AFVOA Newletters of Year 2007

Page 41 of 68 problems. Next I come to Gen Poduval. He was my ‘big boss’ as Commander Technical Group when I was a mere Technical Staff Officer, Grade II. Here again, a very soft spoken gentleman to the core, doing a difficult task coordinating the activities of a number of major and minor units spread out all over the country. Our Patron Gen Sundara Rao is well aware of that appointment and Gen Poduval did carry out the tasks with aplomb as his successor. In spite of his lack of mobility during the last few years of his life he continued to be our member, a tribute to his respect and faith in our association. Lastly I shall talk about AVM Krisnswamy, the person from whom I took over the mantle of President AFVOA. Few would know that as Director of Signals in the Air Force he was really equivalent to our SO-IN-C. As President of AFVOA he made two significant contributions during his year-long tenure. One was the compilation of the telephone directory ‘Hello Veterans’. It was a stupendous job in which a number of our veterans were involved heart and soul. He coordinated the compilation, the sponsors and the printing. He handed over the directory on a platter to me just to get it released by the then GOC after he demitted the office of President. The other was Registration of AFVOA as a body with the Registrar of Societies. Again he undertook the coordination and liaison with various authorities and compilation of initial bye- laws in consultation with auditors. In fact he got the bye-laws printed gratis and told us about it at the subsequent Executive Committee Meeting. With utter humility he mentioned that the bye-laws may have some flaws which could be modified after the first year of registration. I wish to highlight his project of total dedication to the differently enabled children. It is a project of immense social endeavour in which Jaya Krishnaswamy and the AVM were deeply involved. It shows their compassion for disadvantaged children. The demise of these four stalwarts is indeed a great loss to the AFVOA. I salute them on behalf of all of you. May their souls rest in peace. The main danger in this life are the people who want to change every thing or nothing. Nancy Astor