At the Navy Symphonic Band Concert

With Dr Manjula Chellur and Ravi Ahluwalia

10 November, 2014: Yesterday evening I attended the Indian Naval Symphonic Band Concert programme and Cocktail & Dinner party of the Eastern Naval Command. Hon'ble Chief Justice of Calcutta High Court, Dr Manjula Chellur was the Chief Guest.

The venue was the Lascar War Memorial in Hastings. This memorial is a 100 ft-towering structure that was built in honour of 896 Lascars, who died fighting for the British Navy during the First World War close to the Princep Ghat.

The memorial was designed by William Ingram Keir which won him an award of Rs 500 for its design in an international contest in 1920. The Lascar War Memorial was unveiled to the public by the then governor of Bengal, Lord Lytton, on February 6, 1924. The Indian Navy maintains this memorial which provided a picturesque backdrop.

The Indian Navy Band is one of the pioneer bands of India was commissioned in early 50s. The Band has rendered its splendid performances across India and abroad. The Band's wide-ranging repertoire includes stirring martial music, arrangement of symphonies, overtures, concertos, Indian classical music and a host of other forms of contemporary, genres, including pop and folk music. The audience were treated to some of these.

Lt Commander Satish K Champion was the principal conductor of the Navy Band and supported by P K Tamang and Rajan Suresh. The Lieutenant is proficient in playing piano, harmonica, trumpet and a number of other instruments and also has many musical compositions to his credit.

I left after cocktails and before the cultural programme by Priti Patel and Mitul Sengupta but in fact, it was an evening to remember at the Lascar War Memorial venue on the banks of the Ganges.

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