153. A Blessed miracle-filled life

 

Shri. Bhaskar Satpute, an  81+ years young octogenarian, has an enthusiasm for life that is contagious. He has a large circle of friends, is devoted to his family, and lives life to its fullest. He is also disciplined and has a helping nature. He has a good command over English and worked diligently on the two write-ups and the video. Of the two write-ups one is about his life story, and the other is about his efforts to obtain a visa to come to the U.S. to fulfill his dream of higher education.

I thank Bhaskar for allowing me to post his story here for the readers. I also thank Ayan, Bhaskar’s grandson without whose help we may not have such a well-made video.

We wish Baskar a long, healthy, and miracle-filled life ahead!

Thousand Full Moons Team

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Thousand Full Moon: Shri. Bhaskar Satpute (81+)

Contributed By: Ayan Bhatia

My name is Bhaskar Bhagwanrao Satpute. Born in November 1940, in Aurangabad, Maharashtra.

Part of my life has been full of constant struggles, hardships, sacrifices and risks as well as determination, efforts, adventures, self-confidence and intense desire to succeed in life, under adverse and difficult conditions.

By the grace and blessings of God, I have experienced a few miracles. One such miracle is my successful migration to America. I am the first person from KASAR community to come to America in 1967 for education and later settled as a citizen in 1978.

My mother had 4th grade education, but she inspired me tremendously in my early childhood. She used to say “प्रयत्ने वाळूचे कण रगडीता तेलही गळे”

Meaning:  “with efforts oil can be extracted from particles of sand.”

My father managed a small utensils shop owned by his sister’s husband in Aurangabad. I was required to help him after returning home from school. I engraved names on brass, copper and stainless steel utensils using a tiny hammer and a chhanni (strong nail).

My parents could not provide expenses for education, so I qualified and won Government scholarships. I passed H.S.C. in 1957 with FIRST CLASS, PUC and PPC with distinction. In 1963,  I received B.E. (Electrical) from Osmania University, Hyderabad.

I worked one year in M.S.E.B as a Junior Engineer, three years in Government Poly Technic Aurangabad as a lecturer. Meanwhile, I continued efforts to fulfill my long cherished dream to go to America. I got admission in W.V.U. for M.S. degree in 1967.  I resigned my job of teaching.

A Loan scholarship of 8000 Rupees from Ichalkaranji Endowment fund from Pune was enough to pay for two semesters expenses.

Swargiya Vinayakrao Patil, a minister in Maharashtra state government, helped expedite my Passport which was urgently needed.

Without Loan scholarship and Passport It was impossible for me to go to America. This is second example of miracle.

My parents insisted that I get married before leaving to America. I am very fortunate, I chose Vimal as my life partner.

In August 1967, via 3 flights from Mumbai to Geneva, Geneva to London and from London, I arrived in New York. Then 8 hours of bus travel to Morgantown W. V.

After 2 semesters, I went to Chicago with a bus ticket and no money. My friend Vasant Pandav helped me to stay with him. I worked during summer and winter breaks to raise money for remaining education. With M.S. degree in 1969, I started working in Huntington, West Virginia. Received green card visa.

My wife, Vimal came to America in 1972. We both suffered and survived 5 years of separation. Obviously, this was a tremendous sacrifice. Now our family life begins with hope of bright future and good times.

I worked a total of 36 years,  4 in India, 10 in Huntington, 22 in Phoenix Arizona as a professional Engineer in Power Company. Raised 2 children Sheela and Ajay. They are well settled.

I helped financially my family in India until I retired in 2002. So far, I have helped about 35 deserving students from our community to pay their tuition fees. I will continue this pleasant and satisfying work in future.

We have travelled all over the world. Visited Canada, Mexico, Japan, China, Hawai, Cayman Islands, 3 separate guided trips to European countries. We enjoyed 3 ocean cruises to Bahama, Alaska and Scandinavian countries. Furthermore, I love to drive, we saw East and West coast cities and famous tourist spots in America.

I enjoy music, playing bridge, regular Exercise and Pranayam. I keep up with Indian and American politics. Most of all I enjoy spending time with my family and friends.

I faced Typhoid 3 times in India, Diabetes patient since 1994. Recently in 2020, I was diagnosed and recovered from Lymphoma cancer during traumatic period of COVID Pandemic. This is 3rd miracle.

I take this opportunity to express my gratitude to those who have helped me fulfill my dreams and helped me financially.

Finally, God blessed me with a Wonderful life. I am a Happy, Satisfied, Contended and Proud person.

Thanks for reading this and/or viewing video of my brief life story.

Cheers!!

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The Passport Miracle Story

In 1967 I got admission for M.S. degree in West Virginia university in America. I resigned my job . I needed desperately passport within 4 weeks.

My friend from our community assured me that his father who was DIG would help.

A signature of a Collector, DSP or high-ranking officer on the application helps to get the passport quickly. I went to Pune to my friend’s house and requested through him to his father to sign the application. He refused.

Obviously, I was very disappointed but not discouraged.

The same evening,  I went to Mumbai by train. Next day morning, I reached to the residence of Shri Vinayakrao Patil, a minister in Maharashtra government. I asked the guard at the gate to allow me to meet the minister. The guard just ignored me and said to me to get lost.

I remained firm, persuaded him to convey my message that a student from Aurangabad would like to see him. Patil Sir started his career as a high school teacher in Aurangabad. After few minutes the guard came out and asked me to go inside.

When I entered the home Patil saheb asked me what I wanted. I explained my urgent need about Passport.

He inquired about me and my family background. He was puzzled about how he knew me.

6 years ago, as a student in engineering college I requested Patil Saheb to give me a character certificate. I was in the Congress Sevadal. Patil Saheb quit teacher’s job and became president of Aurangabad Congress committee. I showed him the letter signed by him about 6 years ago. Immediately he instructed his private secretary to ask any assistant secretary of Maharashtra state government for signature.

Next day, at the secretariat I got the signature. Upon submission of application, I received my passport the same afternoon.

This event is a MIRACLE in my life. Some superpower from blue skies was behind me to guide me to do what I did.

Hey, I was destined to go to America and fulfill my long-cherished dream of education.

After I received my M. S. Degree in 1969 , I sent a letter of gratitude to Patil saheb. To my surprise he took time to answer that letter.

152. Moment of pride-- when my squadron received medals of honor

 

Avinash Godbole and a picture of his earned medals. The two star-shaped medals on the left are the Samar Seva Star -1965 war medal and Poorvi Star - 1971 war medal respectively. 

Thousand full Moon: Shri. Avinash Godbole (81+)

Contributed by Rohini Abhyankar.

I am posting on this blog after a long time…

Accompanied by my husband, I visited Shri. Avinash Godbole, the octogenarian, on a relaxed, crisp afternoon. The goal was to peek into his life journey and urge him to share some of his treasured memories with us. We received a warm welcome from Suhasini, his wife, and settled down for a long chat while enjoying some hot ginger tea and delicious snacks. I have known Avinash Godbole for many years but never really had an opportunity to talk to him at leisure about his lived experiences. Today, I share with you some excerpts from our delightful conversation.

Avinash Godbole was born in the town of Ghatanji near Nagpur, Maharashtra. He was the 4th sibling among five brothers; the youngest brother was born 14 years after Avinash’s birth giving Avinash the luxury status of being the youngest child for a long time.

Avinash is a proud Nagpurian. He did his schooling and college in Nagpur. Avinash’s childhood and early youth were enriched by his close contact with Marathi literary stalwarts. Poet Anil’s son was Avinash’s good friend, Shanta bai Shelke, a renowned Marathi poet who was a visiting lecturer of Marathi literature at Avinash’s college and playwright Purushottam Darvhekar was his father’s close friend. Avinash recounts acting and prompting for a couple of plays that were written and directed by members of the Nagpur Natya Mandal.

Remembering his childhood days, Avinash said,

I had a “middle-class upbringing; my father was in the Railways, and because of this, our whole family traveled from Kanyakumari to Kashmir on our annual trips. My father had a lot of interest in writing small Shrutikas (skits) for AIR etc.  He was a member of Nagpur Natya Mandal and Sahakar Sanstha. Purushottam Darvhekar was one of my father’s friends. While doing [my] M.Sc. at Science College Nagpur, Prof. Shanta Shelke taught us Marathi for one year. Kavi ‘Anil’s’ son Ulhas was my friend since our school and college days. I used to visit Kavi ‘Anil’ -and his wife Kusumavati bai Deshpande in their Dhantoli home often”.

After earning a master’s degree in Physics (electronics), Avinash started his career as a physics lecturer. However, he was not entirely content with the lecturer position, so he applied to Indian Air Force upon a friend’s urging. He had to go through a grueling interview process for over four days and was accepted into Air Force’s 62 weeks intensive training program despite his application being a bit late.

Recollecting his first posting and the early Air force days, Avinash said,

“In June of 1961 [I] joined the IAF as Pilot officer after initial training at AFTC Jalahalli, Bangalore. In late 1962 [I was] posted to Pune and from there to Palam, Delhi”.

Soon after he joined the Air Force, India was attacked by China. As Avinash witnessed the war, he recollects thinking that at the time, Indian forces were not prepared to face an attack of the magnitude launched by China with its disciplined, massive army. China, it seemed to him, was also well-equipped to fight wars in the cold Himalayan regions. After the China war, India changed its policy and strengthened its armed forces. With help and cooperation from Russia, Russian Sam-2 missiles were purchased by the government of India. Subsequently, a training center was set up in Baroda in Gaikwad’s Makkarpura palace, which the government of India had purchased. Avinash was sent there for training, conducted mainly by Russian trainers, who helped Avinash learn the Russian language.

Avinash narrated one of his cherished memories from the 1965 India-Pakistan war--

“I am proud to say the only SAM-2 missiles successfully fired was from my squadron during the 1965 war with Pakistan. The missile was fired at midnight, and the next morning at 7 am, the late PM Lal Bahadur Shastri and the Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Arjun Singh, visited our squadron. He [Shastriji] went [a]round the complex and addressed the staff and congratulated each and every one. It was a pleasure to meet him. I will always cherish memories of his visit”!

He went on further to narrate another memory,

“In November 1965, while the war was just over, I got a few days of vacation to get married in Nagpur. Our marriage took place at the Ahilya Devi Mandir in Dhantoli, Nagpur. Guruji Golwalkar attended our wedding. Also, Dr. Khankhojey.  Suhasini and I returned to our unit at Dadri, Ghaziabad, where we lived in tents for six months till our permanent quarters were built”.

Avinash seemed amused when he remembered the nine-day long journey in May of 1975, which he and his family had to take from Delhi to Bangalore as they accompanied an entire missile squadron being moved from one base to another.

Avinash’s Air Force career took him to many destinations, from Pune to Coimbatore to Calcutta, to Bangalore, to Kurseong, Delhi and Bikaner, with each city delivering a basket full of cherished memories. He remembers being in Bikaner, where peacocks roamed freely, and remembers a huge officers’ mess shared by the Army and Air Force. He recollects being the only officer and a guard on duty in the stately dining hall with only a couple of chefs and servers for the company. He remembers the nights when he could see the distant light of the collector’s house. He also remembers how cheap the land was back then. The government of India had acquired a chunk of land and carved out an area to build an airport, and the rest was being given away at three Paise per square yard-- a jaw-dropping low number. Someone suggested that Avinash buy land worth Rs. 500, which had the potential to turn him into a rich man in a few years. Reminiscing on the good old days, Avinash said he did not take the suggestion seriously as he was unsure of the ethicality of the matter and also because he did not have that much money to spare at the time.

Another fun memory he shared was when the famous movie star Raj Kapoor descended upon the base in Lohgaon, Pune with his entourage, to shoot the now well-known Hindi movie Sangam. Avinash mentioned those fifteen magical days where Raj Kapoor’s crew would serve meals to all the officers in the Air Force Mess. Avinash remembered the handsome, well-mannered Raj Kapoor to be extremely courteous to all the Air Force personnel.

The saga of fascinating Air Force memories continued. Our snack plates and teacups were getting replenished, and Avinash continued his narration about how he and his wife met the then Prime Minister Shrimati Indira Gandhi in Calcutta. At yet another time, how a Station Commander flying from Calcutta, diverted his Bangalore-bound aircraft to drop Avinash off at Nagpur to visit his family. Narrating yet another warm memory, Avinash said,

“After the war in December 1971, when we were returning to our units by train to Bangalore, every railway station gave a grand welcome to the returning troops. It was an unforgettable experience. People thronged the station and garlanded the war heroes and distributed sweets. Will always cherish these memories!”.

As the government of India was strengthening its armed forces, Avinash remembered new airplanes being purchased, airplanes like the Mirage and MIG-21. However, they needed a state-of-the-art communication network in order to be more effective. So, a team of twenty-five chosen individuals was dispatched to Florida to be trained by the American Air Force. Avinash’s family joined him in Florida during the training. The training also allowed Avinash and his family to explore new horizons in the West which subsequently proved to be a game changer. In due course of time, Avinash, declined a promotion to the post of Group Captain and decided to retire from the Air Force and migrated to the United States.

The afternoon descended into evening, and we had to bring our engaging conversation to an end. As a concluding comment, to summarize his long and accomplished career in the Air Force and his subsequent migration to the U.S., Avinash said,

“I am grateful to the IAF for the rigorous training I received throughout my Air-Force life. Military Life was exciting, and my family and I enjoyed every bit of it despite the many hardships, postings, and moving with bag and baggage every two years. By the same token, life in the US has been exciting too”!

We at Thousand Full Moons thank Avinash for sharing his story with us and wish him a continued happy, healthy, fun-filled journey ahead!