club life - delhi gymkhana clubr narendra damodardas modi was sworn in for the second time as prime...

Delhi Gymkhana Club, 2, Safdarjung Road, New Delhi 110011

Vol. 11 • No. 23May-June 2019

From the President’s desk

club lifeA monthly in-house newsletter for private circulation only

Dear Members,

With the onset of Summer you would expect that with the sweltering heat

and haze there will be a considerable drop in activity in the capital. Not this year. Apart from the excitement of the General Election for which many stayed back, this summer has also, so far, barring few days, not been extreme. This has reflected in the attendance in the Club as well. Our trademark, the Thursday evenings have been packed and from many of them, we have incomes of over Rs ten lakhs in a single night. We hope this trend continues and once Monsoon arrives it would be even better.

We are extremely proud that one of our esteemed members, Admiral Karanbir Singh has taken over as the Chief of Naval Staff. We wish him a very successful tenure at the helm.

Whilst on such matters, I would also

like to take this opportunity to inform all Veterans from the Armed Forces that I have requested the Secretary to coordinate with my office at the Club (or even my official staff) can be contacted in the event of any grievance related to pensionary matters. We are proud that a prominent member of our Club, Mr Vishwajit Sahay has been appointed the Principal Controller of our Defence Pension office at Allahabad and he has kindly accepted this arrangement with his office. I will try and see if similar arrangements are possible on the civil side even with the hugely decentralized structure that governs it.

Over the last few days, there have been more than a few incidents in the Club of inappropriate behaviour by some members. We have taken strict action in these cases that have also appeared on the Club’s Notice Board. However, many members have conveyed to me that even stricter action needs to be taken to set an example to others so that such incidents dwindle. There is also a general feeling among members that action should be taken against members who have acted against the interest of the Club both on and off its premises. The General Committee has already begun deliberating issues related to this.

Although our staff puts in sincere effort, there are a few cases of unauthorised entry, improper dressing & misconduct in the Club particularly on Thursdays. I am now requesting designated

Committee members to oversee these events from this standpoint.

With the commencement of the Swimming season I notice, much to my dismay, the abysmal fitness and obesity levels of, particularly, the younger members and too in this Sports club. May I request grandparents and parents to suitably advise their Gennext of the need for basic attention to this personal aspect. Obesity coupled with today’s stress levels cannot but be an awkward combination for their future.

We have circulated the agenda for the forthcoming Extraordinary General Body Meeting (EGM). Kindly do revert to us if you feel strongly about any modifications you wish to propose. A lot of deliberation has gone into the draft after wide ranging consultations by the GC’s designated Committee and the Secretariat. These, will resolve many inconsistencies that arise in the application of the present Articles of Association (AoA) and would ensure smoother running of the Clubs administration, membership induction and comply with Company Law. Already, even within the present AoA, your Committee has decided upon positively, on many pending requests and bottled up grievances. We will endeavour to continue with positive work until the term of this Committee.

With my highest regards,

Prashant Sukul President

sports special

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PREVIEW

New GoverNmeNt Formed 30 may 2019

Mr Narendra Damodardas Modi was sworn in for the second time as Prime Minister of India at 7 pm on Thursday 30 May 2019. He was administered the oath of office along with his Council of Ministers by President Ramnath Kovind in a glittering ceremony in the forecourt of the magnificent Rashtrapati

Bhavan. Over 5000 Indian and international guests including Heads of States, diplomats, government officials, constitutional authorities and eminent citizens from all walks of life attended the event.

New Government Formed 2

Gynae CAMP 3

Book Club Event - Sikkim - 3 Dawn of Democracy

Happyness: Life lessons from a creative addict 3

Annual Sports Dinner 4

Sports Awards 5

Musical Play 5

Alarmed on an Aircraft Carrier 6

Baisakhi Dinner 7

Setting Right India’s Health Care System 8-9

Event - A talk on Classical Hatha Yoga by Shlloka 10

Harcourt Butler Cup Tennis Tournament 10

Churchillian Epigram on Whiskey 11

Aruna’s story - Lushin Dubey 12

Talk on Realm of Plastic Surgery 12

Achievements of our Member 13

Retirement 13

Bridge Results April 2019 13

Training and Safety workshop 14

Club Food 14

From the Archives 15

Editorial 15

Forthcoming Events 16


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Happyness: Life lessons from a creative addict by Dr Yusuf Merchant - 10 May 2019

Book CluB EvEnt - Sikkim - Dawn of Democracy by GBS SIdhu - 15th March 2019

CAMP - Dr Rahul Manchanda of PSRI Hospital held a Gynecological camp followed by an interactive talk at the Delhi Gymkhana Club on 24 & 25 April for members, staff and families. He was assisted by 3 senior Gynecologists, a Pathologist and ancillary staff. Basic physical together with a detailed gynecological evaluation was carried out and appropriate advice was provided. It was well attended and appreciated.


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Annual Sports Dinner - 06th April 2019


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AnnuAl BilliArDS/SnookEr tournAMEnt - 2019

oPEn SnookEr

Winner Dhruv Soota

Runner Up Keerath Bhandal

Highest Break Dhruv Soota

oPEn BilliArD

Winner Bharat Vaish

Runner Up Rakesh Mahindroo

Highest Break Rakesh Mahindroo

HAnDiCAP SnookEr

Winner Keerath Bhandal

Runner Up Dhruv Soota

Highest Break Sandeep Verma

HAnDiCAP BilliArD

Winner Bharat Vaish

Runner Up Dhruv Soota

Highest Break Bharat Vaish

SEnior CitizEn

SnookErWinner Pram Jit Singh

Runner Up Dr Rajiv Ahuja

BilliArDWinner Rakesh Mahindroo

Runner Up V C Verma

AnnuAl BADMinton tournAMEnt - 2019

MEnS SinGlESWinner Raghav Roshan BahlRunner Up Rishav Kapur

MEnS DouBlESWinners Raghav Roshan Bahl,

Rituj Chopra

Runner Up Prashant Khosla, Rishav Kapur

MiXED DouBlESWinners Raghav Roshan Bahl,

Suhani Kumari SehgalRunner Up Rishav Kapur, Shivani Sehgal

lADiES SinGlESWinner Ankita KumariRunner Up Suhani Kumari Sehgal

lADiES DouBlES

Winners Shivani Sehgal, Yogita Jamwal

Runner Up Suhani Kumari Sehgal, Jahanvi Kumari

vEtErAn lADiES SinGlES (ABovE 50)

Winner Dr Balesh JindalRunner Up Mala Kumar

vEtErAn MEn’S SinGlES (ABovE 50)

Winner Pankaj SethiRunner Up Shiva Parmar

tEnniS - 2019

MEnS SinGlESWinner Tarush BagaiRunner Up Arun Mehra

MEnS DouBlES

Winner A J S Chatwal, Raveen Chaudhry

Runner Up Aditya Khanna, Raghav Sarin

AnnuAl BriDGE tournAMEnt - 2019

WINNING TEAM

Ms Veena Vishwanathan Mr R S GujralMr Dilip Coehlo Mr Vijay Sawhney

AnnuAl SYnDiCAtE ruMMY tournAMEnt - 2019

JOINT WINNERS

Mr Vishnu Bhagwan Ms Achla MehtaMs Rajji GrewalW/Cdr P. Mehta

list oF wiNNers oF various outdoor aNd iNdoor sports 2019AnnuAl SQuASH tournAMEnt 2019

opeN siNGlesWinner Karm KumarRunner Up Suhail Kapur

HaNdicap siNGles

Winner Didar RebelloRunner Up Karm Kumar

opeN douBlesWinners Squash,

Shammi Khurana

Runner Up Sharat Prakash, Sumer Wadhwa

lucKy douBlesWinners Sid Sharma,

Ashish Chandiok

Runner Up Sharat Prakash, Sauriya Bawa

35 -45 years siNGles

Winner Dushyant Jamwal Runner Up Gaurav Gupta

45 -60 years siNGles

Winner Dushyant JamwalRunner Up Vishwanath Shanker

over 60 years siNGles

Winner Rahul KumarRunner Up Rajan Gupta

depeNdeNts siNGles

Winners Didar RebelloRunner Up Shaurya Bawa

depeNdeNts (uNder 13)

Winner Ranvir SinghRunner Up Diya Dhillon

depeNdeNts (uNder 11)

Winner Prithvi SharmaRunner Up Shiv Sharma

AnnuAl SWiMMinG GAlA - 2018SuB Junior CHAMPion BoY (10-14 YRS) Angad AroraSuB Junior CHAMPion Girl (10-14 YRS) Nandini AndlayJunior CHAMPion BoY (14-21 YRS) Arul JainJunior CHAMPion Girl (14-21 YRS) Natasha SobtiDGC SWiMMinG CHAMPion GEnt (21-40 YRS) Arush SoganiDGC SEnior SWiMMinG CHAMPion GEntS (ABOVE 40)

Brig N Bhanot

DGC SEnior SWiMMinG CHAMPion lADY (ABOVE 40)

Ratika Kohli

DGC vEtErAn SWiMMinG CHAMPion (ABOVE 40)

Brig Ravi K Mehta

Musical Play - Mat Todo Yeh Vadi written and directed by Sarita Vohra was staged on 8 March in the Kashmir lawns. It is a play on relationships told through shared love and laughter, trials and tribulations of a family in the troubled Kashmir Valley. The play captures the bitterness of people through the frustration seen in house boat owners, Karigars, and students, until finally hope arrives…


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rat tHat rattled a pm

alarmed oN aN aircraFt carrier

In 1969, Indira Gandhi spent a day at sea with the Navy. She embarked on

board INS Vikrant, which was flying the flag of Vice Admiral S.M. Nanda, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Western Naval Command.

Captain Chandy Kuruvilla was Flag Captain.

With Admiral Nanda’s penchant for planning, every step of the visit was gone into minutely.He advised the Prime Minister’s Office that she ought to be accompanied by a chaperone. This suggestion was duly accepted and Nandini Satpathy, Minister attached to the Prime Minister, was deputed to accompany her. I was Staff Officer to the C-in-C and was liaising with RK Dhawan, Personal Assistant to the Prime Minister, for the administrative details.

The Prime Minister was accommodated in the Captain’s night cabin and the Minister in the adjoining day cabin. Captain Kuruvilla had

taken care of every aspect of the visit, including tight security arrangements in consultation with the PMO.

In the middle of the night, however, there was a loud shriek from the Captain’s cabin. This was followed by an even louder shriek from the adjoining day cabin! The security detail outside the cabin was baffled and dumbstruck. The Admiral and the Captain were informed forthwith of the mysterious shrieks.

At this moment, Nandini Satpathy peeped out through the curtains of the Captain’s cabin and informed the security that a rat had entered Indira Gandhi’s cabin. She said the Prime Minister was scared of rats! Meanwhile, Indira Gandhi came out and sat on a chair in the day cabin, looking distinctly distraught. All hell broke loose and no one knew what to do.

By now, Captain Kuruvilla arrived, followed by Admiral Nanda himself. Captain Kuruvilla took charge of the situation. He asked the First Lieutenant to get hold of the ship’s rat-catchers immediately to trap the rat. Quickly ending the chaotic situation, he assured Nandini Satpathy that four specially trained professional rat-catchers had been assigned to trap the offending creature.

It transpired the next day that a rat had stuck its neck out of the ‘punkah louvre’ opening in Indira Gandhi’s cabin to have a quick peep at the Prime Minister.

The following evening there was the usual ‘mess night’, which traditionally becomes a hilarious event after the toast to the President is offered.

Captain Kuruvilla gave a sparkling speech, laced with

In the middle of the night, however, there was a loud shriek from the Captain’s cabin. This was followed by an even louder shriek from the adjoining day cabin! The security detail outside the cabin was baffled and dumbstruck. The Admiral and the Captain were informed forthwith of the mysterious shrieks. At this moment, Nandini Satpathy peeped out through the curtains of the Captain’s cabin and informed the security that a rat had entered Indira Gandhi’s cabin. She said the Prime Minister was scared of rats! Meanwhile, Indira Gandhi came out and sat on a chair in the day cabin, looking distinctly distraught. All hell broke loose and no one knew what to do.


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humour. He apologised to the Prime Minister

for the unwanted intrusion the previous night.

He assured her that a board of enquiry had

come to the unmistakable conclusion that it was

not a ‘Vikrant rat’ but a ‘Mysore rat’.

Madame Prime Minister, Captain Kuruvilla

added with charming nonchalance, the moment

it was established that it was a Mysore rat, we

promptly killed it!

The Prime Minister had a hearty laugh.

Captain Kuruvilla was possibly alluding to INS Mysore, the cruiser that was also participating in the exercises. Incidentally, S. Nijalingappa, the Congressman from Mysore, was leading a revolt against Indira Gandhi at that time, which led to the Congress split in 1969.

Capt Raj Mohindra (Retd) (P-3831) [email protected]

The author is a former Captain of the Indian Navy, and was Commander (S), INS Vikrant. This article first published in The Hindu on 19 May

2019, published here with permission of author and the publication.

Baisakhi Dinner - 13th April 2019


settiNG riGHt iNdia’s HealtH care system

There are so many problems with our ‘Health Care’ system

that I am at a total loss, where to begin this article. From crowds and filth at the iconic AIIMS, mortally sick patients being turned away from hospitals either for want of

money or due to shortage of beds or a ‘police report’, babies being delivered outside the hospital doors, a nurse’s baby dying in Betul, fake medicines to unnecessary diagnostic tests and even surgeries, rampant kickbacks, insane “incentives” to doctors; there are all kinds of stories and ‘cocktail circuit gossip’ floating around. Meantime, of course, people continue to suffer, many have to mortgage their houses to pay for the treatment of their family members, others just die as they are unable to afford.

Enormity and complexity of a ‘Health Care System’ can be judged from a recent statement, made by the legendary investor Warren Buffett – whose company has joined hands with Amazon & JPMorgan Chase to “disrupt” Health Care in USA – when he likened it with a “Hungry Tape Worm on the American economy”. We, in India, can get some sadistic pleasure from the fact that we are not alone in this mess. We do, however, need to seriously look at our own problem.

Putting in place a ‘universal health care’ system for all is perhaps not even feasible for the government – resources required are humungous – and the private sector can barely take care of their own senior people. Even the reach of their CSR funds is limited to a few ‘memorial hospitals and institutes’ which manage to corner cheap prime land, on the express condition of providing certain

number of ‘free beds’ to the poor, but more often these are appropriated for extending favours. In his budget 2018 speech, finance minister did make a beginning – with what he had termed as the National Health Protection Scheme (NHPS) - by significantly increasing the limit of ‘universal medical insurance cover for the poor’ and promised to extend its reach to a 100 million most vulnerable families. He had described it “as a first step to universal health coverage”, a promise made in the BJP manifesto in 2014. Subsequently the PM mentioned this in his Independence Day address and the scheme was formally launched soon after in September 2018. It claims to have provided treatment to a whopping 13 lakh people in less than eight months. Wonderful achievement indeed. Prime Minister Modi’s assertion, yet again, in his victory speech on 23 May, to extend the coverage to 75% of all Indians, under Ayushman Bharat or Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY) – as the scheme is known in its final avatar – is very reassuring.

Intent is laudable as, according to IRDA, two-thirds of all medical expenses in India are paid for directly by the patients and their families! Those covered will be able to get treatment in any hospital – government or private. Let’s hope and pray that it works and government has the requisite funds to make it succeed. This proposed model of ‘public costs underwriting private provision’ is a new experiment and would need an overarching regulatory structure to protect the system from dangers of over-treatment and over-charging by private hospitals.

Actually we have an ironical situation. India has the best of doctors, we have a culture of caring for the needy, our hospitals have the latest machines and robots, our ‘infection control systems’ are of international level. And yet, we see so much suffering and misery all around! Even the so called ‘upper middle class’ is unable to cope with medical costs when someone in the family needs to be hospitalized. Perhaps the only explanation is that the number of hospital beds and doctors per 1000 population is woefully inadequate.

What can we do to mitigate the situation?

Of all the ‘villains’ in this complex situation, I think the menace of printing artificially high MRP on medicines and consumables is perhaps the worst and, also interestingly, a ‘low hanging fruit’ which can possibly be tackled in a relatively easier manner. All other measures – like setting up of 150,000 Health Centers in the country, at a cost of Rs. 1,200 crores, under the National Health Policy 2017, which looks like a non-starter on paper itself! I can’t imagine a ‘Health Centre in Rs. 80,000 – are too ambitious and impractical.

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Investigating the criminal malpractice of big kickbacks on diagnostic tests could be another ‘not unsurmountable’ exercise. In any case we have to move in small steps. Tackling the MRP scam could be the first one. Let me explain the issue with some simple examples.

A box of disposable gloves – one of the most common consumables – of a fairly popular brand, containing 450 grams of the product, has an MRP of Rs.600 printed on it. Any neighborhood chemist – as I found out in Ghaziabad – would charge Rs.150 for it from a regular user, say a ‘home care patient’ needing 3/4 boxes a month. We can safely assume that a small hospital would get the same for Rs.100; a bigger hospital’s cost should be lower, may be Rs.60 or just 10% of the MRP. Now, what do the hospitals charge from the patients? Almost all bill them at MRP! Typically, in a hospital bill, medicines and consumables account for around 60% of the total; so this is where they make money. In case of some other consumables, margins are a little lower. Feeding Bags box, MRP RS.500, comes to this individual customer for Rs.150; Suction catheter, MRP 42, for 11; Urine catheter, MRP 380, for 130 and so on.

Situation is only a little better in case of medicines. Average discount on the MRP, for a hospital, for branded drugs still under patents, varies between 30 -50% and, once again, these are billed to the patients at MRP. However, in case of ‘off patent trade generic’ drugs, the discounts could be enormous like for consumables. Barring some drugs on the ‘National List of Essential Medicines’ (NLEM) where the prices are fixed by the government, there is literally free for all!

Government has indeed made a beginning by capping prices of stents, but the results are mixed. In fact the NPPA (National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority) had even forced device makers, perhaps for the first time ever, to put the correct MRP tags, to prevent overcharging by the hospitals. It appears that most private hospitals have jacked up the ‘angioplasty package cost excluding the price of stents’ to make up for the loss of

margin on the stents! CEO of one of the largest players in the field has gone on record to say that “earlier procedures were underpriced and implants were overpriced and that this is being corrected now”; so much for the government order capping the stent prices. An encouraging response has however recently come from the All India Syringes and Needles Manufacturers Association to voluntarily cap trade margins at 75% over their discounted net ex-factory prices including GST. This would effectively mean a maximum trade margin of about 43% on the MRP – a far cry from the 80-90% earlier. We need many more initiatives like this.

Admittedly, the MRP scandal is not exclusive to medicines and consumables in Health Care. It seems to be a generic! As an example, my research shows that, a common FMCG item like liquid Hand Wash – of a popular brand – carries an MRP of Rs.300 on the 750 ml pack but you could easily buy it on Amazon for about Rs.90 net including GST of Rs.15 after availing the myriad “cash back” schemes. Even, from the stores, the price including all taxes doesn’t exceed Rs.169 before availing one of the many discounting schemes. However, in case of the Health Care industry, this practice becomes a really nefarious one.

What can be done about this problem? How can the government stop hospitals from earning such obscene profits on drugs and consumables? NPPA, along with eminent doctors and the watchdog community of senior CAs and consultancy firms, could surely come up with a practical solution. A simplistic – though admittedly retrograde – approach could be to impose GST on the printed MRP or a price after reducing a margin that is considered fair by the practitioners. Such a move would certainly open up the mystery of astronomically high MRPs that lead to all kinds of malpractices in this all important life saving industry.

Krishan Kalra (P-4530) [email protected]

The author is a former president of All India Management Association and now does voluntary work in several sectors including Health Care. Views expressed are personal.

Editors Note:Ayushman Bharat SchemeModi govt plans to bring 75% of all Indians under Ayushman Bharat. The PM-JAY or Ayushman Bharat health insurance scheme currently covers the poorest 40%, but the Modi govt plans to merge all state & central schemes under it. They claim to have already distributed 3 crore Ayushman Bharat cards in the 7 months since the launch of the scheme. Those interested in knowing more may read about it at: https://www.pmjay.gov.in/. This laudable initiative of the government has the support of the various chambers of commerce led by FICCI.

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Event - A talk on Classical Hatha Yoga by Shlloka (tutelage of Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev) - 11th May 2019

Harcourt Butler cup teNNis tourNameNtDelhi Gymkhana Club vs British High Commission on the 27th April, 2019.

The Annual tennis tournament was held on the Club’s famed grass courts on the 27th April afternoon. The Butler Cup was presented to the Delhi Gymkhana Club on the occasion of its centenary celebrations. This tennis tournament alternates between the two venues at the British High Commission Courts and the Club’s

lawn courts every year. This time it was the Club’s turn to host the British High Commission players. Their team was led by Thomas Tanner and James Morgan coordinated the fixtures with Raj Liberhan of the Delhi Gymkhana Club.. The British High Commission team comprised 8men and 7 ladies players and the Delhi Gymkhana Club had 6 men and 5 ladies players. The matches were Men’s Doubles, Ladies Doubles and Mixed Doubles. The afternoon saw interesting matches between the two teams and at the end it was the Delhi Gymkhana Club that won the Butler Trophy. The matches were witnessed by Gurpreet Singh, the chair of the Sports Committee of the Club and Mr. Katoch, a GC member. The trophy was formally presented to the Club team by Prashant Sukul, president of the Delhi Gymkhana Club. (Mr Harcourt Butler GCSI, GCIE, ICS was the first president of the Imperial Delhi Gymkhana Club 1913-1915).

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cHurcHilliaN epiGram oN wHisKey

Churchill was famous for his one and two liners about alcohol. Among many quotes attributed to

Churchill is : “I have gotten more out of alcohol than alcohol has taken out of me”.

Among his other quotes on this theme are “The water was not fit to drink. To make it palatable, we had to add whisky”.

Once he was confronted by a fiery member of Parliament, Lady Bessie Braddock who said to him : “Winston you are disgustingly drunk. Churchill replied Bessie, you are very ugly. You will still be ugly in the morning while I will be sober”.

Once Churchill was asked about his position on whiskey, he explained it in the following witty epigram:-

“If you mean whisky, the devil’s brew, the poison scourge, the bloody monster that defiles innocence, dethrones reason, destroys the home, creates misery and poverty, yes, literally takes the bread from the mouths of little children;

if you mean that evil drink that topples men and women from the pinnacles of righteous and gracious living into the bottomless pit of degradation, shame, despair, helplessness, and hopelessness, then, my friend, I am opposed to it with every fibre of my being.”

“However, if by whisky you mean the oil of conversation, the philosophic wine, the elixir of life, the ale that is consumed when good fellows get together, that puts a song in their hearts and the warm glow of contentment in their eyes; if you mean good cheer, the stimulating sip that puts a little spring in the step of an elderly gentleman

on a frosty morning; if you mean that drink

that enables man to magnify his joy, and to

forget life’s great tragedies and heartbreaks

and sorrow; if you mean that drink the sale

of which pours into our treasuries untold

millions of dollars each year, that provides

tender care for our little crippled children,

our blind, our deaf, our dumb, our pitifully

aged and infirm, to build the finest highways,

hospitals, universities, and community

colleges in this nation, then my friend, I am

absolutely, unequivocally in favour of it”.

“This is my position and, as always, I refuse

to compromise on matters of principle”.

R K Puri (P-1228)

[email protected]

Editors Note:Sir Winston Churchill (1874-1965) was a journalist,

soldier and politician who won the Nobel Prize for

Literature and is most famous for leading Britain as

Prime Minister during the Second World War. He was

inordinately fond of alcoholic refreshment, and Scotch

whiskey was a feature of his daily drinking regime,

writes Iain Russell.

The 22-year-old Churchill was posted with his

regiment to India in 1896. The following year he

volunteered to join the British forces fighting Afghan

tribesmen on the North West Frontier. It was while

waiting at Nowshera to go into action that he had his

first taste of Scotch.

Churchill discovered there was a limited choice of

thirst-slaking refreshment in the Nowshera. Other

than tea, there was tepid water, tepid water with lime

juice or tepid water with whiskey. He tried the latter

as the least unappealing of the options available to

him and discovered that ‘once one got the knack of

it, the very repulsion from the flavour developed an

attraction of its own’. He never looked back.

(source:scotchwhisky.com)

Winston Churchill


Aruna’s story - Lushin Dubey - 26th April 2019

talk on realm of Plastic Surgery - Its Myth & Reality by Dr Rajeev B Ahuja, Senior Consultant Plastic & Cosmetic Surgery, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, Delhi - 15th May 2019

‘Aruna’s Story’ based on Pinki Virani’s best seller of the same title , is the famous case of the legendary nurse Aruna Shanbaug, a sprightly , fun loving and intelligent girl, who was raped, and remained in semi coma for 42 years ... This solo by Lushin Dubey, directed by Arvind Gaur, showcased that personality of this fun loving girl in the workplace, people in her life and laws that came about post her death .. Lushin portrayed 18 characters in this 1 hr and 15 mins solo!

One of her most powerful social issue based solos, it was a very impressive and catharatic experience.

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retiremeNt

Ram Karan, Bearer and Jagbir, Sr Waiter retired on 30 April 2019 after serving 45 yrs & 5 mths and 32 years & 9 mths respectively. We thank them for their long service and wish them a very healthy and happy retired life.

Mrs Roseline, Room Attendant and Mr Chander Lal Barman retired on 31st March 2019 after rendering 31 and 43 years of service. We wish them a very healthy and happy retired life.

acHievemeNts oF our memBer

Dr Nilima Harjal (P-6029), our permanent member residing in Brisbane Australia informs us that she has created ripples in that part of the world by becoming the first Indian Origin Artist and that too at 66+.

She picked up brush and paint only after retiring from a senior position of Govt of India and now 6 years later, her first solo art exhibition was inaugurated in an upmarket art gallery of the Brisbane City on 3rd May,2019 by the title “Journey Across Seven Seas”. Her Bridal Self portrait; Indian style welcome of guests with tikka and bindi; Indian food platter, along with Bollywood music in the background was the highlight of the evening and much appreciated too!!

tEAM oF Four

1st Brig D N Khanna, Dr Vikram Jain, Mr Saran Dhupia, Mr Vishal Marwah, Mr Ashok Singh, Mr Sarthak Behuria

2nd Mr Arun Kumar, Mr Rohit Gupta, Dr R L Sanghi, Mr Sanjiv Bery, Ms Madhavi Bery

3rd Ms Meera Bakshi, Ms Urmil Agarwal, Ms Sunita Singh, Mr Narjit Singh, Col L K Chopra

PAirSnortH-SoutH1st Brig D N Khanna – Dr Vikram Jain2nd Mr Anil Gupta – Mr Jasjit Singh3rd Ms Meera Shamsher Singh – Ms Saroj Vasudeva

EASt-WESt1st Mr R S Gujral – Mr Deepak Gulhati2nd Mr Sunil Kumar – Mr Sunil Sud3rd Mr Siddharth Behuria – Mr Ashok Kumar

BridGe results april 2019

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employee oF tHe moNtH

With the aim of saving Lives, ’Philanthrope’ conducts workshops for training on Safety Preparedness and Emergency Management. It is a humanitarian; not-for-profit organization founded for Safety and Social Welfare of the masses in the year 2007, under the able leadership of Dr Angeli Qwatra. Disaster Preparedness is of importance to Gymkhana Club and having a renowned person, with national and international experience on Safety and Disaster Management was very much welcomed.

The staff attended the workshop and listened to the instructions with rapt attention and the techniques displayed were appreciated.

Mr Vikram Pal Singh, Data Entry Operator, working in IT Section has been nominated as “Employee of the Month” for the month of May 2019 for his sincerity, dedication and hardwork. As a token of appreciation he was awarded a cash prize of Rs.1000/- and a certificate.

GymKHaNa cluB iN associatioN witH pHilaNtHrope coNducted a traiNiNG aNd saFety worKsHop By dr aNGeli Qwatra, For its admiNistrative staFF oN 30tH may, 2019.

The Food and Catering Sub C o m m i t t e e

has constantly endeavored to provide enriching g a s t r o n o m i c a l experiences to the members of the Delhi Gymkhana Club. Easter Brunch on 1st April and Sunday Cold Buffet on 5th May curated by Executive Chef Sushant Bishal and his Team working along with Mr Rajesh Bhatnagar, Executive Manager (F&B) were well appreciated. Now, sumptuous morning Breakfast is being served daily in the Dining hall from 7.30 am to 11 am. Usual vegetarian dishes such as aloo parathas and puri bhaji continue to be served.

Steps have been initiated to overhaul and improve the facilities in the satellite kitchen of Kashmir Lawns. Replacements are being finalised for the Chinese caterer and SIP factory outlets. Plans are being finalised to give the Pastry shop a makeover. Award of tenders for food and victualling supplies for the ensuing 12 months is in progress.

Ms Gayatri Roopchand Chairperson, Food Sub Committee

Club Food

Executive Chef Sushant Bishal

Mr Rajesh Bhatnagar Executive Manager (F&B)

M a y - J u n e 2 0 1 9

Editorial

BoMBAY GYMkHAnA CluB'S ContriBution to WorlD WAr ii EFFort

norMAnDY lAnDinGS

The INdIAN CoMPANIeS ACT, 1913 Section 81 (2)

Bombay Gymkhana Ltd.

Special ReSolution Passed on the 12th december, 1940.

At an extraordinary General Meeting of the Members of Bombay Gymkhana Limited, duly convened and held at the Registered office in the Club’s premises, Bombay, on the twelth day of december, the sub-joined Special Resolution was duly passed.

ReSolution“That the Bombay Gymkhana Limited do donate to his Majesty’s Government a sum of Rs. 1,50,000/- for the purchase of two Fighter Aircraft to be named Bombay Gymkhana I and II”.

dated the 12th day of december, 1940.

F.P. VANdeRTAeLeN, C.o. FouNTAIN, J.B. BARCLAy, Jt. hon. Secretaries and Chairman Treasurer

d-dAy NoRMANdy LANdINGS 6 JuNe 1944

The Normandy Landings planned by Gen eisenhower

during World war II , immortalised in history by

movies such as d-day was a joint military operation

of gigantic proportions ever attempted. It was the

biggest amphibious invasion ever undertaken.

Nearly 7,000 ships took in the attack, including 1,213

warships and 4,127 landing craft to land one and a

half lakh Allied troops on five stretches of the French

Normandy coastline on beaches codenamed utah,

omaha, Gold, Juno and Sword. Its success marked

the beginning of the end of World War II. India was

a British Colony at that time. over 2 million Indian

soldiers fought for the Allied powers. Almost 90, 000

died, Their heroic sacrifices are marked by memorials

in europe.


Cdr Arun Saigal Indian Navy (Retd)

This issue of Club Life covers the events of the

past few days and in particular the Award Winners of the Sports Events.

The month of May brought with it into the Delhi Gymkhana Club hectic conversations

about the Dance of Democracy in India. Discussions in our Restaurants, Swimming pools and in our Bars centered around predictions of the bitterly fought General Elections 2019 by those who claim to have ‘seen it all’ in the prime of their life! As I began penning points for this editorial on the evening of 12th May, I could not help remarking to myself that I too had bowled my last ball of the 2019 election with as much excitement as the last ball of the IPL finals!

As we went to the Press, the results of the 2019 General Elections to the 17th Lok Sabha were in. We congratulate the winners and saw the magnificent visuals of the swearing in of the new Government in the backdrop of the Rashtrapati Bhavan, some of which have been reproduced in this issue. Our country and

indeed the world, have a lot of expectations. May we all prosper in resurgent India as it marches forward towards its destiny.

Collectively, Members of the Club are an immense repository of experience and ideas amongst themselves. We must find ways to harness this experience and share ideas and thoughts with our decision makers. Perhaps the Club Life may provide a good platform for such discourse. We are pleased to carry an article on ideas on how to improve our Healthcare system. An earlier article on the Electoral system also generated interest.

This issue has picked up two interesting facts from the archives: one about the famous D-day landings in Normandy, France by the Allied Powers 75 years ago and another one about Bombay Gymkhana Club’s contribution to the War effort. In a lighter vein there is an article about the interloper who scared a Prime Minister and one about another Prime Minister’s epigram on whiskey. Both Prime Ministers are remembered for leading their countries to historic victories in their times.

FroM tHE ArCHivES


M a y - J u n e 2 0 1 9

delhi Gymkhana Club ltd Registered Office : 2, Safdarjung Road, New Delhi -11 • Tel: 91-11-23015531–35, 23010588, 23010614 • Fax: 91-11-23019709

Email: [email protected] • [email protected] • Website: www.delhigymkhana.org.in • CIN U93000DLI901NPL000024

Editor: Cdr arun Saigal (retd) [email protected]

Views expressed in the articles are those of individual members and not the official views of the Club.

Photograph on cover page and editor’s page courtesy Mr Ravi Puri (P5092)

Designed and Printed by Benchmark Graphic Pvt. Ltd., [email protected]

FortHCoMinG EvEntS

1. Page 12 (From the Bridge Table): the write-up was authored by Mr Vijit Berry (P-4697), e: [email protected]

2. (India Open Bridge Tournament): The names of the OPEN PAIRS winners which were inadvertently missed out are : MANEESH BAHUGUNA & SANDEEP KARMARKAR.

3. Page 30 (Obituary Page) carried the wrong photograph of our respected member Mr P D Singh (P-2490). His correct photograph is published herewith.

4. On the same page, the rank of Air Cmde Rajender Kumar Bhutani (P-3596) was missed out.

We deeply regret the error.

corriGeNdum – Club Life Feb-April 2019

On passing on of those cherished DGC Members who departed from the shores of life, the Club Fraternity solemnly

pays its respects and condolences

Mrs Roma Jain (L-0764)

Dr K M Jain (P-1751)

Lt Gen B C Nanda (P-2324)

Mrs Meera Som Dutt (L-0966)

Mr R C Gupta (P-1903)

Mrs Meera H Sanyal (U-0371)

Mrs Sheila Talwar (L-0758)

Mr K K Sud (P-2010)

Mr Chunilal Madan (P-0625)

Lt Gen M L Chibber (Retd) (P-1965)

Mrs Pushpa Mathrani (L-1199)

Mrs Dipti Ghosh (L-1287)

the Annual Free Eye Screening Camp for the Staff of Delhi Gymkhana Club by Dr vipin

Buckshey (P- 7064) in memory of his father will take place on Monday 1st July 2019.

SEniorS ClASSiC niGHtS To make evenings more enjoyable it has been decided that in addition

to Green Card nights with music on thursdays,

Seniors Classic nights will be held on Fridays.

Enjoy Band Performance by raja Bhattacharya/keith Dickson in the Main Bar on Every Friday from 8PM onwards.

The music evenings on Wednesdays and Saturdays will continue as hithertofore.

tHEn... AnD noW

Congratulations to Dr (Mrs) Asha Ahooja and Sqn Ldr Ashok Kumar Ahooja (Retd) P -3820, on their Golden wedding anniversary on 7 June 2019.

club life - delhi gymkhana clubr narendra damodardas modi was sworn in for the second time as prime...

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