The Indian Robin - small, common
and beautiful.
Tuesday, March 17, 2020
Friday, June 29, 2018
A Rainy Evening In Mhow
These two pics were clicked with my smartphone on Wednesday 27 June 2018.
It was rainy evening and ideal for clicking.
The Main Street of Mhow Bazaar, clicked from Methi Provisions (formerly where the Bata shop used to be)
The Mall and Generals' Road going to the right. The triangular Ambedkar Garden (formerly the Prince of Wales Garden) in between.
It was rainy evening and ideal for clicking.
The Main Street of Mhow Bazaar, clicked from Methi Provisions (formerly where the Bata shop used to be)
The Mall and Generals' Road going to the right. The triangular Ambedkar Garden (formerly the Prince of Wales Garden) in between.
Monday, May 07, 2018
An interesting blog...
My Los Angeles based friend Manisha, who belongs to Mhow and Indore, has just created a blog. It is called Manisha From Mhow The first post is a very interesting one titled: Itwaari “Haat” – Los Angeles style! Sunday Farmers Market at Hollywood
While describing the Sunday Farmers Market in Los Angeles she shares her childhood memories of the "Shanivar ka haat" (the saturday market) in Mhow with its beautiful rural touch which is still held not far from the Railway Station. A beautiful read. You can click here to get to it. Manisha has a flair for writing and am sure that in the coming days she will make her readers happy through a series of excellent, well written posts.
Thursday, April 19, 2018
Memories of Denis Compton in Mhow and Indore
Denis Compton and other MCC players practice at the nets in Adelaide, 29 October 1954. Ashes Test Series 1954-1955. Sydney Morning Herald Picture by Harry Martin. Public domain.
The great English cricketer Denis Compton was posted at the Officers' Training School, OTS, Mhow as a PT instructor during the World War II years. As he was eligible to play in the Ranji Trophy for the Holkar team of Indore the Army would give him leave so he could play.
He was a member of the Holkar team which played against Bombay in the 1945 Ranji Trophy final. Denis had scored 20 and 249 not out in this match but the Holkar team lost this high scoring match. Denis still holds the record for the highest fourth innings score in the Ranji Trophy.
The Bombay team included a Parsi player named Rustom Sorabji Cooper who had scored 52 and 104 in that final - a match which Bombay won by 374 runs.
In 2012 Nick Compton, the grandson of Denis, had visited India as part of the England team. He met Rustom Sorabji Cooper in Mumbai (formerly Bombay) who shared with him his interaction with Denis and how they had played with and against each other. Click here and read this nostalgia invoking article by Derek Abraham published in DNA Nov 1, 2012.
If I remember correctly Nick had played one match against the Cricket Club of India which had Abbas Ali as a player. Abbas Ali is the grandson of the late Syed Mushtaq Ali who played Test cricket for India from 1934 to 1952 and was known as the Errol Flynn of Indian cricket. Mushtaq Ali and Denis Compton played together in the Ranji Trophy as members of the Holkar team.
Wednesday, April 18, 2018
Nature Note From Mhow: The Beautiful Maulsari Tree
Maulsari (Native to the Western Ghats and Sri Lanka) the beautiful and tasty fruit of a beautiful tree. Clicked at Bungalow 93 Near Swarg Mandir Mhow. Scientific Name: Mimusops elengi. Common names in Hindi: Maulsari, maulshree, bakul. Common Names in English: Indian medlar, Spanish cherry, (Asian) Bulletwood. (Courtesy Trees of Delhi by Pradip Krishen)
The fruit of the Maulsari clicked on 18 April 2015.
According to Pradip Krishen these are the uses of this tree: Ittar (perfume) from the flowers, the leaves for treating headaches and sore eyes, a decoction of the bark to treat diarrhoea, fevers and gum infections. the unripe fruit to fix loose teeth, the crushed seeds to cure constipation, the seed oil is used in cooking and as a luminant fuel, the reddish heartwood is hard, strong, close grained, and durable and is used for bridge-building, boats, mine props and heavy construction. Impressive list of uses I must say!!!!
The fruit of the Maulsari clicked on 26 Feb 2015.
The unripe fruit on the Maulsari tree clicked on 5 December 2010.
Tuesday, April 17, 2018
President Ram Nath Kovind in Mhow on 14 April 2018
President Ram Nath Kovind with Governor Anandibai Patel, CM Shivraj Singh Chauhan at the Ambedkar Janm Sthali (Birth Memorial) on 14 April 2018. Courtesy Mohan Rao Wakode, Secretary of the Ambedkar Janm Sthali.
According to the Economic Times of 16 April 2018 President Kovind while addressing the gathering said: “Dr Ambedkar emphasised the values of non-violence and compassion in public life. He fought for the welfare of weaker sections of society but his path remained non-violent — stressing on consensus through dialogue. He believed that this was our country, for all of us, and that whatever needed to be done to bring justice to the weaker sections of society could be achieved by adhering to social harmony. In his final speech in the Constituent Assembly, Dr Ambedkar said now that we have constitutional methods of expressing opposition, we should avoid disruptive mechanisms,”
Click here to read the complete article.
Click here to read the article on the Presidential visit in Central Chronicle.
Monday, April 16, 2018
A Tribute to Lt Gen S L Malhotra AVSM, PVSM (Retd)
Lt. Gen S.L. Malhotra, PVSM, AVSM (Retd.)
15 April 2018, Sunday: A condolence meeting was held at the Signals Vihar Community Hall in Mhow to pay tribute to the late Lt. Gen S.L. Malhotra, PVSM, AVSM (Retd.) who had passed away recently. Many eminent Army officers paid rich tributes to the departed General officer and spoke about his greatness as a military commander and as a noble human being who cared for his subordinates and colleagues.
Among those who paid tribute to him included Lt Gen Rajiv Chopra the Commandant of the Infantry School Mhow and Colonel Commandant of the Madras Regiment, previous Commandant of the Army War College Lt Gen Vijay Madan (Retd) and former Commandant of the Infantry School Mhow Lt Gen Sher Amir Singh (Retd). Besides them the regimental colleagues of Lt Gen Malhotra including Lt Gen MM Walia (Retd), Brig D K Rastogi (Retd), Brig Avtar Singh (Retd) also paid rich tributes to their former Commanding Officer. The Chairman of the Signals Vihar Cooperative Housing Society (where he built his house and settled after retirement) Col P C Ohri (Retd) also paid tributes to him. His daughter Ms Sadhna Pasricha and his grandson Chirag Malhotra also spoke about their father and grandfather respectively and shared with us a very human portrait of Gen Malhotra. The function was conducted with elegance by his grandaughter Anisha Malhotra Singh.
===================
The professional and career details of Lt Gen S L Malhotra, PVSM, AVSM (Retd) are as follows. Thanks to the Malhotra family for providing these details.
The professional and career details of Lt Gen S L Malhotra, PVSM, AVSM (Retd) are as follows. Thanks to the Malhotra family for providing these details.
Lt Gen S L Malhotra was commissioned in the 4th Battalion of the Madras Regiment (Wallajahbad Light Infantry) June 1950. In his illustrious career of 36 years he had the honour of commanding his battalion in erstwhile East Pakistan during the Bangladesh Liberation War in December 1971. The Battalion performed exceedingly well during the war and many personnel were awarded for bravery.
After commanding a Brigade and a Division he became the Commandant of the Infantry School Mhow. He was the founding father of the Army Marksmanship Unit at Mhow, which has won a large number of medals for India in international competitions including the Olympics, Asian Games and Commonwealth Games. He was the Colonel of the Madras Regiment and was awarded the AVSM in 1979 and the PVSM in 1983.
He was serving as the Director General NCC at the time of his retirement in 1986. As DG NCC he was one of the pioneers for launching the Microlight flying program in India and he was instrumental in starting the NCC World Youth Exchange Programme with several countries.He was also the Colonel of the Madras Regiment.
He was serving as the Director General NCC at the time of his retirement in 1986. As DG NCC he was one of the pioneers for launching the Microlight flying program in India and he was instrumental in starting the NCC World Youth Exchange Programme with several countries.He was also the Colonel of the Madras Regiment.
After retiring from the Army he served as Dy. Managing Director
of TATA Exports and was on the Board of Directors of TATA International. He was the Chairman of the Leather Council of India
for 5 years and also served as an advisor to the Punjab
Government on Leather Exports.
He is survived by his wife Mrs
Pushpa Malhotra, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
====================Tribute published in Nai Dunia (Indore-Mhow edition 16 April 2018)
Thursday, April 12, 2018
Mhow Gets Ready to Receive the President of India
Mhow gets ready to receive Shri Ramnath Kovind, the Hon'ble President of India, who will be coming to attend the Ambedkar Jayanti Celebrations here on 14th April. The first such visit by a President. Shri Kovind had visited the Ambedkar Birth Memorial last year in March when he was the Governor of Bihar and was attending a program at the B R Ambedkar University of Social Sciences (BRAUSS) Mhow. See pic below.
Pic courtesy: Mhow media group on WhatsApp.
p.s. There is no official confirmation yet from Rashtrapati Bhavan but the state administration is taking no chances and is preparing for a Presidential visit.
p.s. There is no official confirmation yet from Rashtrapati Bhavan but the state administration is taking no chances and is preparing for a Presidential visit.
Pic: The Hon’ble President of India and the Supreme Commander of Indian Armed Forces, Shri Ram Nath Kovind awarded the President’s Colour to the Submarine Arm of the Indian Navy on 08 December 2017. Licence: CC BY 2.5 in
Jitu Rai: From a village lad to a national hero.
10 April 2018: Jitu Rai of the Army Marksmanship Unit (AMU) Mhow is all smiles after having set a new Commonwealth Games record in the 10m Air Pistol event at the XXI Commonwealth Games being held at Gold Coast Australia.
Jitu had joined the 11th Gurkha Rifles as a young village lad from Nepal who had lost his father (also a soldier of the Indian Army). He was identified as a potential ace shooter and brought to the AMU Mhow for specialised coaching. He has been undergoing rigorous training there. He was even sent back twice to his parent unit (5th Battalion 11 Gurkha Rifles) when his performance slipped. Since 2014 he has been on a medal winning spree and even though he missed out on an Olympics medal at Rio his best is yet to come. Looking forward to more medals from you Jitu.
L to R: Kerry Bell (Aus) Silver medal, Jitu Rai Gold medal, Om Prakash Mitharval, Bronze medal.
His colleague from AMU Mhow Om Prakash Mitharval won the bronze medal (214.2/261.6) and the Australian shooter Kerry Bell won the silver (235.5/261.6). Om Prakash is also an Infantry man, he belongs to the Rajputana Rifles regiment.
The shooters trained at the Army Marksmanship Unit Mhow have so far won 556 medals in various international competitions and have done the nation proud.
Pics courtesy Army Marksmanship Unit, Mhow.
Friday, March 02, 2018
Ace Shooter Jitu Rai Gets Ready For The Commonwealth Games
According to an article by Sabi Hussain in the Times of India dated Feb 28, 2018 Jitu Rai is using meditation, swimming and yoga to stay mentally and physically fit. "I am practising at the Army Marksman Unit in Mhow and not at the national camp. The target is to win medals at the CWG, Asian Games and ISSF World Championships in South Korea. I am leaving for Mexico to compete at the first World Cup of the season in Guadalajara in March. There are no injury concerns and I am confident of delivering results,” said Jitu. More here.
Wednesday, January 24, 2018
200 years of Mhow: The Battle of Mahidpur and the Treaty of Mandsaur
Dec 21 2017 was the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Mahidpur (Third Anglo Maratha War) in which the Holkar Army led by their young king Malhar Rao Holkar II lost to the East India Company Army led by Sir Thomas Hislop and Major General John Malcolm.
On 6 January 1818 the Treaty of Mandsaur was signed by Sir John Malcolm on behalf of the East India Company and Minister Tatya Jog on behalf of the ruler Malhar Rao Holkar II. Article 7 of this treaty led to the creation of Mhow Cantonment. This is how it reads: Article 7. In consideration of the cessions made by this Treaty, the British Government binds itself to support a field force to maintain the internal tranquility of the territories of Mulhar Rao Holkar and to defend them from foreign enemies; this force shall be of such strength as shall be judged adequate to the object. It shall be stationed where the British Government determines to be best, and (In; Maharajah Mulhar Rao Holkar agrees to grant some place of security as a depot for its stores. (Source: https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Treaty_of_Mandsaur)
This is how the Wikipedia entry on the same battle reads:
On 6 January 1818 the Treaty of Mandsaur was signed by Sir John Malcolm on behalf of the East India Company and Minister Tatya Jog on behalf of the ruler Malhar Rao Holkar II. Article 7 of this treaty led to the creation of Mhow Cantonment. This is how it reads: Article 7. In consideration of the cessions made by this Treaty, the British Government binds itself to support a field force to maintain the internal tranquility of the territories of Mulhar Rao Holkar and to defend them from foreign enemies; this force shall be of such strength as shall be judged adequate to the object. It shall be stationed where the British Government determines to be best, and (In; Maharajah Mulhar Rao Holkar agrees to grant some place of security as a depot for its stores. (Source: https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Treaty_of_Mandsaur)
This is how the Wikipedia entry on the same battle reads:
The Battle of Mahidpur was fought during the Third Anglo-Maratha Warbetween the Holkar faction of the Maratha Confederacy and the British East India Company at Mahidpur, a town in the Malwa region, on 21 December 1817.
On 21 December 1817, the British, led by Sir Thomas Hislop, attacked the Holkar army led by 11-year-old Maharaja Malhar Rao Holkar II, 22-year-old Hari Rao Holkar and 20-year-old Bhima Bai Holkar. The Holkar artillery, led by Roshan Beg, attacked them with a long line of 63 cannons. At one point, the British were on the verge of losing the battle. However, they were helped by Gafur Khan, a traitor in the Holkar's camp. Khan deserted the battlefield with the force under his command. After this, the Holkars were decisively defeated.[1]
Malhar Rao II, Tatya Jog and others escaped to Alot.[1] A peace treaty was signed on 6 January 1818 at Mandsaur. Holkars accepted all the terms laid down by Britishers in the Treaty of Mandsaur. At the conclusion of this Third Anglo-Maratha War, the Holkars lost much of their territory to the British and were incorporated into the British Raj as a princely state of the Central India Agency.
This battle led to the final destruction of Maratha power. Baji Rao II, who was trying to consolidate Marathas, finally surrendered in June 1818. British abolished the position of Peshwa, and Marathas were limited to the small kingdom of Satarauntil its annexation to Bombay state in 1848.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Mahidpur
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Mahidpur
A metre gauge train journey which cannot be done any more...
The metre gauge line is functioning between Mhow and Sanawad. A small part of the long journeys it used to traverse till some years ago. On Aug 15 2016 a small group of train enthusiasts took a train journey on this route from Akola to Mhow. Though this was not so long ago it was from a different era if one were to look at it in a 'rail' sense. The railway station still had the old name 'Mhow.'
Soon only memories will remain.
Here is the link and the description as given by Pawan Koppa
On Independence day 2016, we undertook one final journey on the Akola - Mhow Passenger powered by Mhow's YDM-4 #6719. The line was going to be truncated soon to a small portion which remains today : Mhow - Sanawad. My last trip on this line was in 2010 between Akola and Indore. I was raring to do it again and I got one last chance to do it along with Jayasankar Madhavadas, Aditya S Nivarthi and Rajeev Nair. It was one unforgettable journey which will be remembered by us always - from the rustic rural greens to the lovely samosas at Akot, the Dhulghat Spiral, the banker attachement at Kalakund and climbing up the ghats between Kalakund and Patalpani - this was one unforgettable trip! Presenting you a small snapshot of the MG journey omboard the 52974 Akola - Mhow Passenger
Click here to see the video
And for lovers of the Kalakund to Patalpani ghat section there's quite a lot of stuff here.
Soon only memories will remain.
Here is the link and the description as given by Pawan Koppa
On Independence day 2016, we undertook one final journey on the Akola - Mhow Passenger powered by Mhow's YDM-4 #6719. The line was going to be truncated soon to a small portion which remains today : Mhow - Sanawad. My last trip on this line was in 2010 between Akola and Indore. I was raring to do it again and I got one last chance to do it along with Jayasankar Madhavadas, Aditya S Nivarthi and Rajeev Nair. It was one unforgettable journey which will be remembered by us always - from the rustic rural greens to the lovely samosas at Akot, the Dhulghat Spiral, the banker attachement at Kalakund and climbing up the ghats between Kalakund and Patalpani - this was one unforgettable trip! Presenting you a small snapshot of the MG journey omboard the 52974 Akola - Mhow Passenger
Click here to see the video
And for lovers of the Kalakund to Patalpani ghat section there's quite a lot of stuff here.
Wednesday, April 26, 2017
Nature Note from Mhow: From a nestling to a flying bird.
Wednesday April 26, 2017.
When I left home at half past ten this morning the Purple Sunbird nest in our verandah had one young nestling in it. I had observed that the young one had been getting more active with each passing moment. I had got a bit scared yesterday when I saw it trying to come out of the nest and spreading its wings. I had heaved a sigh of relief when it had gone back inside. But I was happy that its 'graduation day' was approaching and it would be soon leaving the safe confines of its nest.
Earlier this morning I had seen it being fed by one of its parents. When I returned home at half past two I saw that the nest was empty. I was flooded by thoughts. Had the young one flown away or had it fallen from its nest and/or been killed and eaten by a predator? Should I feel sad or happy? I went inside and kept my bag on the table. But my mind was tense, I was consumed by worry.
A moment before I saw the empty nest I had seen the male parent on a tree in our garden not far from the verandah. I came out into the verandah and saw the female parent on the same tree chirping loudly. I asked myself if she was chirping because she was mourning. Then I heard the chirping of another bird and saw another Purple Sunbird with a distinctively yellow breast. When I looked carefully I was delighted to see that it was the young one whom I had always seen in the nest.
Seeing the young one on the tree was a wonderful sight. I rushed in and brought my camera and clicked a pic of the young one. The memory card became full so I had to go through a series of deleting and clicking before I managed to get around half a dozen pictures of the young one before it flew away.
Before the young sunbird flew away my mother had also come out to see it. She could spot it when I pointed it out to her. She also observed its yellow chest. I had told her that young birds look different from the adults of the same species.
This is a nest which was re-used by the parents. More than a week ago I had seen that the nest was on the verge of falling. I had feared for the safety of the two eggs in it so I had used a piece of cardboard and scotch tape to build a scaffold attached to the wall for the nest to rest. It needed attention as it was hanging by just a few strands of grass. I am glad that this platform was successful in keeping the nest and the two eggs inside it safe. And the egg which hatched has now become a flying bird. I think I deserve to feel happy and celebrate.
When I left home at half past ten this morning the Purple Sunbird nest in our verandah had one young nestling in it. I had observed that the young one had been getting more active with each passing moment. I had got a bit scared yesterday when I saw it trying to come out of the nest and spreading its wings. I had heaved a sigh of relief when it had gone back inside. But I was happy that its 'graduation day' was approaching and it would be soon leaving the safe confines of its nest.
Earlier this morning I had seen it being fed by one of its parents. When I returned home at half past two I saw that the nest was empty. I was flooded by thoughts. Had the young one flown away or had it fallen from its nest and/or been killed and eaten by a predator? Should I feel sad or happy? I went inside and kept my bag on the table. But my mind was tense, I was consumed by worry.
A moment before I saw the empty nest I had seen the male parent on a tree in our garden not far from the verandah. I came out into the verandah and saw the female parent on the same tree chirping loudly. I asked myself if she was chirping because she was mourning. Then I heard the chirping of another bird and saw another Purple Sunbird with a distinctively yellow breast. When I looked carefully I was delighted to see that it was the young one whom I had always seen in the nest.
Seeing the young one on the tree was a wonderful sight. I rushed in and brought my camera and clicked a pic of the young one. The memory card became full so I had to go through a series of deleting and clicking before I managed to get around half a dozen pictures of the young one before it flew away.
Before the young sunbird flew away my mother had also come out to see it. She could spot it when I pointed it out to her. She also observed its yellow chest. I had told her that young birds look different from the adults of the same species.
This is a nest which was re-used by the parents. More than a week ago I had seen that the nest was on the verge of falling. I had feared for the safety of the two eggs in it so I had used a piece of cardboard and scotch tape to build a scaffold attached to the wall for the nest to rest. It needed attention as it was hanging by just a few strands of grass. I am glad that this platform was successful in keeping the nest and the two eggs inside it safe. And the egg which hatched has now become a flying bird. I think I deserve to feel happy and celebrate.
Friday, March 10, 2017
Tuck's Post Cards: More than 100 year old images of Mhow
"Tuck's Post Card": A Chance Discovery on the Internet of Some Delightful Picture Post Cards on Mhow
These 'Tuck's Post Cards' I discovered accidentally while performing a google search are more than 100 year old (the date I got was 23 Sept 1916). This is what is inscribed on the reverse of the cards (italics mine):
Raphael Tuck & Sons' "Art Sepia" Post Cards
Art Publishers to Their Majesties The King and Queen
Kamroodin Mohamedally, Mhow, C India
Printed in England
=========================================
Note: To the best of my knowledge these are public domain images as they are more than a 100 years old and were used as post cards the public could buy. If you think otherwise and have information that can prove that these images are under a copyright please send me an email at dev.kumar.vasudevan@gmail.com or post a comment here with the relevant details.
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| "Cantonment Gardens, Mhow" |
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| "Infantry Barracks Facing One Tree Hill, Mhow" |
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| "The Best Shop, Regimental Bazaar Mhow" |
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| "Artillery Barracks, Mhow" |
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| "Church of England, Mhow" |
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| "Near Kalakund and Mhow" |
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| "Post Office Road, Mhow" |
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| "Regimental Bazaar, Mhow" |
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| "Section Hospital, Mhow" |
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| "Viaduct Near Kalakund and Mhow (130 feet high) |
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| "Roman Catholic Church, Mhow" |
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| "The Railway Station, Mhow" |
 | ||
"Patalpani Falls Near Mhow"
|
Saturday, February 20, 2016
Nature Note From Mhow: A Noisy Visitor... The Rufous Treepie
Noisy fella...
Feb 20, 2012: I was indoors when the racket created by
this Rufous Treepie (Dendrocitta vagabunda) drew me out ...
It was checking this dry stick on the temple tree (frangipani) for insects...
After that it went and drank water from a drum kept nearby
and I managed to record a video of that...
this Rufous Treepie (Dendrocitta vagabunda) drew me out ...
It was checking this dry stick on the temple tree (frangipani) for insects...
After that it went and drank water from a drum kept nearby
and I managed to record a video of that...
Saturday, January 23, 2016
Lt Gen J F R Jacob’s Gentleman Cadet days at OTS Mhow.
Lt Gen J F R Jacob’s Gentleman Cadet days at OTS Mhow.
Lt Gen AAK Niazi of Pakistan signing the instrument of surrender. Next to him is Lt Gen J S Aurora the GOC-in-C of India's Eastern Command. Lt Gen JFR Jacob (then a Major General and Chief of Staff of the Eastern Command) is standing behind Lt Gen Niazi. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 India License
Author Indian Navy
Army Day celebrations on 15 Jan were tinged with sadness this year as the nation had lost the highly respected and loved Lt Gen JFR Jacob (Retd) on Jan 13. Jacob was one of the architects of the resounding victory over Pakistan in the Eastern sector which led to the creation of Bangladesh in 1971. Jacob Farj Rafael Jacob was born in Calcutta in 1923 in a Baghdadi Jewish family. After completing his schooling he decided to join the British Indian Army as he was traumatised by the cruel treatment meted out to Jews in Europe by Hitler and the Nazis.
Not many know that Jacob joined Officers’ Training School (OTS) Mhow for his cadet training and he was commissioned into the Regiment of Artillery though he wanted to join the infantry. OTS Mhow was one of many training schools set up in India during World War II for churning out officers for the war machine. One of Jacob’s batchmates at OTS Mhow was T N Raina who later became the Chief of Army Staff. In his memoirs An Odyssey in War and Peace (Roli Books, 2011, Rs 350) Jacob briefly describes his short stay at Mhow. He praises the terrain around Mhow for being appropriate for military training. He mentions that though the training schedule was tough and demanding the gentlemen cadets were treated as officers in their off hours and were provided comfortable accommodation and even personal servants – a luxury for cadets!
Jacob’s description of how he ended up in the artillery is hilarious. He had done well during cadet training and was confident of being commissioned in the infantry – his first choice. But he was called to the company office and told that he had volunteered for the artillery. He then proceeded to Deolali, against his wishes, for his pre-commission training for the artillery. He describes the quality of cadet life in Deolali to be much inferior to that in Mhow. Four cadets had to share a tent and they had no electricity. Even off hours were devoted to training activities. Of the 28 cadets in his course only 21 could complete the course. They were commissioned as Second Lieutenants without any fanfare or a passing out parade on 7 June, 1942. Thus began a glorious career which culminated in his retiring as GOC-in-C Eastern Command in 1978.
=======
Links
The Wikipedia page on General Jacob. Click here
An Israeli journalist pays tribute to General Jacob. Click hereRediff dot com's chat with General Jacob in 2006. Click here
Who was Lt Gen JFR Jacob (India Today) Click here.
Lt Gen AAK Niazi of Pakistan signing the instrument of surrender. Next to him is Lt Gen J S Aurora the GOC-in-C of India's Eastern Command. Lt Gen JFR Jacob (then a Major General and Chief of Staff of the Eastern Command) is standing behind Lt Gen Niazi. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 India License
Author Indian Navy
Army Day celebrations on 15 Jan were tinged with sadness this year as the nation had lost the highly respected and loved Lt Gen JFR Jacob (Retd) on Jan 13. Jacob was one of the architects of the resounding victory over Pakistan in the Eastern sector which led to the creation of Bangladesh in 1971. Jacob Farj Rafael Jacob was born in Calcutta in 1923 in a Baghdadi Jewish family. After completing his schooling he decided to join the British Indian Army as he was traumatised by the cruel treatment meted out to Jews in Europe by Hitler and the Nazis.
Not many know that Jacob joined Officers’ Training School (OTS) Mhow for his cadet training and he was commissioned into the Regiment of Artillery though he wanted to join the infantry. OTS Mhow was one of many training schools set up in India during World War II for churning out officers for the war machine. One of Jacob’s batchmates at OTS Mhow was T N Raina who later became the Chief of Army Staff. In his memoirs An Odyssey in War and Peace (Roli Books, 2011, Rs 350) Jacob briefly describes his short stay at Mhow. He praises the terrain around Mhow for being appropriate for military training. He mentions that though the training schedule was tough and demanding the gentlemen cadets were treated as officers in their off hours and were provided comfortable accommodation and even personal servants – a luxury for cadets!
Jacob’s description of how he ended up in the artillery is hilarious. He had done well during cadet training and was confident of being commissioned in the infantry – his first choice. But he was called to the company office and told that he had volunteered for the artillery. He then proceeded to Deolali, against his wishes, for his pre-commission training for the artillery. He describes the quality of cadet life in Deolali to be much inferior to that in Mhow. Four cadets had to share a tent and they had no electricity. Even off hours were devoted to training activities. Of the 28 cadets in his course only 21 could complete the course. They were commissioned as Second Lieutenants without any fanfare or a passing out parade on 7 June, 1942. Thus began a glorious career which culminated in his retiring as GOC-in-C Eastern Command in 1978.
=======
Links
The Wikipedia page on General Jacob. Click here
An Israeli journalist pays tribute to General Jacob. Click hereRediff dot com's chat with General Jacob in 2006. Click here
Who was Lt Gen JFR Jacob (India Today) Click here.
Friday, October 02, 2015
Of Bapu And Books....
Oct 2, 2015
Gandhi Jayanti
Gandhi Jayanti
Of Bapu and Books
In 1981 when Richard Attenborough's epic film Gandhi was still in the making I purchased Vol I of The Life of Mahatma Gandhi by Louis Fischer (published by Bharat Vidya Bhawan) from GMC Bookshop near the GPO Indore for Rs 2.50. The train ticket both ways cost Rs 1.70. The three wheel tempo ride from the Indore Railway Station to GPO cost 50 paise.
I walked back to the Indore Railway Station from the GMC Bookshop with Rs 1.15 in my pocket. I needed 85 paise to get back to Mhow so taking a tempo ride was out of the question. The total expenditure that day came to Rs 4.70. I had set out with Rs 5 in my pocket. I had thirty paise in my pocket when I reached Mhow. The cycle stand at Mhow Railway Station charged me 10 paise for having kept my cycle safely for some hours. I had twenty paise with me when I reached home.
The next day I took Rs 3 from my mother and cycled to Indore and bought the 2nd volume of the same book which I had hidden behind some books the previous day. I headed back home with fifty paise in my pocket. I stopped at Choithram Chauraha and bought two oranges for the fifty paise I had with me.
Cycling back to Mhow with an empty pocket and a prayer that one of my cycle wheels does not get punctured was indeed difficult. But I reached home safely. Those two volumes of Fischer's biography of Gandhi are still with me.
What a day that was and what beautiful memories I have of those two days !!!!
Wednesday, September 23, 2015
Nature Note From Mhow: Indian Roller Looking Up...
Oct 15, 2013: "Woh dekho upar kya hai?" Indian Roller looking up... From my archives
A Mumbaikar's Blogpost on the Patalpani Kalakund Ghat Section of Mhow
My friend Anuradha Shankar of Mumbai who is a well known travel writer writes on her experience of travelling on the Patalpani Kalakund Ghat Section. The journey was undertaken on 27 June. I and my photographer friend Raj Kumar Saini were with her.
It was indeed nice to actually meet a friend after so many years of 'virtual' friendship. Or may I call it e-friendship?
Click on the link below to read Anuradha's blogpost
Taking the train to a journey back in time
One of the four tunnels on this route. From my archives. Clicked in April 2012
It was indeed nice to actually meet a friend after so many years of 'virtual' friendship. Or may I call it e-friendship?
With Anuradha at Patalpani. Thanks to Raj Kumar Saini for clicking this lovely pic.
Click on the link below to read Anuradha's blogpost
Taking the train to a journey back in time
Pipes and Drums Band of 4/1 Gorkha Rifles Mesmerises Indore on I Day
Independence Day, 15 August 2015
Location: Regal Square Indore.
It was a solemn moment when Mrs Tripta Thapar mother of Kargil martyr Captain Vijayant Thapar (Vir Chakra) unfurled the national flag at the above venue as part of the 69th Independence Day celebrations. This function was being conducted by 'Apna Samooh,' a local NGO. The presence of an Indian Army band in sparkling white uniform was noticed by all even before the function commenced. This was the 'Pipes and Drums' band of the 4th battalion of the First Gorkha Rifles also known as 4/1 GR and nicknamed 'Fore One.'
Bandsmen in the Indian Army bands are soldiers first and they have other responsibilities too, in battle they also play the role of medical assistants and help in treatment and evacuation of casualties. All Indian Army bands are trained at the Military School of Music in the picturesque hill station cantonment town of Pachmarhi in Madhya Pradesh. This school is part of the Army Education Corps (AEC) Training College and Centre, Pachmarhi. The 4/1 GR Pipes and Drums has the distinction of having played at Rashtrapati Bhavan and the Republic Day Parade at Rajpath, New Delhi.
The audience comprising of students, NCC cadets, ex-Servicemen and local gentry, was treated to the tunes of many national and martial songs. The smartly turned out Gorkha soldiers impressed one and all by playing the national anthem, the popular patriotic song 'Saare Jahan Se Achha Hindustan Hamara' and many more patriotic and martial tunes. The fifteen strong band is led by band major Havaldar Chandra Bahadur Gurung. It comprises of nine pipers, three buglers cum side drummers also called snare drummers, two tenor drummers and one bass drummer.
In a Pipes and Drums band the entire drum section is known as the drum corps. The tenor drummers and bass drummer are known as the 'bass section.'
All regiments and infantry battalions of the Indian Army have their own bands. The ‘Pipes and Drums’ or ‘Brass Bands’ are the official bands. Many battalions and regiments also have a jazz band which plays light music on social occasions.
Bandsmen in the Indian Army bands are soldiers first and they have other responsibilities too, in battle they also play the role of medical assistants and help in treatment and evacuation of casualties. All Indian Army bands are trained at the Military School of Music in the picturesque hill station cantonment town of Pachmarhi in Madhya Pradesh. This school is part of the Army Education Corps (AEC) Training College and Centre, Pachmarhi. The 4/1 GR Pipes and Drums has the distinction of having played at Rashtrapati Bhavan and the Republic Day Parade at Rajpath, New Delhi.
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