Indian Navy

I had watched the Indian Navy contingent marching at Kolkata and then New Delhi on Republic Day parade. Naval ship keep listing Kolkata on Navy Day, the public are allowed to visit the ship. INS Mysore, now decommissioned. I had visited at Kolkata. There few guns which is controlled by single Officer, it was all automatic.

On Navy Day of, 1980 INS Khiltan had called on Kolkata, media representative was taken Budge Budge by road and embarked the ship. It took long time to anchored at Man O War Jetty. My write up was published The Nation, English daily from Patna.

I had the opportunity to witness Keel laying ceremony of INS Sandhya, till Commission at Garden Ship Builders of Kolkata. The first survey ship of Indian Navy. This has decommission. 

Lt Subesh Mitra, VrC, 1971 Veteran who served SBI also. He expired Kolkata, Command Hospital. THE Wion TV telecasted an interview during the 50th anniversary of 1971 operation. He has left wife and son. 

West Bengal Mountaineers & Trekkers Confederation

It was 1980, the Himayan Mountaineering I stitute, Darjeeling was celebrating their Silver Jubliee celebration. Late Mrs Indira Gandhi, the Prime Minister of India was the Chairman of this I stitute.

Mrs Gandhi in her speech mentioned the Gujrat mountaineering activities. 

The Mountaineers of West Bengal who were participating this event were feeling bad.

Mountain Lovers Association (MLA) of Assansol organised the 1st Mountain eers and Trekkers Meet at Jaichandi Hills of Purulia in 1980. It was decided to form an body for cooperate each other to foster adventure in the State of West Bengal.. 

The 1st meeting was held at NCC Club House with the cooperation of The Institute of Exploration (IOE).

Then after series of meetings were held Food Corporation of India. Rangers Club and Rovers Den of Bharat Scouts & Guides (West Bengal). (BSG WB). The next meet in 1982 was arranged at BSGWB  Camp site at Ganga Nagar. near Kolkata Airport with support of BSG WB Rover Unite. It is difficult to forget their contribution. 

For promoting adventure. Seven days program was held at Territorial Army Institute now it is Territorial Army Officers Institute (TAOI). The program was suported by the Dept of Youth Affairs and Field Exhibition of Government of India. 

The display board was loaded in truck and unloaded at TAOI. Indranath who had lost his fingers of hand was opening the packing materials with his amputed hands. I could not imagine even after 40 years what spirit he is having for the adventure 

Late Subimal De, a senior mountaineer of Parbat Avhiyatri and Late Pranesh Chakraborty of Mountain Lovers Association were energetic to form the WBM&TC. 

Mr Prabhat Ganguly, a senior mountaineer and very energetic about WBM&TC has expressed his happiness on celebrating 40th years of WBM&TC. 

Bonding of Indian Army for veterans

Bonding among the unit personal of Indian Army is more than any formation, it is more in Infantry, Armoured,and Artillery units. Working in different terrain, Situation and climatic conditions. It may be 3 to 4 years for Officers.larger duration for Junior Commissisioned Officers and Other Ranks to serve the same units. 

There is regular interactive for Veterans. such as unit Raising Day. Induvidual social occasions. The plaque for marriage ceremony is considered the marriage certificate for soliders.

I missed a chance to attain a marriage ceremony at Chandigarh, it was one of our senior, we moved by road from Nahan, HP, the vehicle was off road, we waited long time at Kala Amb, Haryana and returned unit location without attending the ceremony. But unit Officers and their family members from Palta, North 24 parganas reached Kolkata to attain reception at Territorial Army Institute. By then I have left Indian Army and joined State Bank of India. 

On Independence Day the Government of India  award Honary Rank to outstanding JCOs. Four of such JCOs from Regiment of Artillery was awarded Hony Lieutenant Rank.

 A piping ceremony was organised at the unit location. The Veterans of this unit are located in various part of our country and overseas,they also  got such happy news to feel good. 

To observe Dusera with the all ranks of Gurkha personnel is still a great nostalgia. toremember. To worship arms, ammunitions and equipments is a long tradition of Indian Army. 

I learned Gunnery at School of Artillery and practising as Gun Position Officer (GPO) and Troop Commander with 25 Pounder Artillery Gun of British make is now out of service, you can have a look at National Cadet Club House at Kolkata Maidan

As Battery Second in Command of a Regiment Artillery, Indian Ordinance Factory make 75/24 Mountain Gun was available. 

After leaving Army I got the chance to meet our Unit personnel at social function at unit locations, Regiment of Artillery Réunion and Gunners Day. I got the chance to meet my Directing Staff (DS) Lt General Z U Shah (R) as General Officer Commanding of HQ Bengal Area. 

I got the chance to meet 3 Officers who were posted to HQ Eastern Command. 

Veteran Officers

There are Veteran Officers at the Command, Area, Sub Area level. 

 14th January is celebrated as Veteran Day. At Kolkata it is celebrated at Fort William. 

The unit Raising Day is very important to serving and Veterans. 

Other important occasion is Dusera Utsav, generally the program is organised during day time. The Arms. Ammunitions and Equipments are worshiped. It is generally a family event. 

Accessablity of Digital mode in the libraries of Kolkata, India

We do visit library from school days, Shool  or locallibrary may be the first library  in our life.

During college days we join  library of foreign country at your city. American library is a popular library they have regular cultural activities including video show. I have the first experience of viewing UHS in this library. There was no fee for the Membership. Now they have regular subscription for the members, they have computer and internet service. I had the chance to visit their New Delhi library. they have space constraint for sitting arrangement for the members, The British Council Library also provide computer and internet to their members,

Our National Library also provide computer and internet to the members.

The https://photos.app.goo.gl/Tk1VbtMMNW7MBpJc8 State Central Library at Kolkata was having Computers and internet which is not available now a days. 

The New Town Library is now functional in two floors in three different spaces. They provide computers and internet for the members. Out of 17 Computers 6 are not working may be more than 2 months.

The use of the computers are using may be all the days and all the times of the library hours. No change of the position even after reporting the issue to the authority. 

Induvidual soldier's salary

Recently one Non Commissioned Officer (NCO) of Territorial Army asked me what was the monthly salary of Indian Army of Second Lieutant in 1974? I replied, it was 1000 per month. We had to submit Income Tax return by physical mode.

Now NCO draw about 40,000 pm. He has to submit Tax Return. I was rembering in 1974 a soldier draw his salary when he will be going on leave. The amount accumulated in his salary account which was not getting any interest. Now the salary is credited in his Bank account, the family member can withdraw from their home town. The minium education for a General Duty Soldier was class VIII, now is Madhyamik. 

Catching fish

Fish as  a food item in Bengali culture, I had a good relation with a fisher family. They had no child, I was favorite to them, our ancestral home is in central Kolkata it is one of the area  where fisher men live. They have fishing trawler and big business person.

The fisher couple was poor but they had big heart. I called them 'Dada Babu' and Parul di, the fish item was always with chilli, Dada Babu was an employee of a fish stall at New Market. Kolkata. He had to visit Firpo Restaurant of Chowringhee area for delivering fish. I got bread of Firpo some time Puri and ' Haloua', sweet item at New Market. The Bhetki and lobster were the main item of their fish stall.

During my service in Indian Army, I had the chance to catch fish from pond in Rajasthan and river near Pakistan Border. The fishing net was at Border Security Force at Atwala of Jammu Division, we were four went for fishing at afternoon of 1979 winter. We had caught about 6 kg of fish of different species and size. We had a nice evening with tasty food item. 

Amitabha Bhattacharya

In our family we got a Fair looking intelligent person as our brother in law. He had talent of photography, writing in Bengali and English. 

I had friend to consult even in medical issue. He was our head of the family. His effort grooming his children. 

As an auditor he helped auding accounts about 27 years. 

He had critical medical situation which was handled by his wife, daughter and daughter in law. 

Publishing his writing will be a great tribute to his soul. 

Sushanta De

20 April 2023.