Of honour and pride

“Though it’s a little better now,but then the awareness is still less when compared to other forces,” says Commander (retd) Hardayal Singh,who along with others gathered at the PGI Community Centre in Sector 24 for Navy Day celebrations,wants a museum that would showcase models of ships and hold information about the Naval Services. “We want all to be aware about career options in the Navy and also about the commendable role the Indian Navy has played in the nation’s defence. But then funding is a problem,” he says. “Not many people realise but there’s a huge population of Naval officers and sailors this side of the country,” agrees president of the Chandigarh charter,Commander (retd) M L Mahendru.

With officers,ex-servicemen and sailors warming up to the tea party,the conversation rolled on from sharing the special bond of brotherhood to getting the community together. “The evening is a way to involve the aged and provide them with a support system. It’s a time to appraise them about the latest happening around the country,” says Commander (retd) Arvind Gupta,as he moves to a group where discussions are ripe about insurance,health and tax. This,as elsewhere Lt Commander (retd) Davinder Singh talks about the fateful nite of December 3 and 4,1971. “On the night the Indian Navy delivered a crippling attack on Karachi and the Pakistani Navy and every year we host celebrations in remembrance of these heroic attacks,” he tells us that all of the 400 members of the Chandigarh Chapter have been invited for this very cause.