AFVOA Newsletter of Year 2021

Section 6 - Memoirs CV 2 No. 01 / 2021 Page 84 of 123 The highlight of our stay, was witnessing the POP of the 28 th course in June 65. On the final rehearsal day, we kids watched with awe, the magnificent event unfolding before us. The cadets coming onto the parade ground, the march past, the display-we sat wonder-struck. It was a visual treat for us no doubt .When the medals presentation ceremony was on, my brother & I leapt out of our chairs, as our first cousin, then Academy Cadet Captain RV Kumar had bagged the Gold. Mother was very glad that her nephew had done the family proud. A couple of months later in Aug-Sep 65 we heard about the Indo-Pak conflict and how our Hon’ble PM then, Shastriji, coined the slogan-“ Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan”.We children also wanted to do something from our side. One evening during play time, we kids came together and thought we could also skip a meal as suggested by our Pradhan Mantriji. One day in a week at dinner, we would have a banana and a glass of milk only to express our solidarity. Such was the josh, the National spirit!!!! Our NDA Days no doubt made us tougher physically, come together when required, made us aware about our environment, how to respect Nature and her gifts, to protect rather than tamper or harm it .We learnt an invaluable lesson that the natural habitat must be preserved at all costs for posterity. We advocate this to our grandchildren in India and USA. About the Author Mrs. Lalitha Mohandas is an alumni of Nirmala College, Coimbatore, where she later served as an Assistant Professor. She has served as a Principal of various Air Force Schools in the Country for over 25 years. She has a brilliant academic record. She was a University rank holder in English. She had been actively involved with Air Force Wives Welfare Association, counselling and guiding women, while her husband was in service. It was a proud privilege for her to have been nominated to the Board of Management, AFWWA, when Mrs Nita Kaul was the President. She has worked with lepers, is doing Seva for the elderly inmates of Engineer Rajinikanth Old Age Home in Selaiyur, lends a helping hand at the SOS Children’s Village & DK Learning Centre-a school for Special Children, in Tambaram. Both she and her husband are associated with Indian Development Foundation which is a National level NGO that works to promote health, education and development of the underprivileged, especially rural women. She is well versed in many languages. Her hobbies include singing and reading.