Veterans-- Powerhouse of Energy

Veterans never get old--may be a rhetorical or symbolic sentiment. They do get old like all other senior citizens. But when they get together for Reunions, they are a powerhouse of energy! As if re-born!

This picture story shows the energy, enthusiasm and zest for life in 'young' Navy Veterans in the age group of 74 to 83 years! These Veterans who had served as faculty members together 50 years ago (in mid-1970s), had a Reunion in Kannur, Kerala recently. Indigo welcomed us at the airport.

Kannur is famous for Theyyam, Beaches, Cotton Weaves and Tea. Yes, Kannur boasts of real cool tea parlours. Cool from the point of design, but serving a hot cup of tea. On most roads in the city. Picture of a tea parlour at night.

What did these Veterans do during the Reunion?

• Woke up early morning (yes, on a vacation!) for a walk
• Sang to their heart's full
• Shook a leg or two-- never mind the walking stick!
• Feasted on rich chocolate cake and other desserts
• Danced on a house boat 
• Watched a martial art performance and so on

Does it not require high energy levels to do all of the above? Browse the pictures and videos below and then tell us whether the Veterans are a powerhouse of energy or not?

Beaches Excite All

As the old saying goes, 'Success comes in waves'. Do you agree?

'Feelings are much like waves: we can't stop them from coming, but we can choose which one to surf', does the short video reflect this thought?

Beaches bring people closer....

Kannur has hundreds of temples. We visited a few. Sharing a picture of Parassinkadavu Muthappan Temple on a river bank. You need to climb down a flight of stairs and then climb back. Pictures below.

Veterans Sing and Dance

Veterans may be walking with the support of a stick, but when it comes to shaking a leg with fellow Veterans, they forget the pains and aches! See the video below.

The dancing continued. More action shots for you.

Who says you can't dance at 78? See the video clip below Kumkum Jindal dancing on the Bhajan 'Janaki Vallabham'

The award for best dancing couple went to...

Feasting by Veterans (not fasting!)

Our Reunion was so well timed for GR Nair! We celebrated his 74th Birthday with a Chocolate Cream cake.

At Kannur, you can't miss the sea food. Our Resort served us some of the finest fish!

You are never too old to make noise. Just see the short video clip below where the veterans and spouses are waiting for the food to be served. Are they waiting patiently?

House Boat Cruise in Backwaters

Roads and highways criss-cross the backwaters in Kerala. Our houseboat also sailed under a bridge. See the video below.

After a hefty sea food lunch, do you enjoy a snooze on the upper deck of a house boat? Well, Ghumakkad certainly does till shaken up by 'jealous' buddies!

Theyyam - If you haven't seen a Theyyam performance, you haven't been to Kannur. We had posted an exclusive story on Theyyam earlier. Click the link below to browse.

Theyyam Dance of the Gods

Kalaripayattu - Similarly, watching a livewire performance of the ancient martial art of Kerala is a must. You can browse our exclusive  story below.

Kalaripayattu World's Oldest Martial Art

Where Did We Stay?

We stayed at Krishna Beach Resort in Kannur. Sharing few pictures and a video below.

Built using the local laterite building material, the resort has been designed very aesthetically. Each room has a spacious sit out. See the video below.

The promoters worship Lord Shiva. You would have noticed the Shiva statue in the video above. Few more pictures of the Resort which we wholeheartedly recommend.

Special thanks to GR Nair for sharing some of the pictures.

Other Reunions

We share below the links to some of the earlier Reunions. Feel the energy and the enthusiasm.

Manas National Park Assam - Where crickets sing like temple bells

Himachal Bound Grandparents - Veterans at Chail Palace and more

Did you know this part of Chandigarh - Veterans revelation for you

There is Magic in the Air - When they meet

Magical Sunrise at Puri  -  And the veterans go shooting at a sea beach! Never too old to splash your feet!

If you are a senior citizen or approaching to be one, do participate in your college and other Reunions. It recharges life's batteries and you return home ten years younger, if not more!

We close with a group photograph of the Veterans who made it to Kannur.

Thanks for browsing. Do leave a comment to encourage us. And yes, stay connected.

   - Harsh-the-Ghumakkad/ Secunderabad and Kannur/ 9th April 2026

#kannur #northkerala #DTPCKannur #KeralaTourism #KrishnaBeachResort #NavyVeterans #Reunion #RechergeLife #powerhouseOfEnergy #LivingLife #IndianNavy #ghumakkadhb #ghumakkadharsh

Call of the Road - Curiosity, Discovery and Joy

An open road does not ask how old you are.

It only asks if you’re still willing to follow where it leads !  And so it was that at age seventy-five, when most journeys grow slower, two friends chose instead to stretch theirs across the breadth of the country. Setting out in February 2026, Mr. Kuldip Nayar, a businessman, and Commander Debashis Mukherjee, an Indian Navy veteran embarked on a driving odyssey from Kolkata to Gujarat —5,500 kilometres of road, memory and a quiet defiance of expectation.

With a reliable car, Google Maps, and a lifetime of stories behind them, they undertook the long journey from East to West proving that age, for them, was not a boundary but a backdrop. For these two ‘young -at- heart’ men, the open road was an invitation to curiosity, discovery, and joy.

Long-distance driving across India is an experience in itself. As they left the hustle and bustle of Kolkata behind, the landscape slowly transformed - green paddy fields gave way to forests, hills, plains, dry plateaus and finally the white salt flats of the Rann of Kutch. Along the way they crossed Jharkhand, Bihar, UP, MP, Rajasthan and Gujarat - each state offering a different culture, language, cuisine and vistas. Roadside tea stalls became pit stops for stretching their legs, while small towns and dhabas (rustic highway eateries) offered delicious local food and warm hospitality.

Every few hundred kilometres, the scenery changed, reminding them how vast and diverse India truly is.

At Ahmedabad, the two drivers were joined by their wives who flew down from Kolkata. They visited nearby tourist spots. Let the pictures do the talking.

Their excitement peaked as they approached the great white desert of the Rann of Kutch. Driving on the "Road to Heaven", a scenic, 30-km road stretching through the Great Rann of Kutch, was the highlight of their trip. This straight, elevated road offers surreal, 360° views of surrounding salt flats and a white desert, creating an illusion of driving into the horizon . Thousands of flamingos feeding on the endless marshes under a wide sky provided a sense of wonder that only road travel can bring.

Another highlight of their journey was visiting the majestic Statue of Unity, the towering monument dedicated to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. They were awestruck by the engineering marvel behind the construction of this statue, the world-class infrastructure, facilities and services built around the place for the convenience of tourists, bowled everyone over. More than anything , the visit to the Statue of Unity made them feel proud as Indians. Standing before the towering figure of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the journey suddenly felt as monumental as the statue itself. 

After the ladies returned to Kolkata by air from Ahmedabad, Kuldip and Debashis drove their Hyundai Tucson back to Kolkata. For these two men with a combined age of almost 150 years, this 14-day journey was more than just reaching a destination. It was about the thrill of exploration, curiosity and friendship. It was about the joy of the open road, the laughter and camaraderie and the thrill of discovering new landscapes together.

Together, they showed that the spirit of adventure is ageless, curiosity has no expiry, and with every kilometre behind them the call of the Road only gets stronger.

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The above is a guest story by Debashis Mukherjee (Debu) who is an alumnus of IIT Kharagpur, a keen photographer and an explorer at heart. Debu and Ghumakkad served in the Navy together. Thanks Debu for sharing your adventure and the stunning photographs.

Thanks are also due to Padma Ramesh, a journalist of repute, for her editorial support.

We are sharing below the links to our earlier stories of travels around Gujarat.

Saurashtra Ki Sair सौराष्ट्र की सैर - Shows Innovation and Rural Wisdom in the people of Gujarat

Saurashtra- Historic Junagadh - The picture story shows Mt Girnar having 10,000 steps to climb, Uparkot Fort, Ashoka Rock Edicts dating back to 3rd Century BC and other monuments in Junagadh

Hope you liked the adventure by the two 'young' men aged 75-years each. Do leave a comment. It will encourage them.

Thanks for browsing and stay connected.

   - Harsh-the-Ghumakkad/ Secunderabad/ 2nd April 2026

#selfdrive #crosscountry #acrossindia #easttowest #5500kms #KolkatatoGujaratandBack #highwaythrills #dhabas #RannofKutch #Hatheesing #JainTemple #AdalajVav #Modhera #SunTemple #stepwell #Gujarat #MadhyaPradesh #StatueofUnity #SardarPatel #VallabhBhaiPatel #IronManofIndia #GuestStory #DebashisMukherjee #ghumakkadharsh #ghumakkadhb