(आप को कहीं देखा लगता है).
It is long since AUG 1972 WHEN we parted on postings FROM MHOW and later retired over a decade back. We PRESENTLY know only those COURSE-MATES WELL, with whom we HAD BEEN in intimate contacts that too owing to the vicinity of posting stations. Some of our ladies joined us after the course was over. Their interaCtion with COURSE-MATES AND THEIR BETTER HALVES, THUS had been very limited. WE HOPE THE SAME will enhance during the reunion.
It is long since AUG 1972 WHEN we parted on postings FROM MHOW and later retired over a decade back. We PRESENTLY know only those COURSE-MATES WELL, with whom we HAD BEEN in intimate contacts that too owing to the vicinity of posting stations. Some of our ladies joined us after the course was over. Their interaCtion with COURSE-MATES AND THEIR BETTER HALVES, THUS had been very limited. WE HOPE THE SAME will enhance during the reunion.
Don't you think, therefore, that THERE IS NEED TO UPDATE each other covering the long time gap before we meet at
Mhow ON 8TH APR. WE ALL SHOULD, THEREFORE, PREPARE AN UPDATE ABOUT US AND THE FAMILY TO INCL ABOUT YOUR VENTURES DURING AND AFTER SERVICE, YOUR CHILDREN, WHAT THEY DO TODAY AND LAST BUT NOT THE LEAST YOUR SPECIAL PURSUES AS OF DATE. UPDATES IS REQUESTED FROM ALL COURSE MATES INCL THE ONES who ARE not able to make it for the Reunion,
We feel
proud to include the updates in this page together with their recent SNAPS so that when we meet on 8th we donot say 'Aap Ko kahin Dekha Hai' या आप जाने पहिचाने लगते हैं.
MADHAV GOVIND DATAR
After the SODE Course , I was posted to 1
Army HQ Sig Regt and this was followed by another posting to Delhi at Sig Dte
as GSO2 Sig 6 (which then used to be the Think Tank of the Corps of Signals).
This also launched me into a series of twin postings to Delhi at regular
intervals. With NO specific interests to stay at Delhi, I was posted next as
Col MS , MS branch and later Dy Commander , 1 Sig Gp, followed by NDC Course and Secretary NDC, and Finally ADG
Systems and ADG IT. I also had very successful and interesting tenures as
Commander 2 Sig Gp at Bathida (with half
of the Group at Delhi) and Commandant ,
Selection Centre East at Allahabad. My final posting was ‘Home’ posting at
Mhow, where I had also been the Dy Comdt.
The Allahabad posting opened a new world for
me. During Op PARAKRAM , I was the Dy Comdt at Mhow and all courses there had
been paused. I had nothing to do , I therefore threatened the MS Branch that I
would Run Away If they did NOT give a suitable assignment to me immediately. A
compromise was reached by me doing the
IO course and going on posting to
Allahabad. There I learnt the secret of all my failures (Successes ??). I was
very close to what the system identified as ‘Average’ , meaning I was a nut
‘universal’ who could fit into any hole
right and proper. That is how I kept moving from one assignment to another ‘successfully’ till the last .
As a
Young Officer ,you always dream of
becoming a Commanding Officer . When you do
become a CO, you commence dreaming for a day when there is war with the
enemy and you are at the helm to influence the
out come. My dream came true during Kargil war , where I was the CSO,
Northern Command , and was one of the few closeted together 24X7 to conduct the
war. Matter of great honor , being at the cutting edge , and the entire Corps
backing you up.
Some stars exchanged places in my
‘patrika’ in 1991, and the Army decided
to send me abroad every year since then on some assignment or the other. The
Army helped us a lot to look around the
world over the years.
Savita was my childhood (well , nearly) sweet heart , and we , like a few others , decided to get married early – me age 24 with Savita age 19. The CME could
not give us a house , and a compromise
was reached by requesting Nancy ,
my room –mate shifting out and we setting up a house at ET 5/2. Our neighbors
were on one side Raj -UD and AN-19 on the other. Savita held and steered me well all through 41 years of journey in the Army , covering beautiful highways
abroad , as well as tough climbs of Khardungla (Siachen), beautiful sites of
Paris as also the after math of Kargil War. Her immense belief in Truth,
Perseverance and Forgiveness ensured that I could neither slip and fall , nor
could I take off in the air and fly away. She ensured that I remained grounded always.
Manjari arrived in Jul 71 and Many of us
may recall accompanying her pram, which KP had graciously loaned to us.
Manjari’s husband (Col Ulhas Kirpekar , a second generation Signaler) is a DS
at the DSSC, Wellington. They have a son doing Second year Engineering at AIT, Pune
(This possibly makes us the ‘oldest’ grandparents – Our Grandson Rohan is
already dating !!!). Her second son Raghav has just passed his 10th. Manjari having
done Masters in Zoology from DU and a plethora of programmes on education and
counseling, has been involved in these activities more or less as free lancer.
She also taught computers to American Kids at a School , of all the places in
California , USA where they were on a two years assignment.
Ashlesha was born at Delhi in 1975. She chose
Economics and followed a well recognized upwards route of Eco (Hon) at SRCC, MA (Eco) at
Delhi School of Economics , MS at Purdue
and Ph D (policy analysis) at California. She also found a life partner during this journey right since her SRCC days. Both she and Neeraj (Sood) worked as Senior
Economists at the RAND Corp (a US Think Tank for US Armed Forces) for 15 years
and presently both are Profs of Economics at University of
Southern California (USC), Los Angeles. She covers Development Policy and He
addresses Health Economics (Incidently ,
Neeraj has been on the panel of advisors to The US President and US
Congress on Heath-care Policy). They have two daughters , Kavya (in Second grade) and Rhea (in
Pre-school). They have set up a home at Los Angeles , close to Hollywood. We go
there to LA often , to ensure that we meet every year with the children.
We disposed off all our ancestral properties
at Gwalior and built a home at Mhow. I play Golf regularly and so does Savita - Plays Mahajong. We are involved in a lot of Cultural
activities with Army as well as with civil town. I provide Guidance to Children
of Officers, JCOs, OR , Civs for SSB
(all Free). I have set up a Renewable Energy Company and indulge in to my
passion for harnessing high tech to get cheap / free
power – Solar, Wind, Hybrid. I do large projects, Roof Top Solar and water
heating. Keeps me busy , also gives me opportunities to travel around , meet
with people, and update with technology.
RAJ MEHROTRA
After I retired in
Nov 2002 from my last appointment as DDG FP, Poonam and I settled down in a
hired flat in Safdarjung Enclave in New Delhi. This place was nearest from
Poonam's school, Sanskriti where she was teaching as also from DU's South
Campus where our younger daughter, Priyanka was studying for her BSc Physics
Honours. I was then with Amity Institute of Telecom Technology and Management,
Noida as a senior faculty member and defacto deputy director.
I left Amity after a few months and then in Mar 2004 joined VXL Technologies, a
Birla Group company in Faridabad as Adviser (Strategic Electronics). I spent 5
years in this position and then in Nov 2009, I joined Radius Infratel Pvt Ltd
as a Consultant. This company is into FTTH (Optical Fiber to the Home). I left
them at the end of Jul 2013 and have been leading a retired life since then.Poonam will retire from her teaching job at Sanskriti at the end of Apr 2014. After that, there is really nothing to keep us here in Delhi/NCR as we do not own any property here. Our home is coming up in Lucknow and in all probability we will move there by the end of 2014.
Our elder daughter, Rati did her post graduation from Duke University in the US. Her husband, Vikas studied at the London School of Economics and then worked at UNDP's headquarters in New York. They moved to Switzerland when Rati got a job at the World Conservation Union (UICN). Five years later they moved to Toronto to start their own enterprise - devnetjobs.com - dealing with job placements in international development sector. They have two children - an 8 years old son and a daughter who will be 5 years old soon.
Younger daughter, Priyanka worked with Manohar Ramtri in Patni Computer Systems in Mumbai for a couple of years before moving to Toronto in 2009 to do her MBA from York University's Schulich School of Business. She is currently working with FedEx corporation in Toronto and is not yet married.
CL LAKHANPAL
CHAMAN LAL LAKHANPAL HAS HAD A REMARKABLE JOURNEY IN LIFE STARTING FROM A VILLAGE RAMPURA, PO QADAIN IN GURDASPUR DISTRICT (SURELY EVERONE KNOWS THAT IT IS IN PUNJAB, INDIA) , WHERE HE WAS BORN, GREW UP AND STUDIED. HE IS ALUMNI OF DEFENCE SERVICES STAFF COLLEGE AND NATIONAL DEFENCE COLLEGE NEW DELHI. HE WAS AN INSTRUCTOR AT MCTE MHOW, AT DSSC WELLINGTON, AND ARMY WAR COLLEGE MHOW. HE HAS VISITED CHINA, INDONESIA, MALASIA AND SINGAPORE AS PART OF INDIAN MILITARY DELEGATIONS.
LAXI’S REMARKABLE JOURNEY ACTUALLY GATHERED MOMENTUM AFTER RETIREMENT. POST RETIREMENT HE WORKED IN THE DOMAIN OF TELECOMMUNICATION, INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, SECURITY SYSTEMS AND CELLULAR COMMUNICATIONS AT VERY SENIOR POSITIONS AS:-
*VICE PRESIDENT (SYSTEMS) WITH M/S FLEX INTERNATIONAL, NOIDA AS TECHNICAL HEAD FOR THEIR INTERNATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATION BUSINESS;
*BUSINESS HEAD NORTHERN ZONE OF SDB CISCO ( INDIA ) LIMITED.
*CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER, LEMKO CORPORATION ( INDIA ), BUILDING CELLULAR TELECOMMUNICATION INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE COUNTRY.
HE IS NOW SETTLED WITH HIS FAMILY AT NOIDA (DELHI) AND HAS TWO SONS ELDER A LT COL IN INDIAN ARMY (SIGNALS) AND THE YOUNGER A TELECOMMUNICATION ENGINEER WITH MOTOROLA (INDIA) POSTED AT GURGAON. HIS DETAILED RESUME CAN BE SEEN read more
KP RAO
KP was on deputation with DRDL Hyderabad from 1982 to 1988, he commanded 10 IDSR from 1988-89 and took premature retirement on 9 JUl 1989 on selection as scientist in DRDL. He was closely associated with Dr APJ Abdul Kalam and was his personal guest during the oath taking ceremony as President of India. One can read his detailed resume CLICK HERE. Personal data is as under:-
1. Married to Suzy (My 2nd sister’s daughter) on 22 Apr 1970.
2. Son Ashish Kolli, graduated from IIT, Chennai and Carnegie Melon
University and presently senior Director with Oracle Corp, CA, looking after
development of access security for all Oracle products.
3. Daughter Shalini Kolli, Medical doctor from Gandhi Medical College,
Secunderabad and MD in Internal Medicine, now in Dallas, Tx.
4. Brought up two more children
of Suzy’s brother, one graduated as Medical Doctor recently and other engineer
presently working with Tech Mahindra. Credit goes to Suzy for taking care of our extended family
of kids, siblings, parents, and grandparents.
5. 2002: Knowing my close association with Dr.
APJ Abdul Kalam, top politicians form BJP & TDP approached me to Convince
Dr. Kalam accepts NDA Nomination to be the President of India. The whole
process was completed within 24 hours. Privileged to be one of his personal
guests for the Oath Taking Ceremony.
6. Founder
Member of an NGO “Foundations for Democratic Reforms” and contributed in
drafting several Charters and regulations for civic bodies, citizens and public
services.
Present
Occupation: Mostly shuttling between US & India at
the command of 3 grand daughters and Golfing daily mainly to keep fit.
NS VASAVAN
.JPG)
Brig Nadadur Srinivasan Vasavan,VSM retired
from Army on 31 May 1997, the last appointment being CSO, MPB&O
Area,Jabalpur.Hemalatha Vasavan Headed straight to Chennai to live as a Whole family after nearly 6
years.
During these times only we were Praying & Paying
our Obeisance in 108 Divya Kshetras of Vaishnavaites (there are 247
Saivite Kshetras),.WE were Privileged to Pray for our Army Coursemates..YOs
& SODE + IMA...
NS VASAVAN
.JPG)
Brig Nadadur Srinivasan Vasavan,VSM retired
from Army on 31 May 1997, the last appointment being CSO, MPB&O
Area,Jabalpur.Hemalatha Vasavan Headed straight to Chennai to live as a Whole family after nearly 6
years.
Worked as GM in a Brewery then The Project Head of
Telecom Works + Optical Fibre Cables & End to End Marconi Eqpts.
installation, maint etc...then 9 years in Injection & Compression Mould
Auto Industries.
In Service, a Proud recipient of VSM, COAS Commendation Card, GOC-in-C Commendation card and Commendation from Environmental Society of India.
In Service, a Proud recipient of VSM, COAS Commendation Card, GOC-in-C Commendation card and Commendation from Environmental Society of India.
Celebrated 3 Consecutive Corps Days as Commanding Officer
of 54 Inf Div Sig Regt OUTSIDE India.. I may
be the ONLY ONE C.O..in Corps of Signals ever
During these times only we were Praying & Paying
our Obeisance in 108 Divya Kshetras of Vaishnavaites (there are 247
Saivite Kshetras),.WE were Privileged to Pray for our Army Coursemates..YOs
& SODE + IMA...
We are blessed with Vivek(DOB 27 jan 1974) &
Aarthi(DOB 9 apr 1977) Vivek Married Pooja & they have Ira (d'ter).
Vivek & Pooja did PG in Grad School of Business in Chicago. He is a Director
in J & J in New York.Pooja is VP In an Investment Finance co in New
York.
Aarthi is married to Rangarajan & they have two
daughters--Ananya & Abhinaya.. Ranga (MS in Engg) is in FORD, Michigan &
Aarthi(B.Com +MBA) is Controller in an Expert System
Co.Michigan
NAVEEN GUPTA
Married in 1974, travel was a passion with Madhu and self. We set
the ball rolling in 74, June with a two month travel across Europe by a
combination of 60 days Eurail and British rail pass. Travelling at Night and
sight-seeing by day we covered 16 Europeans countries. Easier today, but was a
challenge at that time. In 94, we did the same for USA using a mix of Greyhound
and US Rail. Closer home we have travelled across India, mostly by Fiat/Maruti,
from Rohtang to kanya kumari and from Bombdi la to Jaisalmer. Entertaining and
cooking was our second passion, particularly of Madhu.
Post retirement, got the opportunity to work as country head of a
few wireless companies of USA and Israel. Also got the opportunity of laying
the foundation of Tulip Telecom, from a company with 2 Crore turnover to over
2000 crore. Later, created a software incubation company in JSS, Noida, to
encourage and finance youngsters with ideas in development. Making an FM codec
for transmission of radio programmes, from a central studio to regional
transmitters across India, was the prime achievement. The competition was
against Harris Corporation of USA which had a worldwide monopoly. An equivalent
of Skype which had all the ingredients of what’s App and an intelligent TV, was
the other, but could not market it
Daughter Vaishali, is married, has a son and daughter. She is on
Madhu’s footsteps. Son Prasun, is also married with two sons and settled in
Australia
(Note from NKD - Vaishali is true replica of Madhu not only in her looks but also in her voice and mannerism, God bless her and her family)
(Note from NKD - Vaishali is true replica of Madhu not only in her looks but also in her voice and mannerism, God bless her and her family)
God has been kind and so have you all. God bless
NOTE - Nancy as we call him has done proud to the Corps and is HERO of Nathula Battle, The complete write up on the Chinese invasion and role of Nancy is given in our Signals Family blog. Nancy we are very much proud of you.
DK BEWTRA
After
having an extremely eventful innings in the army, I retired in February 2003.
My last appointment was that of ADGSS, at Army HQs. We settled in Pune where,
we had already bought a house in 1993.
In August 2003, we went to USA and where
till April 2008 I helped my elder brother in expanding his company from 15
employees to almost 200 employees. During the period I worked in all possible
fields. I was instrumental in getting them an ISO and CMMI certification. As I
wanted to lead a quiet retired life, we moved back to Pune in May 2008.
Malvika, after completing her business administration
course and honour diploma from NIIT, was working in IBM global services, New Delhi,
when she got married to Rahul. Rahul is also a Signaller ( nephew of Sharat Anand),
presently a Colonel and posted as a DS in the senior command wing in Army War
College, Mhow. He has recently been nominated for the Higher Command course
starting in June 2014. Malvika has happily donned the mantle of an army
officer’s wife and has shouldered all the responsibilities coming her way, very
admirably. They have a daughter Akshara, who is studying in class 9. She is a
totally adorable girl, a class topper and bright in studies. She loves to be on
the stage, singing or acting.
Presently, Mridula and self are fully occupied in coaching
students in Mathematics. She sometimes gets jealous as she does the main
teaching but students are more fond of me.
UJJAL DASGUPTA
MODAK SE
NOTE - Nancy as we call him has done proud to the Corps and is HERO of Nathula Battle, The complete write up on the Chinese invasion and role of Nancy is given in our Signals Family blog. Nancy we are very much proud of you.
MANOHAR RAMTRI
Married Neelam during the MCTE phase of SODE (1971). Son Vishal was born in 1977, while we were at Pune
(Southern Comd Sig Regt). Commanded 25 Inf Div Sig Regt 1988-90, non-family
station, Neelam was at Mumbai and Vishal studied at Lawrence School, Sanawar.
Took decision here that I would retire prematurely.
Thanks to my friend Madhav Datar, got a posting to
Pune as Col MIS, which helped me to refresh my knowledge of IT, and
subsequently to get a job in the corporate world.
Due to delay in getting an offer of job, moved to
Delhi as Commandant Army HQ Computer Centre, from where I retired prematurely
in Aug 1994, after having served for 28 years.
Settled at Pune, where I worked in various
corporates, including IBM, for 18 years. VDS Mehra was the best pal here till
he and Kumkum left Pune for NOIDA within a year.
Vishal married Shibani (from Mumbai) in 2007, and went
immediately thereafter to Atlanta US, from where he obtained his Commercial
Pilots Licence the next year. They moved to Vancouver, Canada in 2010. Vishal
is a second-generation IBMer. Shibani works for Canada Trust Bank. Their son,
Rehaan, is celebrating his first birthday on 2 Apr 2014.
Family pic of 2013 IS PLACED.
NARINDER DHAND
When SODE got over all my course mates left me and HS at
Mhow to continue in the same rut of classes, lectures, examinations etc etc. Got married to Veena in Jun 1973 while at
MCTE and our son Manish was born there. In Aug 1975 then Brig, SL Mehrotra came to MCTE,
whom I met at another officer’s place. In a weeks time I got movement orders for TIFR Bombay to work under him in the Plan Aren
Development Team. My stay at TIFR remained short due to my nomination for DSSC in 1976 after which the real fauji RAGRA in sigs units for AE and on GS/OPs staff in HQs commenced. My signals service
has mostly been with mechanised formations and staff service in GS Branch, as such the life has been a big and demanding struggle for me.
After command of my unit at Jhansi I got
deputed to National Security Guards to raise a Hush Hush unit, a motley assortment of personnel from Army, BSF , CRP, SIB and
R and AW, tasked for certain specialized national level anti terrorist operations. We took part in many such kind of coveted operations. The unit was also assigned role for Anti Hijacking
operations. I happen to be as of date a qualified negotiator. I have a real hijack surrender at Calcutta to my credit done bloodlessly in the middle of night. I was awarded President’s
Police Medal but Army HQ turned it down terming the same to be below an Army Officer's dignity. It was interesting wearing
Black Cat Commandos uniform for over three years and flying around the country as a DIG Police from PM's Protection Establishment.
At the fag end of my service I served in two
Area HQs , Colaba and Bareilly. I never knew that the life
in Fauj could be that enjoyable. I
was fortunate to attend a year's programme at Indian Institute of Public Administration
New Delhi in 1999-00. We were three Army officers who were nominated first time ever on this senior level civilian offrs course from All India Services eg IAS, IPS, IFS, IRS, Railways etc
etc. I bagged M Phil Degree and later got registered for PhD with Punjab University which remained incomplete.
On retirement we decided to settle down at
Noida. Post retirement I worked one year
in a corporate in India and then over 5 years in Nigeria. My tenure as DDG Fin
Plg from 1997 to 1999 at Army HQ, helped me a lot later in the corporate world. As DDG (FP) I experienced to see governance beyond the Well of the Armed Forces and managed to obtain first time ever Govt provisions for a respectable state funeral for the Army Martyrs sacrificing their lives during terrorist operations, at their ancestral places, with all financial powers given to the Unit Commanders out of their Imprest Accounts.
In Nigeria I headed a large scale MNC as its Managing Director. It was a big professional challenge to bring out a loss making company out of financial crisis. God was kind and the going remained smooth for me. After four years of stay I requested for my release from there to return
home since Veena could not join me in Nigeria for some family issues. I got the same after one and a half year of struggle that too after I got them another Brigadier from Signals in my place.
We have a son and a daughter, Son is married and we have a Grand Son, Moksh, studying in APS Noida in Class
V. Our daughter Shruti is a qualified
Engineer in Computer Science from Pune University. As of date she is a
classified Net Work Security Senior Manager in a reputed MNC. She is with us and yet
to be married, which remains to be my prime concern and was the main reason for leaving my Dollar paying job in Nigeria.
On return to
India I had few offers at Delhi but did not take up. I took on a bit of social service as decided to enjoy my hobbies and pursuits in spirituality which I could not during service.
DK BEWTRA
After
having an extremely eventful innings in the army, I retired in February 2003.
My last appointment was that of ADGSS, at Army HQs. We settled in Pune where,
we had already bought a house in 1993.
In August 2003, we went to USA and where
till April 2008 I helped my elder brother in expanding his company from 15
employees to almost 200 employees. During the period I worked in all possible
fields. I was instrumental in getting them an ISO and CMMI certification. As I
wanted to lead a quiet retired life, we moved back to Pune in May 2008.
Mridula
has been taking Maths tutions since 1993. Prior to this she was totally
involved in bringing up our daughters. During our stay in USA, Mridula had
joined ‘Sylvan Coaching Center’ for coaching students in Mathematics. Presently
she is fully occupied taking tutions in Maths for all classes and all boards
and her students are doing exceedingly well. Teaching is her passion and she
does it very dedicatedly.
We have two daughters, Deepika and Malvika, both who by grace of god are happily married. Deepika is settled in Chicago, USA. She works as a medical technologist (specialist) in a hospital in Chicago. Her husband, Humayun works as a financial analyst in a multi national company. Both of them excel in their respective fields. They have a son Adil and a daughter, Ambar studying in class 4 and 2 respectively. Ambar is a ballet dancer and Adil plays piano. Recently he was awarded a gold medal for being an outstanding student of piano.
Malvika, after completing her business administration
course and honour diploma from NIIT, was working in IBM global services, New Delhi,
when she got married to Rahul. Rahul is also a Signaller ( nephew of Sharat Anand),
presently a Colonel and posted as a DS in the senior command wing in Army War
College, Mhow. He has recently been nominated for the Higher Command course
starting in June 2014. Malvika has happily donned the mantle of an army
officer’s wife and has shouldered all the responsibilities coming her way, very
admirably. They have a daughter Akshara, who is studying in class 9. She is a
totally adorable girl, a class topper and bright in studies. She loves to be on
the stage, singing or acting.
Presently, Mridula and self are fully occupied in coaching
students in Mathematics. She sometimes gets jealous as she does the main
teaching but students are more fond of me.
V K JOHAR
Settled at Pune in AWHO colony named Salunke Vihar since 1997 after retirement .
Karishma only child married on 08 Apr 2013 at Pune. Settled at Dubai. Was Air
Hostess for 8 Years. Presently Trainer with Frankfinn Air Hostess Training
Institution at Dubai. Spending retired life
I was one of the last lucky few who got command of a unit as
a Lt Col, in 1984. Midway through, the policy of Cols commanding units came
through and it was touch and go whether we would have to revert to doing 2IC in
the same unit! Thereafter, I had a stint
as Instr Staff College before going for the Higher Command course. As Brig, I
commanded 14 Sigs Group, did a tenure as DDG (Telecom) at DG Signals followed
by a short stint as Comdt 1 STC, Jabalpur; and finally, on deputation-cum-reemployment
with R&AW. At this time, an unfortunate matter resulted in my going out of
circulation for four years. Thereafter, I embarked on a new avenue, editing
medical books and journals, which I am still doing sporadically.
Bharati served as senior choreographer in DPS, Vasant Kunj
from 1996 onwards for 16 years and retired last year. We have settled down in
Dwarka, New Delhi.
My son Dhritiman, his wife Anuradha and their two boys aged
7 and 5 are settled in Fremont, CA. He is working as a senior manager with a
network company. My daughter Shulagna has just been blessed with her second boy
last month. The first one is two-and-a-half years old. We are now grandparents
to four grandsons! She and her husband Avneesh and their two sons are in
Chicago. Bharati is with her presently, doing what grandmothers are supposed to
be doing at this time.
I continue to pursue my interest in music. These days, I
have grown rather fond of Rabindra Sangeet. Funny how one’s tastes change with
time!
VDS MEHRA
VDS MEHRA
Writing four hundred words essay on this small little self’s
achievements is going to be a herculean task for me. The reason is simple that
I do not have big deeds and achievements to my credit. However I will try and
recollect those small moments of my life that readily come to my memory now and
here and tickle my heart.
On commissioning I went to an IDSR and was given the charge
of a section called C- Section . Regular additional duties were those of
ADSO which I thoroughly enjoyed especially
the night duties that gave me a chance
to master my driving skills on Bullet 3.5. Shikar was an added hobby for
younger lot those days. On a Divisional deployment exercise I happened to cross over to Pakistan in wild chase of a wild
bore . It was only after moving in about more than a kilometer or so that I
realized the sign posts were in Urdu.
That wild drive back was breath taking.
Remember having been seen off one night at the railway
station by the brigade commander and the BM –DQ team with sermons that SODE was
a very important course for the career and that I needed to do well on that. But that never happened.
On SODE-24 A, on a day
the faculty commander Lt Col S L
Mehrotra, later SO-in –C caught me sleeping on the class bench during the
absence of the instructor,Towards the end of SODE – 24 A, that is in Mar 72, got
engaged to a pretty unknown girl who did her graduation from an infamous
Miranda college followed by MA from Delhi School Economics and then doing some research work
with some famous economist. Marriage was delayed by destiny since I was posted
to Nagaland on completion of SODE- 24 A. Three years was a long waiting time
for the girls side. It was saved from being broken as they reassured by my community that the boy was
good, had a bright future and was worth waiting for. We ultimately got married
in October 74 and got busy producing kids. In the process my now wife had to
leave her job.
Stay at Nagaland was full of operations and one of it
historical where in we were able to neutralize the rebels proceeding to China
to establish a government in exile there and China ready to declare Nagaland as
an independent country. Pleases me to note that the then BM of the operations
brigade in his book mentions Major Mehra as the de-facto deputy BM for all intents .That is where I came closest
to a bullet and also received COAS commendation.
Form Nagaland I came to Delhi at Army HQ EDP Centre. In all modesty dare say did a good job there
and completed the automation project of Accounting of Man Power in the the
Army,. I did earn a good name for EDP Centre
from the AHQ. It was from EDPC that I went to o JC at Mhow. Took my family with me albit without
permission from the JC Wing. Had a detailed interview with the Faculty commander
on a Sunday preceding the course by a day. He insisted that I dispatch my
family back to Delhi
and me asking him to send me back without doing the course. I prevailed
and completed the course successfully
with the family staying with me through out.
On completion of roughly five years I was posted to 54 IDSR.
It was there that I was moved to do a study on installations of Computers in
Southern Command. We enjoyed touring
entire south in those six months. Study was commended by SD . In 83, I moved to
a Corps Operting and stayed there for a year as 2 IC. In 84 ,
I was moved to 14 WEU on promotion That stay of a year and a half was rewarding
as we were intensely involved in
Siachen operations . We were able to
feed highly value-able ops information to the Corps HQ. The GOC Corps Gen PN
Hoon unreservedly expressed his gratitude to the Corps Of Signals . It was there that I got my second
COAS Commendation.
Moved to command 22 IDSR . It would be rare that nobody came
to receive the CO designate at the railway station. When I managed to contact
the current CO on phone that I was speaking from the railway station and had
arrived to take over the regiment that I was told they had just no info.
Typical with me the messages sent were
but not delivered. Today we are good friends.
In 88 moved to MCTE. Was to take over as COL ADM and
accordingly my Robert Barracks accommodation was brought up to a great shape .
But after two interviews with the Commandant
Gen Harbhajan Singh I was moved
as Cdr FCT. Got Medha- 930 installed and
commissioned, gave shape to the entire courses structure based on my experience
at EDPC and ran Senior Officers Fortnights. It is here in Delhi that I meet a Maj Gen from Ord who makes it a point to announce that Fortnight at MCTE was the best capsule he and the likes ever attended in
the Army.
I moved to NSG from MCTE . It is on record that Signals
outperformed other arms and services there in many a professional and other
activities. I did not know that I would be asked, in fact forced to be a
party to malpractices in NSG. I was moved to Darjeeling as SSO from there on completion of
two years . Within months I resigned and chose to settle down in civil life. I
have served with three MNCs for over 16 years as Head Administration. Presently
I am a free bird.
I have a son as a Col in the Army. He has been an aviator and has
recently returned from a UN mission. I have a daughter who was an AVP with
Deutch Bank. She resigned from there to
be a mother. She in married to a great guy who is India Head for Talents and
Awards in an MNC.
We are settled in NOIDA and await arrival of good friends. Life to me has been pure joy. I have lived it on my on
terms. But above all God has been kind……… he can be Kinder.
MODAK SE
Sattar Ebrahim Modak popularly known as Beego took premature retirement on March 31st, 1991. His last tenure was Colonel (Signals) Southern Command. Immediately after retirement he was appointed as Director Department of Projects and Program Management Western Zone India in Catholic Relief Services (CRS) an Accredited Class II Organization with the United Nations. CRS is a PPP working in India since WW-2 under the title 2 program in the INDO-US agreement and CRS was reporting to USAID a branch in the US Embassy in Delhi. He served for twelve years and as per retirement plans of CRS he retired from CRS in 2003, at the age of 58 years. These CRS years were a learning experience for him where he picked up a lot on Watershed Management, Natural Resource Management, Small Enterprise Development (SED), Development of Education and Medical Sectors, Capacity Building and Infrastructure Development of Institutions, Community Organizations etc. His job involved working in the states of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, UP and Madhya Pradesh. In Jagdalpur he once met Haritats and Laxis’ relatives.
After his second retirement he has been employed as CEO of Kalsekar Trust and AL-Hamd Hospital and Medical Research Foundation. These two premier institutes are developing projects and programs in Education, SED and Health sectors in the coastal regions of Maharashtra. He is currently continuing in this job.
Noor, took on the responsibility of managing the family since retirement and did it well which Beego appreciates as he would not have achieved much himself. Irfan, Wasim and Navid were still studying when Beego retired. Irfan the eldest son is currently a Master Mariner in Merchant Shipping. He has a son Sadiq and they stay at their own residence in Andheri (West) Mumbai. Wasim an IT Engineer and Shazeen are in Vancouver Canada and they have a daughter Widad. They have settled in Canada. Navid a Master Mariner completed Seven years as Captain in the Great Eastern Shipping Corporation (GESCO) and now he is an Manager (operations) in GESCO. Navid, Almas and daughter Ziya are staying at their own residence in Thane. All this is due to Noor’s painstaking efforts. Noor and Beego stay at Byculla Mumbai, but the families get together generally on weekends at either Byculla, Andheri or Thane.
1.Wasim & Family 2.Navid & Family 3.Saba (in blue)& Sadiq
ARVIND PATIL
BHUPPI KHERA
I was born in 1945 in Mianwali in undivided India. My dad was in the Punjab Education Service and hence I did my formative years of education across various districts of Punjab / Haryana. Joined NDA in Jan’ 62 from Mahindra College Patiala where I was doing my Pre-Engineering. Joined the Corps of Signals against own wish of joining Infantry. Found my soul mate (USHA) in Oct’70 while doing SODE. Over the years she has worked as a lecturer and a teacher.
MOHAN THADANI
I retired in September 2000, from Pune, as DCSO Southern Command, ande settled down there itself. After that, I worked in two IT companies, Zensar, and Tata Technologies, for three years, in the training departments. The lead for these opportunities were given to me by Manohar Ramtri, who had by then built up a formidable reputation on the Pune IT scene. After a short break, I started working from home, in an executive search company, headed by Harish Chawla's daughter.
From 2013 onwards, I am enjoying a fully retired life.
We have two sons, Nikhil and Rahul. Nikhil has been in Toronto since 2004, and is settled there with his wife and two daughters. He works for National Bank. His wife Prasanna works for a pharmaceutical company.
Rahul is working in Pune, and staying with us, and is not yet married.
KULWINDER SINGH
Joined
NDA as the youngest Cadet at the age of 15 and got commission at 19 years.
Served the Army for 20 and half years but even today I feel that was the BEST
part of my life. I was extremely fortunate that with the grace of GOD I always,
from the first to the last posting of mine was of my choice and each one taught
me new things with a wonderful and satisfying experiences. YOs and SODE courses
is the most enjoyable period where we got to bond with each other. But for SODE,
I would not have known Neelam Ramtri and I could prove to be a good match maker
(WICHOLA) if you please. During SODE, I was wrongly being accused of fingering
the Jimmy, something I WOULD NEVER DO BECAUSE I WAS IN LOVE WITH THE JIMMY BY
THEN. During this short span of service, was fortunate to go abroad , USA for a
computer course and IRAQ for an Instructor assignment with 4 years in Army HQ
Computers in an AC working condition. Felt very sorry for my dear friend Mohan
Thadani who was reserve for both my foreign assignments. Mohan, please forgive
me because I could not withdraw.
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ARVIND PATIL
After sode24A, posted to ,XVI CSR.
1976 to 78, DAMGO AHQ, N Delhi.
1978 to 81, DQ M&G Area , Mumbai.
1981 took retirement. Joined INDUS (ESSR subsidiary) as a CEO.
1984 till date ,ventured in Independent business.
Since 2002, part of MNC logistic group.
Settled in Andheri( west) Mumbai.
Home Front
1973 married to Sandhya.
Elder daughter RADHA & younger son KUNAL.
Both well educated n settled; earlier in US, now in Mumbai.
Both married ,with 2 children each, daughter n son.
Grandchildren Aditi,Alisha, advait & youngest Aditya.
All course mates cordially invited, anytime anything. With best wishes to all.
BHUPPI KHERA
I was born in 1945 in Mianwali in undivided India. My dad was in the Punjab Education Service and hence I did my formative years of education across various districts of Punjab / Haryana. Joined NDA in Jan’ 62 from Mahindra College Patiala where I was doing my Pre-Engineering. Joined the Corps of Signals against own wish of joining Infantry. Found my soul mate (USHA) in Oct’70 while doing SODE. Over the years she has worked as a lecturer and a teacher.
Was
blessed with sons in 1973 and ‘76. Elder one Nishant chose Mechant Navy as his
calling and has served as a Captain in European, South East Asian and Indian
Shipping MNCs; now on a shore job. Younger one Prashant is an Investment Banker
and has worked in India & Europe. Nishant is married to Anishya, daughter of
an Infantry Officer. She has worked as a Senior Exec with leading MNCs in India
& Singapore.
Over
time I did my M.Tech in Management & Systems from IIT Delhi (Study Leave)
and after retiring from EHQ I served in Calcutta as a General Manager with a
Telecoms Company heading 7 Eastern states. Moved to Delhi in 1998 and started my
own Consultancy for ISO systems. Enjoying my work as a Consultant and a
Retainer.
Enjoy my
weekend golf with Guddu, Laxi, Sharad and Kishore. Usha enjoys her social
circle . We are presently settled in Noida.MOHAN THADANI
I retired in September 2000, from Pune, as DCSO Southern Command, ande settled down there itself. After that, I worked in two IT companies, Zensar, and Tata Technologies, for three years, in the training departments. The lead for these opportunities were given to me by Manohar Ramtri, who had by then built up a formidable reputation on the Pune IT scene. After a short break, I started working from home, in an executive search company, headed by Harish Chawla's daughter.
From 2013 onwards, I am enjoying a fully retired life.
We have two sons, Nikhil and Rahul. Nikhil has been in Toronto since 2004, and is settled there with his wife and two daughters. He works for National Bank. His wife Prasanna works for a pharmaceutical company.
Rahul is working in Pune, and staying with us, and is not yet married.
KULWINDER SINGH
Joined
NDA as the youngest Cadet at the age of 15 and got commission at 19 years.
Served the Army for 20 and half years but even today I feel that was the BEST
part of my life. I was extremely fortunate that with the grace of GOD I always,
from the first to the last posting of mine was of my choice and each one taught
me new things with a wonderful and satisfying experiences. YOs and SODE courses
is the most enjoyable period where we got to bond with each other. But for SODE,
I would not have known Neelam Ramtri and I could prove to be a good match maker
(WICHOLA) if you please. During SODE, I was wrongly being accused of fingering
the Jimmy, something I WOULD NEVER DO BECAUSE I WAS IN LOVE WITH THE JIMMY BY
THEN. During this short span of service, was fortunate to go abroad , USA for a
computer course and IRAQ for an Instructor assignment with 4 years in Army HQ
Computers in an AC working condition. Felt very sorry for my dear friend Mohan
Thadani who was reserve for both my foreign assignments. Mohan, please forgive
me because I could not withdraw.
Another
example of SODE comradeship is when WONG joined me (both were bachelors) in 1974
for a 70 days trip to EUROPE which we both did as back packers on a total
expense of Rs 10000 each then. The only difference was that WONG visited
Museums, Parks and Opera shows and I went to different types of night clubs and
disco bars.
I
don’t know whether it was right or wrong, but I took premature retirement in Feb
1987 at the age of 40 years to start my own business of computer training and
software development at Chandigarh. A big challenge because PC and PC XT had
just started and people had no idea about computers and I found it very
difficult to explain GARBAGE IN will give you GARBAGE OUT. Changed from computer
training and software to hardware sales, was the first to open a computer RETAIL
sales shop at Chandigarh. Since 2003 closed computer shop and currently are
doing the placement of Indian workers and professionals into foreign assignments
and hope to continue for a few years more. Post fauji experience is 27 years
now.
Got
married to Geeta in 1976 and she is the only wife I have and she is doing
LANDSCAPING projects. My daughter Amrita is married to a pilot Sanjay. Thanks to
them we have a grand son 7 years old and I am soon going to be Nana Ji for the
second time. My son Shiveer who helps me with my business is also active in
property and stocks . He got married 2 years ago and it was great when half a
dozen course mates joined us for the wedding. Presently, in my spare time I play
little bit of Golf and mostly card game Bridge to keep the ALZIMERS away. These
shall be my final phase and with the grace of GOD and having friends like all of
you we feel very blessed.
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