Philatelic Service by the Army Postal Service

Philatelic Bureau of Indian Post are located in metropolitan cities of India. You can have an account with them. The same facilities are available with Army Post Office Philatelic Bureaus, they are at New Delhi and Kolkata. An account to be open and maintain with them, Army Postal Service (APS) released Special covers of Indian Armed Forces. Some Special covers are also available with Civil Bureaus. Some Institutions are very important for individuals and organizations. This can be collected and preserve for life long and it will pass on to the next generations. The Indian Army Regiments , Corps, Celebration are recorded for National event.

INDIA 1973 ARMY POSTAL SERVICES CORPS-FIRST ANNIVERSARY MNH SINGLE STAMP

Visuals collected from Internet

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.