The Inspirational Park.


                     Inspirational Park is one of the many brain child of Colonel Ganesan.Before going into the details let us analyse the background of this noval Project.
                      We know that Ganesan comes from a rural agriculture family.When Ganesan was about 4-5 years old the family members were Father side grand parents ,Mother side two meternal uncles,and seven brothers sisters. Reasonably well off family and all elders were uneducated.The first generation to go to school was that of Ganesan only.Tru to the nature of village life Ganesan's family had about 10-15 buffellows/cows,about 10 goats,about 10 poultry birds and about 3-4 workers who comes for works on annual basis.
         The family had both dry and wet lands where all types of cropes were grown.There will be  no difference between workers and owners.All will be in fields at the time of work.For example at the time of paddy cultivation,the work starts with dumping of dry mannure in the fields with the help of bullock carts in March April.These heaps sould be spread uniformly before water enters the field.In June-Jully when Mettur Dam is opened for aggriculture,water comes in all the branches of Cauvery and further in the canals that feeds the field.
                      At the river head where the canal takes off it will be written that this canal is meant for these villages etc.Once water enters the field ploughing takes place.There will be 3-4 pairs ploughing bulls and 2-3 on hire basis.
                Ganesan and his two brothers will getup arround 4.00 AM take three pairs of bulls and go to the field where ploughing is planned.All other impliments would be kept there by the elders.They will start ploughing up to 6-6.30 AM by which time the elders and other workres will join. Ganesan and his brothers will take bath in the canal,rush back home have old rice and curd as brakfast,packed lunch and walk 3-4 Km to school.
             In between milking of cow/Buffellows,take milk to venders will also be done with the help of sisters.
                 These elaborate explanation is given just to drive home  that Ganesan enjoyed whole heartedly the agriculture works.
               He started reading Dr.M.Varatharajan's ( the famous mu.va ) books like "kallo kaviyamo,Akal vilakku,Kariththundu etc.Life history of Vadaloor Ramalinga Adikal,Vaishnava  saint Ramanujar were also of his interest.Naraayana guru of kerala  and his followers,Ramana maharishi,Autobiography of Paramahamsa yogananda ,Life and achievement of Vivekananda and Gandhis "My experiment with truth"
                These type of readings had put Ganesan in a highly truthfull path and came to the conviction that "Mind is the Master and Concience is the God.
                He did not develop any material interest and money did not attract him.
           As years rolled down Ganesan became like a saint with deep concern for humaity as they waste the precious gift of human birth.
               He had no deep desire about his career.when he was in SSLC his mother was in  Govt TB sanitorium,Sengipatti.At home were his father,two younger brothers and one younger sister.Ganesan was taking care of all .He will get up by 4.00AM,cook food for all, study for the final SSLC exam and run 3-4 Km to attend school.After morning exam go to the nearby temple premises,have lunch and prepare for afternoon exam.Get back home and cook night food.
                          Under these circustances when he passed SSLC it was like a routine message with no exitement as the next activities starts as usual.After 15 days of the school result his brother came and asked for school TC.After the school result Ganesan did not go to school at all and did not know that TC is to be taken.He had no idea about higher education.Like a sheep following his master he did what ever his elder brother told him to do.
                  His three years stay in hostel doing hisDiploma in civil Engineering slowly and steadily opened the outside world to him.
                Maha kavi Bharathis
                                  தேடிச்சோறு நிதம்  தின்று  
                                              Deelply struck him kindling his sub concious mind.At the same time writter Naa.Parthasarathy's noval " Kurinjimalar "was coming in Kaki weekly.The hero of the noval "Aravindhan" slowly and steadily encroached his mind.
               When he came out of Polytechnic,he was a transformed youth more concerned about this country and humanity in general.
                 His Army life,the two wars he paticipated ,his mothers death and how he was denied to see her and how she came to meet him etc had put Ganesan in different path.He was highly patriotic and loved this country and its heritage.The appontment of India's leader at world forum in Antarctica further strengthened his love for this country.
               The cosmic message that no one in his village were aware of his achievements brought him back to his village Sannanallur.
                       That gave him the decision that "not only he alone but every human being is gifted with great capability.It is upto every individual to find out his strength and develop that so that himself and the society will be benifited.
                    That is how "The Inspirational Park " took shape.

                   The Writter,Motivator and Inspiring speaker

                 Once Ganesan decided to record  his experiences in writting the first thing came in his mind was his Antarctic experience.Only 700-800 people in the entire world get the oppurtunity to winter in Antarctica.Ganesan had the unique previlege of going as leader of a great nation India.
                  so he decided to write that.

                  வெண் பனிப் பரப்பிலும் 
                                    சில வியர்வைத் துளிகள் .took shape in one year. M/s Paliappa bros published it and priced as Rs.150.
                  With in a month 7500 copies were ordered and sold.Ganesan was paid Rs.30,000 as Royalty.
        Ganesan had developed interest in litrature and poetry from very young age and many of his thought process were reduced to writtings as diaries,just scripts etc.These became handy now when he started making it as books.
             Letter writting is a good habit to express our thoughts.In the early stages of Army life espacially in the mighty Himalayan belt his imagination power developed many folds.He started writting to his genius elder brother almost every day and each letter would be about 4-5 pages.
When Ganesan retired his brother gave him a bundle of letters all written by Ganesan.He said "Not because these are useless but because what you felt un crossable ,un surmountable in yester years can be seen today as they are.These came up as

      எல்லைப்புறத்தில் ஓர் இதயத்தின் குரல்.
    took shape.
           At this time I came aross a great peronality by name M S P Murugesan.This gentleman, a Retd Tamil teacher in Govt scool ,was about 65-70 years old  when I met him.He was a far superior writter in tamil,Malayalam and English and highly patriotic,He holds Defence services in very high  esteem and was deeply impressed by Ganesan's achievements.We started discussing about my interests in life and Mr.Vaiyavan (that is what his pen name ) started giving book shape to all my writtings.

                            The above books were except one or two are the contribution of Mr.Vaiyavan.His entry in my life is a divine gift to me and through him the stored informations and experiences in Ganesan's brain will be displayed in a broader world forum.The first book was

                          கல் சொல்லும் கதை.

   The same was later made into "Story of the Stone." Other
books  were

               சிவந்த மண் கைப்பிடி நூறு.
The greatest writting which came in print by Mr.Vaiyavan is

                                 இலக்கைத் தேடும் ஏவுகணை .
              Senior Army officers who had gone through the last book felt that every soldier of the Indian Army should get an oppurtunity to read this book.Situation management,moral courage ,Spirituality of this great country India ,Man management etc are inter mingled along with Colonel Ganesan's life in that book.

                                   By this time Ganesan was little familiar in Tamilnadu.One retd govt servant who was passing through Sannanallur, stopped his car there and wanted to know more about Ganesan.Since that was his birth place he asked few pwople here and there .The people of Sannanallur told him that no such person called Ganesan existed ever there.

                      What a great patriotism and pride about ones own country and countrymen.!

    But the cosmic force of the universe was observing these.After about 7-8 months of that incident
Ganesan was travelling in Day express train to his native place.It is about 4-5 hours journey.After about one hour of journey the co passenger in course of casual conversation   was exited to know that Ganesan is a retd military officer.
                      He narrated about his travell experience at Sannanallur and with curiosity asked Col Ganesan ,"He also being an Army officer ,Does he know Col Ganesan ?"

                  There starts our new chapter "The Inspirational Park"

                                                               அகத் தூண்டுதல்  பூங்கா 
                          Welcome to "The Inspirational Park".

                                                       The General Manager.
    The  very next day after his Army service Ganesan was appointed as General Manager in a Construction Company.This was the first exposure to civl life after 30 years in uniform and disciplined life.
           The constuction company was getting huge funds from Central Govt in 8 percent interest in the name of helping poor,but costructing palacial houses and making huge profit.It was a big scam in all india level and was detected just when Ganesan joined.Fortunete that Ganesan with in 15 days of joining left the company.
               United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO )was helping Tamilnadu pollution control Board in establishing Effluent Treatment Plant for the tanneries at Pallavaram.The project was nearing completion and they were looking for a civil Engineer as GM for maintenance.
Ganesan was selected for that.

            How ever Ganesan was feeling fish out of water in civil environment as there is no "value assessment in all activities".But he has to work some where as his Younger son was still in school.

                     His elder son Arvindhan completed his Army Training and was commissioned into Corps Of Engineers and was posted to 4 Engineer Regiment on Parental Claim.ie If father had commanded an unit his son can claim to be posted into the same unit.
                 Younger son entered Engineering College.Ganesan thought that continuing further in an unsuitable environment will affect his health and hence left everything and was relaxing at home.

                          At vepery in chennai,there is one trust called P T Lee Chengavaraya Naicker trust.Arround 1870 a bussiness man called Chegalvaraya Nayakar  left huge property worth about 1000 crore for social service to be manned by his community people.But true to the corrupt mentality of Tamilnadu people this propert was mis used in subsquent years.Madras high court took control and appointed trustees to manage this until such time proper arrangements are made.

                           Colonel Ganesan was once appointed as one of the trustee.with in a short period he came to know that is deep routed corruption and miss usefrom top yo bottom including court advocates and judges.Almost every day there will be some fights amongst the members and illegal occupants of the property.

                Almost after an year the court  dissolved the committee stating that officers like Colonel. will loot the trust.Such shocking remarks was passed by a single judge.With out bothering to counter that Ganesan simply walked away after handing over the Keys.
             But one of the member did not accept such remarks by a single judge and wanted to proof by bench consisting of three judges.
                     The bench blastered the single judge for passing such remarks on a military officer who had sacrificed his youth for protecting the safety,honour and integrity of this country and had been to the world's coldest,windiest and driest place Antarctica as Indias Leader.The bench re inducted the committee setting aside single judge verdict.
                          But Ganesan refused to come back into such filthy organisation and ignored the order.This had completely demoralised Ganesan about conduct of people in civil and he decided not to seek any employment.
           But he is very active and cannot sit idle at home.He thought it was self imposed isolation and best time to record his biogrphy.He had been writting diary for the last 40-50 years.so an ocean of memories started flooding his mind.
                  Ganesan satarted taking new birth as writter and motivator inspiring peoplehe came across.

                                                              Farewell to Arms.

                      Ganesan joined as Additional Chief Engineer ,Chennai Zone in Oct 1992.Sice his own house at Annanagar was on rentedout he stayed at Fore shore Estate on hired accomodation.His elder son stayed at Bangalore pursuing B.Sc Environmental Science and was staying in Boys hostel under M E G arrangements.Younger son joined cental school in IIT Complex chennai.

                  With in few months his elder son's NDA result came and he had cleared it.He was to go to SSB Bhopal.With an escort he went to Bhopal and cleared SSB also.he expressed interest in joining NDA.So we vacated Bangalore and Arvindhan,joined NDA in june 1993.

                  Ganesan's tennure in Chennai was eventless.He was 51 years old and retirement age for Colonel is 52.His promotion board was held in end 1993.85 Officers from different service background were competing for 21 vacancies.By casual assessment Ganesan came some where 23.Unless some miracle takes place his retirement was certain in 1994.Age is also not in his favour as he was 51+.
              With out waiting for the board results AHQ started retirement procedure.
         We all know Ganesan's excellent performance as Atractic Leader.He had blasted DEPARTMENT OF OCEAN DEVELOPMENT for out dated Antarctic activities for which the Secretary condemned  Ganesan.So his Antarctic services were totally sidelined and Army's recomendation for suitable award for Ganesan  was rejected for the last four years.Now Ganesan is going to retire.

                 Even though Ganesan did not bother for this  LT GEN P S RAI.who was the Engineer in Chief who selected Ganesan for the Antarctic mission felt that it is an insult to the Army and had been fighting with AHQ.Gen Rai retired in 1989.But still he was making sure that Ganesan is recommended for an award and Depatment of Ocean Development rejecting it.

                   Now hardly any time left as Ganesan will retire in July 1994.So in December 1993 Gen Rai wrote a D O letter to Chief of Army staff explaining Ganesan's case and sought Justice.His DO letter was such strongly worded that "Not recognising the services of Col Ganesan would amount to Travesty of Justice."

              Gen Rai had sent copy of his DO letter to Ganesan and consoled him about his retiremet and blessed him that Ganesan's second innings after retirement will certainly project him in National Level
                On 25 Jan 1994 Ganesan got a telegramme from the Defence Secretary K A Nambiar stating that the President of India is pleased to award Vashisht Seva Medal for distinguished service.
                        Ganesan retired from ARMY as expected on 31 July 1994.
           The Presidents Award was presented to Colonel Ganesan on 15 Jan 1995 on Army Day Parade at M E G & Centre by G O C Southern Command.

           Ganesan's second innings started the very next day on 01 Aug 1994 as Gen Manager  Southern Construction Company.

                              Madras Engineer Group & Centre,Bangalore.
         
                Ganesan returned from Antarctica on 26 March 1989.He was given 14 days leave and directed to report to Army HQ on expiry of leave.Accordingly he reported and gave detailed report about his wintering activities.
              It must be remembered that he was not issued with a posting order on return from Antarctica.He was insisting that he must be posted to Madras to settle all family problems which developed during his absence.
                  But AHQ was not showing interest to post him to Madras.Instead of that he was sent on attachment to Madras for three months.Finally he was posted to HQ M E G &Centre in september 1989, and inter posted as Battalion Commander No.1 Training Battalion.

                    T B 1 is the vantage battalion of Hq MEG.All important event are organised are conducted by TB 1.

                  Madras Engineer Group was to be awarded President of  India's COLOURS in march 1990 and full scale preparation was going on.It was perhaps AHQ plan to keep Ganesan as Parade Commander for Colours Presentation Parade and present to the President the Antarctic hero.Because Ganesan was the only Madras sapper officer who was Station Commander of  Indian Antarctic Research Station Dakshingangotri.
         It will be a historic event and if told in advance Ganesan would have been happy to do that.Since he was insisting Madras posting and under normal circumstances  it can not be denied AHQ dragged this and at appropriate time Ganesan's posting was issued.
                           Doing a Prade for President of India would be great honour for Ganesan .He swung into action immediately.His elder son was in 10 th std and hence his family remind in chennai.

                               "Presentation of Colours"is a historical event in a military unit.In the 210 Years history of  MEG  it would be first time.Generally Colours were presented to Infantry Battallions in appreciation of their battle performance in war.Latter it was decided that war is a multy agency operation and all arms and services are taking part.Hence Colours must be presented to all.

                        After this decision it was the first time MEG was getting.It would be a great show  and ceremonial Parade would be center of attraction.Re union of all serving and retired personnel would be also there.So it was a golden oppurtunity for Ganesan to engrave his name in indellible mark in the History Madras Sappers.
                    Ganesan fully understood this  and he left no stone unturned.

              02 March 1990 President R.Venkatraman  and all other Army,Airforce,Navy and civil dignatories including Chief minister of Karnataka arrived.
                   Ganesan himself wrote Tamil welcome speech and delivered before entering the Parade ground.Commandant was the Parade Commander and Ganesan was the Dy Parade Commander.
MEG Marching contingent had already won four times best Marching contingent award and no wonder that this parade will remain as best in the minds of about 6000 peole who were spectators.

                      Ganesan came out as an undisputed Leader on this Parade.

 In 1991 MEG took part in Republic day Parade for the 5 th time ,now under Ganesan's command and once again won the best marching contingent award.At the same time the second string soldiers took part in Southern Command Army day Parade and won first place.

                            As Training Battallion commander Ganesan introduced very inspiring training methods and all those about 3000 soldiers who did training during 1989-1992 will certainly remember Ganesan in their whole life.

                                As posting to Madras was initially denied AHQ now full filled their duty by posting Ganesan as Additional Chief Engineer ,Chennai zone.
   
                                     Ganesan moved to chennai in september 1992.

                                                               Opening of "Maitri "
                 
                 The 7 th Expedition during Nov-Dec 1987 had laid the foundation for India's second research station.During wintering time Ganesan's team took care of it and maintained.When 8 th Antarctic expedition along with 6 th wintering team came in Dec 1988,further works on the second station started.Ganesan's 5th winter team after handing over Dakshin gangotri station also joined hands to complete the constuction.On 29 th Feb 1989,India's second station "Maitri " was inaugurated.

                                                       Inauguration of Maitri.

             Knowing that Col Ganesan is a fine sports person and adventurous the Engineer in chief of the Indian Army Lt Gen P S Rai had sent one Parachute through 8 th Expedition,ordering Col Ganesan to try Para sailing at Antarctica.

                   Para sailing is an Adventure sports for non para troopers. For this you require very big open space and slight wind.The parachute is tied arround the waist of the person.A long rope as long as he wants to go high is also tied arround the waist.The other end of the rope is tied to a vehicle.The the vehicle is started and slowly moves picking up speed.Once the rope is tightened,the person runs behind the vehicle,and parachute getting dragged behind.Depending upon the wind and speed  the parachute goes high.If the vehicle speed is reduced the parachute comes down.

                             Ganesan tried this in Antarctica and became first person in the world to have done Para sailing at Antarctica.

                                            First in the world to do Para sailing at Antarctica.

              Having completed all the works successfully Ganesan had spent two days at Maitri with the 6 th wintering commander till he gets cofidence and acclamatise to Antarctic environment.

                             Readers may be aware of Ganesan's uprightness calling a spade as spade and merciless approach to defaulters,irrespective their position.This was not appreciated by Depatment of ocean development  and did not listen to Ganesan's practical approach.

                     The 6 th winter team was selected with the presumption that the second station Maitri wold be completed and one team will winter at Maitri and another at Dakshingangotri..Accordingly one Colonel and one Lt Colonel and suitable members were selected.

                     Ganesan suggested that wintering at Dakshingangotri would be suicidal as they had experienced most dangerous situation of snow comming through the escape shaft during heavy blizzard.Since the Leader designate to Dakshingangotri was keen to show his heroism he was keen to winter at Dakshingangotri and not to be under command at Maitri.

                           Totally burried Dakshingangotri where 6 th winter team wanted to winter.

                 Readers should be aware that Dakshin Gangotri is on icecap and Maitri is on rocky base.The stations are 85 Km away and not easy for rescue in case of any problem. Explaining all these to all Ganesan returned to the ship .The 8th expedition along with Ganesan's 5th winter team left Antarctica on 02 March 1989.

                                                      Leaving Antarctica on 02 March 1989

                                As expected hell broke out between the the two teams at Antarctica.Needless to mention what all had happened.But sufficient to understand that both the wintering leaders resigned on their return to India.

                       Ganesan landed in Goa on 26 March 1989.He was posted as Battalion commander MEG &Centre,Banglore.

                   At Bangalore another glorious chapter opens up which will Print Ganesan's name in the history of Indian Army.

                                   Will power-Determination
                                  ( Sankalp-in Hindi )

 India's 5 th winter team had been in Antarctica from Dec 1987 to Mar1989.In this about 480 days the teams perfomance had been  unique that no other winter team in the world would have attempted to do.
            One such event is the design and execution of wintering caravan.Even though four winter teams had been there no one had made any arrangements for winter movement.Perhaps no one might have moved out of the research station.But the necessity has come now as India's second winter station "Maitri"  construction had started in Dec 1987 and has to be completed by Mar1989 before Ganesan's team moved out of Antarctica.
                              So there was a need to go to Shirmaachar Oassis hills during wintering period of 1988  which is about 85 Km away where the new station was coming up.The tracked wintering vehicles will have a speed of about 4-5 Km/hr.So about 12 to 15 hrs of drive is required .During this period if blizzard comes one has to stay put  as visibility reduces to zero.For all this there was a need to have a caravan type vehicle/trailer.
                           Explaining all these to the secretary,Department of ocean Development,New Delhi,Ganesan got special permission to modify one of the existing container to suit their requirement.
                    The project was named"Ashrey "and started in March 1988.The steel container was to be cut at different places,and 16/18 mm ply wood used for the design.The caravan is to have accomodation for 6-7 persons,a radio room,a mini kitchen,a toilet.Provision for keeping food and other items are to be made.Frozen items like mutton,fish etc can be outside of the container as the wintering temperature is always -30 -40 * c.
                       The team had worked for day and night as the Polar night was fast approaching.Once sun goes down there will be no day light for about 4 months.By 20 April 1988,the project was completed and was to be inaugurated the next day.But on the next day there was blizzard and could not be conducted.Another day was fixed and unfortunetely that day also had blizzard .
                            This time Ganesan decided to change the name of the caravan to "WILL  POWER " and requested members to suggest suitable name in any language.Accordingly name "SANKALP " was selected and a day was fixed for inauguration.
                   But unfortunetely on that day also there was blizzard and even stronger than previous days.But Ganesan did not stop.The team lifted a portable 1.5 KV generator to the container and boiled milk,did pooja and had ready made "suji halwa "as prasad.

                           To day it is almost 30 years old.Sankalp with other modifications in accordance with technological developments still going strong I believe.

                                Long live "Fikar Not Fifteen " (5 th winter team )

                   Sankalp made frequent trips to Maitri during 1988 .Here Sankalp at midway between Dakshin Gangotri and Maitri'