Shore leave and Cinemas

Shore leave days- Cinema  in Bombay 50s-60s 70s:-
We said Seeing a Cinema or Picture!! Long before the word Movie or the term Bolly wood was heard of -Yes it was a city for the latest cinema shows. Also in decent theatres of those times and very economical, good crowds and it was nice.
I am not sure if I wrote on Bombay Cinemas - but in 1963 when I came for Dufferin Interview, pending out comes on result of final selected list , saw 2 Movies as the waiting tension was getting to me-
1) The Longest Day- at King Circle Cinema -got directions and went for the 5 Pm show and liked the film
2) DR NO--starring James Bond 007 Sean Connery's first Bond film and the new find Ursula Andress and her Bikini was a big hit (LOL) and the song " Underneath the Mango tree -I think it was at Eros and a major sellout.
Soon I learnt that I was was selected and after Eye-sight test etc joined Training. A month later we were in the Routine.
We only got Shore leave on alternate sundays. 2/month max.
This was ok as we had limited funds. We had to stay in Uniform on such Shore leaves -all the time for ID .
Movies in AC comfort then was a priority at Rs.1/ 33 Ticket or Rs. 2./62.
We did not snack in theatres then as we do now at a cost higher than the ticket!!
Strand, Eros, Regal and Metro were our fav spot and after for lunch at 1 pm-
A day was happily spent between 10 am to 7 pm on a shoestring budget of Rs.8/ plus 2/- inc toiletries shoe polish, paste etc . Then back from VT to Dockyard Rail Station or bus and the Launch at Mazagaon Pier at 7pm-sharp . Miss the launch and you were Out...
EROS Theatre was also a fav as the Manager there was my Batch mate (late ) Ulhas Rao's Father Mr K Rao, Kannada gentleman from Udipi and would help us get seats in advance on sunday matinees of rush days.
My batch friend Ulhas K Rao passed away 5 years ago (RIP)
VT- Ballard Pier to Metro to Colaba were all walking distances and so we walked We Dufferin cadets were give the facility to use the facilities at Seafarers Club at Ballard Pier. Play TT. Some played Billiards or just shared a soft drink -
Eat at Neelam or Sher e punjab near by or Dilkush Vishranti for Udipi snacks--or at Mondegar Cafe the Juke box at 25 paisa per song(LOL) plus snacks and thumbs up at Colaba and to Regal- Eros or Strand.The ultimate budget was the deciding factor or miss evening meal . Hmmm. 2/50 on Brun-Maska Chai in Irani hotels with Omlette was also seen as a saver or Masala Dosa at Dilkush.
Life was easy and economical and Carefree.
We walked on average at least 5-10 km on a shore leave day.
Simple times but fun and carefree .
rgds
TR

+2

Prayers at Sea- and on training

Prayers at Sea- 

dt 17th July 2017.
What does Spirituality &Prayers mean to Mariners -and how is it practiced at Sea.
The query was from a younger Mariner -also a correspondent to journals.

LOOKING BACK
Honestly, I feel Faith is an inherent trait and a part of our early home upbringing. Then it is finally a matter of the person's own inclination i.e. Faith as "Vishwas"-

On T.S. Dufferin, a former Troop ship that served in the War and later converted to a rustic Training ship for the navy -both cadres -- the order "Fall out for Prayers" was done thrice daily; at 6 am, at 9 am during morning Assembly and last fall in was at night by abt 9.30 pm. It had no conditions attached -just individual Faith and mind you it was all done in the same attire viz. the uniform or in the morning in working overalls-viz. boiler suit-working overalls. Nothing else mattered and at age 17 plus -less than 19 , the home upbringing and training on any spiritual practice alone held us and impacted us-
If we had a Prayerful attitude, we spent 3-5 mts in reverence to the Almighty--any name-any faith as we wished. Just look at the Sea and Sky; or else with eyes closed, as we leaned at the Ships Railing -- to Pray --We all did .No chatter, talk, dialogue or speech sermon, or hifi dissertations-just our silent , simple Prayer from the Heart....Soul .

The early Captain Superintendents instilled in us boys (then average age 17-18 max) with Discipline- Work and a healthy respect for the Creator and Creation. Fall In was early morning assembly 6.30 after wash up brush and a Mug of Tea in the mess Rooms- fast Fast - Fall on Quarter Deck- the first formal meet of the day Then Fall out for Prayers at 6.35 hrs for 2 mts, when we quietly looked seawards or to the sky; many leaned against the wooden Taff railing-heads bowed down in Prayer. So, we said our own prayers in line with our Faith/ Choice or some just maintained silence.
There were 80 Cadets (annual intake ) from all over India- and a few came from Ceylon., Malaysia and earlier even Burma and Pakistan (pre -partition days).
This developed a Communal Harmony from about living , studying and working with about 8 faiths and 5 Countries of SE Asia; It was so clearly established and a respect for our own 15 States and their customs and traditions and respect for all.
Later after Morning routine was over it was Clean ship, PT /Exercises, Bath - change , Breakfast in regular Uniforms-Fall in again- included a March past with a Captains Address and Patriotic songs and Universal Prayers-read .
So many things done, cheerfully, briskly and not a minute wasted
When I saw the Film "Chak De India" I recalled so many similarities of bonding together as one Unit -to Train and Serve in the Indian Merchant Navy.-
"Jai Hind"
TR
Cadet Roll No 1978 (63-65)

NOTE:

In later years I  learnt that Open space prayer is highly regarded and taught in Meditation systems. It was taught at Bangalore in a Camp 1992, in Open space i.e. "Sit in a garden and quieten the mind by simple breathing exercises and reflect , then pray -saluting each of the 5 Elements (Pancha Mahabhutas viz.the Elements Years later it was explained in later years by SC Math in Ashta murthies 8 aspects of Existence-and Space.
NOTE:

Our much loved and famous Dufferin song has an amazing philosophical depth .
We're on the road,
We're on the road,To anywhere,
and every mile-stone seems to say:
that the road to anywhere, the road to anywhere
will lead to somewhere,--Someday.
It also has a resemblance to Rabindranath Tagore's 'Ekla Cholo' in its spirit and -- .

 'Ekla Cholo Re'.was also featured in a film- Kahaani, where Amitabh Bachchan pays tribute to Song: Ekla Cholo Re Lyrics: Anvita Dutt Guptan, Music Director: Vishal-Shekhar

Just sharing-
Rgds
TR