mr Narjit Kanwar
2ndMrs Promila Saraf – Mr Vijit Bery
3rd Col L K Chopra - Mrs Anju Khanna
The next Rummy Tournament will be held
on 4th June 2015
Aparna Chopra, (G-5194) has been
ranked as one of the top 25 women
business leaders in India, 2015 by
Economic Times.
Allure of wine
Give me a bowl of wine
I have not alacrity of Spirit,
nor cheer of mind, that I was
Won’t to have
Col SP Wahi (P-0511) was conferred the Urja
Award during the Urja Sangam-2015
Shakespeare
Wine gives great pleasure, and every pleasure
is of itself a good.
Samuel Jonson
Let all the three Wine, Women and Song
engulf me in the life of bliss
Without being forlorn,
I have no regrets, for I have
Longed for life long.
Jasbeer Sachdev,
Wine Professional (G-4226)
The road to success... ... is always under construction.

Alcohol doesn't solve any problems, but if you think again,
neither does Milk.

In order to get a Loan, you first need to prove that you don't
need it.


Marriage is one of the chief causes of divorce.

The light at the end of the tunnel may be an incoming train.

Whenever I find the key to success, someone changes
When everything comes in your way, you're in the wrong lane.
the lock.
Contributed by Karamjit S Bedi, P-0429
15 • www.delhigymkhana.org.in
clublife
May 2015
Then ... ... and now
Forthcoming Events
Wednesday, 6 May 2015
7 pm to 8 pm
Navtej Sarna
Indians at Herod's Gate
An audio visual
presentation that explores
the Indian connection to
ancient Jerusalem
><
Friday, 8 May 2015
7.30 pm
Annual Sports Dinner
There is a lavish buffet
with discounted premium
beverages.
Please book your acceptance
ASAP at the reception.
No guests please.
Mrs Meena and Dr J K Tandon • P-3888 • 11 May 1965
Mrs Janaki Nair & Wg Cdr Shankar Nair • P-1746 • 9 April 1962
Mrs Vinni and Col Ravinder Sagar • P-3812 • 20 February 1965
Our heartfelt condolences to the
families of the following members
who passed away. May their souls
Rest in Peace.
Maj Gen B N Kapur
Mr K P Anand
Lt Gen Sat Gur Payara
Mrs Rita Gulhati
Mr Baldev Raj Chopra
Mr Rasdip Singh
Mr Harish Kumar Nayar
Mr R Vir
Mrs Sheila Singh
Mr G K Khanna
Ms Savitri Talwar
Brig Manohar Singh
Mr Brij Raj Bahadur
Mr Sukhinder Pal Singh
Mr Mohan Krishen Khanna
Mr Iqbal Singh
P-3797
P-1257
P-2882
P-1872S
P-0423
P-1721
P-6605
P-0650
L-1349
P-0945
L-0863
P-6365
P-0251
P-0179
P-1842
P-2434
Commendable staff
A black leather
bag with Ray-Ban
sunglasses and Rs
49,100 cash was
left at Pub1913.
Chander
Lal,
promptly handed it
over to the Club Management and
the same was restored to the owner.
Speaks volumes of our Gymkhana
Staff and their integrity.
Editor: GS Uban
[email protected]
+ 91 98 100 76770
><
Saturday, 9 May 2015
7 pm to 9 pm
Audition for Members
Talent Nite
><
Friday, 15 May 2015
7 pm to 8 pm
Manish Tewari
former Union Minister (I&B)
The new Information order
and its impact on societies
and nations
><
Saturday, 16 May 2015
7 pm to 9 pm
Members Talent Nite
><
Friday, 22 May 2015
7 pm to 8 pm
Suhel Seth
Marketing and
Management Guru on
Mantras for Success
><
Friday, 29 May 2015
7 pm to 8 pm
Saga of the Indian
Policeman: A Tribute to our
Police Collegues
followed by an evening of entertainment,
dinner and dance. Details later.
Views expressed in the articles are
those of individual members and
not the official views of the Club.
16 • www.delhigymkhana.org.in
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