MY ANNUAL CHAT WITH SAMIR BANGARA
OUR LAST HOLIDAY AT CHICKMAGALUR - MY PLACE OF BIRTH.
So, my son, another year goes by. It is five years, but it feels like 25.
During your drive back home after a very long day, often spilling over to the following day, you would have followed all the actions of OP Sindoor. As was your wont, you would have asked me some loaded questions, hoping I would spill the beans. I would, as always, tell you to rephrase your questions as the answers exceeded what you needed to know. And then, using all your persuasive arguments, you would say that it was your right to know. And I, predictably, would explain why it is not your right when the Operations are underway. Such banters would continue till we met later and boxed each other till we laughed together. The beans were never spilled! Deeply in your heart, you knew the outcome, but you never failed to provoke me. Little did I know that you would precede me years before my last journey. Would I have handled it differently? Certainly not, for we enjoyed the banter and the ensuing reconciliation hours/days later!
Two of your professional interests continue to make headlines. Knowing how passionate you were about digital applications and innovations, it would have warmed your heart to see startups prosper like never before. Your desire to invest in some of them as a generous Angel investor would have been irresistible. You never relied on profits. It was always the quality of innovation.
Three major family events would have pleased you. The first was the 100th birthday of Nani in Fremont, California. I knew how deeply you loved her and always found time to share with her. I was not going to miss the event. My presence was meant to be symbolic, but I managed to spend quality time with her by arriving a few days earlier.
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WITH NANI AT 100
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You and Deena would have enjoyed choreographing the whole event. Nevertheless, as you can see, your presence was strongly felt at the culminating event in the Town Hall.
AT THE FREEMONT TOWNHALL
The next was meeting up with John-Aradhana and their little baby boy, Oliver Rajan. Nice to have some Greek blood in our cosmopolitan family. As you can see, I did what you would have dearly loved to do with Rajan.
HELLO OLIVER RAJAN PAPANDRIOP0ULOS
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The third event was the icing on the cake. Despite her dance performances and extracurricular activities as the school's head girl, Jahnavi not only managed the process of applying to various schools in the USA but also secured admission at TUFTS in Boston under the Early Decision Plan. In cricketing parlance, she hit the ball out of the stadium! You, as indeed we are, would be proud of Raihan at UMASS and Jahnavi now at TUFTS. The credit goes to the manager and coach of the team -Take a bow, Avantika.
There was so much Navy in your blood that you remembered many who kept in touch years after I relinquished Command of my ships. Some have ascended the ladder. Some have even retired as Flag Officers. My two Flag Lts are now in Command of powerful Destroyers. You even had the good fortune of spending time on a Carrier at anchor commanded by a well-known colleague and a trusted staff officer. Indeed, they were part of our family and they still are. It is just that the presence of your Mother and you would have meliorated their interaction with so much more fun and love.
I was delighted to be invited to the Beating Retreat ceremony in Mumbai. Guess who accompanied me. Avantika and Jahnavi. It was when your daughter threw a barrage of questions to understand each of the events that I was reminded of you. In all those years spent in the Navy, this was her first exposure, as she was too young to be invited till I retired in 2006. I am glad she witnessed one of the most powerfully evocative ceremonies of the Navy. Here are some pictures.
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