Cover 51 - Air Force Association

CONTENTS
AFA NEWS
EAGLE'S EYE – 51
EDITORIAL BOARD
CHAIRMAN
Veteran Air Marshal TS Randhawa PVSM VM
CO-CHAIRMAN
President’s Page
4
Editor’s Page
5
APJ Abdul Kalam: The Peoples' PresidentVeteran Wg Cdr George H. Jones
6
Activities
8
Positive News
13
From a Maintainer’s Diary
Veteran AVM R Chopra
14
A Doctor in the Air
15
Veteran AVM Cecil Parker
Veteran Air Vice Marshal R Chopra
EDITOR
Attack on Tiger Hill : Kargil Ops 1999
Veteran Wg Cdr Deb Gohain
16
Air Force Association - Annual Report : 2014-2015
17
What’s in a Name
20
Vetreran Air Marshal Dhiraj Kukreja
Veteran Group Captain Shailendra Mohan
ASST EDITOR
Magsaysay Award and CAS Appreciation 2015
24
Poetry Corner
25
dfork le;
26
Obituary
33
Balance Sheet
35
Air Force Association (Head /Branch Offices)
37
Snaps of the Season
39
JWO Sharmendra Singh
EDITORIAL SUPPORT
DISCLAIMER : The views expressed in the articles published
in this magazine are of the authors only and AFA bears no
responsibility to their authenticity and accuracy.
Corporal Awi Ranjan
3
(AFA News/Sep 2015)
PRESIDENT’S PAGE
The OROP case has been in the news over the last few months. There was
no announcement by the PM during his Independence Day address to the Nation.
AFA has been in constant dialogue with Air HQ and keeps apprising it of the
sentiments of the Air Veteran community. We have regular assurances from Air
HQ that the needful is being done.
The Senior Citizens' Home run by AFA in the capital is seeing increased
occupancy over the years. Those living there are very comfortable. Very few units
are available now. AFA has approached Air HQ for a soft loan to setup another
SCH at Secunderabad. We hope for an early response from Air HQ.
By the time this magazine reaches you news papers will be publishing articles on the
‘Art of Giving’. This is an annual exercise by a group of dedicated good Samaritans asking the
public to donate for the lesser privileged. In the same manner, I would like to appeal to all our members
to donate to the AFA or the Marshal’s Trust. ‘Donation is not based on how deep your pockets
are but how big your heart is’. I specially seek out those members who have superannuated. For
many of us our worldly requirements have largely been met. We have provided the best possible
education to our children and have seen them settling down well. It is now time to contribute towards
charity. Where better than the AFA /Marshal’s Trust. It is my personal assurance that the money you
donate is well spent. My thanks to those who have donated and continue to do so.
AFA and the Marshal’s Trust have not only been supporting Veterans but also Air Warriors up
to the rank of Sergeants. Your organisation has stepped up its mandate and has started giving
scholarships for Higher Education. We have also been giving grants to those who have been affected
by Natural Calamities. So please get out of your comfort zones and pull out your cheque books.
Alternatively send in your donations on line. Bank details are given in the pages of this issue.
We have published a concise version of the Annual Report which is read out by the Vice
President at our Annual General Meeting. By publishing this report, for the first time, we will get
across to all members with what their association has done throughout the year. It will also be posted
on our digital media.
I would like to thank the many contributors to the ‘Eagle’s Eye’ who make this magazine a
readable one. Gracious thanks to those who contribute regularly. Most of us have anecdotes during
our service career to spin after we shed our uniforms. Come on, let’s hear from you.
The Accounts of the Association have been audited recently. I am happy to tell you that AFA
has a modest but healthy financial status.
Veteran Air Marshal TS Randhawa PVSM VM
(AFA News/Sep 2015)
4
EDITOR’S PAGE
Bringing out an issue of a magazine is exciting as well as challenging at
the same time. The effort is always to improve upon the previous one. We always
try to publish all important and useful information for the veterans and also include
activities of various branches.
Dr. APJ Kalam’s journey to the stars on 27 Jul 15 is the culmination of a
life dedicated to the mission of development and prosperity of India. His
contribution in the field of missile technology is unmatched. A humble and humane
person, he endeared himself to millions of young students. His books ‘Wings of
Fire’, and ‘Ignited Minds’ have inspired a whole generation of Indians. AFA salutes his spirit of
eternal quest and patriotism. Our cover page reflects his association with the IAF.
The role of the IAF in Rescue and Relief operation called ‘Maitri’ in Nepal in April of this year
was outstanding. India’s response was prompt and it commenced within four hours of the earthquake.
IAF along with the Indian Army flew 2223 sorties and rescued 11200 people. It also transported and
dropped 1700 tones of relief material. It was truly operation “Maitri” in every sense of the word.
Two Indians – Anshu Gupta, founder of NGO ‘Goonj’ and Sanjiv Chaturvedi, an Indian Forest
Service Officer received the prestigious Magsaysay Award and made India proud. Anshu was moved
by extreme poverty that deprived people of clothing and sanitation and motivated him to work on
recycling clothes, Sanjiv Chaturvedi received the award in the “emergent leadership” category. He
investigated and exposed corruption in public life. He has declared that he would donate the cash to
AIIMS, where he is presently working, for the benefit of poor patients.
Organ donation day was recently observed in August. Organ donation is indeed a noble act.
In addition to the eyes one can donate heart, lungs, liver, pancreas, kidneys, heart valves, skin,
bones and bone marrow. Therefore one donor can possibly gift life to many terminally ill patients.
Eyes can be donated in case of normal death. Eye donation is called – “Netra Daan Maha Daan’
(us= nku egk nku). However other organ donations can be done only after a person is declared “brain
dead” on the independent advice of a team of qualified and experienced doctors. By pledging
organs, you can bring light and cheer not only in patients' lives but also in the lives of their near and
dear ones who will bless your soul. And of course one part of you will live as long as the recipient
lives.
Coming to this issue, it carries positive and useful information for Veterans in addition to their
experiences. A few Hindi and English poems are also published along with the answers to the quiz
published in the last issue. As no all correct entry was received, no prize has been awarded. One of
the letters received from a veteran is also published.
We shall await your response and valuable suggestions.
Veteran Group Captain Shailendra Mohan
5
(AFA News/Sep 2015)
APJ Abdul Kalam: THE PEOPLES' PRESIDENT
Veteran Wing Commander George H. Jones
In the twilight of Jul y 27, 2015, this was the news on every tel evision
channel: “Former President Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam is no more”. He died following
a ca rdiac a rrest during a lecture at the Indian Institute of Ma nagement in
Shillong. For me, it was difficult to believe that “The People’s Presi dent”,
affectionately called “India’s Missile Man” had left for his heavenl y abode.
Dr Abdul Kal am was a great visionary, a scientist par excel lence, and a
leader whose appeal tra nscended barrier s of religion, region and age. We need
to admir e him for his phenomenal rise fr om a rural town to the highest office of
the country. What baffles most people is that Dr Kalam rose to the pinnacle not
through the conventiona l route of a political career but through sheer hard
work as a scientist in government servi ce. Transforming India into a developed
country of the first wor ld was his dream, and he set about making this a reality
through both words and deeds – initially as a scientist, then as the Pr esident,
and subsequently, till he breathed his la st, as an ordina ry citizen and a teacher.
Abdul Ka lam was born on October 15, 19 31 in Rameshwar am, Tamil Nadu. His father, Ja inulabdeen, was an Imam
who owned boats , and mother, Ashiamma, a hous ewife. As a young boy, Kalam noticed an article in a Tamil newspaper about
a Britis h propeller airc raft, which kindled his interes t in aeronautic s. He had his ea rly education a t Schwartz Matri culation
School i n Ramanathapur am. In 1954, After graduating in physics, he joined the Ma dras Institute of Technology to study
aerospac e engineering. Kalam got inducted as a sci entist in the Aeronautical Development Esta blishment (ADE) of the
Defence Research and Development Orga nisation (DRDO) in 1960. Nine years later, he was transferr ed to the Indi an Space
Research Organisation (ISRO). When India joined the elite club of spacefaring nations, on July 1 8, 1980, Kalam was the
project director of Satellite Launch Vehicle-3 in ISRO. Kalam’s stint in DRDO and as the director of the Defence Research and
Development Laboratory (DRDL) wi tnessed impr essive achievements in mis sile technol ogy. Development of the Prithvi,
Akash, Trishul and Nag missiles was the important project undertaken. Agni, a strategic missile wi th re-entry tec hnology,
was Kalam’s brainchild. He was the projec t coordinator of the Pokhran-II nuclear tests conducted in May 19 98. Kalam
served a s the chief sc ientific adviser to the Prime Minister and DRDO secretary from 1992 to 19 99. He was awa rded the
Bharat Ratna in 1997, the country’s highest civilian honour, for his pioneering contribution to the nation’s space and missile
progra mmes.
Notwiths tanding the above, Dr Kalam wi ll be remembered for commanding the support and goodwill of the whole
nation during his tenure as the 11 th President of India from 2002 to 2007. He became the first President and the oldest Indian
to fly in a Sukhoi-30 MKI, and the first President to visit the Siachen glac ier. He has also the c redit of being the onl y President
to go on a cruise in a submarine. Dr Kalam changed the character of the Rashtrapati Bhavan into a place where thousands
of children could intera ct with the firs t citizen of the country. He found time to listen to the grieva nces of ordinary men and
women, which won him the love and affection of his countrymen. He had a strong communion wi th young Indians , and was
always a great source of inspiration for them. When he collapsed and died, he was doing what he loved most – addressing
students . He had a mysterious ability to connect with a variety of audiences and “ignite minds”. In fact, Dr Kalam gained a
much larger fan-following after his presidency beca use of the mass appeal he earned among the youth with his wr itings and
inspirational lectures. He spoke to them untiringly, presenting his visionary ideas, suggesting pra gmatic solutions to the
country’s ailments, and candidly voicing to them the need to “manage failures”. Kala m’s life was a mission – advisi ng every
youth of the country to dream big, to ha ve lofty aims, to think, and most importantly, to translate those thoughts into action
with har d work and perseverance.
With all his humility, Dr Kalam did not differentiate between the rich and the
poor or the aristocrat and the commoner. The India of his dreams was a developed
country where no one would be below the poverty line and no child malnourished
or illiterate. He had immense concern for the advancement of India on the secular,
democratic and egalitari an fronts. He ga ve away all his life’s savings to a fund
for Provision of Urban Amenities in Rura l Areas (PURA), a scheme that he himself
conceived. He was a true Karmayogi who pra ctised what he preached; a mentor
and role model for both the young and old. In the passing of Dr Kalam, I ndia has
lost a fine gentleman, an apolitical personality, a true human being characterised
by absolute simplicity, and an advocate of inter-faith harmony and br otherhood.
However, he will continue to shine thanks to the incandescent luminosity generated
by his noble deeds, true to the epithets and sobriquets he gathered in his journey on this earth. His ideas, life and works will
continue to inspire generations to come. The best homa ge to Dr APJ Abdul Kalam would be to work for his vision of I ndia and
dedicate ourselves to the cause of nati onal unity and progress.
(AFA News/Sep 2015)
6
PRESIDENT EMERITUS
Marshal of the Air Force Arjan Singh DFC
GOVE RN IN G COUN CIL
PRESIDENT
Veteran Air Marshal TS Randha wa PVSM VM
VICE PRESIDENT
Veteran Air Vice Marshal R Chopra
AFA BRANCH PRESIDENTS
(For de tails kindly see page 12, 1 3 & 14)
SECRETARY
Veteran Group Captain Ashok Sethi
TREASURER
Veteran Wing Commander TC Sood
N OMIN ATE D ME MBE RS
Mrs. Anura dha Baruah
Tel: 085 95308518
Veteran Group Captain PK Agnihotri
Tel: 098 91153445
Veteran Squadron Leader KN Sharma
Tel: 098 11579051
Veteran Junior Warrant Office r SP Verma
Tel: 092 12376788
Veteran Sergeant Sethu Madhavan
Tel: 097 11072000
Mrs. Veenee ta Bhardwaj
Tel: 093 12723887
E L E CTE D ME MBE RS
Veteran Group Captain JK Kaushik
Tel: 011 -27015482, 098 11055642
Veteran Wing Commander V Kumar
Tel: 012 0-26559378, 099 53145899
Veteran Squadron Leader DS Mehra
Tel: 012 0-2898012, 099 10154515
Veteran Master Warra nt Officer NC Gautam
Tel: 012 0-2630391, 099 99853037
Veteran Wa rrant Officer PR Ba lathilakan
Tel: 098 68106893
Veteran Sergeant GN Sharma
Tel: 088 60696127
OTHE R IN C UMBE N TS: AFA HE A D OFFICE
CEO, SENIOR CITIZEN’S HOME Veteran Major General PN Nayar
011-2995886 7, 26058866
LEGAL ADVISORS
Veteran Air Commodore IJ Singh
Veteran Group Captain KS Bhati
0120-24 44073, 09810 324738
011-237 11238, 09811 168948
DIRECTOR, PLACEMENT CELL
Veteran Group Captain Ashok Sethi
011-2301121 1, 23011208
EDITOR, EAGLE’S EYE
Veteran Group Captain Shaile ndra Mohan
011-250 94630, 0981 1078880
WEB ADMINISTRATOR
Veteran Wing Commander Dine sh Bharat
0124-23 51241, 0935 0536379
ADMIN OFFICER
Wing Commander YK Shukla
011-23 015762
MARSHAL O F THE AIR FORCE & MRS. ARJAN SIN GH TRUST
MANAGER TRUST
Veteran Wing Commander OS Sareen
011-23010231 Extn – 7358
CHIEF ACCOUNTS
Veteran Wing Commander TC Sood
011-230 11211, 09999 222211
WO I / C TRUST
WO Anil Kumar
011-23 013649
7
(AFA News/Sep 2015)
ACTIVITIES
AIR FORCE ASSOCIATION HEAD OFFICE
PC Lal Memorial Lecture
The 32nd ACM PC Lal Memorial Lecture was held on 26 Mar 15 at the Air Force
Auditorium, Subroto Park New Delhi. Shri Ajit Doval, Kirti Chakra, NSA to Prime Minister
of India, delivered a lecture on ‘Securing India : A Prerequisite to Nation Building”. He
said that the threat of increasing radicalisation in Pakistan was a matter of concern for
India. He added that the external environment is highly vitiated. Today what we think is
far from us in Syria, or Iraq, or Yemen, may not be as far as it appears.
“The threat is real and imminent. There is change in Pakistan and Afghanistan, Particularly in Pakistan.
The radicalisation of Pakistan’s society is a matter of added concern,” he said. “We are sceptical about the
abilities or the competence and the will and desire of the Pakistan government to take on and control the
situation though we would like them very much to do so,”
He said India wants to deal with Pakistan fairly and has been trying to engage its neighbour in a
dialogue.”We want them to change their thinking and, to that extent, India is happy to help and India has
been trying to engage and I do hope that this engagement in changed circumstances will make them
understand that it is in the interests of both the countries,”
He further observed that the situation as developing in the Indian Ocean region was another matter
of concern, adding that India’s role as the largest littoral power was important. Mr.Doval stressed that in the
current situation, modernisation of India’s forces was important.
The lecture was attended by distinguished guests from the three services, Mr. Robey Lal, Mr. & Mrs.
S. Chanda and his family members and members of the retired fraternity also turned up in large numbers.
GOVERNING COUNCIL MEETINGS
During the period from 01 Feb 15 to 31 Aug 15, two GCMs were held at AFA Head Office. T he salient
points of the meetings are appended below for information of Air Veterans.
(a)
A “Tri services Veterans Directorate” that would work in close co-ordination and consultation
with DESW,MOD is likely to be formed shortly. The Dte would be tasked with formulation and
implementation of welfare related policies uniformally common to ESM of all the three services.
(b)
Donations for J&K and Uttarakhand flood affected victims amounting to Rs. 2,32,537/- and
Rs. 4,64,131/- were received and Rs. 7,40,000/- and Rs. 7,50,000/- disbursed to nine and ten air
warriors of the two states respectively from the Marshal of the Air Force & Mrs. Arjan Singh Trust.
(c)
Additionally, Rs. 1 Lakh each out of AFA funds has been disbursed to families of the five crew
members of the chopper crash who lost their lives in rescue and relief operations in Uttarakhand.
AWARD OF CAS APPRECIATION FOR THE YEAR 2015
As per the decision of Air HQ , to recognize the selfless service rendered by air veterans to the retired
fraternity, the following air veterans have been awarded CAS Appreciation for the year 2015.
Gp Capt SS P hatak (RETD)
WG CDR TJ Reddy VSM(RETD)
Wg Cdr AM Balakrishnan (RETD)
President, Maharashtra Branch
President, AP & TS Br anch
Vice President, Tam baram Chapter
(AFA News/Sep 2015)
8
BRANCH ACTIVITIES
ANDHRA P RADESH AND TELANGANA
The branch continued to effectively maintain website www.airveterans.com established in Nov 2013
with latest news relevant to air veterans, covering reports on the events held with photographs, etc. During
the second week of June, Jeevan Pramaan, seeding of Life Certificate with Aadhaar was conducted in the
office for the benefit of AF Pensioners and family pensioners. Over 200 availed the facility.
International Yoga Day was observed on 21 Jun 15 in the office meeting hall by holding a yoga session for
air veterans and families.
The Annual General Body Meeting of the Branch was held on 21 Sep 14. Mementos were presented
to Octogenarians in the meeting. ACM IH Latif, PVSM (Retd) and Mrs Bilkees Latif were present. Air Cmde
S Badyal, AF Station Begumpet and Mrs Badyal were the guests for the meeting.
The first Air Veterans’ Rally of the branch, after the one at Delhi in Sep 14, was organized on
07 Dec 14. Representatives from Dte of Air Veterans(Air HQ), major Public Sector Banks, local DPDOs,
TS Dte of Sainik Welfare, ZSWOs of Hyderabad & RR Districts and ECHS Regional Centre Secunderabad
participated to resolve/address pension and ECHS related issues besides on the spot issue of ESM ID
Cards. Tirupati Chapter under this branch held its GBM on 18 Dec 14 and the Annual Social get-together
was arranged with families on 15 Feb 2015.
GUJARAT
For AFA Flag week, Rs. 15500/- were collected and forwarded to AFA head Office. In this connection
we were also able to meet Hon’ble Governor of Gujarat Sh. OM Prakash Kohli and Hon’ble Chief Minister of
Gujarat Smt. Anandi Ben Patel.
The branch continued with its efforts of motivating the youth of Gujarat to take up a career in the Armed
Forces. During the meeting with Chief Minister of Gujarat, she suggested that the branch should conduct an
awareness campaign. AFA Gujarat Branch with the support of HQ SWAC conducted an awareness programme
along with a charity concert in Ahmadabad on 17 Jan 15. The day long event was packed with a vide range of
aero activities like Parasailing, powered Hang Gliding, Helicopter slithering operation by Garud Special Forces
and screening of IAF videos. The air warrior Symphony Orchestra and the Air Warrior Drill team enthralled the
crowds. A static display showcasing some of the weapons held in the inventory of IAF was held.
On 18 Jan 2015 “Vayu Shakti Sandhya” a concert of light music was held by the branch with the
theme “Strength through National Integration” Shri OP Kohli, Hon’ble Governor of Gujarat was the chief
guest. He appreciated the conduct of the thematic cultural event showcasing the welfare activities and noble
work that AFA Gujarat was doing. Astronaut Veteran Wg Cdr Rakesh Sharma, Ashok Chakra, was the guest
of honour. He inspired the youth to come forward and join the IAF. Air Mshl BS Dhanoa the then AOC-in-C
SWAC and Smt Meenaxi Patel, the Mayor of Ahmadabad as guests of honour paid rich tributes to AFA
Gujarat Branch and the selfless sense of duty displayed by Armed Forces personnel. Gallantry Award winners
and eminent veterans were honoured by Governor of Gujarat.
HARYANA BRANCH
General Bo dy Meeting held on 11 Jan 15. Two minutes silence in the memory of the departed
members of AFA was observed. All the letters and pamphlets received from AFA (Central) and other agencies
were disseminated. The copies of all the letters were distributed to all the members present.
Annual General Bo dy Meeting held on 24 May 15. Wg Cdr YC Bali (Treasurer) presented the
accounts for the Financial Year 2014 – 15 to the house and a copy of the balance sheet was also distributed
to the members for information to all. It has been duly audited by Charted Accountant M/S Suraj Singh &
Co. He informed the house that the financial position is quite sound and there has been an upward trend
due to increase in share of membership fund received from AFA, New Delhi. T he balance sheet was
unanimously passed as proposed by Air Vice Mshl RP Mishra and seconded by Gp Capt JK Kaushik. An
amount of Rs.14745/- was collected during Flag Day of 2014.
JHARKHAND BRANCH
This branch has released three AFA Jharkhand News letters from Jan 15 to Jul 15. 41 new members
have joined the branch on being NE from IAF during the year 2014. 23 cases were taken up related to issue
of corrigendum PPO, non receipt of Medals and one case of property encroachment by a neighbor.
9
(AFA News/Sep 2015)
JAMMU & KASHMIR BRANCH
Three octogenarians were presented with mementos on 8 June 2015 by AOC 23 Wing in the presence
of branch president Veteran Gp Capt Pravin Vij. Branch members visited spouses of many late airwarriros
and sorted out their problems.
KARNATAKA BRANCH
Annual General Meeting was held on 19 Jul 2014 at HQTC, IAF. President AFA Karnataka branch
apprised the gathering about the current branch activities and steps taken for the welfare of our veterans.
Air Cmde AK Patra, Principle Director of DAV gave a detailed presentation about the latest developments,
various automation processes undertaken, facilities to members and their dependents and also about the
problems faced by the Air organisation with the proposed measures to improve substantially.
Annual AFA Day and Honouring of Octogenarian: Our association annual day was conducted on
15 Sep 2014. Wreaths were laid at the war memorial, HQ Training Command to commemorate the supreme
sacrifice of all service personnel who laid down their lives in the service of our country. Following this,
Honouring of Octogenarian members was conducted at Arjan Hall. Air Mshl Ramesh Rai, AOC-in-C, TC, IAF
felicitated the Octogenarian veterans.
Air Chief Marshal LM Katre Memorial Lecture was conducted on 29 Nov 14. Air Chief Mshl Arup Raha
Chief of Air Staff spoke on “TRANSFORM ATION OF IAF INTO A STRATEGIC AEROSPACE POWER”. The
Branch also presented a memento to CAS and Mrs. Srilata Katre and received mementoes from the CAS
and Mrs Katre.
The Branch continues to guide and help members and their families in matters relating to Pension issues,
ECHS, getting financial assistance after the demise of a member and help in legal matters, placements etc.
MAHARASHTRA BRANCH
AFA DAY 15 SEP 2014: The Branch held wreath a laying ceremony on 15 Sep 2014. And was well
attended by the members and their families. The function was followed by General Body meeting. Flag Day
collection was Rs. 59942/-.
18 Octogenarians were honoured on 22 Nov 14. The function was presided over by Veteran Air Mshl
Pratap Rao. Four Octogenarians who could not attend the function due to health reasons were felicitated by
Veteran Gp Capt SS Phatak who visited their home towns specifically for this purpose.
A lecture by Air Mshl SC Mukul (Retd) member AFT on Armed Forces Tribunal Act was arranged on 29
Sept 2014 at Maha Sainik Lawns, Ghorpadi, Pune. The lecture was very educative and well attended by the
members including Air Chief Marshal P V Naik (Retd). This function was jointly organized by AFA (MAHA) and
CASS, Pune.
During monsoon of Jul 2014 the entire Malin village was buried under the heavy land slide. Most of
the families lost their entire propertie. The branch had launched a relief fund and an appeal was ma de to all
members to generously donate for the cause. A total of Rs.1,38,501 was received from the members. On
02 Nov 2014, one steel cot and an electric mixer were distributed to 35 families affected by the devastating
landslide. The function was presided over by veteran Air Marshal PS Pingale. Items worth Rs. 1,39,190/were donated in kind.
A large number of queries on various subjects are being attended to. Approximately 600 veterans
were attended to for their queries during this period.
NORTH ZONE BRANCH
The bi-annual meeting of AFA (NZ) was held on 21st Mar 2015 and it was presided over by President,
AFA (NZ) Air Mshl RS Bedi (Retd.). Director Air Veteran – II, Gp Capt S Mediratta attended the meeting. A very
informative and deatiled presentation was given by him covering a lot of topics related to ex air warriors.
Eight spouses were helped with processing of application for notification of death of husband/
pensioner for sanction/award of family pension and admissible death grants/other benefits with various
agencies.
Many cases were taken up with various agencies to solve the problems faced by ex-servicemen /
spouses. Notable amongst them are mentioned below:
(a) Notification of name and date of birth of spouse of pensioner/family pensioner in PPO.
(AFA News/Sep 2015)
10
(b) Cases were persued with widows/dependents for processing of their long outstanding cases for
grant of family pension, and took up the cases for pursuing of Post Retirement Insurance claim with
spouses/dependents as per the names received from AFGIS.
(d) The issue of non-availibility of medicines and shortage of doctors in ECHS Polyclinics in tri-city
with ECHS authorities.
NOIDA BRANCH
A social get goether was attended by approximately 180 members. The Chief Guest Veteran Air Mshl
TS Randhawa, President AFA briefed the members on various welfares and pension policies. He gave a
resume of welfare activities undertaken by AFA as well as issues raised by AFA regarding welfare of veterans
with official forums. PD DAV Air Cmde Rajan Sood, briefed the members about measures adopetd by DAV to
facilitate addressing issues concerning veterans. AOC Hindan Air Cmde Anil Sabharwal and Gp Capt Ashok
Sethi Secretary AFA also attended the get goether
RAJASTHAN BRANCH
The Branch took up cases pertaining to F amily pension such as revision of service pension due to
counting of former service and MACP, grant of NE benefits to spouses/Air Veterans, endorsement of name
of NOK in PPOs, FAS Membership and Financial Grant from MAF T to the spouses for daughter’s marriage.
The Branch arranged a function on 09 Apr 2015 to honour 08 octogenarian members for the year 2014.
Air Cmde SK Vidhate, AOC AF Station Jodhpur was the chief guest.
TAMIL NADU BRANCH
The Tamil Nadu branch, apart from its daily routine of guiding and assisting the veterans and spouse
members in resolving their problems, conducted its first ever Chapters’ Conference on 20 Feb 15. Veteran
Air Mshl S Varthaman presided over the function. Vice Presidents of all the ten chapters gave presentations.
Air Cmde Rajan Sood. Principal Director, DAV and Gp Capt Mendiratta, Director DAV participated. Asst
Director Resettlement, Dte of ESM Welfare, Chennai and Officer i/c ECHS Chennai polyclinic also gave
presentations. Gp Capt O S Malhi, Station Commander, AF Station Tambaram briefed the participants about
developments in IAF.
The Office bearers of this branch had an interactive session with Air Mshl Ramesh Rai. AOC in C, TC
on 22 May 15 during his visit to AF Station Tambaram on issues pertaining to the veterans. The AGM of this
branch was held on 20 Jun15 with AD ESM Welfare Govt of TN as a guest speaker. Nearly 300 members
including 40 spouses participated.
UP BRANCH
Consequent to continuous drive 653 members were inducted during the financial year 2014-15.
This branch has a total No. of 10884 members (Officers 317, PBORs 9572 and Spouse members 416).
During Annual function of this branch on 09 Nov 2014 four Octogenarians were honoured by the
Chief Guest Gp Capt SK Jain Stn Cdr AF Stn Kanpur. Total of 42 Octogenarians have been honoured by
this branch since September 2004. Chief Guest appreciated the branch performance. President AF WWA(L)
Mrs. Seema Choudhary appreciated the assistance being given to spouse members and donated
Rs. 7,000/-.
Rs. 20,000/- were donated by this branch to the victims of our fraternity in Jammu and Kashmir. All
over UP & Uttarakhand, 29 cases were taken up with the nearest AF Stn for payment of Last Descent Rites
(Garima) Grant. A total of 24 cases were taken up with AF Stn Kanpur. Five belated cases were taken up with
IAFBA directly.
A Few complex cases of family Pension were taken up during this financial year. 28 cases of death
intimation of ESM, 34 cases of AFGIS payment and few cases of Bank a/c anomalies of deceased were taken
up during this financial year and were settled to the satisfaction of the individuals.
A Legal Cell has been established. Wg Cdr (Retd) SK Agnihotri Advocate has offered free services
for our fraternity relating to matters of family violence. Ex-Cpl SP Sharma Advocate has offered fre e services
upto High Court on matters relating to property disputes. Both are rendering full support to our fraternity.
A variety of placement and other recruitment applications are processed throughout the year. As a
result of which number of our young men have succeeded in getting respectable jobs in nationalised banks,
HAL, Railways, Electricity Boards, Central Schools, PNG and CNG.
11
(AFA News/Sep 2015)
MUSIC FOR THE MARSHAL
A special concert in honour of Marshal of the IAF Arjan Singh was
held at the India International Centre (IIC) on 18 Mar 15. The concert presented
by the Air Warrior Symphony Orchestra from Bengaluru included
compositions-‘Rejoice in Raisina’ and ‘Abide with me’. The renditions were
well appreciated by the discerning audience. Several numbers based on
Indian ragas like ‘Shanmukhananda’ were played on Indian as well as Western
instruments. The fusion experiment highlighted the strength of the Orchestra.
Mr. Soli J Sorabjee, President, IIC felicitated Marshal of the IAF. Sqn Ldr G
Jayachandra ably led the Orchestra.
From Air Force Blue to Army OG
Veteran Lt Col. Balbir Patwal
(Here is a Veteran paying his respects & expressing gratitude to the Service that moulded him for a
bright future...Editor)
“I am a humble LAC from the elite IAF though I retired as a Lt Col from the Indian Army. I can say without
hesitation that the IAF is the best organisation in India that one can serve. Those who are able to join in are really
very lucky. Words can never be sufficient enough to elaborate the niceties of the IAF. But I would just say that it
is because of the mighty IAF, that many a colleague of mine has achieved great success in the defence forces.
So many have become officers starting from the bottom like me. Had I not joined the IAF, I would never have
become what I am today. The atmosphere in Tambaram, most conducive to higher education made me learn so
many good things as a trainee airman, otherwise I, a simple hillman from the Uttarakhand, who started English
alphabet from the class sixth onwards, would never have reached anywhere. The Air Force made me smart. Our
instructors were thorough professionals, be it technical subjects or drill. It is their depth of knowledge that helped
me clear my SSB and get the Commission.
No doubt, I have served the Indian Army for a very long period, my gratitude is for the Indian Air Force
because that’s where I turned a man from being just a boy. I do read here sometimes people critical of their
mother service which saddens me. These people need to rethink. You join the Services voluntarily so why crib?
Merit and destiny both play a part in one’s life.
I pray for the IAF to be victorious in every mission and every operation.
FAREWELL
Warrant Offic er Vinod Kumar VL Joined the IAF in Clk/GD trade on 13 Jun 1986
and retired after ably serving IAF for about 30 Years. He served in various
capacities at HQ SAC, Congo, NDA, HQ IDS, and 121 Helicopter flight. His last
appointment was at Air Force Association Headquarters, New Delhi, where he
also served as Assistant Editor of AFA News (Eagle’s Eye).
(AFA Wishe s him and his family all the succe ss in the years to
come……Editor.)
(AFA News/Sep 2015)
12
POSITIVE NEWS
Extension of benefit of broad banding percentage of disability pension to pre - 1996 pensioners medically
invalided. Govt authorization for broad banding of disability pension which had earlier been authorized for post-96 retirees
has now been authorized for pre-96 retirees as well vide Government of India, MOD letter No 12(16)/2009/D(Pen/Policy) dated
15 Sep 14. The letter is available on AFA web site www.afa-india.org. Affected pensioners are advised to apply for the same as
per the proc edure specified in the Govt letter.
Minimum Guaranteed Pension. This had been authorized at enhanced rate wef 24 Sep 12. The same has now
been granted with retrospective effect wef 01 Jan 2006 onwards on 03 Sep 15. Govt letter can be accessed from AFA and
DESW websites.
Revision of Tuition Fees in Air Force Schools for air veterans. Air HQ (Dte of Edn) has issued guidelines to all
AF Schools to charge tuition fee to the wards of air veterans who have superannuated or have left service with pension benefits,
as per their rank held at the tim e of retirement corresponding to the rank held by air warriors from 01 Apr 15. It is clarified that
the reduced fee structure is applicable to only those schools run and managed solely by Air Force under the code of IAF
Educational & Cultural Society. AF Golden Jubilee Institute (AFGJI), The Air Force School (TAFS) and AF Bal Bharti School
(AFBBS) located in Delhi are governed by the Regulations of Delhi Govt and they have their own separate Management
Committee. Hence, these schools do not fall under the purview of IAF Educational & Cultural Society. Therefore, the revised
reduced fee structure is not applicable to these schools.
MEDICAL INSURANCE SCHEME (MIS) REFUND OF CONTRIBUTION
AFGIS has advised vide there letter No. Air HQ/27956/1/GIS/PRIC dated 05 Aug 15 the following:1.
Consequent to the introduction of ECHS on 01 Apr 03, the Medical Insurance Scheme (MIS) of AFGIS
was closed on 01 Apr 03.
2.
Air Warriors who were member of the MIS Scheme and retired from IAF during the pe riod from 01
Aug 1991-31 Mar 03 were advised through various means (letter/print/electronic media) to clai m refund of
their contribution.
3.
Individuals who have not claimed the refund till date are requested to contact AFGIS with following
documents for claiming refund of their MIS contribution.
(a)
Medical Insurance Scheme (MIS) card in original.
(b)
One cancelle d cheque with full bank details (A/C No. Address of the bank, IFSC, MICR Code)
for direct remittance of payment.
(c)
Present Postal address.
(d)
Mobile number and Email address.
AIR FORCE FACILITIATION CELL AT IGI AIRPORT NEW DELHI
The IAF has created a Facilitation Cell at Indira Gandhi Air Port at Terminal-I and Terminal-III.
Air Veterans may utilize the facilities of the Cell. The contanct details are given below :Landline :
011-25652728, 011- 25652729
Mobile :
09654980862, 09654980863
51 Indians have Won Magsaysay award so far. Some prominent names are:Vinoba Bhave (1958), Mother Teresa (1962), Verghese Kurien (1963), Jayprakash Narayan (1965), Satyajit
Ray (1967), MS Swaminathan (1971), MS Subbalakshmi (1974), BG Verghese (1975), Ela Bhatt (1977),
Arun Shourie (1982), RK Laxman (1984), Baba Amte (1985), Ravi Shankar (1992), Kiran Bedi (1994),
TN Seshan (1996), Aruna Roy(2000), JM Lyngdoh (2003), Arvind Kejriwal (2006)
13
(AFA News/Sep 2015)
FROM A MAINTAINER’S DIARY
Veteran AVM R Chopra
Working with c onstraints and m eeting operational commitm ents at the same time is the
overwhelming challenge in a maintainer’s life. It inevitably gives rise to a lot of spontaneous brilliance to
overcome hiccups because time is a critical constraint and procedures appear like roadblocks . It is the
humble Gangotri of the Jugaad attitude.
The year was 1985. I was a Flt Lt in a large Station in HQs SWAC and looking after a mobile
Secondary Radar to aid Russian make fighter bombers. The Navy had come up with a felt need to have
their own s hore based fighter bomber fleet for maritime attacks because they claimed better appreciation
of maritime warfare. The Air Force was contesting this theory.
An exerc is e to test the IAF contention was planned off then barely operational base at
Thiruvananthapuram. The joint AF NAVY exercise was to bomb ships at sea with the help of Naval air
rec ee platforms giving the coordinate fix. The fighter bombers selected for the exercise, needed a
secondary radar as a precise aid.
Three days prior to the beginning of the exercise, I was hauled into the SASO’s Office. The Directive
was clear, hit the road and make the Radar serviceable ASAP at Thiruvananthapuram. The distance by
road a minor 2000 kms. My protes t about reaching the base on the last day of the exercise, if I was lucky,
was brushed aside by a terse, 'that will be good enough for the exercise'.
I broke the news to my gang of ten technicians. Expectedly all hell broke loose. Traversing the
length of the country with a 10 ton trailer in tow was not high on anyone’s agenda. One of us who had done
his MCF more seriously, mentioned having vaguely read about transportation of the Radar by sea that
would require its dismantling. We could then try us ing an IL – 76. Clutching at straws we attacked our
publications. Lo and behold there was a provision to jack up the equipment, separate it from the platform
and lift it by a crane.
IL – 76 had just come into IAF inventory. Dimensions and pay load of the radar were not an issue.
The problem was the IL was a prized possession, controlled directly by VCAS branch. One of the joys of
working in the IAF has been that if you are sure of your facts, it can be a very lateral organization and
hierarchy usually not an impedim ent. So I mustered up all the courage I could and walked into the SASO’s
office, who incidentally was known as a terror those days. I requested for an IL – 76 and sold the idea of
how early pos itioning would be such a multiplier.
The AOC was deputed to witness trials of what we were claim ing. He cleared our process and we
were on. The IL – 76 was to com e in late at night and to leave early morning by dawn as it was heavily
committed else where. Loading was to be carried out at night.
The IL – 76 touched down at the stipulated time at 12 in the night. Our SSR was in position on the
tarmac. We commenced our two hour operation to separate the radar from the chasis. The master loader
of the IL – 76 of course had other ideas. He wanted to get away early for much needed rest and was in no
mood to com e back at 2.30 am to commence loading operations. He came up with a brilliant idea, deflate
the tyres of the trailer and tow in the equipment.
I howled in protest because even with the deflation of tyres the clearance would not be good
enough for towing in and above all how were we going to inflate tyres with a 9 ton load working on the tyres
in Thiruvananthapuram. But working at 12 in the night can work wonders on a man’s reasoning and
judgement. The CEO decided to bac k the master loader and our goose was properly cooked.
At 1.30 AM we tried towing in the trailer with tyres deflated and failed. At 2.30 AM the CEO told us
we now have to go back to our original procedure. Since the IL – 76 had to take off first thing in the morning
there was no choice. One hour to pick up our bags from home, CEO arranged dinner and we got back to
work. As the sun surfaced we were lifting the radar into the IL – 76 with its crane. By 7.30 AM we were
airborne for Thiruvananthapuram with the exciting task of inflating some huge tyres ahead of us and late
by three hours. The tempting approac h of Jugaad had out weighed procedure in the dec ision making
process and definitely not for the last time.
(AFA News/Sep 2015)
14
A DOCTOR IN THE AIR
Veteran AVM Cecil Parker
In the air force, medical officers, though on the posted strength of squadrons, function directly
under the Senior Medical Officer (SMO) of the air bas e where their sqn is located. As doctors they report
professionally to the SMO and as officers, to the CO of their units. This dual reporting can be a trifle
confusing to new doctors recruited directly from civilian medical colleges . Unlike their counterparts from
the Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC), their introduction to the armed forces is a brief orientation
course at the Army Medical Corp (AMC) Centre before donning uniform. In view of their relatively long
training period, all medical officers are somewhat older at entry and are also granted a higher rank.
In 1970 a new medical officer from the civvy streets reported on posting to the sqn I was in command
of. I welcomed him, explained his role and hoped he would find time to interact with sqn personnel to guide
and help them, whether they required m edical help or not. He seemed receptive but was still a bit
uncomfortable in his new Flt Lts uniform. He told me he was married but would be staying in the mess as
his wife was to deliver a son soon. ( I attributed his confident prediction of gender to his profession.)
I received reports of our Doc’s unhappiness with the ‘unhygienic’ conditions of our sqn tea club and
flight crew room. I had a rather high spirited bunch of young officers at that time and our new medical
officer seemed to resent being referred to as ‘Doc’ by them. Being a teetotaler he cautioned them against
visiting the bar and threatened to have them ‘grounded’ if he felt they were imbibing unwisely. These veiled
warnings res ulted in some mischief when Doc’s scooter was ‘m isplaced’ and he received a telegram
informing him of the birth of a son. Doc came around happily distributing sweets but three days later was
in a disappointed mode when he received actual news of the birth of a daughter. I had to make special
efforts to help him adjust to sqn life!
One afternoon I was required to carry out a routine air test on our Hunter trainer aircraft (ac). There
is a little known old IAF regulation that authorises medical officers to be given an air experienc e sortie on
ac at their base. I spoke to my Flt Cdr and asked him to ascertain from our Doc if he was free and would
like to fly. When I reached the ac I saw him fully kitted out in borrowed flying kit, briefed and ready for the
very first flight in his life. He coped well, seemed to enjoy the experience and post flight appeared a bit less
judgmental and more friendly all round (I was informed the next morning our Doc conducted his sick
parade wearing flying overalls)!
During the 1971 Indo Pak war Doc, though with his leg in plaster owing to a scooter accident,
stayed continuously with our pilots and technicians on the tarmac and blast pens in Pathankot helping in
any way he could – a very valuable as set to the sqn indeed. A few months later when m y own posting
orders were received, he came to request my help in getting him a pair of flying overalls which strictly
speaking he was not entitled to! I had an extra pair on which I had the sqn crest and a Hunter shoulder
patch attached and gifted them to him.
Over the years Doc kept in touch and I learned that he had become a specialist and reached air
rank. Years after we had both left the IAF we met in the NCR where Doc was now a consultant in a
corporate hospital. With great pride he told me that he had fathered three daughters, two of whom were in
the medical profession. He enquired about each of the officers in our s qn by name. His pros perity was
quite evident in his girth hence I fully understood his one regret; he could no longer fit into his flying
overalls!
(The author is a retired Air Vice Marshal of the IAF and a freelance writer who can be contacted at
[email protected])
15
(AFA News/Sep 2015)
Attack on Tiger Hill : Kargil Ops 1999
Veteran Wg Cdr Deb Gohain
This is my painting on the attack of Tiger
Hill by Mirage 2000 of 7 Squadron with
LGB. It has been drawn purely on my
visualisation of the attack after some
detailed discussions with officers that
planned and executed this daring
operation that will certainly go down in
records as an exemplary integration of
ideas and efforts by pilots and engineers
of IAF to achieve brilliance in times of
actual operations.
I do not know if I can reveal all that I know
on integration of the LDP with the
weapon and with weapon delivery
system of Mirage 2000 that was so vital for success of the mission. A few of my good friends who
were test pilots in IAF and are now retired had assisted me with the facts with a request to record the
event on canvas. As I am not at all familiar with a Mirage 2000 it took me almost two years to get the
photographs of the trainer aircraft with the actual configuration. CO 7 Sqn was quite generous with
his help. I also bought a scale model of a Mirage trainer to plan my composition.
I am sure those of you who have flown the Mirage 2000 aircraft or have worked on ground may find
quite a few mistakes/errors in the painting. I will be grateful if such errors can be pointed out.
OPERATION MAITRI – ROLE OF THE IAF
IN RESCUE AND RELIEF OPERATIONS IN NEPAL
India’s response and mammoth humanitarian assistance and rescue task commenced within
four hours of the earthquake and it was the first country to respond to the catastrophe. It launched a
full fledged rescue and relief operation on 26 Apr 15. It airlifted teams of doctors, nurses, paramedics,
engineering task force, water, food, blankets and tents.
IAF along with Indian Army flew 2223 sorties, rescued 11200 people and transported and
dropped 1700 tonnes of relief material in the operation lasting 41 days. During the long and strenuous
operation, the IAF helicopter pilots exhibited some rare landing skills, in some cases during extreme
weather conditions. The relief material airlifted included oxygen, generators, communication vehicles,
transportable operation theatres, X-Ray machines, laboratories and field hospitals.
The IAF aircraft which participated in this operation included C-130J Super Hercules,
C-17 Globemaster III, IL-76, AN-32 and MI-17 helicopters. The operations were carried out in remote
and inaccessible areas in inhospitable weather. Speed and synergy among various agencies
providing relief were remarkable.
(AFA News/Sep 2015)
16
AIR FORCE ASSOCIATION - ANNUAL REPORT : 2014-2015
Brief Synopsis of the Annual Report presented by the Vice President, AFA to the members at the
AGM held on 15 Sep 15 is outlined in the succeeding paragraphs.
President’s Meeting with CAS. On 5 Aug 15, the President had a meeting with the CAS. Some of the
issues emphasized by the President relate to :
(a)
Urgent intervention with the Govt for OROP.
(b)
Establishment of a separate branch at Air HQ for air veterans and their families with
independent Directorates under it to exclusively handle the following :
(i)
Needs of widows, special children and disabled veterans,
(ii)
(iii)
Charting out policies for veterans and overseeing their implementation.
Building a framework for their resettlement and rehabilitation.
Other issues that were discussed pertain to:(a)
Allocation of full funds for construction of a Senior Citizen Home at Secunderabad.
(b)
Taking over of pension disbursals by the Air Force from banks in place of the proposed
transfer from banks to CDAs.
(c)
Introduction of new schemes by IAF BA and an all-round increase in the amount of grants/
loans offered by them to air veterans and their families under existing schemes.
National Meeting of Directors Sainik Welfare/Secretaries Rajya Sainik Board convened by KSB. The
meeting was held on 29 Jul 15 under the Chairmanship of Secretary DESW, MOD and attended by the
Secretary AFA. Points highlighted by AFA at the meeting were
(a)
Inclusion of AFA as a member on the Kendriya Sainik Board constituted under the
Presidentship of Raksha Mantri,
(b)
(c)
Financial support from MOD to AFA as was being done earlier till 2003.
Issuance of ESM Card to Dependent pensioners of Defence personnel.
(d)
Convening of the first meeting of Standing Committee for Welfare of Ex-Servicemen
constituted by DESW, MOD in Oct 2014.
(e)
Issuance of a directive by Central Govt to State Govts for implementation of Dual Family
Pension Scheme which already stands sanctioned by Central Govt more than two years ago.
Enhancement of Employment Opportunities for ESM. To generate greater and better employment
avenues for ESM, a paper was prepared and forwarded by AFA to Raksha Mantri and Minister for Skill
Development. A Memorandum of Understanding has been concluded between the two Ministries to work
together with an aim to train and provide gainful employment to approximately three lakh ESM in the next
five years commencing 2015-16, under the superintendence of DGR.
Issuance of Corr PPOs for the pre-2006 pensioners. The number of Corr PPOs issued by JCDA(AF) and
CDA Allahabad combined has so far been only around 50,000. This leaves a balance of 1,50,000 PPOs yet
to be issued. The Association has raised this issue with concerned authorities at every conceivable forum
to speed up the process. But the progress continues to be tardy.
17
(AFA News/Sep 2015)
AFA Membership. The Membership of the Association has increased by 4025 veterans and 425 spouse
members, which works out to almost 75% of the retirements every year. The total number of membership
of AFA is 75820 veterans and 4431 spouse members.
AFA Scholarships. The number of scholarships during the year has been increased from 51 to 57. As
against last year’s disbursements amounting to Rs. 3.73 lakhs, the cash outflow during the current year
will be Rs. 5.09 lakhs. Applications for scholarships are scheduled to come in by 31 Oct and the amounts
will be disbursed by end Jan 15.
Provision of Medical Services under ECHS. The scheme has now been in existence for well over ten
years. The Association has been in constant dialogue with Central Organisation ECHS and Service HQs to
resolve some of the long outstanding issuses like non-availability of prescribed medicines, reimbursement
of medical expenses incurred on account of emergency hospitalization abroad, up-gradation of ward
entitlement for Hony Commissioned officers in private hospitals, and on line tracking of reimbursement
claims preferred by members. The progress on all the cases has been rather slow.
Financial Health of AFA.
With a Corpus of Rs. 7.58 crores and surplus of income over expenditure of Rs. 20.15 lakhs, the financial
health of AFA is modestly good.
The full report can be accessed from AFA web site afa-india.org.
READER’S RESPONSE (AN EXCERPT)
Respected Sir,
I have gone through the eagerly awaited March 2015 issue of AFA News. It appears to have taken a new
“Avtar” by way of its informative contents and their presentation. Congratulations. Please also accept my thanks
for the innovative initiative of introducing a new feature to recognize the selfless service rendered by air veterans
to the retired fraternity.
I appreciate the humorous way of bringing out the real style of functioning and level of understanding of
MOD in decision making, through the article “Beating them at their own game”. I hope you have sent complimentary
copies of AFA News to RM & his staff.
I am further thankful for the decision of Air HQ regarding reduced tuition fees to children of all pensioners. I give
full credit to the present set of AFA staff for their sincere efforts & inclination towards welfare of retired fraternity and
for having been able to convince Air HQ to implement this welfare measure.
The OBITUARY columns have a special sentimental place in the hearts of veterans and revive our old
memories of association with departed souls. Due to similarities of names and passage of time, it becomes
difficult to recollect their identity in spite of the service number having been mentioned along with their names. In
view of this I request to mention Branch/Trade in the obituary column.
It is further suggested that the latest progress on the burning issues affecting the retired fraternity in general
and pending at various levels like MOD, Hon’ble SC, HCs or AFTs may also be included in the future issues of
AFA News.
Thanking you,
Veteran Sqn Ldr CL Bedi
(AFA News/Sep 2015)
18
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ADDRESS : 155, VARDHAMAN STAR CITY MALL, SECTOR 7, DWARKA, NEW DELHI-110077
19
(AFA News/Sep 2015)
WHAT’S IN A NAME
Vetreran Air Marshal Dhiraj Kukreja
The Bard had asked – “What’s in a name?” My answer to it would be, “Plenty”! Before I proceed any further, I
would like to put forward some definitions of some words that are pertinent to this write-up. These definitions are as
per The Concise Oxford Dictionary.
Army : n. ‘An organised force armed for fighting on land’.
Military : n. ‘Members of the armed forces, as distinct from civilians and the police’.
Soldier : n. ‘A person serving in or having served in an army’.
Air Force : n. ‘ A branch of the armed forces...’.
Navy : n. ‘ A branch of the armed forces...’.
Defence : n. ‘The military resources of a country’.
The above definitions would give the reader an idea of what is to follow.
Sometime ago, a small news item in a national daily, caught my attention, which reported “theft of standing crop
from army land”. The text of the news item portrayed the army as an incapable organisation that was not able to
look after its assets, giving that unfortunate impression to the readers.
Knowledge of the defence forces is extremely limited and imperfect in our country. Why only the defence forces,
knowledge of the country itself is limited, as is evident from the comments made by the man-in-the-street and the
‘high-almighty’, on the residents of the North Eastern States – anyone with Mongoloid features is termed as a
foreigner. There was a time when any person belonging to any State south of Nagpur was considered a ‘Madrasi’,
and whose staple diet was ‘dosa-sambar’!
Similarly, for the ignorant members of the fourth pillar – the media – any reference to ‘defence’, and it is promptly
pinned on the hapless ‘army’. In this story on the theft of the standing crop, only if the correspondent had taken the
trouble to do some research! The custodian of the entire land holdings of the Indian defence forces is an organisation
called the Defence Lands and Estates Department - a civilian department that comes directly under the Ministry of
Defence and does not have a single uniformed personnel on its rolls. The correspondent, then, would have also learnt
that it was this department that was involved in the infamous ‘Adarsh’ fraud of Mumbai, and other such projects in
the recent past. Over the years, this custodian of defence lands has not been vigilant and has lost precious Government
real estate to encroachments.
Another term loosely used by the well-regarded members of the media, print or electronic, is the word ‘jawan’. This
term has traditionally been used for Indian Army soldiers (pl refer definition above); it is not even used for members
of the Indian Air Force or the Indian Navy, who are referred to as ‘airmen’ and ‘sailors’ respectively. There is a
reason behind its use; a soldier dons the colours of the Army at a very young age, in the prime of his youth, for a short
period and retires, or is placed on reserve duty, while still in his 30s. Use of this term, therefore, for anyone who dons
the uniform of any other organisation, be it the police, State or Central, is inexact, for the reason that they continue to
serve till the age of 60 years. Likewise, addressing non-military members, in uniform, as troops or soldiers, is also
imprecise. In the same way, labelling a soldier a constable is not just a display of sheer ignorance, but also demeaning.
As Kipling said, “In times of war and not before, God and soldier we adore, but in times of peace and all things
righted, God is forgotten and the soldier slighted.”
(AFA News/Sep 2015)
20
21
(AFA News/Sep 2015)
(AFA News/Sep 2015)
22
23
(AFA News/Sep 2015)
Two Indians Bag Magsaysay Award
Magsaysay award established in 1957 in the memory of Philipine President, is As ia’s highest
honour. Two Indians who have received this award in July 2015 are Anshu Gupta and Sanjiv Chaturvedi.
Anshu Gupta – Founder of NGO ‘Goonj’.
He is fondly called the clothing man. He was moved by the extreme poverty
that deprives people of clothing and sanitation and motivated him to work on recycling
of used clothes. “What bothered me was that people s till die of cold. It’s something
preventable and does not require any major policy and investment” – he says. ‘I
realized that out of three basic needs of Roti, Kapda and Makan, Kapda is neglected.
It is such a basic need’….adds Gupta. He realized right at the time of launch of his
NGO that if a woman does not have enough clothes to cover herself how can she
have the pieces of clothing during her menstruation cycle. His citation reads. “His
creative vision in transforming the culture of giving in India, his enterprising leadership
in treating cloth as a sustainable development resource for the poor and in reminding
the world that true giving always respects and preserves hum an dignity. “
Sanjiv Chaturvedi – Indian Forest Service Officer.
His c rus ade agains t
c orruption brought him this
award. He has been selected
for this year ’s Mags ays ay
award in th e “em ergent
leadership” category.
The board of trustees
of
Mags ay s ay
Award
foundation said, “Chaturvedi is
being award ed for
his
exem plary integrity, c ourage and tenac ity in
unc om prom is ingly expos ing and pains taking
investigating corruption in public office and his
res olute c rafting of programm es, and sys tem
improvement to ensure that government honourably
serves the people.’ ‘I have faced harassment for my
fight but that did not deter me from taking on the
system’ – he says. It is interesting to note that he
has been trans ferred 12 times in the las t five years.
He took on the land mafia in Haryana. He has said
that he will donate the cash, which he receives as
part of the award, to AIIMS for the benefit of poor
patients. Presently he is working as Deputy Secretary
in AIIMS.
(For other prominent Indian Mags ays ay Awards
winners, Please see page No-13)
(AFA News/Sep 2015)
24
“GLOBAL WARMING’
POETRY CORNER
Mrs Jyot i Nigam
Warming of globe an alarming concern..
In sense true let prevail discern,
Green house gas kin formidable tone…
Has potholes dug in layer Ozone!
Ultraviolet rays when hars h strike…
Disrupt golden glorious sunrise,
Temperature enraged in blatant spill…
A catastrophe greater, then wars instill,
Weather a ghastly mask attain…
With trickles of yellow, applaus e hurricane
Disappearing of glaciers. An Ecologist’s fright…
Cities to sink, as seas uprise !
Fossil fuel in villainous role…
Upon atmosphere creates a rigmarole,
Oceans slow down carbon-di-oxide intake…
‘Buffer Factor’ defined Rodger Rivelle past three
decades,
WISHES UNFULFILLED
With few statements more, that emphasized upon,
Warnings against globe, growing warm,
Veteran WO MK Balachandran Nair
Recurring misery, no plain mirth…
Craving for love and to love
But, a natural instinct of a child,
Siblings frolic with inherent flower
Much to the merit of upbringing
Grief strikes, when upon mother earth!
Get up pay heed before too late…
In hands of mankind, lies planet’s fate,
A wake up call to ears deaf…
Fraternal and sororal mix
Give a glow to the perfect bloom
Love one longs for sibling helplessly,
Bound to be destined incomplete.
Twist turn past, dawn, just not enough,
A step slow lay, before to run…
For the race has now begun,
The passage of growth to adulthood
Certain, to be dotted with unfulfilled wishes
Changes happen unabated,
In all walks of life.
Gear, straighten, slouched recline….
Desires remain at large
Beyond the reach of seekers, and
Often, to the chagrin of haters.
A message cast, far and wide…
Once again to welcome glorious sunrise!
For this, marathon to join !
Before does this disaster full grow…
Soots of carbon, on skies sow,
25
(AFA News/Sep 2015)
dfork le;
QkSft;ksa ds QSlys
laLdkj ejrs ugha
¶ykbax vkWfQlj lqcks/k nhf{kr
QkSft;ksa ds QSlys] gksrs ugha flDds mNky ds]
nq'eu ds fny ngyrs gSa] rqEgkjh dnerky lsA
gksa vk¡f/k;k¡ ;k rwQku] vius dne #drs ugh]
nq'eu ,d gks gtkj gksa] ge dHkh Mjrs ughaA
/kjrh gks ;k vkdk'k gks] eSa fot; gh ikšxk]
nq'eu ,d gks gtkj gksa] eSa fudy gh tkšxkA
fdLer ls feyrh gS onhZ] bldks j[kks laHkky ds]
nq'eu ds fny ngyrs gSa] rqEgkjh dnerky lsA
dk¡Vs gksa jkgksa esa pkgs vuar] lc gV tk;saxs]
mYVh ygj esa Hkh QkSth] nq'eu ds ?kj rd tk;saxsA
tks thrs gSa nwljksa ds fy,] e`R;q Hkh muls Mjrh gSa
ejus ds ckn Hkh iwtk] mudh eafnjksa esa gksrh gSA
xksfy;ksa ls D;k gksxk] tks cps gks bjknksa dh <ky ls
nq'eu ds fny ngyrs gSa rqEgkjh dnerky lsA
otz ls vVy gks rqe] vkSj vVy dk gh :i rqe
Hkkjr dh larku gks] vkSj txr ds Hkwi rqeA
uk Mjrs gSa] u Mjkrs gSa] uk Mjsaxs fdlh ds t+ksj ls]
gqadkj Hkj jgs gks rqe] lalkj ds gj Nksj lsA
t; toku&t; fdlku] fy[kk gS rsjs Hkky is]
nq'eu ds fny ngyrs gSa] rqEgkjh dnerky lsA
rqEgkjh vkl ckdh gS
osVju foax dekaMj ukjk;.k çlkn
flxjsV dh rjg
rqEgkjs :i d¨ fi;k eSaus
jk[k curh x;h
cu ds fxjrh x;h
mez <yrh x;h
vkx c<+rh x;h
vkSj vc\
/kq,a dk nkx ckdh gS
rqEgkjh vkl ckdh gS
tyu dh ckl ckdh gS
vxj ,d ckj
maxfy;ksa esa vk tkvks
cl ,d d’k !
cl ,d d’k !!
cl ,d d’k !!!
(AFA News/Sep 2015)
26
¶ykbax vkWfQlj lqcks/k nhf{kr
,d ckj tks QSlyk gks tk;s]
fQj QkSth ihNs gVrs ughaA
balku iSnk gksrs vkSj ejrs gSa]
ij laLdkj ejrs ughaA
;s laLdkj gh gksrs gSa]
tks balku dks balku cukrs gSaA
fdlh ds gkFk tku ysrs gSa]
fdlh ds tku cpkrs gSaA
I;kls dks ikuh fiykus esa Hkh]
;gh gkFk vkxs c<+rs gSaA
dksbZ vkxs vk;s u vk;s]
ij QkSth vkxs c<+rs gSaA
lnhZ xehZ /kwi ckfj'k ges'kk jgrs ugha]
balku iSnk gksrs vkSj ejrs gSa]
ij laLdkj ejrs ughaA
bu laLdkjksa dks fl[kkus ds fy,]
ge QkSt esa vkrs gSaA
viuh tku tksf[ke esa Mkydj]
vkSjksa dh tku cpkrs gSaA
dksbZ eglwl rks djsa] ;s QtZ+ ej ugha ldrk]
tc dksbZ jkst+ ekjs lj ij pksV
fQj QkSth pqi jg ugha ldrkA
dne&dne ij eqf'dysa gSa]
ij dne c<+kuk gS]
ygjsa foijhr gksa exj]
vkxs c<+rs gh tkuk gSA
,d ckj tks mM+ pys fe'ku ij]
fQj oks #drs ugah]
balku iSnk gksrs vkSj ejrs gSa]
ij laLdkj ejrs ughA
ANSWERS OF THE QUIZ PUBLISHED IN AFA NEWS-50
1.
The Lady Governor of Andhra Pradesh from the IAF Family.
Ans:- Mrs Sharda Mukerjee
2.
An Air Officer, who became AOC-in-C and also played cricket for India.
Ans:- AVM K Jaswant Singh
3.
The 5 Air Marshals from the Logistics Branch. Arrange in chronological order.
Ans:- Air Mshl GB Singh, Air Mshl L Pareira, Air Mshl PV Iyer
Air Mshl S Rghavan, Air Mshl Sriram
4.
He went out of the IAF as a Sqn Ldr and made a mark in journalism, writing regularly for the TOI.
Ans:- Sqn Ldr George Menezes
5.
An athlete of International Standards who represented India in the London Olympics in 1948.
Ans:- Gp Capt Henry Rebello- Triple Jumper
6.
He took to running in style as a Group Captain and went on to compete in the veteran Olympics.
Ans:- Air Mshl PV Iyer
7.
An Officer who played in the Ranji trophy and Test matches and went on to become a National
selector.
Ans:- Air Cmde HT Dani
8.
He represented India in the First Asian Games for Weightlifting and went on to become a
Commentator and Coach for Weightlifting.
Ans:- Wg Cdr PK Mahanand
9.
Air Force Officer in the International Arena of Sports, was Mr. India for a number of years.
Ans:- Wg Cdr Mathai
10.
A tiny fellow with a love for adventure sports, who took to mountaineering and was recently
awarded the Life Time Achievement Award by sports ministry
Ans:- Wg Cdr Amit Chowdhry
HUMOUR IN UNIFORM
Veteran Gp Capt D Bhattacharya
As a young Flt Lt I happened to be pos ted to a Fighter Squadron as Squadron Madical Officer in early
eighties
One day while visiting ORP during preflight check I found both the pilots including Flt Cdr snoring to glory.
Just fresh from IAM after Aviation Medicine Course I dutifully reported the m atter to Sqn Cdr, It s lipped from
my mind thereafter,
After a few weeks in a social evening in Officers’ Mess, the Flt Cdr smilingly called me “Hey Doc, What”s
Up?
By the way ‘ORP STANDS FOR OVER RESTED PERSONS’.
I could barely manage a sheepish smile & in a trice peeled off like an ace pilot with A1G1 category.
27
(AFA News/Sep 2015)
APPEAL FOR DONATION
Donate generously by Cheque /Drafts /Money Orders towards the corpus of the ‘Marshal o f the Air Force & Mrs. Arjan
Singh Trust’. Please forward the cheques at the following address:Marshal of the Air Force & Mrs Arjan Sin gh Trust
C/o 412 Air Force Statio n, Race Course Camp, New Delhi – 110003
The name of the donors will be uploaded on the website of the Trust. The name of donors contributing more than Rupees one Lakh will be
displayed on the Board, in the list of donors, maintained in the Trust office. The donations are exempted from Income Tax (50% ) under section
80G (5) (VI) of the Income Tax Act 1961. The donors w ill be issued with a receipt for claiming the Income Tax ex emption.
DETAILS F OR ONLINE DONATI ON TO THE
“MARSHAL OF THE AIR FORCE & MRS ARJAN SIN GH TRUST”
Beneficiar y A/C No.
3011972927
Beneficiar y A/C Name
Marshal of the Air Force & Mrs. Arjan Singh Trust
Beneficiary RTGS/NEFT IFSC Code
CBIN0283463
MICR No.
110016070
Bank
Central Bank of India
Branch
Air Force Station, New Delhi – 110003
Please note down the reference no of y our transfer and intimate the same to the Tr ust. This will help in linking your payment w ith your
name. The PAN Card No. of the Trust is AABTM4517D.
GRANTS : MARSHAL OF THE AIR FORCE & MRS. ARJAN SINGH TRUST
During the last quarter of FY 2014-15 and during the first quarter of FY 2015-16, the following 23 Serving Air Warr iors/Air
Veterans/widows have been given the financial grants of Rs. 10,23,500/-.
No
BENEF ICIARIES
GRANT
PURPOSE
1.
2.
3.
Rs. 1,00,000/Rs. 31,000/Rs. 3,000/-
His flat got destroyed in fire.
For daughter ’s marriage
For treatment of wife
9.
Air Cmde MS Mehta (Retd) (3592) F(P)
Smt Pachi DeveWd/o Ex C pl Sunder Lal (612684)
Ex JWO KC Sudhakaran ( 608091)
Rs 1000/- pm for 2 years. qtly payment of Rs. 3,000/Ex Sgt KK Rejive (704751)
Rs 1500/- pm for 5 years. qtly payment of Rs. 4,500/Ex Sgt Rakesh Kumar ( 717827)
Smt Merlin John
Wd/o Ex Sgt Abraham John (604988)
Rs 1000/- pm for 3 years. qtly payment of Rs. 3,000/Ex NC(E) HL Raina ( 800735)
Ex Sgt Khem Chand ( 646118)
Rs 1000/- pm for 3 years. qtly payment of Rs. 3,000/Wg Cdr AS Bali (25634 B)
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
796457 R Sgt FA Hafiz
796508 L Sgt NM Baba
794688 T Cpl Fayaz Ahmad Ganaie
797259 N Sgt SS Sodhi
784267 N C pl MA Wani
712890 N Cpl Muzafar Ahmad Dar
911198 T Cpl Fayaz Ahmad Dar
712887 N Cpl Mohd Ishaq Teeli
916312 F Cpl M Iqbal Dar
949286 T LAC Altaf Ahmad Dar
922700 N C pl SA Wani
825008 A NC( E) MA Ganie
827957 N NC (E) SA Dar
825442 L NC (E) MS Bhat
Rs.
Rs.
Rs.
Rs.
Rs.
Rs.
Rs.
Rs.
Rs.
Rs.
Rs.
Rs.
Rs.
Rs.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
(AFA News/Sep 2015)
Rs.
4,500/-
For self maintenance
Rs.
Rs.
5,000/6,000/-
For pur chase of wheel chair
For self maintenance
Rs.
Rs.
31,000/3,000/-
For daughter ’s marriage
For self maintenance
Rs. 40,000/-
28
60,000/50,000/50,000/50,000/60,000/40,000/60,000/50,000/50,000/60,000/60,000/70,000/70,000/70,000/-
For rehabilitation of family affected
by floods in J&K during Sep 2014
——————do———————
——————do———————
——————do———————
——————do———————
——————do———————
——————do———————
——————do———————
——————do———————
——————do———————
——————do———————
——————do———————
——————do———————
——————do———————
——————do———————
DONATIONS RECEIVED AT MARSHAL'S TRUST UP TO JUL 2015
PARTIC ULARS
AMOUNT(Rs.)
Gp Capt Surinder Singh (Retd)
Rs. 5,000/-
AVM SK Jindal (Retd)
Rs. 1,10,000/-
Wg Cdr Onkar Singh Wadhwan (Retd)
Rs. 10,000/-
Air Mshl SR Deshpande (Retd)
Rs. 50,000/-
Ex JWO Inder jeet Taneja
Rs. 1,100/-
Wg Cdr Raghav Prakash (Retd)
Rs. 1,10,000/-
HFL Raynor N elson (Retd)
Rs. 10,000/-
Wg Cdr Narinder Singh (Retd)
Rs. 1,01,000/-
Wg Cdr Madan Kumar Gupta (Retd)
Rs. 10,000/-
Wg Cdr Gurdip Singh Bakshi (Retd)
Rs. 10,000/-
Ex Sgt Surinder Parkash Mittal
Rs. 6,000/-
HFO Har bans Lal Saini (Retd)
Rs. 30,000/-
Air Mshl Anil Chopra (Retd)
Rs. 5,000/-
Wg Cdr Ranbir Singh (Retd)
Rs. 7,700/-
DONATIONS RECEIVED AT AFA (17 FEB 15 to 25 AUG 15)
Rank
Wg Cdr
FLT Lt
Mrs
Gp Capt
Mrs
Sgt
Mr
Wg Cdr
Air Cmde
Gp Capt
Smt
HFL
Wg Cdr
Air Mshl
Wg Cdr
Wg Cdr
Smt
Name
C Ramachandran VM
Brij Lal Pandit
Pushpa Joshi
Aurobindo Handa
Manju Lall
J Antony
Surender Kumar Sharma
VN Sharma
SC Gahlaut
R Malhotra
SN Vatsala
Lodge Barton No. 475-SC
BG Jadhav
Satish Kumar
Mc Mohan
Arun Kumar Gupta
AM Shamugham
Indu Ashta
Amount
150000
100001
100000
100000
30000
25000
10000
10000
10000
10000
10000
7500
5000
5000
5000
5000
5000
5000
Rank
Wg Cdr
Mr
HFL
Sgt
Wg Cdr
Air Cmde
Sqn Ldr
Mr
Sgt
Air Cmde
Gp Capt
Sqn Ldr
Sqn Ldr
Air Cmde
Wg Cdr
Sgt
Sgt
Cpl
29
Name
Harjeet Singh Kang
SN Giri
TC Sharma
Kapil Agnihotri
Praveen Puri
Shrikant Deshpande
PR Jamasji
Jagat Singh Yadav
AK Das
SS Deshpande
SS Samel
MP Harish
C Prakash
A Chibbar
AT Lingaraj
A Mathew
KM Ramachandran
Mani Lal
Amount
5000
5000
5000
4900
4790
3000
2500
2500
1000
1000
1000
1000
740
600
550
540
500
500
(AFA News/Sep 2015)
----------------------- Tear Off ----------------------- Tear Off ----------------------- Tear Off -----------------------
DONATION FORM
MARSHAL OF THE AIR FORCE AND MRS. ARJAN SINGH TRUST
(PLEASE FILL IN CAPTIAL)
Name............................................................................................................................................
Address........................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................................
...............................................................................................Pin.................................................
PAN No..................................................................................Ph No.............................................
Mob.........................................................................................Date of Birth..................................
Email.............................................................................................................................................
I wish to donate to Marshal of the Air Force & Mrs Arjan Singh Trust
Valid for 50% Tax Exemption U/S 80G
Rs. ............... for corpus of Marshal the of Air Force and Mrs. Arjan Singh Trust.
1.
By Cheque or DD
Inscribe in favour of “Marshal of the Air Force & Mrs Arjan Singh Trust”
(Please do not add any other things with the name.
Amount............................Cheque /DD No....................................Date......................
Bank..............................................Branch.................................................................
Signature
Cheque /DD should be drawn on or before 31 Mar to avail 50% Tax benefit during the
current financial year.
2.
Electronics Transfer (NEFT or RTGS)
Take following steps
(i)
Log in your bank account
(ii)
Register ‘Marshal of the Air Force & Mrs Arjan Singh Trust’ as Payee by puttingSB Account no. 3011972927
IFSC Code CBIN0283463
Name of the bank Central Bank of India Branch Race Course Camp Air Force
Station New Delhi, New Delhi-03
(iii)
Forward following details through Email at marshal.trus [email protected] Or send this slip to our
office as mentioned below
Amount................................................Date of Transfer................................................................
Your Bank...........................................Transaction ID...................................................................
Your PAN No. (Allotted by Income Tax Departm ent).......................................................................
For Donation related quires please email us to [email protected] Or call at 011-23013649
Please note that it is mandatory to send all of the above details for issuing of Receipt
and Tax Exe mption Certificate under section 80G of IT Act 1961.
3.
Our address: Marshal of the Air Force & Mrs Arjan Singh Trust
Race Course Camp, Air Force Station New Delhi
New Delhi-110003
Ph No. 011-23013649
Email [email protected]
(AFA News/Sep 2015)
30
EAGLES’ EYE AFA NEWS BULLETIN - SUBSCRIPTION FORM
(Please fill this form for records)
Name_ __ __ __ _ __ __ __ __ _ _ AFA Membership No. _ __ __ __ __ __ Service No. _ __ __ __ _
Rank________ ____Address___ ________ _______ ________ _______ _______ ________ ____
___________________________________________ Tele No. ____________________
Subscription Option: (a)
(b)
I want to make a life subscription of Rs.500/- only.
I want to make an annual subscription of only Rs.50/- for 2 copies of Eagle’s Eye.
I am enclosing a Bank DD No. ____________ of ________________ Bank ___________ (Name
of place) for Rs.________ in favour of “Air Force Association” (Note: Outstation cheques are
not accepted).
Date:
Signature.
EACH MEMBER, BRING ONE NEW MEMBER
AIR FORCE ASSOCIATION / AFA Newsletter
C/O 412 Air Force Station
Race Course, New Delhi – 110 003
Tel : 011-23792415
Email : [email protected], [email protected] Website : www.afa-india.org
YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE : DONATE GENEROUSLY
Please tick (  ) the square you wish to donate.
Rs. 1,000/-
Rs. 1500/-
Rs. 2,500/-
Rs. 5,000/-
Any Other Amount
Cheque / DD No. ______________ dated ______________ in favour of Air Force Association.
Name (Mr. / Mrs.) ____________________________________________________________
Address _____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Date of Birth (dd/mm/yyyy) ______________________E-mail __________________________
All contributions to Air Force Association are 50% Tax exempt under section 80G (5) (VI) of
Income Tax Act. 1961.
ACCOUNT DETAILS OF AFA, NEW DELHI FOR NEFT/RTGS
Benificiary Account Number
12043 12218
Accoun t Name
Air Force Association
IFSC Code
CBIN02 83463
MICR No.
11001 6070
Bank Name
Centra l Bank of India
Branch Name
Air Force Station New Delhi - 11 003
31
(AFA News/Sep 2015)
Notification of Death of Spouse (Husband/Wife)
From: …………………………………………………Reference No : (if any):……………………
…………………………….………………….. Tele No: with STD Code: ……..…………
…………………………………….……………… Mobile No :……………………………
………………………………………………………E-Mail Id :………………………………
To :Directorate of Air Veterans, Air HQ (SP), SMC Building, Subroto Park, Ne w Delhi –10
Dear Sir,
NOTIFICATION OF DEATH OF HUSBAND/WIFE/PENSIONER FOR SANCTION OF ADMISSIBLE
DEATH GRANTS/OTHER BENEFITS
1. I regret to inform the death of my…………………………..(relationship with the deceased),
whose particulars are given below :(a)
Rank : ………………………
(b)
(c)
Name (in block letters) :…………………………………………
Service No ……….………………………
(d)
Date of death:……………………………… Age at the time of Death: ……………yrs
(e)
Cause of deathas given in Death/Medical Certificate)……………………….……….
(f)
Pension Payment Order (PPO) :
Original PPO :No……………..……………………………….. …..dt……..……………
Latest Corr No.(if any):………………………………....................dt………………...…
(g)
Name & addres s of Bank/DPDO/Treasury where the pension account of thedeceased
was operated/drawn from: ……………………………………………………
(h)
Particulars of pension account No S/B :………………………………………………..
Joint Ac count: Yes/No, Name of the Bank : …………………………………………….
Branch :…………………..IFSC Code:…………………….MICR Code:………………
2.
I am enclosing OriginalCopy of Death Certificate No………………...dated…………….issued by
……………………………………………………
3.
I request that I may be sanctioned/awarded/paid Family Assistance Scheme benefits, lump sum
grant, ex-gratia and various other financial benefits, as applicable, for whic h I am entitled, at your earliest
convenience.Address as given above may please be noted for correspondence
Place :…………………………..
Date :…………………………..
Yours faithfully,
…………………………………………………….
(Name &Signature as with bank account)
Copy to ­:­
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
The Manager of Bank (From where Pension was drawn by the deceased)
DPDO/Treasury (wherever Applicable)
Jt CDA, AF Subroto Park, New Delhi-110010
Secretary, C/O- Air Force Association, Air Force Station New Delhi,
Race Course, New Delhi-110003
Secretary, Air Force Association (………………) Branch
ZilaSainik welfare Officer (Address of the District Offic e Concerned)
ECHS Polyclinic (Providing Services)
CSD Canteen (Providing Services)
(AFA News/Sep 2015)
32
AFA Pays Homage to ACM H Moolgavkar MVC PVSM AVSM (Retd)
Air Chief Marshal Hrus hikesh Moolgavkar MVC PVSM AVSM (Retd) 94, passed
away on 09 Apr 15 at Pune. Commissioned on 30 Nov 40,he was sent to the war zone in
Burma (now Myanmar) with 1 Sqn. Known for his flying skills, he was especially c hosen to
lead the fly past during India’s first Independence Day. As a Sqn Ldr he led a formation of
Tempest II just over the flag post. He also had the honour of leading India’s first Republic
Day fly past on 26 Jan 51 which set a precedence for all such future fly pasts over India
Gate. In the year 1948, as a Wg cdr, he took charge of 1 W ing where he dist inguished
himself, leading all major operational sorties disregarding all danger to himself. For his
exceptional gallantry and leadership he was awarded Mahavir Chakra. In his entire career
he flew 67 different types of aircraft - fighters, trainers, jet and prot otypes from the Tigermoth
and Hurric ane to Mig-21 and Sukhoi-7.
He took over as Chief of Air staff on 01 Feb 76 where his major achievements included,
introduction and implementation of new flight safety measures, which brought down the accident
rates for the first time to within international safety standards.He retired on 31 Aug 78.
Many senior officers inc luding Marshal of the Indian Air Force, Chief of the Air staff and other Air Veterans
recorded their homage in t he condolence book kept at AFA Head Office.
OBITUARY
Ser No
207368
222680
790165
5539
216280
273573
19620
229255
6264
246981
679276
207762
9596
234045
200982
243249
285648
726619
6730
613468
252569
806127
686758
9069
225737
3826
243587
5734
215822
3731
9148
611631
237899
656123
4797
252799
238488
9673
276232
Rank
HFO
HFO
LAC
AVM
HFO
WO
Sqn Ldr
Sgt
Gp Capt
JWO
Sgt
HFO
Sqn Ldr
LAC
HFL
JWO
JWO
Sgt
Wg Cdr
JWO
Cpl
NC(E)
JWO
Wg Cdr
MWO
Wg Cdr
JWO
Wg Cdr
HFO
Wg Cdr
Wg Cdr
Sgt
Sgt
Sgt
Gp Capt
WO
HFO
Wg Cdr
JWO
Name
Purushot haman M
Amar Singh Manhas
Vipin Kumar
BG Sat yapal
Amrik Singh Bachhal
RC Senger
MP Sinha
KS Warrier
Kulwant Singh
KK Gangadharan
Vinod Chingath
Venakata Krishnan
MK Bakshy
Pramod Narhar Apte
KP Krishnan Unni
AM Des hmukh
U Achuthan Kutty
Dalvir Singh Pathania
J Ant hikad
Vithal Kudba Naik
MK Sadanandan
Bhoga Prasad Munda
RS Bisht
Rajendra Sharma
Ram Daur Tripathi
Prabhakar K Karayi
K Thankappan
Bhupinder Singh
Prakash Chandra Verma
NC Bharma
RV Paul
Subramani S
MR Boja Raju
Jayasankaran P
Dibakar Ghose
T Bhas karan
Y Raman
SSMS Dhingra
N Balusamy
Branch/ Trade
CRYPTO
ELECT FIT
MUSICIAN
ACCTS
F II E
WS FIT
EQPT ASST
AE(L)
FITTE R IIA
FIIA
RDO FIT
CLK PA
F(P)
EQPT ASST
INST FIT
LASCAR
ELECT FIT
MTD
LGS
LGS
EDN INST
ADM
EQPT ASST
RDO FIT
MED ASST
ACH GD
CLK GD
MT FIT
33
Date of Demise
10 Oc t 14
18 Dec 14
25 Dec 14
25 Dec 14
25 Dec 14
26 Dec 14
28 Dec 14
30 Dec 14
31 Dec 14
02 Jan 15
14 Jan 15
23 Jan 15
23 Jan 15
26 Jan 15
29 Jan 15
30 Jan 15
30 Jan 15
01 Feb 15
01 Feb 15
05 Feb 15
05 Feb 15
06 Feb 15
07 Feb 15
11 Feb 15
13 Feb 15
18 Feb 15
19 Feb 15
21 Feb 15
23 Feb 15
23 Feb 15
23 Feb 15
24 Feb 15
25 Feb 15
28 Feb 15
02 Mar 15
04 Mar 15
06 Mar 15
08 Mar 15
(AFA News/Sep 2015)
5457
231970
9021
4050
240369
235548
268415
6852
201441
716815
5916
271206
6848
229160
611860
9536
5167
9915
243374
289725
232757
242437
400311
641357
804261
15532
239503
707060
641695
219668
231581
216582
613764
8558
229024
4375
605539
718775
292802
219326
224731
248364
601635
276871
11788
4187
679486
261439
625163
693612
276956
16811
261364
4280
207940
671896
19976
297298
6006
10213
4129
637644
Sqn Ldr
JWO
Gp Capt
Wg Cdr
HFO
JWO
WO
Wg Cdr
AC
JWO
Wg Cdr
HFO
Wg Cdr
JWO
Sgt
Wg Cdr
Gp Capt
Gp Capt
Sgt
JWO
Sgt
Sgt
Sgt
MWO
NC(E)
Flt Lt
WO
Sgt
WO
HFO
HFO
MWO
WO
Wg Cdr
MWO
AVM
Sgt
Sgt
HFO
HFL
Sgt
JWO
LAC
WO
AVM
Wg Cdr
Sgt
Sgt
JWO
Sgt
HFO
Gp Capt
WO
Air Cmde
Cpl
JWO
Air Mshl
Sgt
AVM
Wg Cdr
AVM
JWO
(AFA News/Sep 2015)
GR Sahni
PN Purushot haman Nair
Uma Shankar
BS Ramu
G Pandurangam
Johney C
KK Raveendra Nathan
SP Sharma
RL Devate
Krishna Dutt Sharma
PV Rao
Harish Chandra Dixit
KA Vij
John K urian
Dhirendra K umar Bajpai
LK D Souza
Joginder Singh
R Shankar
Ghanshy am Das
V Raghavan Nair
P Ramac handran
Surendran Pillai N
Santosh Raina
Upendra Rai
Gopal Singh
KP Narasimhan
K swaminath
Kannan Rajagopal
Sant Singh
BP Dwivedi
TD Langde
M Balak rishnan
Jagdish Prashad
A Mathew
Gursharan S ingh Johar
RK Mehra
K Bhuvanendra Kumar
Chandan Ghosh
Ashok Chander Sharma
SK Puri
U Mahaboob Khan
S Kumaraiah
N Gopinathan Pillai
N Singh
KI Trivedi
RL Jaitly
CB Pralhad
Raghavan CV
S Bas karan
Dubal Anil Shankar Rao
Wakil Rai
Vinod Rangabhashyam
E Harik rishnan
KS Balakrishna
SS Ganesh
Birendra Singh
AS Chahal
Ranjit Singh
T Sen
Chander Mohan
Amit Sen
Ledwani Ishwar Bacharam
F(P)
ARMT
CLK PA
ELECT FIT
ACCTS
ENG FIT
EQPT ASST
F(P)
EDN
ADSO II
RDO FIT
AIRCREW
ENG FIT
LASCAR
CLK GD
ELECT FIT
WPN FIT
CLK GD
ADM
AE(L)
RTO
WPN FIT
ACH GD
EQPT ASST
MET
LGS
F(P)
MTD
CLK GD
EQPT ASST
Med
ELECT FIT
34
09 Mar 15
12 Mar 15
14 Mar 15
15 Mar 15
15 Mar 15
16 Mar 15
17 Mar 15
18 Mar 15
19 Mar 15
20 Mar 15
21 Mar 15
21 Mar 15
24 Mar 15
24 Mar 15
24 Mar 15
30 Mar 15
01 Apr 15
01 Apr 15
01 Apr 15
01 Apr 15
02 Apr 15
02 Apr 15
06 Apr 15
06 Apr 15
06 Apr 15
08 Apr 15
10 Apr 15
11 Apr 15
13 Apr 15
14 Apr 15
24 Apr 15
27 Apr 15
28 Apr 15
30 Apr 15
01 May 15
02 May 15
02 May 15
05 May 15
07 May 15
10 May 15
12 May 15
15 May 15
15 May 15
25 May 15
29 May 15
31 May 15
01 Jun 15
03 Jun 15
03 Jun 15
06 Jun 15
08 Jun 15
10 Jun 15
10 Jun 15
11 Jun 15
15 Jun 15
20 Jun 15
21 Jun 15
23 Jun 15
05 Jul 15
06 Jul 15
16 Jul 15
18 Jul 15
35
(AFA News/Sep 2015)
(AFA News/Sep 2015)
36
AIR FORCE ASSOCIATION
(Head /Branch Offices)
BRANCH
TELE/FAX
AFA HEAD OFFICE
011-23015762
011-23792415
011-23011211
011-23011208
Face Book Link
Twitte r Link
Web Site
BRANCH PRESIDENTS
AP & TELANGANA
Veteran Wg Cdr TJ Reddy
VSM
ADDRESS &E-MAIL
NEAREST
OF BRANCH
AF UNIT
Air Force Station
AF Station
Race Course Camp
Race Course
New Delhi – 110 003
New Delhi
e-mail: [email protected]
: https://www.facebook.com/airforceassociation.india
: https://twitter.com/AFA India
: www.afa-india.org
09391027020
040-27757020(O)
27112808 (R)
C/O AF Station Begumpet
Bowenpally Post
Secunderabad– 500011
e-mail: [email protected]
09334114839
08084342649
0612-2340736
0612-3257683
Alankar Motors Complex
East Boring Canal Road
(RajapurPul), Patna-800 001
e-mail: [email protected]
GOA
Veteran Air Cmde PK Pinto
AVSM
0832 - 2414912
32, Defence Colony
Alto Porvorim
Bardez, Goa – 403521
e-mail: [email protected]
GUJARAT
Veteran Air Marshal
PK Desai PVSM AVSM VSM
09898574245
Himavan
Opp. Shefali Centre
Paldi Char Rasta
Ahmedabad-380 006
e-mail: [email protected]
0124-2343174
09811213201
C/O 54 ASP AF Stn Gurgaon
Gurgaon – 122 001
e-mail: [email protected]
AF Station
Gurgaon
09899787787
Air Force Station
Satwari, Jammu Cantt–180003
AF Station
Satwari
09430702001
H1-204, Harmu Housing Colony
Ranchi – 834 002
e-mail : [email protected]
KARNATAKA
Veteran Air Mshl
PP Rajkumar
PVSM VSM
080-23513319
080-23411061
Extn : 4555
Manoranjan Cinema Complex
HQ, Training Command, IAF
JC Nagar (Post), Bengaluru–560006
e-mail : [email protected]
website : www.afakarnataka.org
HQ TC, IAF
Bengaluru
KERALA
Veteran Wg Cdr ARS Iyer
09495662337
C/O HQ SAC (U), AF
Akkulam
Thiruvananthapuram –695031
e-mail : [email protected]
HQ SAC, IAF
Akkulam
BIHAR
Veteran Wg Cdr Narendra
Kumar
HARYANA
Veteran Air Mshl
DR Nadkarni
PVSM AVSM VM
JAMMU & KASHMIR
Veteran Gp Capt Pravin Vij
JHARKHAND
Veteran AVM Yash Kumar
AVSM
37
AF Stn
Begumpet
040-27753500
Extn :283
(AFA News/Sep 2015)
MADHYA PRADESH
Veteran Wg Cdr
JS Shrikhande
NOIDA
Veteran Gp Capt R Mohan
NORTHERN ZONE
Veteran Air Mshl RS Bedi
AVSM VM
NORTH EASTERN ZONE
Veteran Wg Cdr MK Borah
ODISHA
Veteran Gp Capt J Brahma
RAJASTHAN
Veteran Gp Capt
JR Swarnakar
TAMIL NADU
Veteran Air Mshl
S Varthaman
PVSM AVSM VM VSM
UTTAR PRADESH
Veteran Wg Cdr AK Tripathi
VM
MAHARASHTRA
Veteran Gp Capt SS Phatak
WEST BENGAL
Veteran Wg Cdr PK Basu
AUSTRALIA
Veteran Sqn Ldr RT Oliver
UNITED KINGDOM
Veteran Sqn Ldr IS Loughran
VM
(AFA News/Sep 2015)
09893543230
M-366, Goutam Nagar
Bhopal – 462039
e-mail : afa.bhopal @gmail.com
[email protected]
0120-2539956
09811923560
JVSAS Complex
Sector – 21, JalvayuVihar
Noida –201301 (UP)
e-mail: [email protected]
28 Wing, AF
C/O AF Station
Hindon
0172-2637390
0172-2641145
Extn-668
12 Wing, AF
C/O AF Station,
Chandigarh-160003
e-mail: [email protected]
12 Wing, AF
C/O AF Station
Chandigarh
0361-2620117
0361-2263676
C/O RJ Junior College
Dispur-Bas istha Road
Guwahati – 781028
e-mail: [email protected]
AF Station
Guwahati
0674-2434233
09861113414
G-10, BJ B Nagar
Bhubaneswar
Odisha – 751014
e-mail :[email protected]
Air Sqn NCC
Bhubaneshwar
0291-2511516 (O)
Extn : 2520
0291-2540545 (R)
09460106445
Station Medicare Centre
Air Force Station
Jodhpur – 342011
e-mail: [email protected]
32 Wing, AF
C/O 56 APO
044-22392546
044-22395553
Extn(IP) -3293
C/O 413 Air Force Station
Tambaram, Chennai – 600046
e-mail :[email protected]
AF Station
Tambaram
0512-2451730
Extn-6913
09935386303
Main Guard Room Building
AF Station, Chakeri
Kanpur –208008
e-mail : [email protected]
AF Station
Chakeri
020-26442344(R)
020-26840442
Extn : 7867
09421003200
C/O Adv HQ SWAC, IAF
Pune – 411001
e-mail: [email protected]
Adv HQ
SWAC, IAF
033-22236061
M-5,3, Janaki Shaw Road
Hastings, Kolkata – 700 022
e-mail :[email protected]
Adv HQ
EAC, IAF
02 - 99809335
0407407495
No. 5A, Duffy Ave Thornleigh
NNSW 2120, Australia
e-mail : [email protected]
01372-275700
7, Harding Road, Langle Vale
Epsom, Surrey KT 186 HN England
e-mail :[email protected]
38
SNAPS OF THE SEASON
Mrs. Lily Raha and Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha PVSM
AVSM VM ADC along with Mrs. Srilata Katre (L) and former
chiefs of the Air Staff at the PC Lal memorial lecture.
Shri Ajit Dov al Krit i Ch akra, NSA alo ng wit h Veteran
Air Mshl TS Randhawa President and AVM R Ch opra Vice
Presidn t AFA.
Veteran A ir Mshl TS Randhawa, President AFA p resenting
memento to Shri Ajit Doval
A View of audience at Air Force Au ditorium Subro to Park
New Delhi during PC Lal memorial lecture
Team AFA with Air Msh l TS Randhawa, President Air Force
Association.
Office Bearers of AFA Haryana Branch with the recip ients of
Scholarships
39
(AFA News/Sep 2015)
Executive Committee Members & families of AFA Gujarat
Branch withGovernor of Gujarat Shri OP Kohli at Rajbhawan
Vet eran Air Mshl PK Desai President, AFA Gujarat with
Smt.Neena Desai & Smt. Han sa Upadhyay Presenting AFA
Flag to Chief Minister of Gujarat Smt Anandib en Patel.
Vetrens at Annual Meeting of J&K Branch
Members with spouses during a get together in Deoghar
(Jharkhand)
Veterans attending the AFA North Zone Meeting on 21 Mar 15
Vet eran s Air Ms hl Rand hir Sing h, Air Ms hl RS Bedi,
Wg Cdr Satish Bhatia, HFL SS Bindra, Gp Capt GBS Sidhu,
Air Mshl BBP Sinha, AOA and Air M shl Jagjeet Sin gh,
AOC-in C MC lighting the lamp
(AFA News/Sep 2015)
40
Veteran Gp Capt SS Phatak, President Maharashtra Branch
presen ting Memento to AVM Arjun Subramaniam A OC
Advance Headquarters, SWAC, Pune on posting
Veteran Gp Capt SS Phatak, President Maharashtra Branch
with other members of AFA Maharashtra
Veteran Air Chief Marshal FH Major laying wreath at War
Memorial, HQ TC on 15 Sep 14.
ACM Arup Raha releasing souvenir before delivering ACM
LM Katre Memorial Lecture at Bengaluru.
Mrs Sushila W/o Veteran Wg Cdr MC Mehta Senior Vice
President, (RAJ) Branch planting a Sapling on 16 Jul 2015
with Veteran Gp Capt JR Swarnakar President, AFA (RAJ)
Veteran Gp Capt JR Swarnakar President , AFA (RAJ), Veteran
CPL BK Tanwar, Air Cmde SK Vid hate, AOC A F Stat ion
Jodhpur, Veterans JWO FM Khan, Sgt IC Bajra, Sqn Ldr SM
Sharma at Rajasthan Branch office on 09 Apr 2015
41
(AFA News/Sep 2015)
Wg Cdr TJ Reddy President, AP &TS Branch addressing
the members and families at the AV Rally of AP & TS Branch
on 07 Dec 14
Annual social get together of Members & families of Tirupati
Chapter (AP&TS Branch) on 15 Feb 15
A view of AGM Tamilnadu Branch on 20 Jun15.
Veteran Air Mshl Varthaman President, and office bearers of
Tamilnadu chapters during conference.
Air Cmde Rajan Sood PD DAV honouring wife of late MWO
TS Sood at AFA UP function
Group of Octogenarians along with Air Cmde Rajan Sood
PD DAV, Gp Capt SK Jain, Stn Cdr along with AFA UP
members.
(AFA News/Sep 2015)
42