RIP :: On 20 November 2015 at 20:17, behram wrote

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 "REPORT MY SIGNAL" EMAIL 319/2015 - LIST 5‏

On 20 November 2015 at 20:17, behram wrote:


‎Behram Dumri‎ to Fauji Kids

November 20 at 2:02pm · 

I'm sorry, no greetings today. I'm livid and angry.

Did not express myself yesterday, as the day was dedicated to the memory of Col. Mahadik.

Today I'm going to let it all out, though the incident that infuriated me happened in the afternoon of Wednesday 18 Nov afternoon. (I was not present during the ceremony, but have gone to great lengths to ensure that I post an accurate picture of what happened. The last 3 paras are my personal views.)

To enable citizens, service and civilians, to pay their last respects, before the onward journey to Satara for the last rites, a wreath laying ceremony was organised by the HQ Southern Command at the National War memorial Pune. The Body of Col Mahadik was brought here from Delhi, in an IAF aircraft, accompanied by the Col's. Mother, Wife, 11 yr old Daughter and 5yr old Son.

People desirous of paying their last respects were asked to be present by 4 PM. The Col’s Body, along with his family, arrived at the War Memorial at approx 5:45 PM. After waiting for a few minutes to enable the family to settle down, Ex Servicemen and civilian filed along the coffin, paying their last respects. The Army Cdr had not yet arrived. A buzz was doing the rounds that the Raksha Mantri was in town and may drop in....hence the hold up.

The Mother of Col. Mahadik was looking clearly distraught from the time she arrived, and this delay was not helping things at all. I’m sure the family wanted to get on with it, after a very tiring day starting from Delhi.

Now everyone is expecting the RM to make an entry.... but no, it’s the Army Commander who arrived at approx 6:15 PM, without the RM in sight. The RM did not make it to the Ceremony, though he was at the Circuit House, just a stone’s throw away. As a matter of fact I’m sure he was responsible for delaying the Army Cdr who was in a meeting with him. As usual, it’s a Neta, and our RM to boot, with no sense of time, no matter what the occasion. How insensitive can one get! Of course we know what distaste he has for us!

After another over an hour’s wait, Mr. Fadnavis, CM Maharashtra, walks in with the Pune Guardian Minister in tow. Did he think it was some political rally that he could just stroll in at any time and expect people to keep waiting? Do these guys not realise that it’s a solemn Services Ceremony, and further more you are holding up an onward journey to Satara, where the last rights are to be performed. At least have some sense of feeling for the family and what they are going through. You are just prolonging their agony.

Now I want to ask a question, 'Why do we allow the Netas to take over our Ceremonies?' If they cannot make it on time forget about them. If we cannot forget about them, then are we not allowing them to politicise us?

Mr. Parrikar, a few days back you asked the ESM at Jantar Mantar, to prove that Ex Servicemen are not getting political. Today I ask you 'Prove that you are not politicising the Services!' I can rattle of numerous instances, of the not so distant past, which can prove that you are trying your best to do just that.

I would like to thank Prerna Malhotra for the pics, and a special thanks to the ‘Bikers’ for escorting the entourage for up to 50 km out of Pune, and their selfless support to the OROP cause

Behram Dumri

10 mins

Behram Dumri

An update.....
On Thursday morning, short of Col. Mahadik's village at a place called Aare, the RM met the convoy, which had stopped, and paid homage to the Col. and consoled the grieving family...did his absence at the War Memorial finally get to him?