Fighting for Peace, Indian Navy Band in Concert 2015, Lascar Memorial, Kolkata

Fighting for Peace, Indian Navy Band in Concert 2015

Lascar Memorial, Kolkata

The music was mesmerizing and with the towering Lascar Memorial in the back drop it was a out of the world experience.

Colours of Lascar Memorial, the colour changing lights at the Lascar Memorial, Kolkata

It was the Indian Navy Band in Concert 2015 along with the cultural programme Fighting for Peace at the historical Lascar Memorial Complex in Hastings, Kolkata.

Crossed Indian National and Naval Flag, Lascar Memorial

The Lascar Memorial is a 100 ft high memorial built in the honour of the 896 Lascars, who died fighting for the British Navy during the First World War (WWI).

Built in Indo – Mughal style the Lascar Memorial was designed by William Ingram Keir and was unveiled to the public on 6 Feb., 1924 by the then Governor of Bengal, Lord Lytton.

The memorial was restored in 1994 due to the initiative of Commodore B K Mohanti, two decades later Commodore Ravi Alluwalia took up the initiative of beautifying the Memorial and its complex.

With the guidance of the Kolkata chapter of the Indian National Trust For Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) the Lascar Memorial have been fitted with colour changing LED lights, making it a visual treat during the night time.

Eastern Naval Command (ENC) Band, Lascar Memorial

In the last couple of years the Lascar Memorial have been the venue of several cultural events. On 31 Oct. 2015 the Lasar Memorial played host to the concert of Eastern Naval Command Band along with a host of other cultural programmes.

One of the pioneering Bands of Indian Navy, the Eastern Naval Command (ENC) Band was commissioned in the early 1950s.

It is based in Vaizag (Visakhapatnam) and have performed in all major cities of the country as well as abroad.

The band played a wide range of music covering western symphonies with Indian classical music and mixing pop with folk music.

Lt. Commander Satish K Champion was the principle conductor and was assisted by Master Chief Petty Officer (Musician) P K Tamang and Chief Petty Officer (Musician) Rajan Suresh.

Dance performance by Tanusree Shankar Dance Company, Fighting for Peace, Cultural Programme, Lascar Memorial, Kolkata

Lt Gen Praveen Bakshi, General Officer Commanding – in – Chief, Eastern Command was the chief guest for the evening. Vice Admiral Satish Soni, the Flag Officer Commanding – in – Chief, Eastern Naval Command was also present.

Felicitation of the band and artist, Indian Navy Band in Concert, Lascar Memorial, Kolkata

ENC Band concert was followed by a out of the world dance performance by Tanusree Shankar Dance Company followed by mesmerizing vocals from Priscilla Corner and Faizan Khurshid. Barun Chandra’s poem reading and Rita Roy’s inspirational reading were also part of the evening extravaganza at the Lascar Memorial. The whole programme was anchored by Ondrilla Dutt.

The programme ended with the felicitation of the band and artist by the chief guest followed by the National Anthem. Last but not least the amazing food and the cocktails need a special mention.

Special Thanks:

Special thanks to Commodore Ravi Alluwalia for the invitation to the Indian Navy Band in Concert and Fighting for Peace Cultural programme at the Lascar Memorial, Kolkata.