Air force one.

 Yes, it was an unfortunate and tragic day indeed. 6 Mar 1972, morning 0730 hrs, an ugly transprt left our campus to Palam AF station along with about 30 of us. It was low roofed and seat less, so we had sit on the floor of the transport. It was really an uncomfortable journy. All of a sudden, I was lying on the road and woken up by one of my course mate who was giving me water as I was unconsious. All my friends were lying on the road. Some one was bleeding, some one was crying loudly out of pain and few were dead. I had a fracture on my right hand. Glass pieces were shattered all over the place and on me too. You can guess what could have happened ?  Yes you are right. Our transport had collided with a city bus which was coming in opposite direction. 6 of my course mates have died on the spot.  I heard 4 bus passengers too have died.We were all rushed to Safdurjung hospital. Then to Base Hospital, Delhi cant. It was evening by that time. That hospital was overwhelming w...

 Today is 6th Oct. The gate opening day of my life in 1970. Yes, I had joined into the ocean of Indian Air Force. At Tambaram AF station, we were taken to a confrence hall and were explained about the Air Force activities by means of a small video show with the help of a 16 mm projector. Since the audio was in english, I could not grab much of it. The video was of second world war. It was all about Royal Air Force. To my guess, it was a time pass only but the effort appriciable. Later we were to furnish our details on some forms and we're told that we are going to Bangalore for training. We were paid ration money of Rs 3.56 for one day. At 1230 hrs were taken to a dining hall and served lunch (self service) with chapati, dal, rice and some veggies. The first Air Force lunch. Around 1430hrs a truck called 3 tonner took all of us for Madras Central station. We reached station around 1600 hrs and the train was scheduled to leave at 2130 hrs. My room mate Krishnan  and me roamed n...

 Next day : we were all present at 0730 hrs (I am not sure if anyone absented) and the physical fitness measurements like height, weight, chest, vision, hearing etc have started. Some boys were eating bananas and driking water to increase their weight (thank GOD they did nothing to increase their height and expanding their chest). When my turn came, I was only meeting the bare minimum requirements. Around 1300 hrs some certificates were returned to the boys who could not clear and the rest were asked to come the next day. Again next day, intelligence, basic english knowledge, mathamatics tests were carried out (I am rushing up without explaining the tests in detail as the train is nearing Bangalore). At the end of the day, many have gone back with their certificates. Again the next day, oral conversation and interview was cconducted by an IAF officer. Here some more were filtered and sent back. Then the last and important day came. An IAF medical officer checked our medical fitness...

 During my 15 months training period, two important and happy news have come to my notice from my family. 1) in the month of October itself, a beautiful girl baby was born. I let it to you to guss who was that. 2) in July 1971, my elder brother and my teacher Mr Natarajan got married to an another teacher Ms Banumathy. Both the joys I could celebrate within myself as I was undergoing training. We had exams after every three months and had to pass for next stage of training. I had cleared each stage without much difficulties. My final exams were in process during the month of December when war was declared against Pakistan. Generally, after completion of 15 months training, the trainees who successfully complete their training, were given one month leave to visit their home. In our case, we were directed to proceed to border areas as the situation was critical.  Though this situation did not stop our exams, group photograph, tea party, passing out procedures etc but our one mon...

 It is very cold at Delhi now, so I will go back to Bangalore to reveal some interesting incidents and facts happened during my training. I would be thankless if I don't mention an important incident there. One fine afternoon in the month of August, (I believe it was a Sunday) a messenger came from main gate and was searching for Gurumurthy. I went and said him that it was me. He said some guest for me is waiting at reception room. I could not believe and could not guess who could be that. The messenger too was not aware the guest name. I rushed to the reception room by running for about 1 km, (ofcourse in PT dress as that was the only dress we were allowed to wear). I was surprised to see my (then) brother-in-law and my (later) father-in-law Mr M Meenakshi Sundaram sitting there. I could not believe my eyes. I was touching the sky with emotion. Firstly he did not believe that it was me due to my haircut and out fit for few seconds. He took much pain in searching out this training ...

 Ok, fine with the break. It was a chilling cold early morning at Delhi. It was the time even the general public regarded the FAUJI and so the Air Force admin. Yes, we were taken in an olive green coach (may be just because it was a winter morning) from Old Delhi railway station to Palam air force station. There, we were divided into batches and I was with 20 more guys and were moved to Halwara air base by train. Luckily it was my posted station too. So I left my extra luggages there and from there again we were moved between Farithkot and Ferozpur along Rajasthan canal. We were dropped at different villages three in each village all along the canal. It all took just 48 hrs (Delhi rly stn to border villages). No hindi, no punjabi, no much English known, but to survive with punjab village people. The local people were very kind and helpful to us. They even supplied food to us. We were there upto the end of February. Then we were brought back to Delhi. I must have travelled hundreds ...

 After tavelling for about an hour or so, that trailor entered into an AF gate, made an U turn and halted. Prakasam, Pasubathi, Gurumurthy and Subramani....names were called out and were asked to get down with their luggages. That was Jalahalli West and the transport had left with rest and so my Horlicks bottle, vest and my short associated friends. I never had a chance to meet them after that. Later, I was told that they had gone to an another training centre in Jalahalli east. There came an another van like vehicle and dropped us near long shelters covered by tiles called billets. There were young boys inside the billets from different states who welcomed, and took us inside. We were allotted with beds and after a while, one Bombaywala (it is his name and from Maharashtra) took us to the dining hall called Mess. If you remember Bakyaraj in his old films with long hair, I too had the same type of hair style and was made like Kumki film hero on the very next day. We were handed ove...

 Some of you might have noticed a sign board as MCO with an arrow mark at railway stations and may be wondering what is it ? It is nothing but a guiding office for jawans to assist them for any help they wanted. Our train from Madras reached Bangalore City station at around 0500 hrs in the morning. We all went to that MCO as instructed by AF Tambaram only to see a board "counter opens at 0730 hrs". So we're to wait for 0730. When counter opened, we all rushed up there. The so called defence discipline stared from there onwards. We were asked to stand in threes means three lines and in three rows. An young man in army uniform advised us to take care of our belongings and also said a transport will arrive shortly to pick up us. He too said to have our breakfast but not to go far off as the transport would arrive at any moment. So, we were waiting, waiting, waiting and waiting for transport. In the mean we had our breakfast in batches and in turn. Around 1030 hrs, I had the ...

 Then what happened ? There was a multiple reaction back at home (I was staying with brother Mr Subramaniam). My brother lost hope on me. My other elder brother Mr Kunjithapatham commented that I don't take clean bath daily (his faith was that the prickly bubbles were the cause of unclean bathing). My sister-in-law Mrs Nagalakshmi appriciated me for having cleared all the hurdles during the selection process. She had a lot of confidence upon me and encouraged me. She bought a bottle of LACTO lotion and insisted to use that daily. In a week time, the bubbles have vanished. Then what happened ? Fir hona kya ? I was packed to Madras to my uncle's home (father's brother) as my exams were over with the instruction to go to AF Tambaram for re-medical examination. The ticket for Madras with student's concession was booked in west coast express. The Singara Chennai welcomed me with its two hands wide open. At Madras, one suba muhurtha day, I visited Tambaram and got declared me...

 6 Oct 70. We were travelling to Bangalore with jokes, songs etc. Let them be in train, in the mean time, I will take you to Apr 70 to tell you about how was I selected into IAF. In 1960s, there were no higher secondary schools. You have to study upto 11th std in school and join college for one year course (ofcourse after passing 11th) called PUC (Pre University course). So I joined Govt Arts college, coimbatore. There was a municipal inspection bungalow near to our college and it came in news papers that the Air Force recruitment team is visiting that bungalow in Apr 70. My elder brother Mr Kunjithapatham had seen that advertisement and asked me to go for Air force selection. Though I was not interested in it, as I wanted to study further, but I can't refuse him. So I visited that place thinking that I won't be selected. The time of starting selection was given as 0900 hrs. I reached around 0845. To my surprise, there was a huge crowed of about 1000 young boys waiting outside....

 It all started in 5 Oct 1970. Early morning at 0430,my cousin brother woke me up at Thandaiyarpet (then Madras, now Chennai). He took me in his cycle to Beach station and boarded the electric train at 0515 hrs for Tambaram. At Tambaram took a cycle rikshaw and reached Air Force Station Tambaram at 0715 hrs. We were about 50 youngsters and they started checking our certificates and joining letter. One guy brought a conduct certificate written in Tamil. Due to him, our enrollment was shifted to next day as he was asked to bring C.C. in English. I had no one known at Tambaram to staywith and was not willing to go back to Thandaiyarpet either. One guy named Krishnan (I don't remember his name exactly) who came from other part of Tamilnadu, suggested me that we hire one room and share. I agreed upon and stayed in hotel. Next day morning, 0730 hrs we reached AF TAMBARAM. Rest in next.

 My first day for Air Force enrolment in 1970. I think I can write some of my experiences with IAF if you all permit me.