On 16th August the Anzac Jawan Cenotaph at the Greenway Oval Cherrybrook was visited by the Internationally famed Former Indian Cricket Team captain Kapil Dev. Kapil Dev is known as the first Indian Cricket team captain to win the 1983 world cup at Lords against all odds. Kapil Dev was awarded India’s civilian awards ‘Padma Shri’ in 1982 and ‘Padma Bhushan’ in 1991 by the Indian Government for his great contribution to the Indian cricket. Kapil Dev was also awarded Arjuna Award in 1979-80.
Anzac Jawan Cenotaph at the Greenway Oval, Cherrybrook was erected by the Hindu Council of Australia in 2018 to celebrate the ANZAC centenary year with a grant from the Department of Veteran Affairs, support from the Hornsby Shire Council, RSL Hornsby Subbranch and Mr Julian Leeser, MP for Berowra.
The great legend visited the Cenotaph on 16th Aug at 11:30am and was greeted by the Hindu Council officials Mr Bhagwat Chauhan President Hindu Council NSW (HCA NSW), Ashwani Jain Secretary, Hindu Council NSW, Mr Ashwani Sharma, Director Hindu Council Australia, Sanjeev Bhakri Advisor HCA, Rajender Jalpota, Treasurer HCA, Vikrant Pahuja VP HCA NSW, Clr Sreeni Pillamarrri Hornsby Shire Council, Col Virendar Sahni & Col Sachin Tilekar.
Kapil Dev laid a wreath at the Cenotaph during the ceremony conducted by Anand Manickam Jt Secy, Hindu Council NSW. The legendary cricketer was welcomed to the Cenotaph by Bhagwat Chauhan President HCA NSW followed by a speech from Col.
Sachin Tilekar and Mr Ashwani Sharma. Ashwani Sharma and Vijay Rana shared their memories from the school days with Kapil. Clr Sreeni Pillamarri had some great cricket discussions with Kapil Dev at the event.
The cricketing great was presented with a framed photograph of the Cenotaph by the Mr Bhagwat Chauhan and Ashwani Jain. The cricketing legend also known as Kapil Paaji, spoke highly of the sacrifices of the Anzac’s of Indian origin during the WW1 and appreciated the efforts of the AICC (Australia India Cenotaph committee) managed by Annu Tandon, Birju Bhatt, Anand Manickam and Ashwani Jain for commemorating the ANZACs’ and conducting the Anzac Day and Remembrance Day services at the Cenotaph.
The closing remarks were given by Ashwani Jain remembering Dev’s game changing catch of Sir Viv Richards on a delivery from pacer Madan Lal that changed the history of the Indian cricket and stayed etched in the memories of the cricket lovers and the future generations.
Mr Dev mingled and talked to the guests after the ceremony and enjoyed some refreshments catered by Ajay of Madison Function Centre.
– SREENI PILLAMARRI,
Hornsby Shire Councillor
