AFVOA Newsletter 03 of 2020

Section 5 - Memoirs CV 2 No. 03 / 2020 Page 140 of 167 At the IPKF Memorial at Palaly Our Group at Colombo Life Goes on The pandemic has thrown life out of gear. Or maybe into the right groove. I now have a Zoom Calendar! My mask is ready at hand always should the virus try to surprise me. My spirits are high and I keep smelling vodka and single malt to know that I’m still here. Ha Ha !! Life is still a breeze. Keep smiling guys - always. About the Author Maj Gen Jose Manavalan, AVSM (Retd) was commissioned into the Engineers on 20 December 1970. He is from 37 NDA/46 Regular course. Besides commanding the Engineer Regiment he was commissioned into, he has held the appointments of BM 41 Brigade, Col Adm 6 Mtn Div, Col GS CME, Dir MT 10 at Army HQ, CE (P) Beacon, Commandant MEG&C, and MGicAdm, HQ Central Command. He took PMR on 13 Dec 2007. After retirement he was CEO MAS Fabric Park, Nellore, CAO Frontier Lifeline Hospital, CEO Radiant Medical Tourism and Home Health Care and CEO Kudumbam Retirement Home. At present he is Correspondent of Babaji Vidhayshram School. He lives at Navalur on the OMR close to the sea. His wife Teresa is a home maker, son a software engineer in Chennai and daughter an Art Teacher. He is an avid outdoor enthusiast and besides golf and tennis, enjoys cycling on the ECR, angling and music. He is actively involved in preserving the lovely environment around his town ship, and spearheads the Save The Muttukadu Backwaters Campaign.