Children mesmerised by Navy’s air display

Around 135 students with hearing problems from Rochiram Thadani High School and 40 students with cerebral palsy, deafness and visual problems from Gurukul Trust, Santa Cruz, witnessed the Indian Navy’s air display. The display was organised for differently-abled children on Monday at Naval Air Station, INS Shikra, as part of “Navy Day 2015” celebrations. Also, for the first time, as many as 170 physically challenged kids from these two schools along with 600 students from nine schools in the city visited Naval ships in the harbour.

First, a static display of Chetak, Seaking and Kamov helicopters was carried out with demonstration of role and capability of each helicopter. The kids were later taken near the aircraft where they asked the captains about working of these aircraft. When The Asian Age approached 9-year-old Zishan Mohammad, the little boy opened his arms wide and shouted, “Thank you, Navy”. His elder brother, Mohammad Ali (11), said, “I saw such aircraft on television while watching the Republic Day Parade. This is a once-in-a-lifetime moment for me.”

Nanda Gajbhiye, one of the teachers accompanying the students said, “As of now, kids are on holiday but after school resumes, we are planning to conduct an essay competition on this visit.” Another teacher, Chitra Sonwane, said, “Till now, children used to only read about Chetak and Seaking but now, they got to see how these aircraft look.” Two mothers who were accompanying their tiny tots, Diwali Diwekar and Nita Nalavade, said, “It was a visual treat and hopefully, the Navy will organise such events more often.”

After the air display, children from schools including Don Bosco, St. Joseph, Educo Saibaba, Kendriya Vidyalaya and MSB Institutes were taken on warships INS Talwar and INS Delhi. The youngest student amongst all, Devika Vaghmare (7), was mesmerised by the ship and said, “I will also join the Navy.”

More differently-abled children will visit the air show on November 17 and more school children will visit it on November 18 and 19.