AFVOA Newletter August 2020

Section 5 - Memoirs CV 2 No. 02 / 2020 Page 171 of 237 Championships in 1968 at Pune. As a close runner up, he received the trophy from the then PM, Mrs Indira Gandhi. Gen Sundara Rao too had flown down to Pune to be there to cheer the Eagles on. When Tej was able to form the EME Sailing Association, at Secunderabad, he requested Gen Rao to be it’s first President. There has been no looking back since then. The Corps went from strength to strength. The relationship between them only grew. In 1969, the 1 st Himalayan Car Rally was announced from Delhi to Gulmarg. Teja wanted to take part very badly. Although he had just acquired a Fiat car, he was unwilling to use it for the rally. Who else does he turn to, but Gen Rao, who was heading the TG Group. Gen Rao had already assessed Teja’s capabilities, and offered him a brand new Nissan Jonga to use for the rally. Teja had three months to practice with his teammate and get used to the vehicle. His rivals were driving a Ford Fairmont. Competition was intense, but Teja won the epic battle. The EME team won. Teja was asked to drive back to Delhi Cantt, where he reached Gen Rao’s bungalow to a huge party and celebration. Gen Rao had brought both team members wives there too. A wonderful gesture indeed. Sailing brought them together again when Teja was able to procure two CBK’s for the EME Sailing Association in Delhi. He requested Mrs Rao to launch both boats. They had been named Mala and Titli, after their wives. A very touching gesture. For the 1972 National Sailing Championships at Secunderabad, Delhi fielded a team under Teja. This team won the overall championship, and Gen Rao as the DG EME, received the trophy on behalf of the Corps of EME. After this win, Gen Rao was instrumental in fielding Teja for the 1972 Munich Olympics as the representative of the Royal Yachting Federation, of which Teja was the Technical Secretary. His charter was to study the new class of boats being fielded and to see how sailing is organized Internationally. In 1974, Teja’s life took a turn. From the DRDO, and a promising career, he decided to seek premature retirement and make a mark in the corporate world. His relationship with his DG enabled him to get his PMR in a short time, and in January 1975, he was with the Birla’s, who were setting up an earthmoving equipment company along with General Motors in India. Teja chose to move to Madras, and set up home in Indira Nagar. His work of establishing himself and the business, took him to many countries and kept him very busy. He established four factories in India and headed Coutex Textron in South Asia. Teja had climbed the corporate pinnacle which he aspired for.