The Full Story
Magical Stories
Welcome to our inspiring blog, where heartfelt stories illuminate a global tapestry of interconnected souls, united by compassion and camaraderie. Join us as we unravel tales of extraordinary individuals, bound by a shared purpose to uplift, support, and create a brighter world together.
My Real Family
​
In these troubled times this is a story that should warm the cockles of your heart.
Consider this:
Two Continents - Asia and North America, separated by the proverbial seven seas.
Four Cities - New Delhi in India, Dubai in UAE, Newark in NJ (USA), and Washington DC in USA.
Five Retired Indian Army Officers - Iqbal Singh in New Delhi, Syed Rizvi aka Bobby in Dubai, Ronnie Anand in Washington DC, and Rajeev Sharma and Himanshu in NJ.
Two Second Generation Children - Fatima Rizvi, daughter of Bobby, and Siddhant Sharma, son of Rajeev Sharma.
Surprising Fact - Only Iqbal had earlier met Bobby and Rajeev, and none of the other persons mentioned above had ever met each other. The only common thread they all are members of Forces Network – the Network of the military veterans in the corporate having over 5200 members spread globally.
Fatima Rizvi - Pursuing her passion
Situation – Bobby works in Dubai for the past few years after having taken premature retirement from the Indian Army as a Col to nurture the golf career of her daughter Fatima – a young talented golfer. Fatima was picked up by a Golf Academy in South Carolina, USA last year where she is now based. She was to travel in the USA and had to change flights at Newark NJ, and after a layover of six hours, had to catch a connecting flight to Savannah, Georgia. However as she is a minor, she had to be booked as an unaccompanied minor, and only a predesignated and authorized person whose name had to be registered with the Airlines could hand over/receive her at the airports. Unfortunately, Bobby's cousin who was to receive and hand her over at Newark NJ got admitted in a hospital, and thus was not in a position to assist. Bobby ran out of possible options to overcome this peculiar situation at the last hour.
Solution - It dawned upon Bobby that he should dial Forces Network and tap in to the potential and reach of Forces Network he contacted Iqbal, enquiring if solution could be worked out relating to receiving his daughter at the airport at Newark, USA.
Let us just get an idea of the distances, from the maps below:
Unfolding of the Events: Iqbal provided details of three retired Indian Army officers he knew who stay around New Jersey. Then, Ronnie Anand, Himanshu, and Rajeev Sharma were contacted. Confirmed assurances like, "Just take it as done", "I am away, however my wife will receive her and she is welcome to stay at our home as well", "Just leave it to me and forget your worries" were provided even without a hint of doubt. Ronnie, though being in Washington DC, even proposed to drive down four hours one way to receive Fatima!!
It was then Siddhant, son of Rajeev Sharma, who arrived early at the airport and then received and escorted Fatima. He waited with her for over five hours at the airport, got her to have lunch, booked the trolleys for her, and made calls to Bobby to let him know that she has landed, been received and also ensured that she checked in to her next flight.
While Bobby is extremely thankful to Siddhant, Rajeev, Ronnie, Himanshu and Iqbal for this timely assistance, he also feels indebted to the spirit and camaraderie which the members of Forces Network have displayed, transcending all boundaries of Continents, course seniority, religion, race and sex. He says, "I am sure, even blood brothers would not respond in this way as my brothers-in-arms have responded. I am now certain that this is the real family that we have and are extremely fortunate to be blessed with such camaraderie and synergy. I am extremely fortunate to be a part of this great Forces Network. God speed to the Network that works......and rocks. The experience has firmed up my belief, that we are one big family the REAL FAMILY"
​
Siddhant Sharma
Three Cheers to Siddhant Sharma, s/o Col Rajeev Sharma, who took all the pains and became a vital link in strengthening the bond of brotherhood among Forces Network members. Siddhant has been a student-athlete having played Varsity level basketball, volleyball and football during his high school. He has an undergraduate degree in Economics and a Master’s degree in Business from Fuqua Business School at Duke University. He has also been a “Teach for India” Fellow in Ahmedabad, India for two years.
Siddhant is working with a Tech Start-Up in New York City as part of their sales team. It speaks a lot about his upbringing by the parents, as displayed by him in the manner he attended to all the aspects of the hospitality and made Fatima comfortable, in true Indian essence of 'Atithi devo bhava' (meaning “Guest is God”).
Three Cheers to Forces Network – the Network that works!
ANGEL IN DISTRESS IN A
FAR OFF LAND
BACKGROUND: Ms Soujanya Rai, daughter of serving Naval Officer, Cdr J N Rai. is a Goa-based software developer. She is also a writer, photographer and social media specialist. She has been travelling across the country with her family and now continues this journey on her own. An enterprising travel/backpacking enthusiast, she has created The Spicy Journey (www.thespicyjourney.com) to be able to share her stories, (mis)adventures, tips and shenanigans.
​
In October 2019, she was on one such solo trip to the island of Bali, one of the many solos she had done earlier. The confidence had been built over the years, and no misadventure actually happened all this while.
However, the nature has surprises in store, more so to test our resolve. And, then there is Forces Network too….to meet all such surprises and challenges.
THE CHALLENGE: Then, on 10 Oct 2019, she met with a serious accident at Bali. She was admitted to the Mangusada General Hospital, Badung, Bali in an unconscious state by the Police.
​
When the worried parents got the news of the accident at Goa, after having run out of options, they contacted Lt Cdr Lohith Anand Sequeira (Retd). He happens to be a member of the Forces Network, and promised them to use the resources of the Network to provide immediate help to their daughter.
CHALLENGE ACCEPTED: Lt Cdr Lohith flashed the news on the Forces Network Group on the night of 10 Oct 2019, and immediately proactive actions started within the Group like a well oiled machine. Promptly Cdr Mathur (Retd) and Wg Cdr Rajesh (Retd) contacted the parents and offered to help in this time of need.
Col Amish Chadha (Retd) (@AmishChadha), after learning about the help required, took the initiative to reach out to his classmate Mrs Monica Manchanda Mohindra (also daughter of an Army Officer and the owner of Pandawas Boutique Hotel, Ubud) at Bali who moved swiftly like an angel, spoke to Soujanya to comfort her, and then went to Soujanya’s hospital and took charge of the girl. She later brought her home, and provided her with all kind of support to aid her recovery. A local doctor, another beautiful soul came to Monica’s home for the treatment, as Soujanya was travelling without travel insurance. It was very magnanimous of Monica to take care of the injured girl at this stage and provide her with the required support, both financial and moral, when even the Government officials were perturbed about her travelling without medical insurance, and the inability of her parents to reach her in time.
Soujanya was nursed back to wellness by Ms Monica and her family. Thereafter, Monica even assisted in rescheduling her flights and getting her to board a flight to India.
Soujanya finally landed to be with her parents at Goa on 17 Oct 2019, after nearly seven days of trauma and helplessness in a foreign land.
​
​
This is another excellent display of the camaraderie and the swiftness shown by the members of the Forces Network, when an angel in distress in a far off of land was provided with succour, co-opting the able and timely support of close friends of the members.
The parents were touched by the swiftness of the Forces Network in reaching out to their dear one in distress. While Cdr J N Rai is himself not a member of the Forces Network, however this incident has strengthened the faith amongst the members that come what may, and in any corner of the World, if they are in any kind of adverse situation, they will surely find a helping hand from this wonderful Forces Network….the network that works.