FROM the PRESIDENT's Desk

club life July 2019 Vol. 12 • No. 23 Delhi Gymkhana Club, 2, Safdarjung Road, New Delhi 110011 A monthly in-house newsletter for private circulation only FROM THE largely by streamlining checking, members. However, the entire PRESIDENT’S procedures, and imposition process was stayed by the Delhi DESK of systems, as was also High Court upon the applications suggested by the Gen Shankar of two plaintiffs, The dates now Prasad Committee. In fact the announced by the Court to hear Administration and Finance the petitions now will be during Committees went still further the tenure of the next General with the Secretariat in reworking Committee. After having taken the operating procedures. These the plunge to hold an EGM after procedures have already been nearly two decades, I wonder set into motion, spearheaded when the next attempt would be by our tireless Secretary. made and how events might play Dear Members, Changes expected of us by the out even then. s your General Committee Government’s agencies are also Because of the weather Aapproaches the home being implemented and I had conditions, it has not been possible stretch of its tenure, we had explained these details in the to hold any club events out in the wished it to be a fitting finale two open fora organised recently. open. We have compensated by where all members aspirations We had put out a notice to hold having indoor events particularly that could possibly be achieved, an Extraordinary General Body during the Thursday and would materialise. Issues related Meeting (EGM) for the 4th of Saturday evening where there to membership are largely August in order to amend our has been a considerable variety sorted, except for few groups Articles of Association. This of entertainment. There will that remain. Other issues relating was for two purposes – one, be a ladies night on the 10th of to the club’s administration and to bring them in line with the August. The Club also would logistics as well as its relations Companies Act of 2013 and hold the President’s night on with government agencies have secondly, to amend a few articles the 7th September to which all been relentlessly pursued. to make them conducive to the members would be welcome. Further intimation would follow. The finances of the club have contemporary practices of the also improved and operating club. This EGM is the desire of May I draw your kind attention to losses are now being contained, an overwhelming number of two items of public importance, July 2019 those in the use of electricity and water in the club. We are all aware of the nationwide PREVIEW shortage of water for most of the year. I would ANNUAL FREE EYE SCREENING CAMP 03 implore members to exercise maximum economy in its use, particularly in the BOOK CLUB EVENT - GAME INDIa 04 dressing rooms. Likewise please ensure that BOOK CLUB EVENT - CHALLENGES OF lights and appliances are switched off when GOVERNANCE 04 not in use. We have huge bills raised against PARSI FOOD FESTIVAL MENU 04 us for payment of water and power charges even while having the potential to reduce BENGALI FOOD FESTIVAL 05 them substantially by very simple measures. BUDDING ARTIST MUSKAAN CHOPRa 05 There are a few WhatsApp Groups of members “I HAVE SEEN THE RAGING BULL OF DRAS IN of the Club. I was given the privilege of being ACTION “ – LAKHI’S KARGIL STORY 06-07 hosted by some of them. While there has been interesting debate and ideas thrown PAYMENT METHOD OF CLUB BILLS 07 up in these groups which are inevitably WIMBLEDON 2019 … culled out by the GC members, there have THE HEARTBEAT… THE SOUL… also been extreme viewpoints expressed by THE PULSE OF THE SPORTING WORLD! 08 few members, and often in inappropriately EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH 09 caustic language and repartee. Such extreme views were quite widespread during the run LEGAL SUB COMMITTEE 10 upto the EGM. This points towards damage ANNUAL OPEN SNOOKER to the cultural fabric & ethos of the club. TOURNAMENT 2019 10 May I remind members that cohesiveness is paramount at this time to enable successive CHALOJI LONDON! 11 General Committees to be able to apply SYNDICATE RUMMY TOURNAMENT 11 themselves in running the club efficiently. It ACHIEVEMENTS OF OUR MEMBERS 12 has never been the case that the Committee members do not glean your valuable and FROM THE MILITARY ARCHIVES 13 insightful comments and implement them, so BRIDGE RESULTS 13 do kindly resist the temptation to allow the level of debate to plummet. This would weigh GOLDEN MOMENTS LUNCH 14-15 in even more as the next election approaches WHAT DOES A SAFER FUTURE during the AGM which we plan for the 29th of MEAN TO YOU AND YOUR COMMUNITY? 16 September, 2019. UNION BUDGET 2019-2020 16 On the occasion of Independence Day we EDITORIAL 17 convey our best wishes and may members of this Club unflinchingly and substantially, EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETING contribute to achieving the interests and 04 AUGUST 2019 18 potential of our great country. OBITUARY 18-19 Prashant Sukul FORTHCOMING EVENTS 20 President 2 • www.delhigymkhana.org.in July 2019 ANNUAL FREE EYE SCREENING CAMP - 1st July 2019 free Eye Screening Camp for the staff and families of Delhi Gymkhana Club was held at the Jamun Tree on A Monday 1st July 2019. It was the fifth annual camp conducted by Dr Vipin Buckshey (P- 7064) in memory of his late father with the support of Shroff Charity Eye Hospital Darya Ganj. Mr Vipin Vipin Buckshey himself is an Optometrist & Contact Lens Specialist. He is Optometrist to the President of India and a Padma Shri awardee. At the camp detailed eye examinations were carried out and provision made to subsequently give out free spectacles. Patients requiring surgical interventions were referred to the hospital where the desired procedure would be done free of cost. On completion, GC member Cdr Akhil Sirohi thanked the Mr Buckshey and the rest of the Eye Camp Team for their effort. 3 • www.delhigymkhana.org.in July 2019 BOOK CLUB EVENT - Game India - Seven BOOK CLUB EVENT - Challenges of Strategic advantages that can steer India Governance - An Insider’s View by BK to wealth by R N Bhaskar- 28th June 2019 Chaturvedi - 12th July 2019 PARSI FOOD FESTIVAL MENU - 23rd June 2019 4 • www.delhigymkhana.org.in July 2019 BENGALI FOOD FESTIVAL - 21 Jul 2019 The Bengali Food themed Lunch organised in the Main Dining Hall on Sunday 21 July , curated by Executive Chef Sushant Bishal was appreciated by Members. The menu was well chosen and the flavours very authentic. Nearly 300 members dined. BUDDING ARTIST MUSKAAN CHOPRA 17 year old Muskaan Chopra, daughter of Nikhil and Gitanjali Chopra (U-2253), student at the International School Manila is a budding artist. She has been running “Art for a Cause”. She has always enjoyed painting and dabbling with colors. Her keen eye for detail and her ability to transfer the image on a piece of canvas is laudable. During the last couple of years she has been using Muskaan Chopra her talent to raise funds through the sale of her work to support causes that are close to her heart. Today she has sold more than 25 pieces of art and has been able to raise funds to sponsor education of four abandoned children from the “Chosen Children’s Village Foundation” in the Philippines. She has also contributed towards the Kerala Chief Minister’s Distress Relief fund during the Kerala floods. She has helped in supporting the families of the martyrs of the Central Armed Police Forces through “Bharat ke Veer” and more recently became a part of a larger endeavour focused on providing safe drinking water through installation of water pumps in schools of rural India via an organization called “Water Aid India” Muskaan is able to balance her school work with her love for social causes. She has recently been awarded the top Economics student Award and the Bryn Mawr award for academic excellence and leadership in her school. 5 • www.delhigymkhana.org.in July 2019 “I HAVE SEEN THE RAGING BULL OF DRAS IN ACTION “ – LAKHI’S KARGIL STORY ate in the summer of 1998, the Srinagar station Lof the Intelligence Bureau under Ajit Doval, It was the main road linking Srinagar to Leh. Initial attempts by the present National Security Adviser reported increased Indian Army to regain these heights were dismal failures. Our soldiers military activity in Kargil along the Line of Control were fighting valiantly against heavy odds. The well-armed intruders with Pakistan. Pakistani troops were being pumped- were sitting atop the dominating heights over the rugged uphill terrain in; high-altitude posts were being reinforced and with razor sharp rocky outcrops and adverse high-altitude weather, fresh minefields had been laid. The posts identified resulting in heavy causalities, with no success. were codenamed Chor, Hadi, Saddle, Reshma, Masjid, Dhalan and Langar — the very posts that later served At this stage, my once mild-mannered NDA course mate and dear as base camps for Pakistani forces during the war. friend Brigadier Lakhwinder Singh, Commander 8 Mountain Artillery Brigade decided to use artillery fire-power in a most innovative way. By May 1999 India was totally surprised and shocked The unique concept of preponderant fire-power evolved by him by the unexpected intrusions and occupation of the pulverized the enemy. The TNT explosions on the targets were like a critical positions in Kargil, along National Highway 1A. mini nuclear blast which put the fear of God in the enemy. The enemy was often intercepted radioing back to their Headquarters, “yehan kehar baras raha hai, hame bachao.” (Hell is falling on us, save us).

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