"Guts and Glory - Father & Son Duo"

Background - In January 2016, my parents were visiting us to spend quality time with their grand-daughter who was all of seven. It is heartening to see your parents become kids again and enjoy the fun and frolic with your off-spring. The bond my angelic daughter shares with her grand-parents is truly-special.

Naval Station Karanja, Uran - Uran is a coastal town of Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra. The Naval Station is a 45 minute boat ride from the Naval Dockyard in South Mumbai. The picturesque scene of the South Mumbai skyline can be admired from the Walkway which is also called a "Breakwater" in naval parlance. The breakwater connects the Naval Jetty to the Naval Station. One can breathe the fresh air and hear the waves crash against the breakwater. It is especially beautiful in the evening when you can feel the sea breeze and enjoy the spectacular scene of the setting sun. During one such seminal moment, my father popped up a question which made me instantly disconnect from the breath-taking scene and rivet my attention to what he said- "Son I want to feel young again and so I have decided that we will be participating in the Open Sea Swimming Competition this year".

Just to get the facts clear- My father a decorated naval war veteran, distinguished aviator & diver is also a State Level Swimmer. He has the rare- honour of a few records against his name whilst in the Indian Navy from 1980s/1990s for being the fastest swimmer in a few events i.e 100M butterfly, 200M Individual Medley, 50M Freestyle etc. Given his credentials in the field of swimming, one can only imagine how I learnt the art of swimming. It was the "Hard Way- No Mercy". My first encounter with the water was when I was told to jump in the deep-end of the swimming pool. My survival instincts kicked in and with a considerable intake of alum-water and a vigorous use of my limbs, I was able to miraculously make it to the side-wall of the pool. The life-guard was given strict instructions not to react when I was about to jump into the water. That was my first day in the swimming-pool.

Fast-Forward to 2016 and I was quite comfortable to be in the water. However, swimming a distance of close to 6 Km in the sea with an uncomfortable swell, murky water, sea waste, marine animals and strong currents was a tough ask. However, his wish was my command and I had to prepare and train myself to undertake this task. I wanted to take on this challenge not to prove to myself but to keep my father's faith in me intact. My better half and my little angel saw me train rigorously for over six months.

On a foggy morning at 03:30 am on 17 November 2016, my father and I took a ride in a fast motor-boat from Karanja to the Indian Naval Watermanship Training Centre (INWTC), Mumbai. The Open Sea Swimming Competition was planned from Prongs Lighthouse (start point) to INWTC (finish point) and the participants had to complete the formalities and medical check up at INWTC. My father was in the Veteran category (>50 yrs) and I was part of the Men's Category (>16 yrs to 50 yrs). The Veterans category were the first to start the race. Whilst my father was facing the brunt of the sea, I could see him at a distance from a ferry craft which was in transit to the start point of the race. There were over 600 people - differently abled, physically handicapped, deaf & mute, young boys, girls and men, women. The presence of such a wide spectrum of people and the prevalent positive energy was amazing.

I could see my father change his style of swimming from freestyle to breast-stroke halfway through the race because he was finding it difficult to maintain a certain direction of approach to the finish mark. He was compelled to do so since the prevailing tide was pushing him towards the land and he was unable to see in front since the freestyle stroke of swimming allows only sideways movement of the neck and head to assist in taking in air (breathe-in). On the other hand, breast-stroke allows upward and downward movement of the head and neck to do the same. Therefore, its relatively easier to maintain a specific direction when a swimmer is doing the breast-stroke rather than the freestyle.

At 09:00 hrs, I took the plunge and the race started. Luckily, I had trained in breast-stroke and hence was able to mitigate what my father went through during his ordeal. I could see a lot of young men overtake me with the gunshot which marked the start of the race. Slowly and steadily, I was able to settle into a great-rhythm and ride through the waves and swell during the transit. The smell of the diesel fumes and floatsam (debris, waste matter, scrap etc) was disconcerting. However, application of coconut oil on the body and petroleum jelly on the nostrils to subdue the prevailing smell and stench were observed to be helpful. Halfway through the race I saw a couple of the participants in front of me grunt loudly in pain due to muscular cramps. They were picked up by the small Geminis (boat with an out-board motor) which were providing medical cover. I could also hear and see the Helicopter deployed for Search and Rescue cover. I kept telling myself to "pull" with an objective to steadily increase my pace and take on a competitor ahead of me one at a time and move ahead rather than look at the finish line which looked like a distant-dream. However, after a grueling 55 mins and 20 secs I was able to cross the finish-line. As I was exiting the water and running up the ramp I could see my father cheer me.

My father was able to complete the race in a time of 54 mins and finished third in the Veterans category. I was able to finish in the top-20 in my Category. Certainly, as the timings were out and given his credentials my father still beats me in the water. Lots of learnings - Never Give Up, keep at it, push yourself, tell yourself to do it. However, the biggest motivator was my father. I kept telling myself that I have to cross the finish line for my father and not for me. It's all in the mind and that's so true. After seeing the differently abled, physically handicapped, deaf & mute people compete in the same race, there was no-way that I was going to give-up.

The ride back after the race was even better. My father said - "Son this is the best day in my life" and you made it happen.