An average Indian probably hears the term ‘family values’ thrown around a lot. It is a fact that, over the years, Indians have shown more than a slight tendency to stay in the same area of work as the senior members of their family. Here on earth, Anil and Mukesh Ambani are reaping the numerous benefits of an industrial empire built by their Father Dhirubhai, and 60 years since Nehru made his famous speech at midnight, his great grandchildren now look increasingly likely to someday become fourth generation prime ministers. So why should the skies be any different? Surely, the son or a daughter of a pilot must crave the exhilaration of commanding a cockpit in much the same way as the child of a Marwari shopkeeper dreams of his name being added to the store’s. In this month’s Simplifly we talk to a few people who truly give the SMS slang for family i.e. ‘fly’ some meaning.

Deccan Aviation’s executive director Captain K J Samuel has 16 years of experience behind him as an Indian Army Aviation pilot; a prestigious career that saw him win a Presidential Gallantry award. It is little surprise then, that the retired Lieutenant Colonel’s son Samuel Joseph grew up aspiring to be a pilot. “One joyride with my Dad was enough to make me fall in love with the sky,” says Joseph who is now a Captain on the ATRs for Deccan.

Captain K J Samuel’s colleague in the army, Captain Vishnu Rawal was also one of the founding members of Deccan Aviation and now shares the same title of Executive Director on the board of the company. The similarities between the two retired Lieutenant Colonels extend freakishly further as Captain Rawal’s son Rahul has also chosen to be a pilot and is a captain with Deccan. The executive director’s passion for flying stems from a humanitarian angle. He reminisces “When I was in the army, I would often have to fly in medicines and other aid by helicopter for those in need of it. It made me feel like an airborne carrier of hope.” The phrase ‘like Father like son’ is sometimes met with uninhibited teenage outrage by some young rebels, who see it as a threat to their quest for self-identity. But for Captain Rahul Rawal, being a pilot just like his father was always a dream although he does stress that, “I did not want to be in the air force like my dad, I wanted to be a commercial pilot and fly the big planes.”

Deccan is not the only airline that is home to a family of pilots. Jet Airways has the rather unique distinction of having amongst its staff a trio of pilots from the same family. Captain Joe D’souza confesses to being overjoyed that two of his sons Joshua and Jonathan D’souza are now a first officer and trainee first officer respectively with Jet. Captain D’souza has been flying for 27 years now and loves it so much that he even considers it auspicious to schedule flights on New Year’s Eve. Though they were never put under any undue pressure to follow in their Father’s footsteps, both Joshua and Jonathan admit that becoming a pilot always seemed like the logical career path for them; so much so that Joshua had already started studying for his student pilot’s license exam while he was still in the 12th standard. Joshua maintains that he had a deep passion for flying from a young age. “My collection of aeroplane models proves it” he laughs.

With all this talk of sons taking the baton from their fathers, one can hardly avoid the topic of nepotism – a trait that India is often accused of being plagued by. On being asked whether this cancer exists in the airlines as well, most of the respondents were diplomatic in their answers. In Jonathan D’souza’s words “Though the captains interviewing me knew my dad, they still asked me the same questions as the other candidates”.

There was never a question of one helping the other for First Officers Sushant and Sindhuja Tewary, a husband and wife pair with Kingfisher Airlines. It was in fact aviation that brought this couple together as they were in the same class, while studying for their commercial pilot’s license. Sushant says that “Being in the same profession, we are in a position to really motivate each other to perform well on the job.”

While the constant travelling can be rather tiresome, living in a household with fellow pilots can throw up some humorous situations. As Trainee First Officer Jonathan D’souza narrates “One time, in my hurry to report to the airport for my flight, I almost put on Joshua’s pants by mistake and I am four inches taller than him.” First Officer Sushant Tewary says that he too has experienced a similarly funny situation, “On one occasion, we both got called for the same flight because we share a surname.

Life as a pilot is not a breeze though, especially if you are the son of an experienced pilot. “The expectations of me are definitely more,” broods Captain Samuel Joseph. Captain Rahul Rawal looks at it differently. “Being from a family with an aviation background, I tend to set higher standards for myself,” is his profound opinion.

Living in your father’s shadow certainly isn’t easy, but working with your kids can be equally tough. There is always the age old argument of which generation is better. Captain Vishnu Rawal believes that, “The younger pilots are much smarter and more efficient than those of the previous generation as they are exposed to a lot more flying early in their careers. In fact, I find that I am the one who calls my son Rahul to ask questions rather than the other way around.”

It seems evident from my interviews that young or old, aviators seem to be a happy bunch of employees. Perhaps it is the smile that being part of an airline brings to one’s face that has encouraged so many sons and daughters of airline staff to join the field.

After talking to so many pilots that I have the weird sensation of grounded vertigo, I started to wonder what it would feel like be a non-pilot living in a house where the conversation is dominated by talk of ‘double sectors’, ‘navigation’ and ‘medicals’ . Mrs. Fiona D’souza (wife of Captain. Joe D’souza) probably sums it up best, “It’s quite exciting to have three pilots in the family because there’s always something happening. The only hitch is that I’m the one who has to iron all three uniforms.”

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Nagaland

Christmas rings in peace for this troubled land. Christmas in Nagaland is always a special affair when both the factions of the separatist National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN) declare a truce. People in Kohima come out in thousands on the streets in the wee hours of Christmas Eve and throng churches to attend special prayers. Kohima’s Cathedral Church alone is known to host at least 2,000 people attending Christmas prayers. Celebrations begin with the church services that constitute singing carols and chanting holy hymns. Midnight masses are held at every church and attended by a large section of the community.

Christmas in Shimla

Christmas in Shimla is an ethereal, beautiful experience with the ‘queen of the hills’ buried under snow. The festival is celebrated in the famous Christ Church and St Michael’s Cathedral and the luminous decoration  expresses the Christmas spirit. The shops along the famous Mall Road and myriad resorts host grand parties to set a dramatic mood to the Christmas celebrations.

Christmas in Kerala

The hub of Christmas celebrations in Kerala is Kochi, the state’s commercial capital, where the Syrian Christian community—which traces its origins to Syria— and the Anglo-Indian community of Fort Cochin usher in Christmas. In fact, homemade wine and wine-making skills are held in great prestige. There are several wine and cake festivals, besides crib-making contests in virtually every locality.

The Fort Cochin Anglo-Indian Christmas dance is very popular and especially known for its glamour. Typically the melodies of John McCormick, the Andrew Sisters, Perry Cosmo, Pat Boone and Jim Reeves mark Christmas gatherings in Fort Cochin’s Anglo-Indian homes.

For air travel to South India book your online ticket here: http://www.flykingfisher.com/plan-book/bookings.aspx

]]> http://travelgyan.wordpress.com/2009/01/05/travel-from-east-to-south-india/feed/ 0 vishalagrahari http://travelgyan.wordpress.com/2009/01/02/christmas-in-east-india/ http://travelgyan.wordpress.com/2009/01/02/christmas-in-east-india/#comments Fri, 02 Jan 2009 10:44:53 +0000 vishalagrahari http://travelgyan.wordpress.com/?p=45 ]]> This time I will take you to the East India.How East Indians celebrates Christmas:

Meghalaya

Shillong reverberates with the sound of music and traditional dances during Christmas. All decked up and glittering, Meghalaya’s capital, attracts lots of tourists from other parts of the country and even abroad to regale in the Christmas and New Year festivities. The Jeebon Roy Creative Arts Akademi, an institute committed to preservation of cultural dances among the tribes of Meghalaya is known to put up special performances of the traditional Khasi dance during Christmas. Besides the ubiquitous red rice, Christmas dishes include local delicacies like fried mustard leaves and highland tea.

Mizoram

For Mizos, Christmas is a community event. It is a form of public feasting known as Lengkhawn Zai, which has its roots in the pre-Christian society and is an important part of the festivities. In the Presbyterian-majority Mizoram, Christmas is a month-long celebration that starts early December. Churches across the state hold special prayers, while the young spend the night on the street busy attending bashes. On Christmas day, friends and family come together to cook and bake cakes. Feasting is not about good food alone. It is about fellowship, and community singing and dancing forms an important part of the celebrations. Dance troupes put up ‘Mizo Nites’ where traditional carol songs and dances are performed.

Nagaland

Christmas rings in peace for this troubled land. Christmas in Nagaland is always a special affair when both the factions of the separatist National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN) declare a truce. People in Kohima come out in thousands on the streets in the wee hours of Christmas Eve and throng churches to attend special prayers. Kohima’s Cathedral Church alone is known to host at least 2,000 people attending Christmas prayers. Celebrations begin with the church services that constitute singing carols and chanting holy hymns. Midnight masses are held at every church and attended by a large section of the community.

To Reach to these places by Air Click here: http://www.flykingfisher.com

There is a common misconception that Goa is a Roman Catholic state. It isn’t. It is only 26 per cent Catholic. But Christmas in Goa is truly special. It starts long before in the homes where sweets have to be made, clothes have to be stitched, new furnishings have to be chosen and a crib has to be erected. Youth of every parish compete with each other to produce the best crib, which represents the scene of the birth of Christ. Every church is ablaze with lights and all stops are pulled out. As every Christian school kid knows, Easter is the most important of Christian festivals, as it marks the resurrection of Christ, but it is Christmas that rules everyone’s hearts.

The only problem with Christmas in Goa, is that it is taken a bit too seriously. Many shops and perhaps even your favourite restaurants will be closed. So check in advance. If you’re in a hotel, it might be a good idea to book a table for yourself. Many hotels do festive spreads and there are Christmas dances to attend everywhere.

Dehradun

The hills come alive with the sound of music at Christmas time. In Dehradun, for instance, the churches get dusted off and the faithful dig out their clothes. The choirs are often an eclectic mixture of young voices, chosen not for their faith, but for the perfection of their sopranos. There’s always the possibility of a white Christmas and there are enough people who have made their own wine or baked their own cakes to make it seem like an old-fashioned Christmas. The residents, as opposed to the tourists, are a fairly tightly-knit bunch and keep things going and the spirit alive.

And that eventually is where Christmas lives—in the hearts of those who believe as Carl Sandburg did, that every baby is God’s opinion that the world should go on.

I have always loved the cemeteries of Kolkata, and there is no better time to visit them than around Christmas. This is because foreign visitors begin to trickle into India, around this time, especially the British, who come in search of the graves of their ancestors. The canny caretakers know this and the graves look slightly better tended, as the nip enters the air.

Christmas is a festive time in Kolkata. No doubt I am old-fashioned, but for me it is associated with Flury’s, the cake shop from which Kolkata-based cousins would send us goodies. There were chocolate cream boats that we loved and éclairs of different kinds.

The world has since changed. Good patisseries have opened in Mumbai and no doubt Flury’s hegemony has been challenged on its own turf too. But there was something about going out dining and dancing, about the live bands and the atmosphere that they generated that was quintessentially Kolkatan. You should walk down Park Street and have dinner at the Fairlawn Hotel—and enjoy the lights and the cheer.

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As I have stated in my earlier post about Christmas that I will post article about those places from India where Christmas is celebrated to full of its extent.

Mumbai!!! readers must be thinking why do I have chosen this City first? There are many reasons but the biggest reason is how this city still showing its liveliness after a major terrorist attack on Taj and Oberoi Hotel on 26th November Evening. Unforgettable Night for Mumbaikar!!!

The economic engine of the country has turned Christmas into an extravaganza of retail therapy. Beginning with Dassehra and Diwali, the shopping season is on and continues until the last bells of the New Year have ended. The Akbarally’s department store has always had a Santa Claus (a gimmick now adapted by most stores) and it is the presence of the jolly old saint in the red suit—which he was given by Coca-Cola who dressed him up to suit their colours in the 1920s—that probably gives Christmas so much of its merriment. Who can resist getting a gift? Who can resist the joy of giving a gift and watching a loved one’s face light up?

Alfred D’Souza’s Stop Gaps, a famous carol singing group, gives a festive performance at the National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA) in Nariman Point. But the true connoisseur makes his or her way to the Afghan Church or the St Thomas’ Cathedral where Coomi Wadia’s world class Paranjoti Choir, that often tours Europe sing carols from all over the world. The choir enters the darkened church bearing diyas and singing some of the old faithfuls such as Silent Night, Holy Night.

On Christmas Eve, it might be a good idea to make your way to the Wodehouse Cathedral in Colaba, at the south end of the city. Here the faithful will begin to gather around 9:30 pm for the singing of carols and the midnight mass that follows. As most of us know Mumbai is divided on north-south fault-lines, and if you are unwilling to cross the ‘line of control’ marked by the Mahim Creek, then it is to Mount Carmel you must go. This small modern church in Bandra, the queen of the suburbs, has a brilliant choir that stops traffic outside.

If you are planning to visit Mumbai then book your ticket here: http://www.flykingfisher.com/plan-book/bookings.aspx

Need we say more?

The birth of a child is a moment of great celebration. The birth of infant Jesus is an even more joyous occasion. Christmas is a momentous event in the Christian calendar, but it has also become a festival that belongs to almost everyone. It is a time for celebration, a time for rejoicing for all faiths and all communities, much in the way that Diwali has become a festival that is celebrated by all Indians.

The Holy week has started and this complete week you will get to read about the happening places in India and celebration of Christmas happens there.

Wish you Mery Christmas from Travel Gyan.