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By:

Quaid Najmi

4 January 2025 at 3:26:24 pm

Bhujbal’s chopper lands in Pune parking lot

Mumbai : In what is suspected to be a breach of aviation protocols, a chartered helicopter ferrying Food & Civil Supplies Minister Chhagan Bhujbal from Mumbai to Pune skipped a designated helipad and landed in a vehicle parking lot almost a km away.   The shocker happened in Purandar taluka, where Bhujbal was slated to attend a function marking the 200 th  birth anniversary of the social reformer Mahatma Jyotirao Phule in his home village Khanwadi.   As crowds of bewildered people watched...

Bhujbal’s chopper lands in Pune parking lot

Mumbai : In what is suspected to be a breach of aviation protocols, a chartered helicopter ferrying Food & Civil Supplies Minister Chhagan Bhujbal from Mumbai to Pune skipped a designated helipad and landed in a vehicle parking lot almost a km away.   The shocker happened in Purandar taluka, where Bhujbal was slated to attend a function marking the 200 th  birth anniversary of the social reformer Mahatma Jyotirao Phule in his home village Khanwadi.   As crowds of bewildered people watched from around the sprawling parking lot, the helicopter appeared to drop speed in its flight, flew over some overhead high-tension electric cables, and descended gingerly into the parking lot - raising a thick dust-storm in which it disappeared for seconds - before touching the ground.   Moments later, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) senior leader Bhujbal and others stepped out of the chopper, looked around in the unfamiliar territory before several vehicles and police teams rushed there. Minutes before there was chaos and confusion with some locals shouting warnings at the ‘wrong landing’.   Eyewitnesses said that the chopper’s powerful rotors created a thick dust storm and sparked alarm among the people in the vicinity, and many scrambled to the spot to check what exactly was going on in the parking lot.   Later, the Pune Police said that a designated helipad was available for the chopper landing but were at a loss to explain how the pilot missed it and veered off quite a distance away in the vehicle parking space. Subsequently, they asked the pilot to fly it to the correct landing spot.   Shaken and angry local NCP leaders questioned how a pilot flying a VIP on an official trip could mistake a parking lot for a helipad when the weather and visibility was clear. They demanded to know whether the helipad was improperly marked or it was a question of communication or sheer negligence.   The Pune Police indicated that they would report the matter to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) which may take action against the errant pilot and the helicopter company.   “There was no accident. We all emerged safely. The helicopter pilot landed wrongly in a parking lot because the helipad was not visible. All of us are fine and there is nothing to worry,” said Bhujbal, before he was whisked off by his security team.   “There are many faults in numerous airplanes and helicopters, including maintenance issues and other problems. That's why I keep saying consistently that VIPs must exercise caution while flying. Fortunately, an accident was averted today, but that doesn't mean the authorities should be negligent. We expect the government to take urgent precautions.” Rohit R. Pawar, MLA, NCP (SP)

April and Summer Vacations

While I definitely love my work, April always makes me nostalgic about a concept we all loved as children - summer vacations.


Summer vacations meant freedom. They meant slower mornings, afternoon naps, mangoes, learning a hobby, family trips, cricket with friends, and the simple joy of not having to look at the clock every hour. It was a time filled with excitement, relaxation, and the feeling that life could be enjoyed at your own pace.


As adults, however, that feeling becomes rare. We wait for long weekends, public holidays, and a few precious vacation days to truly unwind. That naturally raises an important question - why do we need to escape from work to enjoy life? Why can every day not feel a little more like a summer vacation?


Well, in the long run, it can. The secret lies in giving your future self through investing.


Power of Money

One gift that keeps on giving, whether you are working, travelling, relaxing, or spending time with your loved ones, is the power of money working for you. The beauty of investing is that, even while you are taking a break, your investments can continue growing quietly in the background. Good businesses (stocks) keep working. Mutual funds keep compounding. Over time, your money begins to create support systems that are not dependent only on your daily effort. That is the real magic of investing. It gives you options. It gives you flexibility. And eventually, it can give you freedom.


Investing Is a Habit

Of course, this does not happen overnight. Financial freedom is not built in one summer. It is built through years of discipline. Saving and investing are habits, and like all good habits, they start small and strengthen over time. You do not need to be ultra-wealthy or a financial expert to begin. You simply need the willingness to start, the patience to stay consistent, and the wisdom to invest in the right places.


Your investments must align with your financial goals and ideally be in inflation-beating assets such as equity and hybrid mutual funds, direct stocks, and gold. The idea is simple - your money should not sit idle while prices keep rising around you. It should grow, compound, and participate in your journey toward a better future.


Twenty Years Can Change

Two decades of sensible and disciplined investing can change the entire texture of your life. After 20 years of smart investing, your life can begin to feel far less dependent on fixed schedules, salary cycles, and constant financial pressure. Your whole year can start feeling lighter, more flexible, and more enjoyable.


That is the true goal - not merely wealth, but freedom.


Thought for April

So, as April reminds you of childhood summers and carefree days, let it also remind you of something deeper. Start investing. Invest sufficiently. Stay consistent. Let your money work while you rest.


Because the real summer vacation is not one that lasts for a month. It is the one that financial freedom can give you for life.


(The writer is a Chartered Accountant and CFA (USA). Financial Advisor. Views personal. He could be reached on 9833133605.)

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