AFVOA Newsletter May 2020

Section 3 - Memoirs Newsletter No. 1 / 2020 P a g e 38 | 101 3 AFVOA Chennai – A Sapling to Banyan Tree Col Balaswamy – Madras Sappers – Founder EXSOA Genre: Chronicle t was Sep 1992; I came to Chennai from Gwalior & settled down at Indra nagar. During my morning walks at Taramani institutional area, I used to cross well built & smart persons with their spouses, engaged in vigorous physical exercises. Honestly, nobody knew each other & that too we are from the services, was the last thing to know. Often, I used to see them in common areas of shopping etc. Smiles & voluntary greetings drew us closer & I mooted the idea to form an association. It was well received & yours truly undertook the task of contacting /mobilising veterans living in & around Adyar. Name boards of veterans on the door were not spared for association membership. Hiccups started, doubting Thomas sprang up & Negative Arguments ensued as to why association etc.: Late Maj Balachandran, was of immense support to me. Col Viswanathan added few more names to our list. 25 members supported & 18 members turned up with their spouses, on 7 Aug 1994 at Youth Hostel to “Greet, Meet & Treat”. Late Brig Raju (Bengal Sappers) unanimously elected as President & it was decided to meet at bimonthly intervals. Association was named as EXSOA (Ex Service Officers Assn, Adyar) Late Col Raju (Bombay Sappers) & Late Wg Cdr Raja Gopal were ardent supporters of EXSOA & never missed a meeting. Adyar Times, the local print media covered the proceedings. Our subscription was fixed at Rs 20 /meeting & it was spent on samosa, burfi & coke. I had the support of my office staff for secretarial services (TATA Honeywell). Late Col Raju, the permanent resident Warden of Youth Hostel was gracious enough to give us space & furniture & supported for 5 long years. Later, due to adm constraints, we shifted our meeting venue to MH Hall & Sainik Institute. Interaction on services welfare, health, Investments, social issues etc. were the topics for discussion besides Fauji Gupshups. Later, Sr veterans joined the assn. & Gen Sundara Rao accepted our invitation to be the Patron of EXSOA. Assn grew well, from a sapling to Banyan tree & today we are boasting of 250 members on our rolls. Personally, am grateful to all members who are living & those departed to their heavenly abode for their unflinching support & affection. I