Formally attired men and women in black and white glided about the Durbar Hall of Taj Palace on Saturday evening at an inaugural Black-Tie Charity Ball to raise funds for the Unsung Heroes,who have been afflicted during a national crisis. Organised for the first time by the Taj Public Welfare Service Trust (TPWST),the hotel will administer all the funds granted by various corporate and social circles in order to uphold the cause of the army,and bring it into the public domain of awareness and assistance. Deepak Bhatia,Head of TPWST,explained,Through this fundraiser,we have tried to reach out to the affected by giving aid. One of them is ayurvedic treatment,which is usually not sponsored by the army. There are members of the National Security Guard,who are currently undergoing ayurvedic treatment for the injuries inflicted during 21 We are being helped by some officers to locate families and other personnel in need. Anchored by Shivani Wazir,the affair was all glitter and less cause-oriented as the guests were seen flooding the bar and,later,the dinner tables,with non-impressionable yet personalised menus for vegetarians and non-vegetarians. The INS Naval band which performed in all its glory,was mostly ignored,but a Sydney-based jazz band,Hypnosis,which was too loud for the room,got a few dances. Sand artist,Sudarshan Pattnaik,also got a few claps and even fewer audience. General Deepak Kapoor,former Chief of Army Staff,who was also present,among other prominent figures from the army,said,Whenever there has been a war,calamity,or a crisis,we have had the countrys support,in all respects. This money is to rehabilitate all those who have been affected in these circumstances, he said. His speech,however,was drowned by the guests banter.
