From Hindon, the venue shifted to Chandigarh

After completing a study of the aircraft held at the base at Hindon, it was decided that we shift our area of operation to Air Force Station Chandigarh where some more aircraft were available. Accordingly, I decided to travel by bus from New Delhi to Chandigarh while my Russian specialist chose to fly down with his friend from HAL Koraput.
I still had one set of change of clothes and, I knew that I would have to manage with those in Chandigarh because I would have to put up in the Air Force mess where I would not have the luxury of a room boy to keep my clothes cleaned and ironed very day.

The journey was a pleasant one because the bus was air-conditioned and it halted at a wonderful eating joint where the food was delicious. There was a small body of water in the garden and it added to the atmosphere.
From the Chandigarh bus stand I took a cycle rickshaw to go to the Air Force station and on the way I passed the ITBP (Indo Tibetan Border Police) headquarters – it was scorching hot and there was a guard standing at attention just below the national flag. He stood like a statue with nit a muscle twitching on his face in spite of the heat all around him.
Anyway, I arrived at the mess, and next morning met the officers, explained the purpose of my visit and started the work. They had already got necessary briefing from Air Head Quarters and as the day progressed we were joined by our Russian experts.
The number of aircraft here was less and, hence, we were able to complete the assessment within a couple of days. And, then, it was back to Delhi, debriefing and flying back to Mumbai. Since there was no connecting flight to Nashik I hired a prepaid cab from Mumbai airport and landed up at Nashik. (to be continued …)

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Stuck in Delhi in summer with only one change of clothes!!

Next morning, before leaving for continuation of meeting in Air Head Quarters, I handed over my shirt, pant, and banyan etcetera to the room boy of the Guest House and requested him to get them cleaned and keep the set ready within 24-hours because I did not have a spare set of clothes. The room I occupied was air-conditioned no doubt but summer in Delhi can be hot in the open and perspiration made one’s life miserable.
Anyway, in the meeting, a decision was taken that I, along with my Russian specialist, should proceed to Air Force base at Hindon where the aircraft were kept. Once there, we should check up all the available aircraft, note the observations and submit the report to all concerned. We should involve the Air Force personnel in our study.

Obviously, it was a time consuming work of a repetitive and monotonous nature and, for the next 20 days, every morning, I would leave the Guest House after breakfast, pick up my Russian from his hotel and proceed to Air Force Station Hindon.
The car would be provided by the Guest House and the driver was a young man and a very rash driver. He would keep putting on the car’s headlights demanding right of way and keep zigzagging through the heavy traffic of Delhi roads.
After observing his actions for a couple of days, my Russian friend pleaded with me to ask the driver to go slow and not rush. ‘I have a tiny daughter back home in Russia and I want to go back to her in one piece’ – he said. I explained that to the driver and he smiled and slowed down but, that was momentarily – speed was in his blood. (to be continued …)


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Trip to Nashik should take in Shirdi and the Ajanta and Ellora caves

Nashik, a tourist center with links to the epic Ramayana

Nashik, a tourist center with links to the Mahabharata

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