Journalism of Courage
On the day of his wedding anniversary on Monday,the family of Lt Colonel Mandar Suhas Nene (36),who died in a helicopter crash in Tawang on November 19,was waiting for his mortal remains.
The family is handling the grief with the composure associated with the uniform. It comes naturally to them,for Lt Colonel Mandar Nenes father had served the Indian Navy and his brother brother Major Vivek Nene still serves the force. I served the Navy as a Radio Telegraphist and I must admit the uniform teaches one to accept life in a composed and balanced manner. Accepting sorrow as a reality of life,in the right spirit is a part of life of the men in uniform, said Suhas Nene,the father of Lt Col Mandar Nene.
My brother and I took inspiration from my father who always had a dream of making his sons officers in the Armed Forces. Mandar joined the NDA in June 1993 and passed in 1996 to join the Indian Military Academy,Dehradun. He was an intelligent student and a highly professional officer. I was and will always strive to match the standards he set in life, said Major Vivek Nene.
Lt Col Mandar Nene,a resident of Sahakarnagar,was supposed to visit the city for his 12th marriage anniversary on November 22. He was on his way to Guwahati in an IAF MI17 when it crashed near Bomdir in Tawang on November 19.
We were looking forward to his Pune visit. In fact,he was posted to Tawang two months ago before which his posting was in Ahmednagar. His wife Priya and two children,daughter Aastha (six) and son Adwait (10),were still in Nagar staying back for their school term for the year,post which they were supposed to relocate to Tawang. We had plans of celebrating the 12th marriage anniversary together in Ahmednagar. What has happened is a shock, said Rahul Walimbe,brother-in-law and a childhood friend of Lt Col Mandar Nene.
Avinash Walimbe,his father-in-law has fond memories of Lt Col Mandar Nene. He was a loving and cooperative. The art of making friends is something he was a master at. It never happened that he came to Pune and did not meet his relatives and close friends. In fact during his postings at Srinagar,my wife and I got an opportunity to visit them at their base. We also had plans to visit Tawang, said Walimbe as he added,I know my daughter is strong and will face life bravely.
The Pune sub-area has informed that Nenes death has been declared a battle casualty. The body was first brought to Guwahati and to be taken to Pune via Delhi. The last rites is likely to take place by 10 am on Tuesday at Vaikunth Crematorium,a press release issued by the PIB,Ministry of Defence said.
