My memory with Himalayan Club

It was in 1970, we were 7 members who went to Amarnath (J &K) following the normal route.
Brief on trek to Amarnath

We hired sleeping bags  and inner fly of artic tent ( condemn items) from Himalayan Club, the store was located at 63/E Mahanirban Road,, South Kolkata, we had a good experience of weting inside the tent at Panchatarni in the month of August.We shared one sleeping bag among two of us. The getting mountaineering equipments at Kolkata was not so easy at that time.

Next year in 1971 we had established The Institute of Exploration at 11/B Indian Mirror Street, the chamber of (Late) Dr Manindra Lal Biswas.. We started visiting National Library searching information on Indian Himalayas including Himalayan Journal.(HJ)

The Institute of Exploration received 5 volumes of HJ from Himalayan Club., it was a great gift for us.

Intial days with Indian Army

It is difficult to recall the events of the first day in the office of your service life. For me, it was a 10 months pre-commissioned training at Officers Training Academy, Chennai, then 5 months Young Officers (Artillery) Course training at Artillery School, Deolali, Maharastra. I gave the option for high altitude and field area posting. The posting was to an Artillery unit which was located at North Sikkim, accordingly, I was planning to travel to New Jalpaiguri. I wrote a  Demi Official letter to my unit, mentioning that I have been posted there. I got a reply from the Adjutant of the unit and I was told to reach Dharampur Railway station not to New Jalpaiguri, It is located between Kalka to Shimla railway line of Northern Railway.

I reached on the due date and contacted my unit over landline. I was told to wait at the railway station. The representatives from the unit reached with a garlanded made of the cones of the pine tree, a parachute in a pack condition, a rammer, this used for ramming in the barrel of an artillery gun and a megaphone, used by the Gun Position Officer at the Command post of an artillery battery. This was for passing verbal order to the gunners.

The location is a part of Shimla Hills, we could see towards the south the street lights of Chandigarh during clear sky of dark hours of the day. Towards the north, we could see the snowy peaks at a far distance beyond Shimla.  It was 31^st October, the winter was coming. My first night was under the tent, An officer was dressed like a helping hand, we call them ‘sahayak’ for me, he was Capt (then, later Col ) Ravindra Kumar, a resident of Chandigarh. The Commanding Officer dressed like a driver, he was driving Jonga. A detailed plan was chalked out for misguiding me in every step and the newborn officer had to overcome those fun.

The senior subaltern had the privilege to educate newborn officer on unit matters including Officers Mess customs e.t.c.   The new officer is welcome to be a member of the Officers fraternity in a process which we have followed from British Army. The dinning in, of Officers Mess, is the program for the Officer and his family after their arrival at the unit location and dinning out before their departure from the same location. This event is also called winning in, it was the first day for testing wine in a ceremonial way. The procedure the officer will take a post like a gunner, the wine is served in a bowl may be cocktail and he has to gulp it in one go.  It is difficult to forget those customs even after 38 years of leaving this unit. On Christmas Day of 1974, I went to check the guard duty during  the midnight when snowing started. The next day morning we find the area was completely covered with white snow, it seems covered by white bedsheets. It melt within a few days of sun rays. We had visited the cinema at Ambala and Chandigarh whenever we had visited those locations. This location was come and quite specially during dark hours of the day. A public school for the boys was there. Their parent were mostly NRIs. Apart from Officers Mess’s social event, the other mode of entertainment was radio, I had a 3 bands transistor, it was my good friend  for about the next 10 years. We had a orchestra team who played nice western and Hindi songs and tunes, they are all soldiers.

The Indian Army was raised from British Indian Army in 1950, and 15^th January is observed the Indian Army day. I had the opportunity to watch the first Army Day parade at the Garrison Ground of Delhi in 1970, I was then NCC Cadet and joined NCC Republic day camp thereat.

After my release from Indian Army, I had attended a programme which was held at Siliguri in 1982. I saw my coursemate of OTA was one of the Pilot of the event, I could not mate him there, I got a chance to speak to him  over phone after 35 years when he was at New Delhi after his retirement from the Indian Army.

I learned to undergo about one month Commando Course as early as possible after Pre Commissioned training, we were then in good health condition. This course is run by the Infantry School, Belgao, Karnatak.  I was told to undergo this training with a notice of 10 hours, I do remember to leave my living accommodation when the down training was crossing the tunnel and I reached the railway station to aqvil the said train bound to Kalka Railway station. I was the fittest person in 1975 in my life for which staying about 4 months on the Himalayas and keeping space with those foreigners was possible by me.

There was hardly any spare time to think for self and family though I was bachelor then. I had a keen interest for doing mountaineering, I got the chance to be an Indian Liaison Officer first with USA team to Mulkila Six, in Himachal Pradesh, it was about one and half month. Then with a team from Japan Self defence Forces (JSDF) to Sickle Moon in Kishtwar Region of J&K. Both the team members were 12 members, JSDF had 2 ladies in their team. They had no experience in Indian Himalayas, except Leader of USA team Dr Lute Jerstard who had climbed Everest with the USA team in 1963. He had vast experience on India.

The USA  expedition was successfully climbed Mulkila Six (20,600 fts), in Lahul & Spiti of HP. We called on Fakurudin Ali Ahmed, then the President of India at Rastrapati Bhawan, New Delhi. The USA team had a strong desired to climb a virgin modest peak, but in October 1974 a team from Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) had climbed this peak.  

I had a problem with the Japanese language. We lost one Japanese climber Lieutenant Takachi and Indian Havilder Ang Chotter of Indo Tibetian Border Police (ITBP) during the Japanese expedition. He was from Darjeeling. and  was the only member who was a member of Indo Japanese mountaineering expedition team  of 1973 to Sickle Moon in Kishtwar region of J&K.

Before joining Army I had done the Basic Mountaineering course from Western Himalayas Mountaineering Institute, Manali, Himachal Pradesh & Advance Mountaineering Course from Himalayan Mountaineering Institute, Darjeeling.

 I was also organised and member of mountaineering expedition to Central ( 20 620 ft.) & Lion (20100 ft.) peaks of Lahul & Spiti of Himachal Pradesh. This was the first time NCC flag was hoisted on a top of a mountain peak.

The Indian Mountaineering Foundation (IMF) is the apex body of our country IMF , they appoint Indian Liaison Officer with foreign mountaineering expedition.

 I was called by the Army HQ, Military Service Co-ord. Branch for this assignment. My unit was not happy that I was called by name for this assignment, I left for New Delhi from practice camp after completing my role in this training. I was aware of mountaineering activities in Indian Army; The Army Mountaineering Association (AMA) was at Sena Bhawan under the Directorate of Military Training.

I had the experience to form an association at Kolkata in 1971 when I was a college student and organised adventure activities such as training and expedition. The name of this organisation is The Institute of Exploration

Climbers ( extreme left & right) Asit Roy & Keshab Mukherjee. other members Maj S K De (R) & Swapan Pal ( L to R)  of Central (20620 fts) & Lion (20100 fts) of 1972 expedition of The Institute of Exploration

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.