Flight 814, The Inside Story - Flt Engineer Anil Jaggia and Saurabh Shukla

 Ani Jaggia (1941-2015) was the Flight Engineer aboard Flight 814 which was hijacked from Kathmadu and taken to Amritsar, Lahore, Dubai and Kandahar. The terrorists negotiated the release of terrorists and fled after killing on passenger Rupen Katyal, a honeymooner.

The book delves into the series of intelligence failures that did not help while the aircraft was hijacked - that the flight could have been stopped at Amritsar, that waiting commandos could have stormed the flight etc. The flight was hijacked on December 24, 1999 and ended just before the millennium celebrations, after a week of misery for the passengers and the crew. Four terrorists who nicknamed themselves, Red Cap, Bhola, Doctor and Burger held the passengers hostage and somehow pulled off the impossible.

Edge of seat stuff. The terrorists just walked away and were never caught.

The Audacity of Hope - Barack Obama

 It is about reclaiming the American Dream and Barack Obama writes honestly an with optimism about how one can balance power and politics with the greater good that's necessary for humankind. It is heartwarming to hear of his early struggles when trying to enter politics, asking for donations, the idea that one can get themselves a private jet and zip around.

That apart the book was a bestseller. The title derived from a sermon given by his former pastor Rev Jeremiah Wright. Obama used the title for his keynote address in 2004 at the Democratic Convention and the 20 minute speech apparently catapulted him into national prominence. The book underscores his policy positions, his personal values, his thoughts on faith, race, family, the Constitution, politics, opportunity, the world outside the US  and so on.

Nice read. I like Barack Obama. He is light on his feet, has an easy smile, looks tough and gentle at the same time. Mostly I like how fit he is and wish I could be as fit. Of course I like his views and honesty and vulnerability as well.

India's Most Fearless - Shiv Aroor and Rahul Singh

Two volumes of the same name gifted to me by Mythily. Fourteen stories of valour and courage by the men in uniform under fire. Well researched and well written, I really breezed through the book in a hurry. And gifted it to Nitesh Kanala who is a reader as well.

The first of the stories is about the Uri surgical strikes on September 2016 when Major Tango and his 19 men of Special Forces led an attack to retaliate the killing of 19 Indian soldiers. 3 separate teams accessed 4 launch pads across the LoC and killed 38-40 terrorists and made it safely back. Tango earned a Kirti Chakra and his boss's compliments on his return - bring the bottle, these men eat glass.

Then the surgical strike in Myanmar as a retaliation to an attack on army jawans in Manipur where 18 jawans were killed - 3 units led by Lt Col Delta, bumped off 64 men and returned safely. Lance Naik Mohan Nath Goswami who died while trying to save his fellow soldier in Udhampur. Havildar Handpan Dada who umped out at terrorists and fired at them killing 3 and injuring a fourth in J&K in 2016. Captain Jaidev Dangi who killed three terrorists including Adil Ahmed Mir in J&K in 2011. Major Mukund Varadarajan who killed a terrorist by using tactical brilliance but died in action. Colonel Santosh Mahadik who died in action, Lance Naik Hanumantha Koppad who somehow survived being trapped under an avalanche and tons of ice

Lt Cdr Niteen Anandarao Yadav in Dabolim Goa who somehow landed his flight despite no electrical power, no navigation, no communication and limited control over his engines. Captain Varun Singh of Indian Navy's MARCOS who killed two terrorists in J&K. Cdr Milind Mokashi who evacuated civilian Indians from Aden where a civil war had broken out on his ship INS Sumitra - and rescued in all over 500 people, including 600 foreigners in dangerous circumstances. Squadron Leader Rijul Sharma whose Mig 29 canopy was shattered and left with an option to bail or stay, stayed despite a damaged shoulder and landed his flight. 'Don't let the situation overwhelm you. You can tackle any situation.' Squadron Leader Vikas Puri who had VIPs on his helicopter when both engines failed and the chopped was preparing for a crash landing - when he tried to relight and restrat the engines and it worked - with only 2 minutes to spare. And Wing Cdr Gaurav Bikram Chauhan whose flight had issues when the wing was destroyed and the flight broke up in Pokhran Rajasthan.

Amazing stories, very well told. I am glad they wrote these stories because we get a peek into the world they live in, the way they work, the way they live..and the way they die. Now to read the second volume.        

The Tirunelveli Diaries - Natham

From Madurai we would travel to Natham, a place near Dindigul,where our final match against Chattisgarh was. It was a scenic place amidst green hills, a well maintained ground. I was by myself since Jyo had left and entertained myself by reading my book and watching the game. The final was a relatively easy affair. Some pics

Across the Vaigai river to Natham

The ground

   

Mentoring

Team meeting

Rohit leading the team out

Cap and vice in discussion

Abhirath and Rahul returning

A pat by coach

Me and Chattu

Me and Rajayji

Captain and coach

The Tirunelveli Diaries - Madurai

I did not realise it but when we made the final we were supposed to be put up in Madurai it self and travel to Natham where the ground was - a good 40 kms away. So we hopped on to the bus for a three hour journey from Tirunelveli to Madurai. Jyo had to leave because of Ganesh Chaturthi which they celebrate in a big way at his place. It was a pleasant journey and by 12 pm we were at Hotel Royal Court or something like that. It looked like a nice enough place though slightly cramped but the main thing was that it was right in the middle of the town - a 5 minute walk from the railway station and a ten minute walk from the Madurai Meenakshi temple.

Meenakshi Amman temple

Having freshened up and having partaken of some amazing buffet with delectable non veg dishes, Chatterjee and i set out for the temple at about 5 pm. We walked along the narrow roads, checking out other hotels nearby. Lots of places which had a bold red sign BAR written across. Soon we were in the vicinity of the West Gate of the temple - it has four entrances. No phones allowed so we kept phones in the locker (a very efficient system), chappals in the chappal place and walked in. We bought some speed darshan tickets and walked in - it was quite empty surprisingly. I led Chattu to the Meenakshi temple first and then the Sivan temple and then all the other parts of the complex that I remembered from my last visit - a mere five days ago. We bought some prasadam, walked into the thousand pillar temple for a fee of 5 bucks (2 bucks for children).

Old theatre

Old building

Koodal Azhagar temple

On the way out I found a book store which was apparently started in the 70s and bought two books - one about the hijacking of flight 814 and another which was about a lady travelling across India in 80 trains. I have finished four books during this trip which is quite an achievement. Back at the hotel we chilled out and then hit the sack but not before a walk around the neighbourhood.

Teppakulam

Thrumalai Nayakkar palace

Next day the team went for practice and I stayed back and wandered around Madurai. For starters I walked to the Koodal Azhagar temple which was only 15 minute away. Then I found myself a rickshaw and hired him for a few stops - the Mariamman Teppakulam which is a lovely mandapam in the middle of a tank, the Thirumalai Nayakkar Palace and returned back by lunch time.

Srikanth - gem of a person

One of the most memorable parts of this leg of the tour was meeting Srikanth Narayanaswamy who is a good friend of Chandra and who dropped in that evening. Srikanth has such disarming simplicity and he just blew me over with his good nature. He had played club and college cricket, was in the Combined district team for the Buchi Babu tournament in his days, played all the university games that I did, played for TVS with Chandra in Madurai, worked for Vizag Port Trust for three decades and played cricket in Vizag, speaks Telugu like a pucca local Vizag boy and actively coaches three teams for TVS in Madurai. He was busy watching his boys play a match that afternoon and if I was not tired out by my exertions of the morning I would have gone to watch. Anyway Srikanth came with his protege Madhavan abd spent time with me and Chattu on almost all the days. He and Madhavan also took me to Kumar Mess one day, for jigarthanda at Famous Jigarthanda and even dropped me off at the airport on the last day. His knowledge of cricket and his awareness of the finer points is immense and he and Chattu really hit it off on the coaching parts. I loved his passion for life, envied his life even, and am so glad I met him. I intend to stay in touch with him.        

The Tirunelveli Diaries - Day Trip to Madurai

Madurai is about 3 hours away from Tirunelveli so when we had a free Sunday before the semi final Jyo ad i decided to hire a cab and visit the famous Meenakshi temple. Tanay and Tanmay joined us and the four of us set off early - 630 or so - in a sedan driven by a most interesting chap. We chatted on the way to Madurai and stopped en route at a nice little chai joint which served nice chai. 

Coffee shop!

Boiler!

Further down the road we stopped at a lovely place called Saravana Bhava which served some nice breakfast. I happened to leave my phone on the table when I went to the wash room when our driver gave the first sign of what he was capable of - he spotted my black phone on the black granite and quickly secured it proving that he has the eyes of a hawk and the awareness of James Bond!

Nice drive - blue skies, green country

We entered Madurai and I could not but fall in love with Madura College and its beautiful campus and cricket grounds where a cricket match was in progress. We called the good doctor who was helping us get a darshan and he met us at a place close to the temple and took us in - minus phones - cell phones are not allowed in the temple. This is where our driver showed how good he was - he parked his car at breakneck speed and joined us upfront - beating us to the darshan. I have not seen anyone slicker than this at slipping through. He is the slickest job I have seen in a long time.

Cricket match at Madura College

We walked right in, led by the temple elephant's mahout's son, first to the Meenakshi temple which is the correct way - and then to the Lord Sivan temple. The temple is huge with four huge dwarams with hundreds of images carved on it, a tank full of water, a huge Ganesha idol, long corridors, many idols and small kovils. Thanks to the good doctor we got some VIP treatment and were right up front for darshan. We took a picture at the one designated spot where a person takes a pic with the dwaram at the back for a 100 bucks or so. The good doctor would not let us pay!

Colorful images on bus - all buses are like that

The day being Sunday there was considerable crowd. Also there was some kind of a protest by the differently abled about a recent incident and also about facilities for them. We waited until they finished their darshan.

From the temple we went to the elephant Parvathi and she blessed us. Off we went then outside the temple with some prasadam and stuff they gave us, a coffee and it was only 1030. Our plans of bingeing on some delectable non-vegetarian food that Madurai is famous for went up in smoke as we did not want to wait for a couple of hours. I asked the doctor what Madurai was famous for and he said idlis - apparently idli and fish curry is a sought after combination here.

We headed back tired and satisfied. One break for chai and then back at the hotel for lunch!       

Tirunelveli Diaries - Kanyakumari by Sunset

The entire team was in an upbeat mood and they decided to go to Kanyakumari to catch the sunset. We set off in the team bus after lunch and reached Kanyakumari by about 4. The sky was cloudy and it was raining. Everyone went their separate directions and were asked to report back by 6 pm. Jyo and I rushed off to the Saravana Bhavan restaurant for a coffee with Chatterjee and Subhash and others. Chattu and gang went to get the last boat to the Vivekananda Rock while Jyo and i decided to shed our inhibitions and shirts and actually enter the Bhagawati Kumari Amman temple which is supposed to have a lovely idol.

So in we went clutching our shirts and had a darshan of the Bhagwati Amman deity or Devi Kanyakumari. The deity is Mahadevi in the form of an adolescent girl - the Goddess of virginity and penance - her story being mentioned in the Ramayana apparently. It is one of the 52 Shakti peethas. The temple follows the similar pattern - long corridors (however not as long as the others), not painted, many pillars and musical pillars which give the sound of veena, mridangam, flute and jal tarang. Quite amazing actually.  

Lot of North Indians again in the visitors including many from Rajasthan. Jyo and I went behind the temple after taking a picture by a local photographer who did a bad job and charged us 200 bucks. We walked down to the place behind the temple which is where the three seas meet - Bay of Bengal, Indian Ocean and the Arabian Sea - Triveni sangamam. This time I wet my feet in the water - the sea is very rough and there is no beach here. Some pools were made artificially and many people dipped in it fully. Vendors were busy selling corn, samosas, tea and stuff.

We walked back to Saravan Bhavan to have coffee and a snack when Chattu and gang returned from the Vivekananda Rock. We showed them the southern most point of India and then we walked back towards the place where the bus was to pick us up. The sunset time was over and the clouds never parted. The boys went to a place called Sunset viewing point which we somehow missed.

We walked back to the bus - which turned out to be a long walk - passing by many lovely hotels ad resorts which had a great view of the sea, the sunrises and sunsets. Back at the hotel by dinner time and day well spent.

I was planning on a day trip to Madurai - which was about 3 hours away. Maybe tomorrow!