The Party

20 Nov

The aircraft speed is reduced. It drops to 1000 ft above ground level. The rear ramp slowly opens on its well oiled hinges and neatly slides beneath the aircraft , leaving a yawning opening to the blue skies beyond . The ground looks like a chequered handkerchief in many hues of green and brown. The Paratroopers rise from the uncomfortable seats on the sides bearing the heavy load of parachutes on their backs. The para jump instructors are screaming at the paratroopers to hook up . They move from one paratrooper to another systematically checking each paratrooper's equipment and the fact that they are actually hooked up to the aircraft cable. Speech is impossible and whatever corrections are to be done are being done through gestures and hand signals. As the dropping zone closes in, the navigator hoots the horn, at the same time visually warns the paratroopers by switching on the red signal light. This is an indication for the paratroopers of the impending drop. The paratroopers are all tensed up ready to jump. The amber light and then the green light go on in quick succession and then the dispatcher is screaming and pushing the paratroopers out of the aircraft. The last word that the paratrooper hears is go...go... go ... and then blessed peace as the parachute deploys with a jerk. As soon as the parachute is deployed the paratrooper looks up to see that his parachute is properly deployed and is not damaged in any way... Then he quickly looks around to take evasive action if he close to another paratrooper. Thereafter it is drifting down to the ground , tensing up and landing on the ground. The paratrooper executes a roll to minimise the shock of hitting the ground. In the last few feet the parachute does not support the fall and the paratrooper is left to his own devices to come unscathed from the drop.Another jump has been executed safely...

Health Conclave

Just like a good jump our course in business management came to a successful end...

Prasad Accepting His Certificate

Our last day at ASCI was a blur, The morning was devoted to a conclave on health.Luminaries of the medical fraternity were present in the conclave. The  deal was to educate the participants on various aspects of health and Public Private Partnership on various aspects of health care. As was the practice we left after lunch to prepare for the final class of the evening - presentation of certificates of completion of the course and feed back in general. Everyone, right from Perumal to Sandhya expressed their views on the course. General opinion was favourable. Filling up of feedback forms was done and then we headed out of the lecture hall to hang out on the lawns -  till it was time for us to make an appearance at the breakup party that was organised for us at the DG's Residence. General bonhomie pervaded in the atmosphere. Everyone was meeting everyone else. We missed most of the instructors who taught us so patiently and well. Laughter which was muted in the beginning slowly started getting more raucous. Snatches of conversation indicated that people were remembering the good moments of the course . Everyone in the staff was handing out good advice about how we should handle our life post retirement. The evening was pleasant and drinks flowed freely - not necessarily the alcoholic type ...

Jaggu At The Party

Mrs GJ Rao & Sandhya 

We missed Prof Mahadik as he was away on some urgent personal business. Slowly the conversation petered out and soon everyone was in a brown study. The evening was lightened by the presence of Mrs GJ Rao and Ms Usha. The mood again went upbeat with most of us offering suggestions as to how to improve the course content and the course as such... We thank Profs Shahaida, Nirmalya Dean Usha and Prof Harsh Sharma. A special word about Prof harsh Sharma. He has offered us confidence in doing well in the civil world and we thank him for this special endeavour. The DG , Mr Ravi Kant also gave us some advice as to how we should excel at Excel and Powerpoint . And how these will stand us in good stead. The meal was an outstanding success . This was topped by qubani Ka Meetha . I having tasted qubani ka meetha at various stages in life in Hyderabad can say for sure that the dessert at ASCI was an unqualified success. Preparation of the dish involves boiling apricots with syrup until they assume the consistency of a thick soup or compote. The dessert is topped with blanched almonds or apricot kernels, and is traditionally garnished with malai (extra thick cream, ideally from buffalo milk), but also with custard or ice cream. This brought about the end of proceedings. Memories of the pary were imprisoned in the photos taken after the meal . I leave you with some photos of this memorable occassion...

With People Who Fed us

Photos Of the Group

This particular proclamation occupied the Notice Board at the main entrance of the Administrative Staff college of India. Every day we used to look at the notice board to see who else would benefit from the immense store of knowledge in form of the excellent instructors at ASCI. Well it is sure that people who go to ASCI to do a course will not see this particular notice now. The Course has now concluded...