Veteran's evening at Vayusena Nagar.
In continuation of the Golden Jubilee year of 1971 war celebrations, AF veterans of Nagpur were invited by Air Officer Commanding-In-Chief and officers of Hq Maintenance Command for dinner at Officers Mess Vayusena Nagar, Nagpur.
It was almost after a gap of almost two years that we were visiting the officer's mess. Very happy. It felt like a homecoming.
Infact Priti mentioned to her friend "अगदी माहेरी आल्या सारख वाटत". In English it means,
'feels like coming back to mother's home'. (a matter of great happiness for Indian ladies)
At Officer's Mess, Veterans were individually received by senior officers of the command. At no stage during the entire evening, we felt neglected.
The officer's mess was beautifully decorated with fairy lights and coloured lighting.
Brightly illuminated entry gate .
Colourfuly lit Officers Mess Building
Beautifully lit fountain and Offciers Mess gate.
beauties :-(
All this was a testimony to great amount of planning and hard work put in by the ladies and the officers.
Sitting arrangements were made in the lawn. Next to the stage was IAF band in attendance.
Entertainment programme was well thought out with right balance between, IAF video, music, songs and IAF knowledge based quiz. The duration of the entertainment programme was very intelligently and thoughtfully decided. Young Sqn Ldr, a lady officer did an excellent job and carried out the job of MC with great aplomb. Unfortunately, I forget her name. My apologies.
Thoughtful of the average age of veterans soup was served by 2100 h. By 2130 or so dinner was served in the dining hall. The first helping was buffet style thereafter we were served at the table.
The menu was excellent and the food preparation was superb and very tasty.
Dinner time.
Throughout the party, A O C in C, SAASO, SMSO and other senior officers were circulating amongst the guests. Each and every guest was well looked after throughout the party. This included even the dinner. The hosts themselves sat for dinner only after ensuring that each and every veteran was having his dinner.
It was one of the rarest of the rare occasion I have seen while in my long retired life that the veterans were looked after so well throughout the evening.
Not for one moment any of the veterans felt bored or neglected.
The secret, I feel was excellent planning and time management.
About planning.
Complete evening rolled on, right from reception to entertainment to dinner to bidding farewell went very smoothly and seamlessly like a very well oiled machine. No wonder! After all, it was a party at HQ Maintenance Command of the IAF!!
About time management.
No planned item of the evening was either too short nor too long. It was short and sweet. Ideally suited for the veterans many of whom go to sleep fairly early or get tired too easily.
It was one of the best parties I have attended as a veteran at Officers Mess Vayusena Nagar. Hugely enjoyed the evening.
Big thanks to AOC IN C and Officers of HQ Maintenance Command.
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