Phir Subaha Hogi !

फिर सुबह होगी !

 1.            It was a wintry Northern India morning. I was quite unsure of what lay ahead as I drove out of Delhi. I had left Roorkee 42 years ago, never to have had an opportunity to get back again. It was indeed disappointing to miss the Silver Jubilee Reunion of my 1972 batch because of commitments within the IAF. And, the 40⁺ Reunions began only after we had already crossed that mark. So, here was a God sent opportunity - An alumni group in NCR had coaxed me to accept being the advisor to the Director IITR for following up new initiatives.

2.            Next only to the Air Chief, as Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief Maintenance Command, I had seen the high and mighty. I had been there and seen it all. Yet, I was a bit anxious as I made my way to the Director’s office through the old Vice Chancellors lobby, where we would never venture as students.

3.            The Director Dr. Pradipta Banerji promptly came out to greet and usher me in. The looks of the man had changed - old Vice chancellors in formals giving way to the Director in casuals. However, the dignity and warmth in the man occupying the highest office on campus was the same. A year on campus for me in company of alumni and non-alumni on faculty, and the students was delightful and heart-warming.

4.            Young or old, any alumnus somewhere on campus was treated with utmost love and affection by all on faculty including the Director. One of the most revered since our student days, Dr. Prem Krishna was seen as the father figure on campus while also being the President of the IITR Alumni Association. The alumni-alma mater relationship appeared to be one of the finest, befitting the legacy of the oldest and the finest engineering institution of India

5.            What has then gone wrong now?

6.            The current spat between the IITR and the IITRAA has been in the open for the last three weeks. After the Director IITR’s statement announcing dissociation with the IITRAA and associated blames of non-performance, the AA has also circulated its side of the arguments. For us the alumni it’s been disgraceful and embarrassing to even read through both sides’ arguments blaming each other instead of suggesting a solution for holding the family together.

7.            The information of an average alumnus like me is based on the following communications:-

(a)    Director’s Statement (dated 04 Jun 20) dissociating with IITRAA, which includes:-

(i)        DORA’s support to the Dir’s statement.

(ii)       Previous President, Mr. Bhuwan Chaturvedi’s appraisal of IITRAA.

(iii)     Current President (although ousted by the EC on 30 May20), Mr. Mohinder Nayyar’s letter.

(iv)     Mr. Kapse’s description of a farce that the EC meeting was.

(b)    Having overthrown the President, the IITRAA Vice President, Dr. Achal Mittal’s mail to Alumni dated 07 Jun20. This includes the following:-

(i)        A few alumni’s emails in support of Mr. Mittal or displaying resentment over the Director’s act.

(ii)       A summary, compiled by the AA, of the responses by the Task Force for the proposed major changes in the by-laws.

8.            Like others, I have been reading these communications, each one clearly on either side of the dispute. I am sure that like me there are many who are not on either side – or shall I say that they are on both sides. We are the most distressed and confused because we don’t take sides.

9.     The following appear to be some of the points of contention:-

(a)	Dir IITR, as The Patron must exercise control over AA administration and finances. -       IIT gives funds to AA year after year. -       IITRAA does not meet IIT’s expectations		By definition, the Patron is one who gives something in support. The patron doesn’t need to control functioning. -       Alumni need to know about these funds. -       The expectations are not explicitly made. If these relate to generation of funds for IITR, then it would be unreasonable.
(b)	IITR should have a direct control of IITRAA -       President should be nominated by Dir IITR. -       DORA should be the Hony Secretary		Leave it alone like an independent club. The Director has enough on hands to manage the institute well. -       The patron may only be consulted for President’s appointment. -       DORA can be only a guest attendee, without any voting rights.
(c)	The Executive Committee composition should not be Roorkee centric. Secretary and Treasurer shouldn’t be appointments reserved for Roorkee based alumni.		-       The previous president’s report indicates low attendance in EC from outside Roorkee despite making provision for travelling allowances. -       The requirement of Roorkee based Secretary and Treasurer seems justified. -       In fact there is enough reason for the President/ VP to be India based.
(d)	IITRAA doesn’t make enough efforts for getting funds/ donations to IITR		They can be expected to make efforts, but, IITRAA should not be obliged to get funds for IITR
(e)	IITRAA doesn’t support the chapters well		The chapters are clubs of their own for connecting alumni within their region. We shouldn’t carry unnecessary expectations of support.
(f)	The President has been wrongly removed		There are question marks on the process of his appointment.
(g)	IITRAA has become a self-serving body – coterie of a few. It has desecrated the ethos and reflects poorly on the institute.		-       A review by an unconnected group of eminent alumni must be requested. -       Byelaws should be comprehensively reviewed.
(j)	The bond between the alma mater and the Alumni Association has steadily gone weaker over the years.		-       Dwindling Strength of Alumni on the Faculty has been one reason. -       Is there an unwritten policy to avoid taking alumni on faculty? -       The few alumni left over as faculty would rather avoid having anything to do with the Alumni Association.
(k)	Finance is the key today for running an institute well.		-       IITR must use DORA for connecting with alumni for funds generation. -       IITRAA must support whole heartedly. -     However, IITRAA can’t be held responsible for inadequate collection of funds.
(l)	Formation of an organisation alternative to IITRAA under DORA at IITR.		-       This will be unprecedented. -       All globally reputed institutes have something known as Alumni Relations Office. However, the Alumni Associations continue in parallel with a happy relationship between the two. -       Under DORA, we may have an organisation to promote IITR’s specific interests – that cannot replace IITRAA.

10.         IITR aims at all graduating students henceforth paying for life membership to the IITR Alumni organisation instead of IITRAA. That would mean undercutting the Alumni Association for funds. All doesn’t seem to be good with IITRAA either. The answer seems to be in the Review and refinement of IITRAA Byelaws, which would be acceptable also to the Director IITRAA as the Patron. He does not have to directly control the Alumni Association. The two organisations, one within the IIT and the other independent as AA can exist to cooperate with each other rather than being in competition - Happiness should be the key!

11.         The newly graduating students cannot be forced either way, to join the IITRAA or The Alumni Council at IITR. They will have to weigh pros and cons of their decisions. They will look up to senior alumni for making this vital decision.

12.         This debate, therefore, needs to come out in the open instead of vague allegations labelled against each other by the two sides. We cannot afford a division within the family where each side would be a loser. A few eminent alumni, who enjoy confidence of both the sides, can play a role here for a win-win solution.

Air Marshal PV Athawale PVSM, AVSM, VSM (Retd)

The University Of Roorkee Nostalgia!

Professor DV Singh was the last of the Vice Chancellors of the University of Roorkee. He became the first Director of IIT Roorkee, when the University of Roorkee was converted to an IIT in the year 2001. I had the opportunity to hear Prof DV Singh talk at IIT Roorkee in 2015. The venue for the professor’s talk was the same old Hangar, where, as a student, I had watched Saturday movies, played badminton - and - attended my convocation.

IIT Roorkee traces its origins to University of Roorke and Thomason College of Engineering, and is therefore, the oldest engineering institution in the country. From Prof DV Singh's talk, I also learnt a couple of other interesting facts. The University of Roorkee was to be the first IIT in India but Shri Govind Vallabh Pant, the Chief Minister of UP declined. He would not part with the jewel in the crown. There is an anecdote associated with the use of expression upgrade vs conversion to IIT. In a high level gathering in Delhi, in response to a statement that University of Roorkee had been upgraded to be an IIT, a clarification was promptly made. It was pointed out that it was not an upgrade! University of Roorkee was only converted into an IIT. For the setting up of IIT Delhi, all the syllabi were picked up from Roorkee and not from another IIT. Prof DV Singh won the hearts of all!

Even in my student days, despite the existence of five IITs, the University of Roorkee had a special place. I had classmates who had given up a seat at an IIT and chosen to study at Roorkee. Unlike IITians, it wasn't fashionable for Roorkee graduates i.e. Thomsonians, to mass migrate to the West. And so, the Indian scenario was dominated by the Thomasonians, in short called Ex Thos. The seniors had a word of encouragement for the freshers; ”Ab Roorkee aa gaye ho to Chief Engineer to banoge hi!” That was the top most appointment in every Engineering Department in those days.

It was a happy coincidence that my first boss – the Chief Engineering Officer of the base  - was a 1951 batch Ex Tho, Wing Commander PC Bugga (later Air Commodore). Even more to my delight, one of the Senior Engineers was a 1962 batch Ex Tho, Squadron Leader Amrit Lal (later Air Commodore). The Ex Thos were everywhere!

After nearly four decades with the Indian Air Force, and forty two years since graduation from University of Roorkee, I turned lucky with an opportunity to return to my alma mater. I must thank my alumni friends who pushed me to accept an offer to be Advisor to the Director, IIT Roorkee. This was to present my beloved institution to me in a different perspective. It was heartening to see that the campus had been modernising with the rest of the world. In any case, I could not help my myriad reflections on ‘kya khoya, kya paya’. I kept looking for the special people I had known and some glorious traditions of Roorkee that seemed lost to the modern world.

Along with academics, sports in Roorkee had played a major part in character building. It was a mandatory requirement for every student to participate in an individual sport and a team game during the first two years - For associated credits besides! In two years, sport would became a habit for most students. A player from the faculty was assigned Officer i/c in every game. Unknown to us at the time, this was a channel for instilling character and values into students.The wide range of sports facilities at Roorkee were  unmatched at any contemporary institution of the time. I can say with pride that at the end of four years, the University players in different games were capable of giving company to the best anywhere. Some exceptional guys could do so in many different disciplines.

To me, cricket, a long duration game that goes through different phases of ups and downs, has always been special in building camaraderie and leadership. This was especially so in the amateur era of the game when relationships were man to man instead of the price tags of players. By Air Force analogy, I have maintained that engaging in a team game like cricket has been akin to being with a team of technicians on the squadron tarmac. Cricket has been an effective tool for my character building and many others who I have played with.

At Roorkee, the cricketers were blessed to have as gurus Dr. Prem Krishna and Dr. KG Rangaraju, among other faculty members, who played with us and with whom we came to enjoy a special relationship. In a 30 overs match with the Staff, after the initial overs bowled by Mr. Mansoor Ali, Mr. Bartar and Mr. Subramaniam, the rest were usually shared between Dr. Prem Krishna and Dr. Rangaraju. Looking back, I could understand their art of leadership development. They never overwhelmed us with their presence - When they joined us for the nets, the man in-charge continued to be the student captain. At no time did they impose their set of values on us. Their being with us was enough for us to be influenced by their strength of character.

There were other inspiring senior cricketers in town. Besides Mr. Bartar’s elegance and simplicity, none of us can forget the graceful demeanour of Mr. Vaish. I could relate to his poise years later when I had an opportunity to play some veterans’ cricket alongside the elegant Abbas Ali Baig.

On returning to Roorke after over four decades, when I saw Dr. Prem Krishna, then President of the Alumni Association, I promptly approached him and introduced myself as ‘Athawale’. I was a shy boy during my student days and I hardly expected old professors to remember me. As I was preparing myself to answer the great man’s queries about my year of graduation etc, he clean bowled me as he said,”Leg spinner?” Sometime later Dr. Rangaraju visited Roorkee for a guest lecture. Meeting him was another delightful experience when he identified me spot on and recalled those wonderful times. These have become some of my fondest memories of my 2^nd stay Roorkee.

On joining Roorkee, we found a perfect mentor in DPS Duggal. He was the Cricket Captain and also a top level player in many other games. The senior most batch had an imposing number of cricketers - other than Duggal, there were Prabhu ji, Op Srivastava, VK Duggal, VK Bhargava and Ajit Mittal. The next batch had two wonderful cricketers – Vinod Malhotra and KN Sehgal. Then  CM Trikha and Daljit Singh. They also had Amit Sanyal, who was a champion Lawn Tennis and Badminton player besides being a natural Bengali Footballer. After being with the cricket team for a season he decided that he couldn’t afford to spend so much time with one game. Finally, our ’68 entry batch produced a large number of good cricketers – Vikas Gupta, Pradeep Kapse, Pankaj Tyagi, Jayant Johri, DV Singh and Tribhuwan Singh. We were followed by smaller numbers but by some outstanding cricketers – Sandip Bose Mullik, Arvind Agrawal, RRS Kohli, Harish Gurnani, Bartar Jr. and Ravi Tandon. We also had a few excellent cricketers and gentlemen from the post graduate courses. I fondly recall KG Ramesh, Kalyan Bose, Ashok Kaul and Khetrapal. How ecstatic I become simply to recall some of these names – men who must have delighted their colleagues with exemplary leadership wherever they went after Roorkee. Unfortunately, most of these extraordinary players didn’t find opportunities to continue with cricket later. Some of them especially Vikas and Sandip would have gone on to play cricket at the highest levels. While I fondly recall names, I won’t be forgiven by friends if I omit mentioning our Chief Umpire, Anil Malhotra. He was a master class, who could have stood alongside the best.

Post script, I am reminded about the most vital cog – ‘Prem’, the Mali, who was a one man Army maintaining the ground, the pitch and the equipment. We respected him as a father figure while he treated us as Rajkumars. Without a conscious effort, we learnt a lot from him too - Hats off to him! 

In another article, I had reminisced about my cricketing days in the Air Force in which I had endorsed a friend’s expression of love for the Air Force -“Given any number of choices in my next janam, I would never trade my Air Force life for anything else!” I must now affirm something unsaid at that time. While opting for the Air Force each and every time, I will ask to be given a foundation of the University of Roorkee kind!

Air Marshal Pramod Athawale

AIR FORCE CRICKET NOSTALGIA! THE AMATEUR ERA

A Fighter Pilot and one of my senior friends, AVM AK Shyam often reinforces his love for the Air Force saying, “Given any number of choices in my next janam, I would never trade my Air Force life for anything else!” I am sure that even those officers and men who left the Air Force earlier than AVM Shyam, for alternate career options, shall not trade off their Air Force beginnings with any other option. This is where we got a grounding that was truly unmatched.

Early exit from the Air Force has been a routine for almost all airmen cricketers after the 1970s. I don’t recall any, after MWO Ghundi and MWO SK Singh who stayed their full tenure. The early-exit trend among officers started sometime in the 1990s. However, compared to the airmen cricketers, fewer officers followed that path.T

The maxim, “My Air Force, The Best Ever”, strengthens year after year among former cricketers as we meet more regularly than any other group as large as ours. The bonding is incomparable among veteran Air Force cricketers, some of who played at the highest levels as air warriors first and amateur cricketers next. That was truly a gift of the amateur sports era. The equations and relationships were man to man rather than on the price tags of players.

University of Roorkee, a legendary institution from where I graduated, had mandatory participation in a wide range of sports. However, in later life, many illustrious fellow players from Roorkee never got adequate opportunities. Compared to the rest, the Air Force has had an excellent sports environment even as we were professionally engaged in a tough grind, as much or more than anyone else outside. I fondly recall my time as the Air Force Cricket captain. I often changed my uniform on the field for the evening practice, to eventually get back into it for a few more hours of software work at HQ WAC.

Professional journeys for all of us from different branches and trades in IAF have brought home innumerable lessons in camaraderie and leadership. The sports arena has also had its share of examples without most of us being consciously aware. Engaging in a team game like Cricket has been somewhat akin to being with a team of technicians on the squadron tarmac.

My first lesson in leadership came up on the Air Force Cricket ground. That was when I first saw an Air Mshl. Early in AFTC, I was selected to represent Training Command in Inter Command Cricket Championship. The first match was with Air HQ. As I opened the innings, I was spellbound to see Air Vice Marshal IH Latif (later the Air Chief) briskly adjusting his field position at midwicket with all attention to the commands of the skipper in slips, Sqn Ldr VM Muddaiah. That short half hour stay at the crease brought home to me the essence of leadership – The art of empowering the nominated leader despite one's own towering presence.

Fellowship and esprit-de-corps among cricketers continued to develop through my years in the Air Force. A great thought by my predecessor at Maintenance Command of hosting the past and present Air Force cricketers, as a part of Vauysena Challenge Cup, was proudly continued by me and also by my successor. Most of us recall the humour in whites in the inaugural event. A veteran with painful knees, Gp Capt Bill Chauhan was brought to bat on a bicycle carrier. The viewers realised that his arms were still strong when he hit three sixes before the close of innings.

The most amazing part of Cricket nostalgia has been the yearly reunion of Air Force veteran cricketers at Hyderabad. These have been organised since 2002 by former airmen, HP, Kumar and Sunil, with many others contributing. All of them are doing extremely well, thanks to the excellent grooming in the Air Force. A large number of former Corporals to veteran Air Marshals gather here to rekindle old memories. The on-field presence of erstwhile greats including octogenarian Gp Capt Dinoo Deshpande and nearly there Gp Capt GS Shaktawat has been an inspiration to the younger veterans besides holding youngsters from the opposition in awe. The young Air Force Academy team, often led by their not so young Commandant, beats the veterans hollow year after year. We are left to only applaud the young AFA side for their superior game and exemplary conduct towards the veterans. Delightfully, at the end of the game every year, the winner is always the spirit of Air Force!

Besides the on-field forgettable performance, the two musical evenings in company of friends energises veterans and the ladies for the remaining year. Friends from sister services also join us in celebrations. They don’t however say the obvious – “Humare yahan aisa nahin hota!” No wonder! It’s been a unique legacy, handed over to us by greats like Air Chief Mshl IH Latif followed by Muddaiah, Dani, Dharmalingam, Awasthi, Diwan, Thobte, and Porel, to name a few.

I can’t but agree more with you Shyam ji, “None of us shall trade our Air Force life for anything else!” 

Air Mshl Pramod Athawale

VETERANS AND YET ‘MEN IN BLUE’

Once in Blue, always so! A veteran may be a little handicapped in physical ability, but, he is never short of enthusiasm and a will to contribute. Given a choice, each one of  the  veterans   will opt   for  being  in Blues  figuratively, to join  hands  with    those doing something worthwhile for the nation. Has India  fallen short of  harnessing such a massive strength of her veterans? The troubled  times  today  bring   home this harsh reality more than ever before. My story ‘Bharat Jagega’ at https://pvathawale.blogspot.com/2020/03/bharat-jagega-by-veteran-air-mshlpv.html has been about the veterans’ tremendous potential for making Bharat Mahan.

The veteran Air Force officers formed an informal group ‘Men In Blue’ recently in Hyderabad. All those who were available came together for a glass of Beer, without any other agenda on 6^th March 2020. A good thought by the former Air Chief, Air Chief Marshal NAK Browne, that was perfectly executed by AVM Sagar Bharti and Wg Cdr Anil Chopra.

The highlights of the day were that there were no highlights! Everyone went back from the gathering exuberant after meeting friends and sharing old memories.

Some of those who had retired before the Air Force uniforms turned blue, were especially proud to wear Blue Civvies for this gathering. There were others who, in younger days avoided the AOC for being pointed out for long hair, seemed to have visited a saloon recently.

It’s been a tremendous start, bringing joy to the ‘Men In Blue’. Hereon, the strength of these veterans can play bigger roles bringing peace and happiness on a larger scale.

Touch The Sky With Glory!

Bharat Jagega

By Veteran Air Mshl PV Athawale

(Published in AFA News, April 2018)

‘AI174 - San Francisco to Delhi - Boarding’ reads the LCD display in the Air India Premium Lounge.  Each time he waits in the airport lounge to board a flight to India, Vijay is transported to that day 30 years ago. That day, looking forward to a new adventure in America, he had feared leaving India. Today, he feels a sense of trepidation on the opposite route. He knows the America he lives in but each time he goes to India, he finds that a changed India awaits him. Asha gently squeezes Vijay’s shoulder “Chalo, boarding shuru ho gayi”.

“Namaskar”, says an air-hostess, her hands folded in greeting, her manner belying politeness or welcome. “Still haven’t learnt to wear a welcome smile with their put-on namaskars”, says Asha to Vijay as they look for their seats. Vijay winces and throws up his hands in resignation. In America, Vijay wears his Indianness with pride. He rejoices in India’s economic progress and its cultural history. Yet, of late, his first steps towards India are ridden with doubt. His last trip, three years ago, had come as a shock. Vijay wouldn’t have ventured to go back so soon, if it weren’t for his Course Reunion after 50 years.

The course mates’ WhatsApp group called ‘Palatsars-68’ had turned unusually active after the invitations were sent out by Delhi based organisers. Months of collective cajoling had followed. A dear old course mate based in Australia had suggested that many might not be able to travel long distances for the next organised reunion. This was the last straw and many, including Vijay, had booked their tickets.

“On our way”, says Vijay on the WhatsApp group. “Welcome back - old friends await”, comes a prompt response. Vijay smiles and thinks of how all his friends in India are old friends now. He was a bright, young officer in the Indian Air Force once. Forced to leave the Air Force prematurely to attend to his ailing parents, Vijay had failed to settle into a second career in India. Indian industry had been more interested in his contacts in the Air Force than his engineering or managerial acumen. After his parents’ demise, Vijay, Asha and their two children had taken that first flight to USA.

The hum of the aircraft’s engines turns to a roar and Vijay closes his eyes. The next time the wheels touch down, it will be on Indian soil, he thinks. Amidst the excitement of a course reunion, he feels the revulsion lingering from his last trip. He hears the brash voices of the angry young men, who had roughed him up because he had not given them a pass - It had not been their right of way. He hears the dismissive tones of the policemen and the loud ruckus of the crowd that had gathered to ‘watch the fun’. “In-flight entertainment is unserviceable. I am not even going to bother to ask this time”, says Asha. “Such hospitality as only Air India can provide”, she adds with a wry smile.

Vijay feels the familiar pang of guilt. He would have liked to make a difference in shaping India. Yet, now he is a businessman from America, a non-resident-Indian who criticises Indian ‘incompetence’ and apathy at will but takes no responsibility for it. How would his Indian friends know that on his rocking chair, on foggy evenings in San Francisco, Vijay often dreams not only about India but for India? He now moves over to an empty window seat and resumes dreaming, “where can we begin to change India?”

When Vijay had fallen ill just before class XII exams and slipped in his studies, his father had said, “Focus on the weak subject, improving which, will bring maximum benefit.” “Think of Maximum Leverage Area”, he had insisted. Vijay had fared excellently. What would be the Maximum Leverage Area for a country like India, thought Vijay. That was easy. It was an answer he found on every trip to India – ‘character’. “When people go to work in Delhi, they go to war on the roads and end up in office on the other side”, he recalls his friend Mohan’s words. The disgrace, humiliation, and indignity, the death of the spirit, the loss of time and the waste of resources - a war that no one wins but each one fights. Vijay closes his eyes. The national character - its dilution, depletion and the occasional resurgence is all too evident on the roads. Is there an answer here, he wonders.

“Welcome Home Sir”, says a smiling air-hostess. “We have begun our descent into Delhi. Would you like to get back to your seat?” Vijay is pleasantly surprised at this cordiality from the airline staff. It makes Vijay feel more at ease about this Indian holiday. He moves back to his seat beside Asha and looks over her shoulder as the dots and specks below the plane windows steadily gain magnitude. On landing, Vijay and Asha are in for another surprise as passengers wait for those ahead of them to deplane first. “Hadn’t we forgotten the ‘pehle aap’ custom long ago?” Asha can’t help the sarcasm. They brace up for the uninviting immigration officers. But the officers, it turns out, have magically transformed into a firm yet pleasant lot. For the first time in so many years, Vijay and Asha feel welcomed by the gatekeepers to their own country.

The first attraction is a meeting with course mates, Deepak and Manu, who are at the airport to receive them. “So what do you think of the airport?” asks Manu as the four of them wheel the baggage carts to the multi-story parking.  “World-class! I agree”, says Vijay looking around in admiration. “Don’t get so excited. Wait till you get on the road”, whispers Asha. Soon they are coursing on the four lane road that bifurcates to Delhi and Gurgaon. Asha is incredulous. The traffic is slow but steady even on the usually chaotic stretches - no honking or criss-crossing across lanes. “Look at that”, Vijay points out to Asha. “What is it with Delhi drivers today? So much discipline!” They cannot believe that vehicles halt on ‘Red’ well behind the pedestrian crossing line.

Deepak, who has been at the wheel, quietly smiling to himself all this while, now ventures to explain. “We have another 20 kilometres to go. So allow me to bring you up to speed with some san-sanee-khez khabar from Delhi. Do you believe India is shining? I don’t mean economic progress, international relations, soft power and all that. When you see what you have just seen on the road, do you not believe India is shining?” Vijay and Asha are both silent, non-committal but spellbound. Deepak continues proudly. “It all started when a soldier in uniform was attacked by gundas in an incident of road rage. Nothing new or remarkable by Delhi standards you would say. This time though, the people’s patience had reached tipping point. The armed forces veterans’ associations came together and made a proposal to the Prime Minister’s Office - a proposal that they not only found irresistible, but also followed up with unprecedented swiftness. What you see on the roads is a result of that.”

“The discipline and civic courtesies have begun to be seen off the road too, I would say”, says Manu. “What do you mean? What did they propose?” Vijay asks, unable to imagine how this could have been executed.

Manu says. “Hai na? Just because it has never happened in the past, many of us thought it could never be done. I admit I was in that group for a while. Simply, this is what it took. About 2000 armed forces veterans offered their services to the nation for a 6 month project at NO COST. Armed Forces attached a few hundred serving personnel for assisting veterans. And, even the police, usually conspicuous by its absence, produced cops in large numbers. For the first 15 days, this large force spread across the NCR guiding people with road rules, road etiquette and precautions against road rage. After that, they were permitted to enforce discipline. The govt promptly issued special ordinances for heavy penalties and also for authorising select armed forces veterans as traffic wardens with command & control over the mixed teams on roads.”

“The presence of veterans leading mixed teams with police at the main traffic points ensured that the usual method of bribing to get away was no more relevant…” asks Vijay. “Yes! The best part is that people have started enjoying this change”, says Deepak. “I, for one, am certainly enjoying it”, says Asha.

Deepak continues. “This multi-dimensional force has also made roads available for the flow of traffic. In the first 15 days, they undertook the herculean task of marking side lanes on every major road inside the cities. Any motor or other vehicle outside these lanes was confiscated and penalised. We understand that the government has plans to outsource installation of ticket machines for parking on road sides. Contractors will recover costs through parking charges and market places will be relatively free when people are not permitted free parking.”

Vijay exclaims “Great! That should reduce safety hazards in crowded places too. The western society has also had its periods of chaos. Even where we live, it takes continuous enforcement to keep the road culture in check.”

“In the 3 to 6 months period, the veterans are expected to withdraw gradually, leaving it to the police to follow up. I hope we all will get used to it by then”, says Manu. “The way it has gone in the last 3 months, I am beginning to feel confident that even us Dilliwallahs will get used to it”, says Deepak. “Mixed teams can come in for short periods once a while to bring us back on track”, he continues.

“This is uncanny. On the flight I was thinking of Maximum Leverage Area. By leveraging on the road discipline aspect, there are three major gains to be made – (1) A beginning of revival of citizens’ value system (2) A marked improvement in respect and adoration for armed forces (3) A consequent improvement of character and morale of the police”, says Vijay.

“Exactly!” says Deepak, quite taken up with excitement now. “Delhi NCR is going to influence the rest of the country with ethics and values instead of aggression.” Even Asha, the habitual India-basher has overcome her resignation. “Imagine what it will look like when similar schemes take off in other cities”, she says. “The nation should thank armed forces veterans. We can argue about it in newsrooms and drawing rooms but the results speak for themselves” says Manu. “Vijay, before our next reunion, India would have transformed. You must come back for good well before that day!” jokes Deepak. But Vijay isn’t joking when he says “Let’s see. That will be a dream come true”.

“Please get back to your seat - you are not allowed to change seats. We are about to begin descent”, the airhostess wakes Vijay with a stern expression. Vijay smiles - he has a dream and what’s more, he has a proposal. He is not annoyed with the cabin crew any more. Moving back to his seat beside Asha, Vijay looks over her shoulder as the dots and specks below the windows steadily gain magnitude.

“भारत जागेगा !”, he says to the stern-faced air-hostess. This time, even she can’t help but smile.

A Late start to Engineering in IAF

If Subroto Mukerjee, Jumbo Majumdar and Harjinder Singh had to start a new Air Force to win wars in this hi-tech world today, what would they think about the infrastructure, work force and the command & control needs?

Air Force, unlike an airline, requires industrial muscle to keep external interference at bay. The need for in-house engineering since independence has therefore been vital; especially because of the weak indigenous defence industry. A significant contribution has been made by Air Force engineers. However, there have been mixed organisational approaches shifting between admiration and disregard towards the engineering functions. Many don’t understand that engineering, well beyond the limited field maintenance and spares procurement, is a core function of the Air Force – its importance cannot be diluted. Moreover, in the technological world of today, engineering operations and planning assume profound significance.

A historical perspective would be useful to relate to the engineering tale beginning with the birth of IAF on 8^th October 1932. The British policy of raw material from India returning back as ‘Made in England’ products had ensured that Indian industrial capability was insignificant before Independence. Only a few industrial houses were engaged in manufacturing of end products. India had only a few engineering colleges before 1932. A majority of them imparted diploma level of education in Civil Engineering, considered adequate for Indians to assist British engineers.

The lack of indigenous engineering acumen, especially in the fledgling field of aviation, coupled with the British strategic need for dominance must have been a decisive factor in establishing no more than field level aviation maintenance in India. It was therefore natural that at its birth the IAF inducted only technicians without an engineering officer cadre.

As the story goes, one among the first batch of officers couldn’t complete flying training. Consequently, he was inducted as the first officer in the Equipment branch to look after the stores/ purchase functions (all inventories came from England).

“Wish you had continued to be the baby that I could cuddle”
                                               -  Anonymous mother

What a wonderful baby, the IAF – one squadron (one flight) with 4 aircraft, 5 young pilots and 29 technicians, hand held by a young British Commanding Officer. The first lot of officers was commissioned on 08 Oct 1932. As the Air Force grew steadily, many more pilots, a few more Eqpt officers and Admin & Staff Duty (A&SD) officers were commissioned. However, it took the Air Force 10 years before the first Tech officer was commissioned on 03 Sep 1942.

‘Birth of An Air Force’, written long ago by Air Cmde AL Saigal and ‘Spitfire Singh’, written recently in a more engaging style by Mike Edwards MBE are both biographies of AVM Harjinder Singh. Stories of this first technician and engineer of the Indian Air Force tell us that the British officers were not prepared to accept that Indians could be technically trained to maintain their own machines. It was okay for an Indian to be a pilot, but, an Indian wouldn’t be accepted as an engineer meddling with British aeroplanes. This explains why it took so long for the engineering infrastructure to emerge followed by an officers’ cadre to manage it.

“The secretary of State for India seemed willing to remember the exploits of a few Indians who had served as pilots with great distinction in the World War I . . . but he wasn’t for having Indians doing anything technical or mechanical with the aircraft.”

                                  -     “Spitfire Singh” by Mike Edwards

The Indian Air Force was fortunate that in response to the requirement of ‘D’ Class apprentices from Railways, an altogether different set of young men driven by passion for a new India turned up to join at the lowest level as Hawai Sepoys. Some of them like Harjinder Singh had completed full five years of engineering studies. It is unbelievable that young Harjinder, who was paid a stipend of Rs 90 per month in his fifth year of college and had a job offer of Rs 225 per month, joined IAF starting at
Rs 35 per month.

“If all Indians wanted to be officers, there would not be anyone left to serve in the ranks. Do you want British airmen to come and start an Indian Air Force? If so you are dreaming.”

                          -     Birth of an Air Force, Quote by W.O. HE Newing (Instructor)

A classic example of how a late start can turn favourable - Harjinder Singh and his colleagues were able to institute a culture of hands-on work, which would not have been possible otherwise. It is inspiring to read that Harjinder Singh, on the request of Jumbo Majumdar turned down an offer for commission in RAF in 1939. Three years later, he accepted commission in the IAF and became its first engineering officer.

                                  

Harjinder Singh quickly rose to be a Group Captain, commanding Air Force Station Kanpur. He led many an initiative in engineering as well as administrative fields. Harjinder Singh and Kanpur have been common in stories of extraordinary achievements like recovering Liberators from the wrecks and later bringing IAF to the jet age with Vampires.

The Air Force formed its Maintenance Command at Kanpur in 1955 to bring a large number of repair depots, workshops, maintenance units and supply points under one functional system. Under Harjinder Singh’s command at Kanpur, an Aircraft Manufacturing Depot (AMD) was established, which undertook manufacture of Avro aircraft ahead of HAL. AMD also designed and developed two prototypes Kanpur-I and Kanpur-II. The Air Force, however, then decided to close down design and manufacture of aircraft to align with the national objectives.

For an unfathomable reason, the Air Force forgot about Harjinder Singh after his retirement. Having been inducted into the Air Force in early 70s, I have been surprised that we never heard of Harjinder Singh from the senior leadership of the Air Force. In the Officers’ Mess at Nagpur, I chanced upon his biography, ‘’Birth of Air Force’’, when I was posted at Maintenance Command nearly at the end of my career in the Air Force. I have been amazed to meet air warriors posted at Chakeri Kanpur and yet ignorant about Harjinder Singh’s contribution - his backyard, Kanpur had risen to the heights of engineering excellence to become synonymous with the muscle of Indian Air Force.

The story of Engineering in IAF ran parallel with Harjinder Singh’s life till his retirement in 1963 as the first AOC-in-C of Maintenance Command. In six decades after Harjinder Singh, no one has dominated the Air Force engineering arena like him.

Most will recall Air Mshl SS Ramdas for inspiring successive generations of air warriors from all branches of IAF in ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s. He chose the option to laterally move as CMD of Indian Airlines, but, not before making the greatest impact on Air Force engineering since Harjinder Singh. He left prematurely because he had to wait in a long queue before reaching the apex level with little time left thereafter – unfortunately the Air Chief who introduced merit along with seniority in the queue system came in a decade too late.

The Air Force has seen unprecedented growth and absorption of new technology in the last 25 years. We have crossed many technological frontiers, especially in the fields of industrial engineering, avionics, software, communication and networking. The world, and the Air Force by consequence, has changed so much that engineering is now a part of life and not an appendage.

Within the Air Force, however, the last two decades have seen a number of disconcerting debates questioning the need for an elaborate engineering infrastructure. Some consider outsourcing a panacea for all problems concerning engineering requirements. The vastness of the essential engineering functions for a globally potent Air Force unfortunately gets obscured by labelling the engineering work force as ‘maintenance men’.

Harjinder Singh wouldn’t know that the adopted name for his profession, ‘Maintenance’ would chain down successive generations.

The Air Force policy of inducting engineers into flying training - beginning with the dynamic Harjinder Singh - also benefitted Ramdas and a few others. Since they appreciated combat flying as much as engineering, they had never to hear what Aspy Engineer (later the Air Chief) had once said. “Harjinder could never appreciate risks and responsibilities of a flying man: If you could fly you would understand”, said Aspy Engineer before Harjinder started flying. This wonderful policy was, however, abolished for inexplicable reasons. Those equipped with engineering as well as flying acumen had perhaps begun to acquire a professional stature well beyond that of a submissive maintenance man.

                                                Air Mshl PV Athawale
                                                Former AOC-in-C Maintenance Command

                                                                                          

References:-

1.    Birth of An Air Force – The Memoirs of Air Vice Marshal Harjinder Singh, edited by Air Cmde AL Saigal - Palit and Palit Publishers (1977).

2.    Spitfire Singh by Mike Edwards MBE - Bloomsburry Publishing India Pvt. Ltd. (2016).