AFVOA Newletters of Year 2006

Page 70 of 77 you hear them speak. (c) Never argue with a fool: people may not be able to tell the difference between you both. (d) The shin bone is a device for finding the furniture in a dark room. 31 . The following monograph contains excerpts from an article written by our Past President , Major General Chander Govindaswamy for“Digniti”, the Residents Association Newsletter of Defence Officers Colony, Chennai, early this year. It is of contemporary interest as it highlights how a model colony was developed by servicemen, as against colonies mushrooming today in flagrant violation of regulations and complete disregard of judicial strictures, thereby leading to environmental degradation. Musings of An Early House Owner ( circa 1967 ) 32. Let me, on behalf of “Digniti”, wish all of you, particularly the newcomers to our Colony, a Very Happy and Prosperous New Year. You are all part of the elite Defence Officers Colony and you are a privileged set of people, to join this premier enclave in the Metropolis of Chennai. That there is no other colony to rival its uniqueness will be amplified by me in the succeeding Paragraphs. 33. Way back in the early Sixties of the last Century, Defence Colony was conceived as a haven for those serving and retired officers of the Armed forces who wished to settle down in Madras, to enable them to buy plots of land in a fully developed approved layout and build their homes. A comprehensive layout plan was evolved and executed to perfection by the founding fathers (Commanders and staff of Madras Area HQ), many of whom, unlike in the present scenario, did not even plan to own a plot here. 34. It was the first and only colony of its kind in Madras for service officers for which land was bought. The plots were allotted and sold at cost with development charges included, so that the service officers could afford them. The draw of lots for the plots was conducted in the most exemplary and fair manner. The approved layout was developed under the watchful eye of the Madras Area HQ. 35. The colony had its own roads, storm-water drains, self-contained water supply sources coupled to a large capacity overhead water tank, own sewage channels and disposal plant , perimeter fencing (we can still see the gaunt remnants of the concrete posts) , road lighting, developed open areas, all to rigid and approved specifications. This was done without resorting to any aid, loan or help from the State or any financial institution!! A remarkable feat unparalleled anywhere in Chennai, anytime then, or now. We must remember that the area covered about 45 acres, a mini self-contained township!! It is only today that we see gated communities, much smaller in size, and rarely are there only 200+ bungalows (no multi-storeyed apartment blocks) in such a sprawling space in any city in the country . 36. There was the meandering clean (no longer so! ) Adyar river to the North, the huge Army grounds on the West and the mango groves and fields to the East and South. The members constructed their houses strictly as per the rules then prevalent, as every plan and construction had to be approved by the Directors and the Chitlapakkam Panchayat. (For example, the early houses till 1969 had a stipulation that in a 100feetX60 feet plot one could have a house with a built-up area of not more than 60feet x 35 feet with sizable space all around!!). It took a wizard of an architect to design a house with decent sized rooms using all the skills that he possessed, to conform to these stipulations. Contrast this to many of the