THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: For Lieutenant General Cherish Mathson, one of the senior-most generals of the Indian Army, it was a walk down memory lane on Saturday. Mathson visited the Sainik School Kazhakootam, his alma mater, and interacted with the cadets and school staff.
This was also his first visit after taking over as the General Officer Commanding of Army’s prestigious Bhopal-based 21 Corps, also known as the Sudarshan Chakra Corps in July last year. An alumnus of the 1976 batch, Mathson’s roll number was 734. As a senior, he was part of the Nehru House of the school. He had won prizes in debate and extempore speech and was a member of the school basketball team.
“This was his first visit to the school after he took over his present appointment. He addressed the Kazhak fraternity and extolled the virtues of a defence service career aimed at motivating the younger generation of Kazhaks,” a school spokesperson said.
As a Brigadier, Mathson had headed the Pangode Military Station some years ago. The General, who hails from Eraviperoor, Thiruvalla, interacted informally with the staff and cadets over a cup of tea. He also presided over the formal commencement of work of the monsoon training shed, a 42 x 45 m overhead cover for conduct of basketball, volleyball and physical training even during heavy rain.
Mathson, who was commissioned into the army’s Garhwal Rifles in 1980, also expressed his happiness over the infrastructural developments and overall upkeep of his alma mater. School principal Colonel A Rajiv and other staff received the General officer.