AFVOA Newletters of Year 2002

Page 35 of 84 Premehand in the Congo, as part of the UN Peacekeeping Force. He commanded the heavy mortars of the Indian and <Illegible> batteries, and experienced action against the Katangese rebel force. Bunging <Illegible> to beat on the Katangese positions, crossing rivers on temporary falls, and the king low under the had of machine gun bullets and rockers flying overhead are events that are indelibly etched in his memory. Superannuating in 1969, Col Vijayarangan was re-employed in the Min of Defence fill 1979, when he finally retired at the age of 58 after 38 years of service. He used his expertise in YOGA to conduct classes for men, women and children at the Indira Nagar Youth Hostel for over three years. This was before the then EXSOA was conceived and started. Col Vijayarangan is a founder member of the AFVOA, and resides at Vijay Castle, Flat F1, No 58, 1 st Avenue, Indira Nagar, Adyar, Chennai 600 020. He can be contacted at (044) 441 5490. Maj Gen V Rangaswami, Vr C**, AMC Gen Rangaswami’s life is closely interwoven with the stirring and heroic men and deeds of his times. In fact, Gen Rangaswami himself is a hero who has honoured his profession, Service, and Nation. Like so many of the young medical graduates coming out of the six medical colleges in the country in the early years of WW II, young Rangaswami was persuaded by the British and Indian IMS officers (who ran the health and prison services in the country) to join the Armed Forces as members of the IMS. The IMS itself had been formed in 1764. Lt Rangaswami joined the IMS in June 1942 (The IMS became the IAMC in 1943, and then, after Independence, the AMC). The call of the spirit of adventure, the glamour of the uniforms, and the attractive scales of pay all combined to propel younger and even older doctors to join the Services. Perhaps, these were the very reasons that motivated bright and talented young men, the very cream of the Nation, to join the arms and services of the fighting forces. In this context, it is a historical fact worth noting that the Indian Army’s strength increased ten fold. The ratio of British to Indian officers was 10:1 in the beginning, and 4:1 at the end. The young lieutenant was trained at the Indian Hospital Corps Centre, Rawalpindi. The senior IMS officers trained the new entrants both professionally as well as on the drill square. The first posting was to the Indian Military Hospital, Peshawar (NWFP). Hospital rounds under Indian and British IMS specialists followed the morning routine of sick parades. After further postings to MHs at Poona and Bangalore, Lt Rangaswami was posted as RMO of an old and honoured regiment, the 2/2 Punjab, then stationed in South India. Training for a role as a motorised battalion for deployment in the deserts, its role changed soon enough to that of a jungle warfare battalion. 1942 was a pivotal year in many respects. Militarily, the tide of fortune had turned in North Africa, with the Allied Forces winning after their initial reverses. However, the allies suffered reverses in SE Asia and the Pacific fighting a well organised Japanese army. A number of Indian and British battalions surrendered to the advancing tide of the Japanese. Many of these POWs were to suffer unspeakable humiliation and physical suffering till the war ended. There was the threat of the Japanese invading the east coast of South India. The Japanese had even used carrier-based planes to drop bombs over the Madras port area. Gens Wavell and Auchinleck (both became FMs later) were personally involved in staging several anti invasion exercises called “FOG” & “JOVE” etc, which were conducted on the east coast of India. Capt Rangaswami, as RMO of 2/2 Punjab was in the thick of these manoeuvres. The RMO happened to be well liked by the Punjabi Mussalman, the Sikh, and the Dogra troops, since he would not eat pork, bacon and beef! Part of the reason was also that he took active part in battle inoculation exercises, the route marches, and in games of hockey. Politically too, these were stirring times, with Netaji Subhas Bose having escaped from India to form a government in exile and a liberation army with the help of the Japanese. The Quit India movement was underway under the impetus provided by Mahatma Gandhi. The then government feared large-scale violence together with sabotage. Fortunately, the military units