AFVOA Newletters of Year 2003

Page 76 of 170 “Everything you wanted to know about ‘after’ 60” published by Sakthi Pathippagam, 16, 17th St., Q Block, Anna Nagar, Chennai 600 040 (tele 2626 7282). Unfortunately for those who joined the queue late, all the copies were exhausted. We will try to arrange for this book to be available for sale at a future meeting. The interesting agenda for the evening left no time available for a game of Tombola, and so we all moved in for our trademark sumptuous dinner catered to by Shri Narendra Maharaj, under the superintendence of the Cdr Prasad. ECHS After this Cdr Prasad briefly informed us about the progress of the ECHS. He mentioned that it had been decided to issue TWO cards as of now, one for the use of self, and other for dependants. Payment would be taken in three annual instalments, with the first payment covering us for the first year, the second for the next year, and the third and final one covering the rest of our lives. Forms were not yet available (not having been printed). For the further information on the scheme, you may visit the site: http://indianarmy.nic.in/arwelf.htm (Source: Air Cmde NAK Sarma, email: < naks@vsnl.com >) The forms are now available with the Station Headquarters. We are arranging to have them collected centrally and shall distribute them during the next meeting at the Youth Hostel. The forms are priced at Rs 5.00 per form. Besides, they are accountable, and particulars of the individual to whom the numbered form has been issued is to be furnished to the Station Headquarters. ˵ ˵ ˵ ˵ ˵ ˵ ˵ ˵ ˵ ˵ ˵ ˵ ˵ ˵ ˵ ˵ ˵ ˵ ˵ ˵ ˵ ˵ ˵ Being Happy is like wetting your pants. Everyone sees it, but only you can feel the warmth. Octogenarians There’s only one thing more painful than learning from experience, and that is not learning from experience. ~ Laurence J. Peter Some of the members enquired the reasons for giving out life sketches of the octogenarians that were being honoured, particularly as they took up space and lengthened the Newsletter. One of the reasons is that – in times to come, I shall hopefully be also featured!! However on a more serious note, the idea is that we who are younger – and some of us have long way to go to catch up with them – would like to benefit from their rich experiences. It is best to recall the words of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, the American Poet, who wrote: Lives of great men all remind us we can make our lives sublime. And, departing, leave behind us footprints on the sands of time. Nonetheless, a brief account of the lives of two of the elders have been set out in this issue, while the balance will be included in the next issue. You will notice that lives such as theirs are an inspiration to all of us. Lt Gen C Sundara Rao, PVSM