The 111 Infantry Battalion (TA) Kumaon had its share of glory when it was adjudged the best Territorial Army Battalion for the year 2001-2002. This year, the coveted COAS Silver Trophy was presented to Col Nirmal Singh, CO, 111 Infantry Battalion (TA) Kumaon and Sub Maj Rajender Singh Deo during the Army Commander's Conference. Maj Gen ND Jetli, ADG TA was present on the occasion.

The Chief of Army Staff's Silver Trophy was instituted in 1958 by Gen KS Thimmayya, the then Chief of Army Staff.

Three paraplegic patients from Military Hospital, Kirkee, Pune participatred in the fifth National Athletics Championship for Physically Challenged held in Bangalore. The games were organised by National Paralympic Committee of India for selection of candidates for international paralympics.

The events included wheel-chair race, javelin throw, shot put, discus throw and swimming. Nk Phool Singh won two gold medals, one each in wheel chair race and shot put. L/Nk MS Reddy won one bronze each in discus throw and shot put whereas Rfn NS Thapa won one bronze each in wheel-chair race and javelin throw.

input: Col AS Kandalla

The 35-knot Fast Patrol Vessel, designed and manufactured by Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL), was launched in Panjim. This is the second vessel of the class and the fastest in its category with a minimum endurance of 1500 nautical miles. The vessel is primarily designed for patrolling anti-smuggling and anti-terrorist operations, fisheries protection and search and rescue. It can also support the Navy during wartime as a coastal convoy escort and a communication link.

The vessel is fitted with 30-mm gun forward, machine-guns on port starboard and state-of-the-art navigation and communication equipment. Options are also available to fit naval stabilisied gun system of various makes with multi-sensor stabilised integrated system as well as night vision device. For hot pursuit and capture operation requiring high speed and excellent manoeuvrability, the vessel is powered by three 2720 kw MTU diesel engines.

Mrs Shivjot Sihota, President AWWA Southern Command was recently on a tour to HQ ATNKK & G Area, Island Grounds, Chennai where she visited St Mary's Church and Archaeological Fort Museum. She was accompanied by Mrs Kanta Jamwal, Chairperson of AWWA ATNKK & G Area.

Fort St George is the first fort to be built by the British on Indian soil. It was completed on St. George’s Day on April 23, 1640. Since then this Fort has played a key-role in the history of India during the Raj period as well as the present era. The State Secretariat and a number of Army units are located within the fort.

One of the most important monuments of the fort, St. Mary's Church was built by East India Company in the 17th century. This is the oldest Anglican Church east of Suez. It is not only the oldest place of worship built by English settlers in India, still in use, but also believed to be the oldest British building of any kind in the whole of India. Its three aisles arched with brick and stone have a bomb-proof vaulted roof. The church has important records, articles, marble plaques and tablets.

Fort St. George Museum housing the relics of the British period in South India is located within Fort St. George. The building served as the Madras Bank, which later merged with the Bombay and Bengal Banks to become the Imperial Bank (now State Bank of India). The Long Hall on the first floor of the building was the Public Exchange Hall and served as a place for public meetings, lottery drawings and, occasionally, for entertainment. In not so distant a past, the edifice had been the Officers' Mess of British Regiment quartered at Fort St George.

-Col Shruti Kant

Vartak, the largest project of the Border Roads Organisation, celebrated its 42nd raising day at Tezpur. Inter Task Force sports competitions, special GREF sammelan and a colourful cultural programme marked the occasion. As a part of the celebration, trophies for the best Road Construction Company (RCC) and other units were given away by the Chief Engineer, Brig M S Ghai during the sammelan. Cash incentives for the best pioneers and other tradesmen were also distributed.

The project achieved all the laid down targets for the year 2001-2002. Governor Dave’s Trophy for the best RCC was awarded to 90 RCC of 14 Border Road Task Force for having excelled in performance. A large number of personnel from RCCs and Task Force HQs participated in the activities.

Dear Sir,

Your esteemed magazine is a widely read publication in the Armed Forces. Through your journal I want to disseminate a message among my those sisters whose husbands have been deputed at country’s borders to discharge their obligations towards the motherland. I am an Army officer’s wife. We are living in a very isolated area near Jammu.

We the Army wives are fully aware that our husbands are doing their duty. We must create conditions to boost their morale. But life sometimes does get very lonely and depressing without our husbands. However, we ladies decided to make the best of whatever we have. The seven families, staying here, have become very close to one another and share joys and sorrows in times of crisis. Not only that, each one of us is trying to evolve as an individual in our own right, by taking up a job or cultivating a healthy hobby. We are doing everything possible to give mental freedom to our husbands so that they are free from domestic worries.

I have a message to all those women whose husbands are at borders: "Ladies! think positive, make the best of whatever you have and pray for your husbands’ safety."

Yours sincerely,