Dear friends,
Looking back, the life in the Air force has indeed been colourful... .like being a citizen of a mini-Bharat. The thorough mix of people of different religions each practising his own faith along the lines he has been advised by his elders, observing with fervour the various occasions to celebrate his important festivities; when each one joined with equal zeal knowing the reality that each of us is a brother-in-arms (even alms too) of another at times of crisis with just one thing at stake viz. ones own life.
Come Xmas; there will be cake and wine (for those who relish this item), lots of Carrol singing, and some Christian Squadron mates disappearing in the name of a midnight mass to meet special friends. A bit of leg-pulling was quite in order with malice towards none and all in good 'spirits'.
As an aviator, I remember this one in particular when our squadron mate Flt. Lt. Gurdeep Singh (sadly no more now) an avid reader and great entertainer let this one out of his bag of collections after downing a few pegs. I do not quite know the authenticity of it though because when Gurdeep relates, one tends to think as if the guy was in actual scene!!
On a December day back in 1903 at Kitty Hawk in North Carolina, Orville and Wilbur Wright, after numerous failures to fly a heavier-than- air machine, made amazing history. They achieved something that no man had ever done before. Ecstatic, they sent a telegram to their sister Katherine: "We have actually flown 852 feet. Will be home for Christmas."
Overjoyed, Katherine ran down to the local newspaper and pushed the telegram—the greatest news story of the new century—into the hand of the editor. After reading it, he smiled and said, "Well, well! How nice the boys will be home for Christmas."
"What a pity! Mike!(Michael was another squadron mate).The religious people of Christ's day who were actually anticipating his coming as their Messiah also totally missed the point. They failed to recognize him—and ironically had him crucified—because he didn't come, and didn't operate, the way they expected him to", completed Gurdeep haltingly a bit sozzled trimming his mustachios.
"How sad it is that so many miss the full meaning and import of OCCASIONS and events in that they have never thanked God for His kindness, nor accepted the most profound and precious gift ever given ... the gift of the human birth." contributed yours truly philosophically.
This of course was followed by a repartee from Michael on Bhindranwaale etc. when the flight commander (a Muslim) tactfully intervened to announce our move to lunch usually a good spread and scrumptious by saying, "Theek hai ....theek hai. Mullah ka daud Masjith thak hi hota hai. Lekin mera daud tho Dining table thak hi hai, kyonki meera peth mei choonvaa daudthi hai. Chalo Chalo Chalo, friends. Let's adjourn for lunch" ..........haaaaaaaa aa.
Warm rgds
V V R (a retired retreaded Air Vice Marshal)25th Dec 07
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