In a heartfelt display of community spirit, officers from the Indian Navy’s First Training Squadron visited the Sree Narayana Mission (SNM) Nursing Home @ Chong Pang on Jan 16 to serve lunch to its elderly residents.
The visit, organised in collaboration with the High Commission of India, saw 10 naval personnel volunteering their off-duty time to engage with the seniors. A total of 300 bento boxes were served to 224 residents.
Keeping the old folks’ more delicate palate in mind, the traditional Indian vegetarian meals provided were deliberately made less spicy. The meals were prepared by six naval men on board the visiting Indian Navy ships.
The naval officers were in Singapore as part of a four-day port call from Jan 15 to 18. The squadron, comprising ships INS Tir, INS Shardul, INS Sujata, and ICGS Sarathi, was on a Long-Range Training Deployment (LRTD) across Southeast Asia.
“The squadron is training future navy officers. The training does not just include essential sea-going experience; it also instills the officers with a community service spirit and cross-cultural exposure,” said Lieutenant R. Nishanth, who was part of the team that visited SNM.
Sree Narayana Mission CEO S. Devendran especially looked forward to the visit because of his long-standing connection with the armed forces. During his service in the Singapore Armed Forces, he always maintained good links with Indian officers, he noted.
“It reinforces the friendship between our two nations that goes back decades. I’m especially privileged that I was able to talk to the defence attache and say, ‘Hey, why don’t we do this?’” said Mr Devendran.
“War is not what we are. Nobody wants to fight a war; when you look at the tragedy in Gaza, for example, and read about a child who hasn’t even learnt how to walk losing their life, it is simply madness. It is a zero-sum game - there are no winners; everyone is a loser. While the profession of arms is noble, we must always be prepared to protect the sovereignty of our people and our country, we also represent the frailties of human nature, and this is one such.”
He also mentioned that SNM was formed in 1948, a time when links to the “mothership” India were much more direct and intertwined. He added that, while the community has become more separate with the passing of generations, such opportunities help the bridges to be rebuilt and reinforce a shared history.
“Having officers who work in the defence sector engage in social service helps them step away from their intense environments. It creates a change in individual lives through a bond of humanity and leads to a sense of deep fulfilment,” said Mr Devendran.
Lt Nishanth also highlighted the significance of the visit, stating that the event was a meaningful way for officers to engage in community service. He noted that the delegation values these opportunities for cross-cultural connection and social contribution during their overseas deployments.
“We not only shared food; we shared laughter, experience, and blessings,” said the 27-year-old with a big smile.
Mr Suryakumar, 87, a resident at the nursing home, expressed his appreciation. “The food was very delicious, like a home-cooked meal. It was wonderful to have the officers here talking to us,” he said.
Mdm Rajamma, 95, another SNM resident, shared that she felt delighted and respected by the presence of the young men in uniform who took the time to serve them.
