|
Indian National
Day 2004 |
|
|
Indian National
Day 2004 |
|
(Above) 15th Aug 2004 at Hout Bay's East Fort; enveloped in smoke, Rashmi Kooverjee, District Governor of Lions Clubs International, fires one of Hout Bay famous cannons in salute to India on her National Day. 'Gunner' Kooverjee was subsequently given a certificate conferring on him membership of the "Honourable Order of Hout Bay Artillerymen". On his left is Leading Gunner Pierre Malan. |
The event was hosted by Sandeep Kumar, Head of the Indian High Commission to Cape Town and the Hout Bay and Llandudno Heritage Trust. Dave Cowley, of the Trust, paid tribute to Mr Kumar who in his short stay in Cape Town has done much to further the good relations between India and SA, particularly in the cultural field. Similarly Mr Cowley thanked Lions International and particularly the Hout Bay Club for the significant part that they had played at the heritage site by sponsoring various aspects of the project.
|
Getting to know the ropes. Enthusiastic visitors and guests "run out" the two and a half ton gun by hauling the ropes. |
This is how it's done! Gunners Ferdie Greeff and Pierre Malan explain to Lions International District Governor Rashmi Kooverjee how the gun should be fired. |
|
|
Is this a "flash in the pan" ? Well first time round it actually was! However, our gunners soon sorted things out and the battle commenced once more. |
Final Triumph ! At last Rashmi qualified as a "Member of the Honorable Order of Hout Bay Artillerymen". Congratulations 'Gunner' Kooverjee. |
|
|
East Fort's 'New gun carriage and gun pit' was used for the second time. Whilst the platform and and carriage are new, the original c.1752 gun barrel is still in fine working order having now being fired more than 60 times since its restoration in 2001. The blocks and tackle allow the gunners to "run out" the gun as they did more than 200 years ago. The new platform is more or less the size of the platforms of old which would have allowed the gun to recoil about 3m. The gunners are not allowed to load any 'ordinance' (cannon balls) so the actual recoil is minor but hauling the gun adds a lot of fun for the children (young and old) who learn all about our heritage. |
India and South Africa have inherited many common interests which
include a lingua franca of English, but events of two hundred and more years
ago could easily have resulted in both countries speaking French today. The
Historic site first established by the French/Indian Pondicherry Regiment
is a wonderful reminder of our historic links. Our shared heritage, like
our language is a bond that we must cherish and build upon. We must never
allow divisions to destroy it or the friendship that unites us.
Ret to India Topics
|
|
