Journey to Lucknow, Ayodhya, Varanasi and Vindhyachal

Left for Lucknow on November 17, 2024, arrived there alongwith 1964 Batch Group of All India Service Officers. We were accommodated in VVIP Guest House, quite comfortable accommodation.

 

The three local batch Officers, all of IAS organized welcome dinner at 08:00 PM, 12 of us joined it. We shared memories of togetherness of Batch at Mussorie in 1964.

 

On November 18, we left for visit to Lucknow monuments at 09:00 AM. Visited Imam Bara and Regency monuments. At 01:30 PM we had lunch at Moti Mahal Restaurant, Mahatma Gandhi Road, Opp. Raj Bhavan. At 03:00 PM we were taken to Asma Hussain Institute for Chikngari shopping at Hazrat Ganj. At 08:00 pm Dr. Shukla, Director Aastha Geriatric Hospital, give a talk on ‘Geriatric Issues’, followed by dinner.

 

On November 19, we left for Ayodhya at 09:00 AM and returned at 06:00 PM. A photograph taken of us at Ram Temple on the day.

 

 

At an IB stop over on way to Ram Temple

 

 

 

 

Another temple near Ram Temple at Ayodhya.

 

 

 

Just below the Ram Temple, under construction.

 

 

 

On November 20, the group visited the Kukrail Forest and Crocodile Farm. We could not accompany the Batch as we had to call on our old friend Shri VK Sircar at Lucknow. He is being looked after by his three daughters quite well. I spent about an hour with him. As there were restrictions in meeting him due to fear of infection, we returned after lunch at a restaurant of Taj Hotel nearby. All of us visited famous LA Martiniere College at Lucknow.

 

We had dinner at Golf Club, hosted by the three local batchmates on the last day of our stay at Lucknow.

 

On November 21, we left for Shri Das’s House our batchmate from IAS for breakfast. After breakfast we started our journey to Varanasi. We reached Varanasi in the evening. As I could not get accommodation in Radisson Blu Hotel where the other batchmates were accommodated, our son Amitabh arranged accommodation in Hilton Hotel Varanasi.

 

On November 22, we visited Vishanath,Sankat Mochan and Durga Devi temples and have good darshan and did pooja. Thereafter we joined in Ganga Aarti and boat ride.

 

On November 23, visited Bhairav Temple. There was some problem there. However, we managed to have darshan somehow. Venita had dip in Ganga at Dashaswasamegh Ghat. She also visited Basanta College of yore and met Principal, Staff and Students. She had studied here in early school days. We were requested to distribute prizes of their ongoing Sports Meet. We also went to Verma family’s ancestral house. There is nothing left of it now.

 

On November 24, we left for Vindhyanivasani Temple at Vindhyachal, had darshan and did pooja there. We returned Varanasi. All others left for Delhi. We also visited 9, Cantonment Road where Venita had lived earlier. Now there is an Ashram at the place.

 

On November 25, we left Hilton for the Varanasi Airport. Arrived Delhi at 07:00 PM

 

 

Reunion Seminar of Assam Police Chiefs’ at Guwahati on 7th & 8th December, 2024

I alongwith Venita, my wife, left Delhi by Air India flight No. 2751 at 09:10AM and arrived Guwahati at 11:40AM on 6^th December, 2024. We were received at the airport with lot of fanfare. The ceremonial gamcha alongwith bouquet of flowers were given to us with photographers taking photographs. In the meantime, more Assam Police Chiefs’ had arrived. After our luggage was collected we left for our accommodation for International Guest House at Khanapara, Guwahati.

 

The only engagement on the date was a dinner hosted by the DG of Police, Assam on the occasion of ‘Assam Police Chiefs’ Reunion Seminar’. I could not join the dinner as we had got up early morning at 03:00AM and arrived at the Guest House at about 07:00PM. I apologized for our absence at the dinner.

 

On 7^th December we joined in the Wreath Laying Ceremony at 4^th APBN HQ. After Salami, all of (25 us) laid the Wreath one by one on the occasion. The ceremony took nearly one hour.

 

After the Wreath Laying Ceremony we had brunch at ‘Suhasini’ (4^th APBN). Later at 03:00PM we assembled at the venue of Seminar at APHQ Conference Hall. There was a welcome address by DGP, Assam followed by presentation by the Special DGP. There was a discussion on the ‘Future Road Map for Assam Police’. The CM, Assam, Shri Sarma arrived at about 04:00PM. There was State Anthem followed by National Anthem and felicitation. The DGP, Assam welcomed him followed by address by the Hon’ble CM, Assam and interaction with the ‘Assam Police Chiefs’.

 

 

The ceremony ended with the National Anthem and a group photograph. In the interaction during the Seminar, I alongwith 4-5 other Ex-DGPs delivered small speeches emphasising the role of Police in the changing circumstances.

 

At the end there was a dinner at Assam Police Institute at 07:00PM.

 

On 8^th December, at the valediction of the Assam Police Chiefs’ Reunion Seminar at Police Institute Ulubari the Governor of Assam, Shri Lakshman Prasad Acharya graced the occasion. He commended the efforts of Assam Police to organize the Reunion of the Police Chiefs’ and deliberations therein.