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Ablaze in a Blizzard

Ablaze in a Blizzard - Col.(Retd.) P. Ganesan





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Thursday, June 6, 2019

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.

About Me



born and brought up in rural back ground.Sannanallur, a village at the cross junction of Nagappattinam-Kumbakonam road and Tiruvarur-Mayiladuthurai road.Studied at elementry school, sannanallur, Board high school, Nannilam, Annamalai plytechnic, Chettinad. Served in PWD of Tamilnadu Govt 1961-63.selected for Army service in 63.Adventurous and unblemished service for 30 years. Stood first in B.Tech at the college of Military Engineering,Pune, Maharashtra. Selected as India's mission leader to Dakshingangotri, Indian Antarctic Resarch Station, at south pole, Antarctica, 1987-89, and spent 480 days at the icy continent. Awarded Vashisht seva medal by the President of India,1994. Retired from Army 1994.Running a psycho-adventure foundation since then.