Remembering the first reporting to an Army unit.

Remembering the first day at my unit. After passing out from Officers Training School (now Academy). I was Commissioned in the Regiment of Artillery. I joined Young Officer Course at School of Artillery, Deolali, Maharastra. It was 5 months duration and I was posted to a Field Artillery Unit. It was located at altitude of North Sikkim. The School issued Railway warrant to move New Jalpaiguri.I received a Demi Official letter from the Adjutant, I was advised to get down at Dharampur of Kalka to Simla railway line. After the training at School of Artillery, I spent few days at New Delhi with my uncle's family. 

I got down at Dharampur RS. on 31st October 1974. I contacted unit HQ over phone. After some time one 1ton vehicle with one solider reached. He introduced himself as my helper. He was then Capt Ravindra Kumar. ( Later he was Col).

A tent was pitched in the open space of Officers' Mess 

NCC

In 60 and 70, the Sunday morning towards Brigade parade ground of Kolkata was full of NCC and Territorial Army cadets and personnel. The Brigade parade ground is still there but no NCC and TA  activities. 

I, do visit this area regularly but no sign of such activities. More activitied in the NCC Club house is in a regular manner but it can not give the feeling of Brigade ground. Now this ground is used for political rally under the vigilance of Kolkata police. The NCC Act was passed on 1948, the NCC Day is celebrated on 4th Sunday of November. Now the program is celebrated at Eastern Command stadium. 

My Territorial Army Friends

I have first contact with Territorial Army (TA) fraternity is with Col Ajoy Kumar Sanyal since 1982. He was then DQMG of TA Group Eastern Command, Fort William and Jt Secretary of TA Institute, I was a life member of TAI since then. Col Sanyal is from Brigade of Guards. He settled at Behla. During his time I was involved with Army Exhibition 1984 at Fort William and Promotion of Mountain Adventure at TAI in 1983.Mrs Sanyal died during the COVID 19, her daughters and son could not reach Kolkata. A memorial function was held during 2022. I could attain the same.

I could my Post Commission training with 2 Sikh in 1985. Col K C Kalley VSM, (R) then our TA GP Commander from 2 Sikh.

I have visited Maj A K Deb (R), his home at Kidderpore,ex 121 Infantry Battalion (TA), he his senior most TA Officer. He was associated with several sporting organization, e.g. West Bengal Rifle Association. He was holding Judges/ Jury licence.I have the opportunity to work with him National Championship at Munger, Assansol. He shifted New Town and is staying with his daughter.

He expired on 10th October of 2022.

The TAI is now renamed as TA Officers Institute from 2000. The catering service by M/s Kwality has been more restricted way since COVID 19. We had last General Body meeting on 9th October 2021. We had family get-together on TA Day. 

We are now five Associated members of TAOI are staying at New Town. They are Brig S K Saha (R) ex GP Cdr, Maj AK Deb (R), Lt Col R K Singh (R) ex, he had served Indian Airforce and West Bengal Electronics Limited,Lt S Kundu(R),

is from West Bengal Judicial Service, both of them from 113 Infantry Battalion (TA),& my self.

Development plan of Nicobar

The Iceland Andaman and Nicobar of Bay of Bengal is equal distance from mainland from Kolkata and Chenai. It is Union Territory, having three districts Andaman, Rangat and Nicobar. There is road between Port Blair and Diglipur connecting Andaman and Rangat. There are flight and shipping services between Kolkata, Chenai and Port Blair. Nicobar is connected by boat and helicopter services from Port Blair. The Indian citizens visiting Nicobar required permission.

As per local police verbal information, no crime record in 2004. The  2nos12 bore guns were taken for a public sector Bank from Kolkata for Banking security in 2004. 

The airport of Indian Air Force is used for Helicopter service.The frequency of communication by water ways and air may be twice in a week.

This area is sensative for ethnic and security issues.

As a part of PM Gati Shakti, a discussion was held on 6th June 2022 at Kolkata, Container Transhipment facility at Galathea Bay was discussed. Mr.A K Mehra, Deputy Chairman Haldia Port, Shyama Prosad Mookherjee Port introduce the discussion. 

Meri Ganga Quiz : Doordarshan

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hUfHq3SrW6Q No 15 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xNiTeh85t0 No 14 https://youtu.be/8bcD9Bj0GWQ No 10 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=StCmgKQ77Sg No 09 https://youtu.be/-dC7v8Fem64 No 07 https://youtu.be/k10zqtB7x3E No 02 https://youtu.be/k2d-XsmT5Zs No 01

Awareness generating programs on surface water

Institute’s representative was invited to take part in the various programme, two of them are: a) French Expertise in an Indian context for urban and industrial environment, this was held at Kolkata in March 2003, b) Consultation on National Water Policy: Problems and alternatives at Indian Social Institute, New Delhi, April 2003. Environment awareness programmes On their initiative, an audiovisual on Rain Water harvesting of Purulia was prepared in Bengali language, this was included second National level film festival on wildlife and environment held in New Delhi. The new threats by global warming and its subsequent effects is definitely a major concern for all of us; their representatives took part in two expeditions on river Ganga, starting from Maharajpur, (Jharkhand) to Behrampure (West Bengal), covering a distance of 190 km in just five days. In the next year another venture from Behrampure to Kolkata, a distance of 300 km. This time by rafts, both these expeditions were organized by The Institute of Exploration Regional unit Behrampure. 96 Route of Ganga expeditions in 1995 & 1996 · An exhibition on Ganga was organized at State Central Library for mass awareness, it was a five days programme in which the subject was presented by visuals, prints, audiovisuals and performing arts. Such awareness programme was organized in various districts of South Bengal, this was mainly in educational institutes, museums, and libraries · A special tram was used for awareness generating among the citizens of Kolkata, the teachers, students and parents took part in this programme. They spread the message ‘peoples participation to protect the environment’. · Institute published a Bengali monthly, titled ‘Youth Forum’; it is mainly to promote volunteerism among the civil society. · Students of West Bengal Judicial Science, Vidyasagar University & Viswabhrati took part with this Institute for their practical works.

Selfie at Vijay Smark Kolkata

The Vijya Smark located at Eastern Gate of Fort William Kolkata the details of Indian soliders in operations of 1962, 1965 and 1971 are there.

Links on program of Netaji Subash Chandra Bose

Five days program was jointly organised with the State Central Library and The Young Exploers' Institute of Kolkata on a theme of the Role of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, Indian National Army ( INA)    and East Asian Countries for Indian Freedom Struggle. This program was mainly for the students of Kolkata, North 24 Parganas and Howrah.The NCC Cadets of Burdwan Group joined in survey on INA.

Dr Purabi Roy was the only speaker of this event. Another program was jointly organised with the Rabindra Bharati University in 2012. 

Indic Studies Subash Chandra Bose  

Indic Studies 2

Indic Studies 3

https://youtu.be/h2sVdwIUUAs

Science Education in New Education Policy

 

The National Education Policy of India has been announced which gives new dimension on education, This is a joint issue with Central and State Governments, The highlights are 

Redefining and redesigning the education sector has been elaborated on National Education Day. 

Much emphasis has been given to Science Education in the National Education Policy, the study materials are available online. 

The Engineering study materials also available online. 

Extension services to remote places are organising in a regular and planned manner, The District, State Regional and National Science Museums are very active for the academic year. The several programs on radio, tv also organised.

Science exhibitions for a week are being organised in various parts of our country. 

First 23rd and next 72nd yrs of age

Calendar years 

1973  and 2021 different of 48 yrs

Occupation 

College Student, practicing volunteerism with an NGO  and now a  retired person

Marital status

Unmarried and now married with 2 grownup children

Living 

Parental house with parents, sisters, and brothers, now staying all alone.

Information about vacancy application mode

through printed media, Application hard copy was sent by surface mail

 Vacancies notification and application in  Electronic mode

Selection physical appearance is written, physical activities and medical about 7 days

Call letter received through  surface mail

Electronic mail.

Instructions 

Hard copy

web base

Documentation 

Hard copy through surface mail

Electronic

Training before service

10 months physical

Online

Joining for training 

By surface transport in the country

Joining for volunteering it is not Service, by air outside the country

Receive money 

After about 12 months through Bank

Maybe within 1 month

Background of joining Indian Armed Forces.

10 years National Cadet Corp training as a cadet in School and College passed NCC proficiency test C cert. Done Advance Mountaineering Course and organised and joined NCC's First successful mountaineering expedition.

9 years volunteerism with Civil Defence Casualty service and one NGO as executive head of the organisation.

After 48 years serving 10 organisations under Government, Public Sector, and the Private sector in Physical Security, Facilities Management.

Volunteered for 2 more NGOs for 34 yrs.

Completed online training from International Red Cross Learning, UNITAR, and e UNV Campus.

Worked as a correspondent with a news agency at Kolkata. Participated in Broadcasting Radio program, Articles published in print media.

An amateur Wireless operator, holding the license. 

Worked as a volunteer, as a Liasion Officer with foreign mountaineering expeditions teams of the USA, Japanese, and Australia. 

New Year celebration in the past and now.

I had the opportunity to join the NCC Camp at Elenbora Ground of Fort William, Kolkata, this was a selection camp for Republic day Camp of New Delhi. In this camp, the cadets are selected. The result was out on the 1st January of 1970. We could hear the blowing sound of ships anchored in the Ganges. at the midnight of New Year day. 

English calendar's New year celebration was not popular before 1973 in West Bengal. I had my first experience at my Army Unit location, we were located in Shimla Hills. We could watch from certain points, including from the living room of snowy peaks towards the North. The street lights of Chandigarh if the weather is clear, we had to look towards the south. 

No Television transmission started at our location. We had a long-playing record player to enjoy the music. The married family accommodation was available, we were five dining bachelors members in our Officers Mess.

A Jazz Group was raised by the artists who are soldiers, they are very talented. The Commanding Officer was very fond of western dance. For any entertainment, you have to go to Chandigarh or Ambala. 

Dagshai Google Map

This Jazz Band was popular in no time. We moved to another hill station which is also on Himachal  Pradesh, being a district headquarter theater halls were there. The social get-togethers was in a regular manner.

After receiving to Kolkata, I joined Ter retrial Army Institute, We had the New year eve program for a few years.

Sending New Year card for renewal of contacts, I started from 1974, those were Academy and Regimental cards. Lately, I have also used a computer to prepare this card.

I could speak to , Hedwige Smekens, a lady from Belgian, recently she has visited her son's place in Switzerland. We had a talk about the cost of living in India and other places. She has visited several times to in India and appreciates the artwork of temples of the south.

Echolink is software for amateur wireless operators, on New Year eve, 31st December 2021 during the evening time.  I could speak to VU2CUW  India

Sarabjeet "Sarab" Chhabra, 110/8 Saraswati Sugarmill Colony,Yamunanagar, HR 135001

I could hear very clearly and Sarabjeet gave me the report of my voice at his location was 5/9, 

A housing complex in New Town was ready for welcoming the New Year by the residents. 

The Covid 19, during last 24 hrs. 

In India 16764and West Bengal 3451