Indian Maritime Foundation 28th Anniversary
The IMF was set up in December 1993 and completed 28 years last December. The 28th Anniversary was celebrated on the 27th of February, 2022 at the Central Park Hotel, Pune. With the country slowly easing the Covid restrictions, the function was a relatively low key affair compared to earlier years, with only IMF Members present in Pune in attendance along with their ladies. In fact, thanks to Covid, it was the first time that IMF members and their ladies had met socially in almost two years.
On the occasion, Capt Anand Dixit, President IMF welcomed all present and highlighted the major achievements of IMF over the years as well as the activities conducted during the preceding year. He also complimented the IMF members for their keen involvement in all the activities and ensuring their smooth conduct, despite the limitations imposed by Covid.
His address was followed by a talk by Rear Admiral Purshottam Sharma, an IMF Member and also the Founder President of the Rashtriya Life Saving Society (India). He said that it was Cmde Rajan Vir who first suggested to him the concept of the RLSSI and recounted the tragic incident of the drowning of school children travelling in a bus, which made a deep impression on him and led to the founding of the Society. He added that while the RLSSI had made considerable strides in training nearly half a million lifesavers, yet there was much more that needed to be done for a country of India’s size and population. He trusted that the IMF would work hand in hand and wholeheartedly support the RLSSI in spreading awareness of subjects such as First Aid, CPR, safety and other life saving skills throughout the country.
Cmde Rajan Vir, President Emeritus IMF, also spoke on the occasion and praised the contributions of each and every member of the IMF towards meeting its primary objective of spreading maritime awareness amongst the Indian citizenry.
The function ended with a sumptuous dinner.
Some photographs of the occasion are attached in the gallery below.
