Formal launch of Amateur Radio Emergency Services Scout Group under BSG (WB)

It was Sunday morning, the Scouters, Guiders , Scouts and Indian  Amateur Wireless operators  assembled S N Bose Seminar Hall of Science City, Kolkata. The occasion of formal launch & dedication to the Nation of Amateur Radio Emergency Services Scout Group.  This is  the only Radio Scout Group of  Bharat Scouts & Guides (West Bengal) (BS&G (WB) , may be the only such in India. The Scout Group Registration certificate was handed over by Shri Probodh Ranjan Biswas, State Organising Commissioner (Scout) of BSG (WB) to Dr M Nurzemman, MLA, VU3YOH,Group Leader. He also handed over warrants of  Shri Mohammad Ariff, VU2HRF Rover Leader (Scout) & Smt Ramsha Tuba,VU#RTY, Lady Cub Master.

A  Special stamp of under My Stamp category was released by the Postal Department.

Visuals of the event

Shri Jayant Bhide, VU2JAU, of Gwalior, Madha Pradesh,  National Coordinator – Emergency Communication, the Chief Guest of the event mentioned about disaster mitigation in our country.

Shri Victor Singh,VU2XDG, Principal & Administrator- The Assembly of God Church The school was the Special Guest of Honour of the event mentioned the present position of HAM in the World and their role in disaster mitigation over the years.

The annual event of worldwide contact programe by HAM stations of the World Scout Bureau is held every third-week end of the month of October, it is called Jamboree on the Air (JOTA).Now other means of communications such as Echo link, Skype &  JOTA JOTI.

 JOTA was started  for the BSG (WB) at Kolkata, the HAM station of VU2EM, Avinash Misra. In 1991 JOTA event was first time held at BSG (WB) at their campsite, Ganga Nagar, near Kolkata Airport with the support from VU3SKD,of The Young Explorers’ Institute Scout Group and Barrackpore Amateur Club.

World wide contact program JOTA at BSG (WB) 1991

The dignitaries & HAM operators were felicitated by Scout Scarf and goggle

The leaflet on HAM was distributed to the delegates, they were explained what is call sign and given a demonstration of how to start conversion, the calling procedure.

Major Sushanta Kumar De (Retd), VU3SKD,, Secretary of The Young Explorers' Institute for Social Service of Kolkata who was present in this event sent his best wishes

Good Memories with an Unit of a Regiment of Artillery

I served a Regiment of Artillery for about 2 years. I left that unit 38 years back. The unit was located near Kolkata when I got married. It was a good luck for me the unit officers and wives were present during my marriage reception at Kolkata. I had the scope to visit unit personnel when they were near Kolkata. I have a memory when I left unit location for my return journey to Kolkata, the Officiating Commanding Officer Major ( Later Brigadier) B P Singh was much worried about my resettlement, the pack food for my train journey was as much I could not for get that.

I could not attain the Silver Jubilee celebration of the unit in  1990. I took a chance after the event, I reached the unit location without informing them they were some where in the western India. I got surprised when I reached the unit had moved from that location. I mate two of our unit officers who were posted in the city of Kolkata. Few years back I received a telephone Col Ajite VC was admitted in the Command Hospital, Kolkata, I went there to meet him.

The unit celebrated Golden Jubilee in 2015, we were invited to attain, the invitation was received  before 2 yrs. 

We the serving  personnel and veterans  from India and abroad attained few days gala event. 

Pic Officers at the Regimental Quarter Guard

 It was an occasion when we could see, meet the stalwarts, A printed publication from which we can learn how was the situation when the unit was raised. Col Rana Pratap Singh (Retd) who had raised the unit, he kept  in full touch with the unit. His physical condition was not well for which he could not attained the event. I had the opportunity to speak to him over phone. Mrs Singh with her daughter and his son in law were present in the event. We could meet the stalwart of 1971 Bangladesh operation. 16 visuals on this operation were included in the publication. 

Senior most veteran Major General S B Singh releasing publication ‘Saga of 50 Glorious years and Col Navneet Kumar, the CO  when Golden Jubilee celebration was held.

I received a letter from Col Navneet Kumar the Commanding Officer and his team who had took pain to organize the event, it was wrote in June 2017. I came to know his joining Higher Air Command Course at Secunderbad. One day he contacted me that he will be coming Kolkata as a part of his course. On 8^{th November 2017.}  I received a phone call from him that he will land on the same day. After reaching the place where he stayed at this city, we rushed to the Vijay Smark, at Kolkata, India Radio Operator Shiv Kumar laid down his life for the Country while performing his duties in Bangladesh Operation. His name is written on the smark.

A memorial service is held every year on 16^th December in the morning.

The captured Pakistani Artillery Gun 

The Plaque of Pakistani Naval base