Buddies of 17th Short Service Commissioned Officer (Non Technical)

17th Short Service Commissioned Officers who had passed from Officers Training School (now Academy), Chenai, we had no social media like now, we occasionally mate each other at various Armed Forces Training Courses, events,  professional duties. and in civil life.

The OTA Alumni Association is active at least every year some of the course mates are meeting various parts of our country, may be other parts of the World.

 Chandra Mohan Dhoop, Artillery,setteled at  Kolkata, he his running his family buisness which is located at central Kolkata, an ideal location to visit.He got married at Kolkata, a reception was made at Territorial Army Institute Kolkata.I had the privilege to attain the ceremony. He is blessed with three daughters, a good gunner.

Umesh Chopra,

I have returned Kolkata, I got an allotment of 450 sq fts flat at Salt Lake, I required guarantor  for documentation of this flat, our buddy helped me, he was then posted to Eastern Command Signal Regiment.

I mate Pradeep Kumar Niyogi at Barrackpore, West Bengal

&   I had joined Post Commissioning Training with 2nd Sikh. He was then Staff Captain (Intelligent). We had few get to gether with our buddies at Kolkata and Kanchrapara.I went to Lucknow, he was then posted there.

Vijay Kumar Malhotra, Artillery and joined Rastriya Rifles was the ADC to GOC Bengal Area, he took the initative to locate me at my office location at Kolkata.

In December 1983  I along with West Bengal Mountaineers & Trekkers Foundation of Kolkata, jointly organised Promotion of Mountain Adventure for West Bengal a programme supported by Youth Services Department, Government of India, Territorial Army Group HQ Eastern Command, Kolkata & others. We had an opportunity to meet few days at Territorial Army Institute at Kolkata.

I joined State Bank of India, I planned to visit Vishakapatnam in 1988 from Bhubaneswar, Our buddy Ananta Rao was posted at SBI.Regional Office there.

He took pain to guide me this place. I had seen Indian Meteorological Department  Cyclone Forecasting Center, Indian Navy Dock here I found first time submarine from out side and INS Sandhak, this survey ship was built at Gardenreach Ship Building  Company, a PSU of MOD. I have the memory to attain the ceremony when this ship was commissioned there. It seems a parking lots for ships at Naval Dock Yard. I could see another Ship Building Company Hindustan Ship Builders.

I was posted to 121 Infantry (Territorial Army) at Kolkata  Praveen Mehata of Garwhal Rifle

  was posted there.

I went to Devlali, Maharastra where my last Army unit was located, I had not informed my unit of my arrival to give them a surprised, in return I got surprised my unit had moved from that location. I mate there .Chander Sekhar 

he got commissioned in Artillery.

Asok Nath,

the only writer of our Course. His book on Armoured Corps, published by United Service Institute of New Delhi. I mate him at this Institute when both of us was attending the first programme in India (2014) of Centenary of First World War.This was orgaised jointly by USI of India and MEF. He had visited this city with his wife.

S. Duiia from EME was posted Base Work Shop at Kankinara, I understand he had settled at New Delhi

S Debnath settled at Kolkata, he was posted at HQ Eastern Command (Artillery). On 9th May 2017, I had contacted him over phone, he is medically not well.

I mate Alamjit Singh in Sri Nagar (J &K) where he was posted in 1984. I went there to attain a programme on mountainnering organised jointly by Indian Mountaineering Foundation, New Delhi & Air india.

Ajit Odekhar , Artillery, from Pune,

he had attained 2010 Regiment of Artillery Reunion at Devlali.


Ranbir Singh Pathania ,

he had also joined SBI, I first mate him at Pathankot, I was travelling to Dalhousie on hulidays with my wife.


 Our buddies attained OTA Golden Jubilee Programme, I got an opportunity to meet them.We had attained the General Body meeting of OTA Alumni Association, I was elected as a Coordinator of Eastern Chapter of OTAAA due to vocal support from our buddies. On 8th March 2013 a lunch was arranged by GOC of Tamil Naidu, Karnataka & Pondichery Area Lt Gen Pillai of our Course. Mrs Pillai gave us brass 'Pancha Pradeep' to all our lady wives.It was International Women Day.

I had attained Gautam Sanyal's marriage at Salt Lake Gautam Sanyal

. We had mate at AOI & TAOI when he was posted at HQ Eastern Command. He has settled at Salt Lake.

I had mate Jaitley, he was NCC Group Commander, of NCC Group HQ, Kalyani, West Bengal. We had organised awareness programme at NCC Camp at Kanchrapara, North 24 Parganas, West Bengal.


I was a correspondent of Hindustan Samachar, a news agency of regional languages. Their office  located at central Kolkata. It was then a walking distance from my home at central Kolkata. I started filing news, initially from 1973, before  joining OTS Chenai. I used to file news on police, fire and sports. After returning from Indian Army in 1979. I took permission from SBI to continue as freelance writting which was allowed to me. I used to cover the defence matter. On 14th January 1981, the CPRO Defence Office, Kolkata advised me to cover the Army Day programme which was held under XXXIII Corps. then GOC in Chief & later General Arun Shridhar Vaidya Padma Vibhushan, PVSM, MVC and Bar, AVSM with Mrs Vaidya  along with media from  Kolkata were  flown from Kolkata air port by a special air force plane 

Reaching at the event location I found Khambata, an officer from Brigade of Guards was one of the Pilot of the programme. 
 After the event we the media personnel left earlier to Bagdogra airport to catch the air craft. I could not speak to Khambata. I had collected his contact no at New Delhi. I had spoken to him after 35 years. 

Social get together at New Delhi on 12 May 2017 ( Visuals : courtesy Ranbir Singh)

From: provirsinghkashyap via ss-17coursemates <ss-17coursemates@googlegroups.com>
To: "ss-17coursemates@googlegroups.com" <ss-17coursemates@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Saturday, 13 May 2017 3:54 AM
Subject: Re: 42 years after

Same here. I am sure all those who missed this opportunity to meet their coursemate/companymate/platoon mate , must have had genuine reason for not being able to make it. Notwithstanding that we hope and pray that we are able to make it to the next get-together wherever it is held. Do add my number in the coursemates group so that one can view the photographs/videos of yesterday's big "DHAMAKA".

Sent from my iPhone

On 12-May-2017, at 11:05 pm, khudaspa@gmail.com wrote:

Greetings to All Course mates we were remembering you all at the larger gathering at Delhi tonight from Eddie Francis ( Maratha L I ) Ashok Nath ( Armoured Corps ) , we had a nice long chat over drinks and dinner remembering days of yore .

From: "khudaspa@gmail.com" <khudaspa@gmail.com>
To: ss-17coursemates@googlegroups.com
Cc: echfrancis@gmail.com
Sent: Friday, 12 May 2017 5:35 PM
Subject: 42 years after

Greetings to All Course mates we were remembering you all at the larger gathering at Delhi tonight from Eddie Francis ( Maratha L I ) Ashok Nath ( Armoured Corps ) , we had a nice long chat over drinks and dinner remembering days of yore .

Social Media an extension programme of Poynter's University at Kolkata, India

By now we the citizens are aware of use and importance of social media are well informed the Governments, Non Governments Commercial Houses all are using this media in their cause. It is an important tool in democratic society. Each individual is empowered for his or her rights.

The tendency is increasing day by day. Poynter's News University This was a webnier programme

The programme was attained by the  media social  media and NGO representives.  Q&A session was there. The programme was held with the support of US Consulate General of Kolkata at their Center at Kolkata.

Science Express at Barrackpore Railway Station, West Bengal

It is afternoon of summer time, the 1^st May of 2017, the Science Express which has started its journey 77 days before from Delhi Safderjung Station under Northern Railway) on 17^th February 2017. This is 29^th Railway station this train has opened for the visitors.

Such trains are running in our country since 2007, this is Phase IX in the series. This time theme is Climate Change. It will run 19000 kms and reached 68 railway stations till 8^th September 2017. There are six Central Government agencies they are from Department of Science & Technology, Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Indian Railways and Vtkram & Sarabhai Community Science Center & wild Life Institute of India. All the exhibits are in 13 railway coaches. The staff are there to explain the exhibits, some exhibits are interactive.

The Scouts & Guides with their adult leaders of Bharat Scouts & Guides of Eastern Railway, Barrackpore Railway Group are there as a volunteers.  This train will be opened at Barrackpore Railway station till tomorrow. Next day it will be stationed and open at Kalyani Railway station.

A stall of publications of Botanical Survey of India is also there.

Local organiser should have planned more publicity for the benefit of local people.

Rock climbing training of the Institute of Exploration of Kolkata

A programme on handing over certificates to the participants who have done Rock Climbing course at Sushunia, Bankura of West Bengal.There were about 95 trainees from the state of West Bengal. It was a 4 days programme. Participants are mainly youths of both the sex.The organiser was The Institute of Exploration (TIOE) of Kolkata. This was their 48th Rock climbing course. They had started such training since 1971. The training area is generally at Sushunia Hills where the trainees get the opportunity to learn to climb  the rock, rappelling, negotiating crevasse, use and maintenance of rope and other climbing and camping equipment. The instructors and other organisers are all volunteers. They do pay for joining this training programme.There were young aspirants who were given to learn nature, Basic, Advance and Method of Instruction .  TIOE is having their office at central Kolkata at Creek Road. The members assembled here on Saturday afternoon.

This time they invited Bipin Ganatra, a civic volunteer to help in fire accident and felicitated him. The young trainees were inspired by his talk.

 Ardhendu Sekhar Nakar, Director Field Training of 48th RCC gave a report of this course

The best trainees were presented was medal. A team of Medical practitioner joined for giving medical service to the local people of the surrounding villages. They were also volunteers.

M A Nabi, the General Secretary of the IOE gave a report of the activities for about last one year.

In 2017 the IOE has organised Ronti Saddel round trek at Uttrakhand. The leader of the trek prsented a slide show 

The slides on Mount Polo Ganka (6632 meters) of Ladakh area was presented by Prasanjit Roy. Leader was MA Nabi 

44th Graduation Ceremony of TIOE

Voluntary donation of blood at Nil Ratan Sarkar Medical Hospital for a patient who is admitted there

Do you remember when you have donated blood ? In case you are regular donor, it is difficult to remember. Any able body can donate blood once in three months. There is a regular system in our body to generate blood in a normal way.

In the past I had given blood for the patients when it were required. I came to know need of one of our friend from Bangladesh had come our city for treatment, I went o donate blood for him. In 2015  one organisation of north Kolkata organised blood donation for Indian Army, the representatives from Command Hospital (East) had collected blood.

An ex student of Rabindra Bharati University Subash Singha is now admitted to Nilratan Sirkar Medical College, Haematology Department, Sealyham. He required blood & blood products for transfusion as per medical advice. Subash is from Purba Midnapore, he is the elder son, The blood donar cards have been collected from Civil societies, State Bank of India Officers Association (Bengal Circle) & others. The required blood product are not available most of the time at Blood Banks  Government of West Bengal at Kolkata.

Recently one of the representative from patient called on the Director of Blood Bank of NRS Medical College, he verbally agreed to help to collect blood from volunteer(s) at the premises of NRS Medical College Blood Bank , Ground floor and same will be available to the, hopefully to Subash Singha who is admitted there at.

You can give your opinion about donate blood and your experience of donating there at. Please take initiative to save by voluntary donating blood. The representative of blood bank will examine your health before blood collection.

My memory with Himalayan Club

It was in 1970, we were 7 members who went to Amarnath (J &K) following the normal route.
Brief on trek to Amarnath

We hired sleeping bags  and inner fly of artic tent ( condemn items) from Himalayan Club, the store was located at 63/E Mahanirban Road,, South Kolkata, we had a good experience of weting inside the tent at Panchatarni in the month of August.We shared one sleeping bag among two of us. The getting mountaineering equipments at Kolkata was not so easy at that time.

Next year in 1971 we had established The Institute of Exploration at 11/B Indian Mirror Street, the chamber of (Late) Dr Manindra Lal Biswas.. We started visiting National Library searching information on Indian Himalayas including Himalayan Journal.(HJ)

The Institute of Exploration received 5 volumes of HJ from Himalayan Club., it was a great gift for us.

Intial days with Indian Army

It is difficult to recall the events of the first day in the office of your service life. For me, it was a 10 months pre-commissioned training at Officers Training Academy, Chennai, then 5 months Young Officers (Artillery) Course training at Artillery School, Deolali, Maharastra. I gave the option for high altitude and field area posting. The posting was to an Artillery unit which was located at North Sikkim, accordingly, I was planning to travel to New Jalpaiguri. I wrote a  Demi Official letter to my unit, mentioning that I have been posted there. I got a reply from the Adjutant of the unit and I was told to reach Dharampur Railway station not to New Jalpaiguri, It is located between Kalka to Shimla railway line of Northern Railway.

I reached on the due date and contacted my unit over landline. I was told to wait at the railway station. The representatives from the unit reached with a garlanded made of the cones of the pine tree, a parachute in a pack condition, a rammer, this used for ramming in the barrel of an artillery gun and a megaphone, used by the Gun Position Officer at the Command post of an artillery battery. This was for passing verbal order to the gunners.

The location is a part of Shimla Hills, we could see towards the south the street lights of Chandigarh during clear sky of dark hours of the day. Towards the north, we could see the snowy peaks at a far distance beyond Shimla.  It was 31^st October, the winter was coming. My first night was under the tent, An officer was dressed like a helping hand, we call them ‘sahayak’ for me, he was Capt (then, later Col ) Ravindra Kumar, a resident of Chandigarh. The Commanding Officer dressed like a driver, he was driving Jonga. A detailed plan was chalked out for misguiding me in every step and the newborn officer had to overcome those fun.

The senior subaltern had the privilege to educate newborn officer on unit matters including Officers Mess customs e.t.c.   The new officer is welcome to be a member of the Officers fraternity in a process which we have followed from British Army. The dinning in, of Officers Mess, is the program for the Officer and his family after their arrival at the unit location and dinning out before their departure from the same location. This event is also called winning in, it was the first day for testing wine in a ceremonial way. The procedure the officer will take a post like a gunner, the wine is served in a bowl may be cocktail and he has to gulp it in one go.  It is difficult to forget those customs even after 38 years of leaving this unit. On Christmas Day of 1974, I went to check the guard duty during  the midnight when snowing started. The next day morning we find the area was completely covered with white snow, it seems covered by white bedsheets. It melt within a few days of sun rays. We had visited the cinema at Ambala and Chandigarh whenever we had visited those locations. This location was come and quite specially during dark hours of the day. A public school for the boys was there. Their parent were mostly NRIs. Apart from Officers Mess’s social event, the other mode of entertainment was radio, I had a 3 bands transistor, it was my good friend  for about the next 10 years. We had a orchestra team who played nice western and Hindi songs and tunes, they are all soldiers.

The Indian Army was raised from British Indian Army in 1950, and 15^th January is observed the Indian Army day. I had the opportunity to watch the first Army Day parade at the Garrison Ground of Delhi in 1970, I was then NCC Cadet and joined NCC Republic day camp thereat.

After my release from Indian Army, I had attended a programme which was held at Siliguri in 1982. I saw my coursemate of OTA was one of the Pilot of the event, I could not mate him there, I got a chance to speak to him  over phone after 35 years when he was at New Delhi after his retirement from the Indian Army.

I learned to undergo about one month Commando Course as early as possible after Pre Commissioned training, we were then in good health condition. This course is run by the Infantry School, Belgao, Karnatak.  I was told to undergo this training with a notice of 10 hours, I do remember to leave my living accommodation when the down training was crossing the tunnel and I reached the railway station to aqvil the said train bound to Kalka Railway station. I was the fittest person in 1975 in my life for which staying about 4 months on the Himalayas and keeping space with those foreigners was possible by me.

There was hardly any spare time to think for self and family though I was bachelor then. I had a keen interest for doing mountaineering, I got the chance to be an Indian Liaison Officer first with USA team to Mulkila Six, in Himachal Pradesh, it was about one and half month. Then with a team from Japan Self defence Forces (JSDF) to Sickle Moon in Kishtwar Region of J&K. Both the team members were 12 members, JSDF had 2 ladies in their team. They had no experience in Indian Himalayas, except Leader of USA team Dr Lute Jerstard who had climbed Everest with the USA team in 1963. He had vast experience on India.

The USA  expedition was successfully climbed Mulkila Six (20,600 fts), in Lahul & Spiti of HP. We called on Fakurudin Ali Ahmed, then the President of India at Rastrapati Bhawan, New Delhi. The USA team had a strong desired to climb a virgin modest peak, but in October 1974 a team from Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) had climbed this peak.  

I had a problem with the Japanese language. We lost one Japanese climber Lieutenant Takachi and Indian Havilder Ang Chotter of Indo Tibetian Border Police (ITBP) during the Japanese expedition. He was from Darjeeling. and  was the only member who was a member of Indo Japanese mountaineering expedition team  of 1973 to Sickle Moon in Kishtwar region of J&K.

Before joining Army I had done the Basic Mountaineering course from Western Himalayas Mountaineering Institute, Manali, Himachal Pradesh & Advance Mountaineering Course from Himalayan Mountaineering Institute, Darjeeling.

 I was also organised and member of mountaineering expedition to Central ( 20 620 ft.) & Lion (20100 ft.) peaks of Lahul & Spiti of Himachal Pradesh. This was the first time NCC flag was hoisted on a top of a mountain peak.

The Indian Mountaineering Foundation (IMF) is the apex body of our country IMF , they appoint Indian Liaison Officer with foreign mountaineering expedition.

 I was called by the Army HQ, Military Service Co-ord. Branch for this assignment. My unit was not happy that I was called by name for this assignment, I left for New Delhi from practice camp after completing my role in this training. I was aware of mountaineering activities in Indian Army; The Army Mountaineering Association (AMA) was at Sena Bhawan under the Directorate of Military Training.

I had the experience to form an association at Kolkata in 1971 when I was a college student and organised adventure activities such as training and expedition. The name of this organisation is The Institute of Exploration

Climbers ( extreme left & right) Asit Roy & Keshab Mukherjee. other members Maj S K De (R) & Swapan Pal ( L to R)  of Central (20620 fts) & Lion (20100 fts) of 1972 expedition of The Institute of Exploration