Remembering 1971 at Kolkata during Bangladesh Liberation 1971

It was 50 years back, I was a college student,

 appeared B.Sc final examination of the University of Calcutta, an NCC Cadet of Army Wing. We few active NCC Cadets of Kolkata formed an NGO for persuasion of adventure. We were manning 7x24 hrs our civil Defence Casualty service. We planned our first rock climbing training program at Sushunia Hill, Bankura district when the war was declared. We were mentally disturbed about our rock climbing training program.  All India Radio was main source of our information apart from daily newspapers. We heard the cease-fire declaration. I was spending some time at the Indian Red Cross Society (West Bengal), Disaster Training Institute at Gokul Boral Street of Central Kolkata. It was a two-storied building, one day I found plasma was stacked on the ground floor without any temperature control system in an open space. This was relief material received from foreign countries.

Surrender ceremony of Pakistani Army at Dhaka on 16th December 1971

We had our first Rock Climbing Course as per schedule. We had invited General Officer Commanding of Bengal Area, Major General Pemenshu Chowdury, PVSM,  to be our Guest in Chief  of distribution of certificates to the trainees of this course.  He accepted our request and program was held at BNR ( South Eastern Railway) Tent of Kolkata Maidan.

Vijaya Diwas Memorial service held at Kolkata on 16th December 2016 (.From Lt to Rt)  Lt General Parveen Bakshi, AVSM, VSM, ADC, GOC-in-C, EC, Vice Admiral Harish Bisht, FOC-in-C, ENC & Air Marshal C Hari Kumar, VM, VSM,, AOC -in-C EAC

In 1983,  I was doing annual training camp of Territorial  Army, we went to Bengdubi, North Bengal, I saw the cemented platforms of EPIP tents where the prison of the war of the Pakistani Army were kept. I visited Bangladesh by road in 1987 only at Dacca and again in 1997 this time Dacca and Sylhet. I have friends who are amateur wireless operators. I inspired Bangladesh youths to start adventure activities in their own way, they can visit the Himalayas which will inspire them mountain adventure. Bangladesh Army started this activity.

An  Artillery unit, 90 Field Regiment  of Indian Army who took part Cactus Lily  they captured some of the souvenirs from then East Pakistan, those are

Insignia of Pakistan Navy

Foundation stone of Chittagaon Naval Base

At the left Lt Gen ( then Lt Col) V P Gupta (Retd) Commanding Officer of 90 Field Regiment

Artillery Gun captured during Operation Cactus Lily of 1971

  

Memory on Indira Gandhi at Himalayan Mountaineering Institute, Darjeeling, West Bengal, India

It was 26 years back at Himalayan Mountaineering Institute (HMI), Darjeeling, she was then Prime Minister of India and President of HMI. The occasion was to celebrate Silver Jubilee of HMI on 1^st October. The inaugural function was at the lawn of HMI, there was no public address system, only one mouthpiece was there for AIR Kurseong for the audio recording of the event. i was there as an ordinary member of HMI. I had an intention to record her speech by a record player, the security personnel directed me to record from the delegates arena. There was a table which was covered with various prizes and mementos. This was handed over during the event. I took a chance to place the record player on the table from where she was giving her address.

i prepared a memento made of ‘Khada’ ( a silk scarf) used to honour the people by the Buddhists.  All the participants of this event had given their autograph on this ‘Khada’ , Indira Gandhi took interest to give her autograph, others were Jyoti Basu, then Chief Minister and T N Singh, Governor  of the State of West Bengal, Sir Edmund Hillary, Peter Hillary, the members of last Indian successful Everest Expedition of 1965.

This was her last visit to Darjeeling. She was keen on adventure and Himalayas. I remember her on her centenary year

19^th November 2016

Trek to Amarnath Cave in Jammu & Kashmir, Indian Himalayas

Some young peoples were interested in trek  Jammu & Kashmir of Indian Himalayas. The team had a plan to trek from Sonamarg to Amarnath cave in 1970, it was not an open route, the special permission was needed. They approached Indian Mountaineering Foundation, New Delhi, the apex organisation for mountain adventure in India.

The project was approved by the Bharat Scouts & Guides of Eastern Railway, Sealdha Division. It was seven members team under the leadership of Amarnath Chakraborty of the Indian railway. The program was closely supervised by Late Robindra Nath Chatterjee, a true scouter of Indian Railway. Due to the constraint of time the team took normal route to Amarnath Cave from Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir.

The team had faced bad weather before the trek and also while coming down.. 

It was in 1993, I was contacted by Fr Dominic, of Don Bosco Kolkata in connection of organising their next Boxscore event which was held on December 1984. The program was held at Don Bosco School Liluha, Howrah, West Bengal. We had a long discussion and then decided that  arrangement for exhibition on Maps of India by

Mountaineering photos, equipment by Giri Doot, a civil society of Chandan Nagar, Hooghly, West Bengal. 

An amateur wireless station was established, the operators wer from Indian Institute of Kharagpur, 

West Bengal.

The building of Don Bosco Liluha

The antenna was erected on the rooftop, it was found fantastic communication during this Boscoree event. I got the assistance of Rajiv Seikh, a Rover from then Don Bosco  Bandel, Hooghly, West Bengal. Out of three operators from IIT Kharagpur, two of them left India for their study, research and lively hood. 

The Cub, Bul Bul, Scout, Guide, Rover, ranger & Scouters who came all over the country enjoyed the event. I still remember the New year's eve at the Boscoree site. 

I will look forward to any participant in this event to remember this event. Last year I was looking for Fr Dominic who is also out of our country then.

My memory of Bangladesh Scouts after 1987

I had an opportunity to visit a open Scout Group of Bangladesh in 1987., The Cub, Scout & Rover they were well informed about their country. Bengali being my mother tongue it was great opportunity for me to interact with them very closely. They were regular writing to me and my reply were important to them for getting their proficiency badges. When ever any Scout viist that time, they used to visit my place. I was up dated their personal and scouting activities.

In 1995 a team of five youths from Behrampore, Murshidabad, West \Bengal, they planned to visit Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal and India with three motor cycle. Due to political instability they team had left Bangladesh from their itinerary. 

We had strong desired to have joint venture from river Ganga  to Padma which was not materialised. How ever two expeditions wer took place on river \Ganga from Maharajpur, Jharkhand, India to Behrampore ( West Bengal), a total distance of 190 kms covered by 3 country boats by 14 persons . in 5 days. 

Route followed on river ganga in 1995 & 1996

Route followed in 1995 & 1996 in English

Another expedition was organised in 1996 from Behrampore (West Bengal) to Kolkata, a distance of 300 kms in 8 days by 18 persons by 2 rafts prepared by the members of the team.

In 1997, I went again to Bangladesh to attain Asia Pacific Rover Moot, an event organised by the Bangladesh Scout. . We all stayed under canvas at  Syleth. We went there by road from Dacca. There were about 2500 participants mainly from Bangladesh Scouts including Girls Guides. 

Bangladesh Amateur wireless operators had established station there at. a helicopter was in stand by mode near the camp location. I was attached with the Public Relation group of this event. I helped in publishing their special numbers during this event.

Bangladesh Radio, Syleth Station took an interview of my experience and scope of adventure in India. This was broadcasted during this event.

I had an experience to stay in a family of Bangladeshi, who is an senior amateur radio operator, his call sign is S21A, Mr. Sherif. Mr Anwar, call sign S21L who took me to places around Dacca including Bangladesh TV at Dacca.

My experience of visiting Bangladesh after a gap of ten years, in my mind that the general people were not getting food in 1987 which was not there in 1997.

My experience on Bangladesh Scouts of 1987

It was in 1987, I  used to visit The Bharat Scouts & Guides (West Bengal) State HQ at Kolkata, One day I mate the Leader of Dacca College Scout Group of Bangladesh. They were on a visit to India. I took interest to know about youth of Bangladesh. They were staying at Sea Scout Headquarter on the river bank of Ganga. I keep looking why Bangladeshi youths are not adventure oriented ? though good numbers are working in ships.I got verbal request to visit Bangladesh from my new Scouts   friends. In December 1987, I took permission from my employer and obtained visa to visit Bangladesh. I had a official  work at the Indo Bangladesh Town and then entered Bangladesh border, I took a night bus service to reach Dacca, the cost of ordinary bus service was about INR 26.

I reached Bangladesh Scout National HQ, there was a single  accomodation was availed by me. It was an opportunity to meet more Scouters and Scouts who used to visit this HQ.

 The law and order was not favourable at that time, the political disturbance was there.

I was interviewed by Bangladesh Radio, Dacca for a monthly Scout programme 'Agradoot', it was in Bengali language.I invited our friends to join for Rock Climbing training

 at Sushunia Hill of Bankura District of West Bengal. They arrived Kolkata when our team left Kolkata. It was difficult to contact at that time.

A true Scouter of West Bengal, India

I mate Dr Robin Chatterjee who was Scouter and In charge of Disaster Training Institute of Indian Red Cross Society (West Bengal). This Institute was located at central Kolkata. Dr Robin Chatterjee at Face Book

I had planned to visit Amarnath Cave,in 1970,  Jammu & Kashmir, in Indian Himalayas.Trekking route to Amarnath cave

Dr Chatterjee took interest for making this venture a success, we had a plan to trek from Batal, it was not a normal trekking route.The special permission were required that time. We were seven members, but who will sponsor our venture ? Dr Chatterjee took initiative and The Bharat Scouts & Guides, Eastern Railway, Sealdha Division sponsored this venture. Indian Mountaineering Foundation of New Delhi approved this venture.We faced hardship due to bad weather, before our venture there were lots of casualties of human and animal lives.