Guru's Air Force One

 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. Even I heard some one saying he had come at 0600 hrs itself. Sharp at 0900 hrs one uniformed elderly person (a malayale) came out and welcomed us in Tamil. He collected everyone's SSLC certificates and asked us to reasumble after 1 and half hour. We were all loitering on the road. Then came the same person and started giving back some of the boys certificates (after verifying the date of birth from their SSLC certificates) as they were over or under age to join Air Force and asked rest of us to come the next day at 0730 hrs for next step of selection. (Air Force working hours was 0730 to 1330). Though I was only 17 years 8 months, I was eligible by age. ( I came to know later that I would be called to join after attaining18 years of age provided I clear rest all tests). To narrate you what had happened the next day, I will come back to you.

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