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...
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...
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...
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