“Operation Tekchem”

Dear Member,
Many Members have fond memories of WZCC programs which were held on earlier occasions at Leslie Sawhny Training Centre, Deolali. Since there is an increasing demand from the Members to have such a program once again, WZCC India Region has decided to hold an event at the Centre. This event will be held at the same venue covering two days, Saturday 27 th and Sunday 28th April 2024.

The overnight stay includes a visit to the award-winning Gargoti Museum, the only Museum in India that displays the mineral treasures of the earth (details attached). The program “Operation Tekchem” will be expounded by Maj. Gen. Cyrus Pithawalla, AC, VSM, a former General officer of the Indian Army. He was awarded India's highest peacetime decoration for gallantry, the Ashok Chakra, in 1981, and by virtue of this, he is one of the most decorated flag officers in the history of the Indian Armed Forces. His session will be a first-hand account of action of neutralizing nine hard core insurgents in Manipur. This is a tale of leadership, discipline & decision making.

Itinerary
Saturday, 27 th April, 2024
– 6.30 a.m. sharp –  Members will leave Sethna Agiary, Tardeo, (opp.Bhatia Hospital)
(Members will need to assemble at the coach site 15 minutes prior to departure)
– 6.50 a.m. sharp – At Dadar (opp. Dadar Parsi Gymkhana)   (Members will need to assemble at the coach site 15 minutes prior to departure)
10.45 a.m. – 12.15 p.m.  Visit to Gargoti Museium (on Nashik-Shirdi Highway)
–  1.30 p.m. Reach Leslie Sawhny Training Centre, Deolali.
–  2 p.m. to 3 p.m. –  Lunch
–  3 p.m. onwards members get free time
–  7.15 p.m.  onwards – Assemble in the Leslie Sawny Training Centre garden for networking and dinner.

Sunday, 28 th March 2024

– 8.00 a.m. – Breakfast
– 9.30 a.m. to 1.00 p.m. – Program “Operation Tekchem” (Coffee break 11.15 a.m. to 11.35 a.m.)
– 1.15 p.m.to 2.15 p.m.  – Lunch
– 3.00 p.m. – Departure for Mumbai.

The cost for this trip will be Rs. 5000/- – per head (Rs 5600/- for Non-Members) which will include full lodging/ boarding at the Leslie Sawhny Centre, Deolali, (including Tea/Coffee, one Breakfast, two lunches, one Dinner) to & fro transportation by A/C bus, visit to Gargoti Museum and packed breakfast and mineral water on the bus on 27 th April, 2024.

The cheque for the same can be made in favour of “WZCC – India” or you can
send the payment by NEFT as per details given below:-

Beneficiary Name: – WZCC – India
Account No: –             50100344822970
Bank Name: –             HDFC Bank Ltd.
Branch: –                     Tardeo, Wadia Street
IFSC Code: –                HDFC0000544

Please inform after you have completed the payment by NEFT.
Please note that since the Leslie Sawny Centre has limited lodging facilities, only a total of 25 persons can be accommodated on a first come first served basis,
(double & Triple sharing Non-A/c rooms).  Do NOT miss this opportunity. Do inform us at the time of making the payment whether you are Veg or Non-Veg.
All members are requested to confirm their participation with Mr Ronnie Shrof on 9619165444 / 23532522, email. wzcc@wzcc.org  and arrange to make payment
latest by 15 th April, 2024. Only after making payment your name will be registered.

Warm regards,
Sincerely,
Behroze Daruwalla
President – India Region

The Gargoti Museum is a museum in the town Sinnar near Nashik Maharashtra that
houses a collection of natural mineral and gem specimens collected by K. C. Pandey
over 40 years. The word "goti" refers to a Marathi word meaning stone or pebble. This is
India's first and only gem, mineral, and fossil museum. It also houses the largest and
finest collection of Indian zeolite minerals and crystals in the world.
The Gargoti Museum houses the largest & the finest collection of Indian zeolite minerals
and crystals in the world. It is divided into two galleries namely Deccan Plateau Gallery
and Prestige Gallery. There are 2 floors in the museum and has vast collection of
minerals and crystals. It is located 32 km from Nashik on Nashik-Shirdi highway in a
town named Sinnar.
The museum's displays include:
⚫ Natural Crystals
⚫ Zeolites, Minerals
⚫ Gem Stones
⚫ Precious Stones & Metals
⚫ Semi-Precious Stones & Metals
⚫ Fossils
⚫ Statues
⚫ Handicrafts

Deccan Plateau Gallery
This section displays zeolite minerals and crystals excavated from the Deccan region of
India, mainly Maharashtra and surroundings states.
Exhibits include:
1. Zeolite, mineral, and crystal specimens
2. Fossils of shells, extinct dinosaurs, and mammoths
3. Finest quality of statues carved out of precious/semi-precious stones
4. The fluorescent mineral display Prestige Gallery
This section displays rare finds from India and around the world.
This includes –
1. Gem, precious/semi-precious stones
2. Precious/semi-precious metals
3. Rocks from Moon and Mars
4. The best of Indian zeolite minerals
The Prestige Gallery, designs are inspired by the Indian Parliament & Monument and showcases a glimpse of the spell bounding treasures of Nature.