Abdalians Alumni Home

Wednesday, 06 June 2007 11:58

Since the news about Mr. Catchpoles centenary celebrations was published on this web site, scores of Abdalians, Sargodhians and Abbottonians made enquiries and showed their interest to participate in this event. As the day drew closer, 73 people finally submitted their passports to the Indian High Commission for visas. Although everyone was given visas, a group of 65 people crossed the border on 24th May 2007. 21 people belonged to the Abdalians group from this.

The Sargodhians Association had arranged for a dinner at PAF Officers Mess in Lahore on the eve of the departure. This was a briefing session, followed by dinner. Arrangements were also made for accomodation so that people do not feel any inconvenience in getting together at the departure point. On arrival at Wagha border, the delegates were received by the Wing Commander of the Rangers Unit, while all major television channels and newspapers were present to cover the occasion. Headquarter Rangers had arranged for refreshments, while the immigration department processed necessary formalities before the cross over. The delegates were taken around on a guided tour of the border area as well.

After all formalities were complete, the 65 delegates crossed into the Indian side on foot, passing through th eno-mans land. Brig. Noor Uddin Ahmed, Secretary General of Abdalians Association was present at Wagha to see off the delegation. After completing the imigration formalities on the Indian side, they were received by Cdr. Arun Bhatacharya, an ex-Rimcollian, who took everyone to the BSF Officers Mess for tea and refreshments. Two very comfortable buses were arranged, courtesy Rimcollians, which then took the delegates on a 16 hour long journey to Dehradun, arriving there early morning at 0400 hrs. There were two stopovers for lunch and dinner at Jallandar Cantt and at Ambala, before reaching the final destination.

25th May was given to the delegates to see the city around, as the formal event was to start the next day. Maj. Gen. T. V. Manoharan (Retd) hosted a dinner at the DSOI Mess in the evening, where Abdalians and Sargodhians made several presentations to the hosts and gave away some gifts. Air Marshall Sarfraz Toor gave a moving speech amongst thunderous applause.

The next morning, the delegates congragated at the RIMC parade ground for a wreath laying ceremony, where H. E. Shri Sudarshan Agarwal, the Governor of Uttarkhand was the chief guest, who later reviewed the guard of honour as well. Everyone was then taken into the Thimmaya Auditorium, where a bust of Mr. Hugh Catchpole was unveiled and the Postmaster General presented the first day cover to the Governor, issued in honour of Mr. Catchpole. A series of presentations were then again made by Abdalians and Sargodhians to the hosts.  RIMC's Commandant, Col. Prem Prakash hosted a lunch in honour of the delegates, while H. E. Lt. Gen. M. M. Lakheira, Governor of Mizoram, hosted a pool side dinner the same evening.

Tariq Obed, Hamid Imtiazi, Maj. Gen. Ahluwalia, Adnan Afaq, Col. Prakash

The visitors were taken for a day trip to Mussoorie, not far from Dehradun on 27th May. Lunch was arranged by an army unit at its camp, just outside of Mussoorie. The same evening, the Governor of Uttarkhand, Shri Sudarshan Aqarwal hosted a sumptuous dinner at his residence, the Raj Bhavan. Mr. Zafar Habib, ex-ambassador and a student of Mr. Catchpole, presented a shield to the Governor on behalf of Abdalians. The delagates were very warmly seen off the next morning while a military band played tunes on the RIMC grounds.