Independence Day 2019

Bijoy Gupta leads the Independence Day march past with the national tricolor

Hari Singh Shekhawat got a promotion today. Dressed in formals with medals emblazoned across his chest, he strode up to the national tricolor, clicked his heels and pulled off a smart salute.

Shekhawat pulls off the ceremonial salute

“From an engine driver, he has become a defence officer!” Nahid Khan declared.
Thus began our Independence Day ceremony today. It went as per routine script – the saluting of the flag setting the stage for the national anthem. Soon after, the senior-most member of the club present, Bijoy Gupta took the flag

Fahmida Khan

from Banoo Apa (who was holding it aloft so long) and led the customary march past around the Garden.
People joined the parade while the flag changed hands and cries of ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’ and ‘Vande Mataram’ rent the early morning air.

Gupta regales with vintage patriotic numbers

This time Bihari Milwani led the refrain with Yusuf Rassiwala, Siba Prasad Maitra and some very voluble ladies filling in at times. Banoo Apa had a medley of patriotic songs playing all along on her music system, thereby adding to the festive air.
More importantly, there were Nahid Khan’s little grandkids, senior members like Khatoon Baig and Santosh Tyagi (who are rarely to be seen) and a host of well-wishers of the

Yusuf Rassiwala offers luddoos to all

Club like Saroj Muni, Mohar Singh and Manoj Motwani joining in with rare enthusiasm. Even Fahmida Khan and Naheed Siddiqui were there. In that sense, today’s celebration was more of a reunion of old friends.
At one point, Bijoy Gupta grabbed the mic and belted out a couple of full-throated desh bhakti film songs.
On a peppy note, Banoo Apa chipped in with some more patriotic songs raising a round of applause all around. Meantime, boxes of laddoos made the rounds, thanks to Yusuf R’s organising skills and initiative.
In all this, some people were sorely missed – Lt Col Angad Singh (rtd), Kiran Prakash, Karun Sharma, Razia Khan, Geeta Latte... If only they could have made it to the Garden today.

End of the show

Post Script: Today was Nasir Putani Shah's birthday also. He is not keeping well. In fact, he has been suffering for long with a severe asthmatic condition which has been turning worse by the day. He was in no state to even answer the phone today. Let us all pray for his recovery.