The Command-Continued after Aug 16,2016 entry.

                   The readers may be aware that command of troops at a Battalion.(Regiment  in some Arms ) is the great expectation  among officers.At this stage the readers may also be aware that Officers who are posted as Regimental commanders  consider themselves as elite of their lot and perhaps likely to raise in the ladder and retire as Chief of Army staff.They forget that their appointment is also carries the responsibility of looking after the safety,integrity and welfare of the men under their command.Many officers ,especially those who are commissioned through prestigious institutions like "Rashtriya Indian Military College (R I M C ) considers that their appointment is launching pad for their further promotions.However some officers build the image of the Regiment by their upright dealings and exceptional care and welfare of all ranks under their command.

            The Engineer units who were functioning as independent Field companies till 1964 were amalgamated into Regiment of 3 Field compsnies ans one Field Park company.Ganesan who was part of independent 44 Field Park Company came into the fold of 4 Engineer Regiment.Since then had  servrd only in 4 Engineer Regiment.

                         So ,his appointment as Commanding Officer of 4 Engineer Regiment brought great happiness among troops.So he did not mind the G O C's remark and returned to routine works.

                    The Regiment was deployed at different places according to Operational requirement.Tawang,Point 4770,and Lumla were the locations.Point 4770 was on the LOC with Chineese border.There was no road to this location .Troops were on two days marching with a staging camp at mid way.At one time a team of 5 jawans were going to Pt 4770.But after a days march only 4 of them reached the staging camp and one jawan was missing. A court of enquiry headed by a Brigadier declared the Jawan as "Deserter "and Regiment was ordered to trace him and the Govt properties like Rifle 7.62 S L R.At that time,the change in command of 4 Engineer Regiment took place and Ganesan came in as New commanding officer.

            The area was verymuch familier to Ganesan as he was the advance party commander to bring in 4 Engineer Regiment as 5 Mountain Div Engineers.So after going through the C of I ,he drafted a letter to Adjutant General of the Indian Army,requesting him to treat the case as "Missing "instead of " Deserter " and sent it through proper channel.Because the G O C had countersigned the C of I.No doubt that the G O C had blasted Ganesan ,but could not hold the application.

                  It was to everyone's surprise that the Adjutant General had accepted Ganesan's recommendations and the C of I was corrected accordingly. This gave great relief to the jawans family and they got all the benefit of death after 10 years.

                                                  Arvind visits Chennai

            After the travel restriction was eased ,our elder son Arvind came on short leave with his wife and children.It is almost 4-4 years since we met them.Children have grown up and they are already in Punjab Public School as hostlers.

Though it was short leave we went to Sannanallur to show the "Inspirational Park "to grand children.

             Grand children planted a mango plant  at the park.

while reurning Arvind took his wife and children to Mahabalipuram and came to chennai.It was very pleasant trip.

                                          The great virus "Corona".

                         It is almost three  years now since the last post.The great virus "Corona" struck in March 2020 and shook the entire world.Government of India acted very fast and produced anti virus injections.Privte hospitals were also authorised  to administer these injections on nominal rates,while government hospitals were giving free.Colonel Ganesan and his wife got these injections from Madras medical mission and booster dose from Chennai corporation.After about two years ,the situations improved and travel restrictions eased a bit.

                 Be cause of the travel restrictions,elder son Arvind and younger son Karthik also could not meet us.

                    By middle of 2022,things had become normal and social and cultural activities resumed.The year 2022 also brought fresh energy in the family as Colonel Ganesan was nearing completion of 80 years of age.

                               When all were egarly looking forward for that great day,tragedy struck.Elder daughter-in-law Anuradha suddenly collapsed and passed away on 29 Aygust 2022.Colonel Ganesan,Mrs Ganesan accompanied by Mr.Murli krishna ,our younger Sambandi went to Chandigar and attended the last rights.Fortunetely the grand children were in boarding school and did not affect them much.After three days rituals,they had returned to hostel as their exams were fast approaching.

                                                         Farewell to Arms.

            On  return from the National mission "Antarctica Expedition "Ganesan was keen to stay at Chennai and restore the lost contacts which happened because of his about one and half years of absence from the civilisation.
           But HQ MEG &Centre,to which Ganesan belongs was looking for a suitable leader for the forth coming "President's Colours Presentation Parade ".Both the requirements had their own importance .Giving due attention to Ganesan's personal requirements he was permited to stay in Chennai for about six months and then was posted to MEG &Centre to conduct the forth coming President'sparade.

                For a true soldier like Ganesan being with troops especially during their initiation into Army is like "tasty fruit slipping into milk &honey".How happy would be when a struggling fish on the floor suddenly thrown into deep sea.Great !Great !Greatest moments of his life to engrave his name for ever in the history of Madras Engineering Group & Centre and through them into the history of Indian Army.
            Power always corrupts  unless it is accepted as a humble service to an authority.An authority not concerned with success or failure ;only with right or wrong.With out a moral yardstick constantly applied to action ,the posession of power ,large or tiny is always subject to misuse.The appointment of Battalion Commander is the moral responsibility empowering him to shape and guide the destiny of about 2500 persons at a time out of which about 1500-2000 would be in their teenage.
          The greatest treasure springs from the control of desiers and non craving."Bow to the Will of Providence" is a golden saying.As their elder son Arvind  was to appear in 10 th std in March 1990,leaving the family at Madras Ganesan moves to Bangalore and takes over command of Training Battalion -1.in September 1989 perhaps to establish himself with the history of Madras Sappers.

            Leaders attitude to power will determine his attitude to people.If his passion is power,he will use people as pawns,if his passion is for people and to do the best for them ,he will use his powers to give them the benifits that are their due.He will govern with compassion and concern.

           This was a unique photograph of a recruit having food with Commandant,MEG &Centre and his Battalion Commander equally seated.The Sub Maj is standing and watching.This is self demonstrative to show Colonel Ganesan's style of Command.

              Concience oriented Ganesan takes stock of the situation and plans his activities in a calm,quiet and dispassionate manner.His daily routine were of such nature that one can communicate not only with words but through ones conduct gesture and quiet confidence.
             Leadership of the prophets and the great teachers of mankind is far more effective than that of conquerors and emperors.Emperor Ashoka's decision to through the sword after the battle of Kalinga was not the regret of a man moved by the passing emotion but meaningfull cotributions of a man who was conciously aware of the sorrow he had caused.After all true conquest consists of the conquest of mens hearts by the laws of duty and piety.

                His three years of Command was filled with greatest events that cannot be easily eraced from the history.Presidents colours presentation ,winning Best marching contingent in the Republic day parade of 1991.winning Southen command best marching contingent in Army day parade ,Farewell parades to Lt Gen DSR Sahni,.Lt Gen C A Berretto, Brig S N Endley are few to quote.
                 Ganesan took pride in commanding Parades.

   With all his activities he never missed his early morning yogas,and physical excercise to keep himself fittest.

      Time and tide wait for none.Ganesan was 50 by then .His promotion board was not likely to be held in the near future.If so he will retire in 52 age.Perhaps AHQ thought that it is better to give him the satisfaction of retiring from home ground,Ganesan was posted as Additional Chief Engineer,Chennai Zone in september 1992.
           For a true soldier "Fare well to Arms"will be very very painfull as he would not part with the olive green uniform.In order to let him fade away from the olive green perhaps  he was posted to a semi military organisation.

            A be fitting momento was prepared for Ganesan showing his National mission,Parades and supreme of that his
 Thundering words of Command,"Parade ,Salaami Shashtr"

           
                  Ganesan left MEG&Centre on 02 october 1992 and bid Farewell to his beloved Training Battalion 1.

         
              Ganesan retired from Army on 31 July 1994.

                                  The cosmic Library.

               Ganesan was having great collection of psychological,philosophical,and spiritual books.He wanted that those young and aspiring people who visits the  park should have an approach to such books.
                So he planned a library and named it as "Cosmic Library "The pineal Glands" in the brain is a cosmic antina to transmit and receive cosmic signals.As we know that thoughts are dynamic and vital  your thoughts will emit signasl to the cosmic world and receive directions for your success of your thoughts.

                                                        Bhoomi Puja.Bore well

              The library would be in hexagonal shape with extention on two side to accomodate two rooms.These two rooms will subsquently be used as guest room and an office.

           
As usual Ganesan and his wife made frequent visits to supervise the construction.

             The building came up quite fast as money was being poured.

     
            On a suitable day puja was conducted.
            On 17 May 2017 It was planned to be inagurated.But in beween tragedy struck in Ganesan's brothers family.In a matter of one year three of his brothers ,two younger and one elder brother expired.His eldest brother and elder sister  had already expired. This had left Ganesan and  one of his younger sister to carry forward  the Family name.

               Dr Alagar Ramanujam,Dr.T.Jayaraman Mr.vedhachalam and many others came for the openning day of the cosmic library.

              Young boys and girls started comming.Ganesan had prepared about 10 Power Point Presentations and gave inspiring demonstrations that it is possible for every one to be successfull in life.

                 
                        Can you imagine a totally blind person wanted to feel the touch of Ganesan and came to the park after hearing Ganesan in AIR,Karaikkal,FM Proramme.

                                   The inspiring Park-2

                    As Time passed many people started visiting the Park.

                                                              Karaikkal F M Radio fans.
          Karaikkal FM Radio had few programmes in honour of Inspirational Park.Some 50 KM radius people Chidanbaram from north ,Nagappattinam from East,Kumpakonam from west and Thiruthuraipoondi-vetharanyam from south had listened to this programme and started contacting Ganesan for more details.When Ganesan went to Sannanallur after few days most of them turn by turn came to the park and was very much impressed about Ganesan's works.

                 Pothikai TV Channel had invited Ganesan on Gandhi jayanthi day to speak to children about Inspirational park.

           Retd Air vice Marshal Chandran was on a spritual tour in Tiruvaroor District.Whe he came to know about the park,He vited them and from the park he contacted Ganesan and congratulated them.

               Principal,staff and students of Govt Arts & Science College, Nannilam visited the park.

 A group of people from Nearby villages jointly came and visited the park.
                     When ever Ganesan is Present in the park the visitors strength increases and goes down after Ganesan returns to Chennai.Instead of that a care taker who is well conversant with the project is required to be present all the time in the Park

                           Let us hope that a suitable person emerge.

                                      The inspiring Park.

      After  the inaguration people in and arround Sannanallur started talking about the park.Since it is located on a buzy road side hundreds of people started to find out the complete concept and were coming there.

       
           A friend of Ganesan was taking his mother to Rameswaram and other religious places and in the process came to Thiruvanjiam,another important temple .After the dharshan when they came to the main road they saw the board "Sannanallur 7 Km" Immediately his mother told him,that it is Ganesan's birth place and we must see that.
                 They came to Inspirational Park and then gave a ring to Ganesan who was in Chennai at that time.About 80 years old mothers blessings are a great satisfaction to Ganesan.

              Followed by the Pillar construction Ganesan constructed a conference hall where visitors can meet and discuss.It was initially a thatched shed which was blown away in a rain strom.subsquently it was built on steel column.

                  Ganesan's relatives while passing through also visited the park

       
               These two ladies are daughters of Ganesan's eldest brother.His eldest brother Pasupathy was working in Highways Department  and settled at Cuddalore after retirement.But unfortunetly he and his wife expired early.However they made sure that their children are well settled.

                 This is K.Ragunathan and his wife.Ragu is the son of Ganesan's eldest sister Valambal.Both Valambal and her husband Kanakasabai expired early.Taking the loses by the side Ragunathan progressed as a bussiness man and became a millioner.He was very much inspired by uncle Ganesan's activities and donaned Rs.5 Lakh for the development of Inspirational park.

 As time passed schools and college students started visiting the park.

                  Dr.Thanga.Jayaraman English professof from Tiruvarur central University along with post graduate students visited.

                Ganesan's younger sister Sakunthala and her family visited the Inspirational Park.Brother in law is Mr.V.Pasupathy retired as Chief Engineer,PWD,and their children three of them are Engineers and one is a doctor.They are settled at Trichirappalli.

                                                  Kondal Rao and his wife with Colonel & his wife.

When Ganesan joined Army and posted to UP-Tibet border in 1964 ,a sepoy /Clerk by name Kondal Rao also joined the unit.Kondal Rao was very much impressed by highly spirited young officer Ganesan  and silently kept on observing him.
                  They took part in 1965 war and after the war they moved to Assam.Ganesan was posted out in 1968 and Kondal Rao left the Army pre maturely in 1969.
                Kondal Rao Joined State bank of India and retired as manager and settled in Secundrabad.Some time in  2015 when there was an Ex Servicemen meet in Secundrabad and they were talking about Colonel Ganesan's achievements, Kondal Rao with great anxiety tried to find out whether it could be the same Ganesan whom he met in 1964.The organisers could not give suitable reply but gave Ganesan's telephone number to Mr.Rao.
                     Mr.Rao contacted Ganesan and was wonder struck about Ganesan's growth and achievements.There after he was in regular contact with Ganesan and wanted to see the Inspirational Park.A day came that Kondal Rao and his wifereached Chennai on a 4 days trip.Next day they left in two cars to Sannanallur
                      All the four days Kondal Rao was pouring his old memories and Ganesan and Rao kept on talking about their old association including the 1965 war.Both the Ladies ie Mrs.Ganesan and Mrs.Rao were on listening watch.
                      Ganesan had to stay in the park and Rao was to return after 3 days.At the time of his departure Mr.Rao quietly requested Ganesan that he also to be associated with Ganesan and wanted to give a small donation.
                 Ganesan whole heartedly accepted .To Ganesan's great surprise Mr.Rao donated Rs.50,000 and took Ganesan's Blessings.

                  The inspiring news will continue.....