Jawa Event.

JAWA EVENT.

L - R, "SU" Soares, "Babu Moshai" Shyam, "Velu" Velankar, "Bhaggu" Bhagwat and "Pash" Pshupatuhi.

The caption on the photo is wrong. This was in Kalaikunda in 1971

Our B&W photo on Jawa bikes has gone viral.

It has spread like wildfire and the way it is being shared on hundreds of social media groups is just amazing.

When the event was held no one, not the Jawa fellows who organised the event, not we, who were in the photographs, not the special invitees, not the Officers from Kendriya Sainik Board, would have imagined that the event and the photo will become so popular in such a short time.

Fact is This photo has been on the Internet since 2006 when my son Anuj put it first in his blog "My Daddy Strongest" and then another blog "The Jawa Gang" 2006. The link to the Jawa gang blog written by Anuj is here.

To add to all those countless posts, here is my take on the Jawa Event.

I received a call from Wg Cdr Varma, Flight Commander22 Sqn when we attended the 50th Anniversary functions at Hasimara in 2017. He informed me that Jawa people had wanted to hold an event for which they wanted to contact pilots who figured in a photo. The same photo has now gone viral and given above.

Told him no problem sharing my number with them. Mr Vikram from Jawa contacted me.

I, along with others, was invited to attend the function on 24 Apr 19 at Manekshaw Center, Cantt New Delhi.

The Story.

Classic Legends is re-launching Jawa Motorcycles in India in a new avatar.

Some time back in Mumbai, they auctioned 13 Jawa motorcycles for almost 1.5 crores.

An event was planned at Manekshaw Centre Delhi on 24 June where a cheque for that amount was to be presented to Kendriya Sainik Board, an organisation which manages Flag Day funds for the welfare of defence veterans.

Someone from Jawa had come across this photo of 5 of us, 22 Sqn pilots with our Jawas. In the photo, We are from L - R, "SU" Soares, "Babu Moshai" Shyam, "Velu" Velankar, "Bhaggu" Bhagwat and "Pash" Pshupatuhi. Photo was taken in 22 Sqn dispersal in 1971, before Bangala Desh War.

The planned event was connected to this photo by Jawa fellows and event dubbed as 'forever heroes'.

Jawa had invited 4 of us surviving fellows for the event.

They had even brought 5 new avatars Jawa bikes. Everything was arranged and we posed in almost the same pose in which the 1971 photo was taken. " Missing Man" Pashupati, on the fifth bike was represented by a helmet. (After a fatal flying accident during formation flypas the formation is flown where the position of one formation member is kept vacant to represent the departed pilot. This flypast formation is called the "Missing Man Formation")

It was a small crowd consisting mainly of one of the three Jawa promoters, Mr Anupam, Jawa CEO Mr Joshi, Jawa Staff, Brig Mregrandra Kumar boss of Kendriya Sainik Board, other defence staff from Kendriya Sainik Board, some corporate honchos, Ms Gul Panang, one time Miss India, actress, model and daughter of Gen Pagang.

The event concluded with cocktails and lunch.

A well-organised function.

1971 Photo which started it all. Who so ever captioned and put up this photo got it all wrong. Neither Bareilly Nor 1966. It is KKD & 1971.

Manekshaw Center, New Delhi.

Jawa Event.  Diaplay.Manekshaw Center,

Jawa Event. Manekshaw Center,

"SU" Soares, "Babu Moshai" Shyam, "Velu" Velankar, "Bhaggu" Bhagwat .

The reason for which Jawa Event was held.

Ajeet Velankar with Gp Capt PM Velankar(retd), ( Velu)

Shyam, Su , Gul Panang, Velu. Jawa Event.

Anupam, Shyam, Bhaggu, Gul, Velu, Su & Joshi.

Jawa Gang in 2019.

Manekshaw Center, New Delhi..

For ALL the photos of the event I could lay my hands on, a total of 32, go here.