Major General K S Venugopal, the General Officer Commanding (GOC), Karnataka and Kerala (K&K) Sub Area, is shedding his uniform after 37 years of service in the Indian Army. On the eve of handing over the baton to the next man, Anantha Krishnan M catches up with the passionate solider to capture his thoughts on Bangalore city and more.
Excerpts.
CE: What are your thoughts when hanging your boots after serving the Army for so many years?
KSV: It has been a great experience to have served the nation during the last 37 years. This excludes three years training in National Defence Academy and one year at Indian Military Academy. Also, another six years in Sainik School, Thiruvananthapuram. In effect, I started wearing the uniform (khaki then) in 1966 and it has continued, till today. I ‘hang my boots’ with lot of satisfaction and pride, that I had the privilege to be a part of this unique organisation called Indian Army.
CE: What are your thoughts on Bangalore city?
KSV: Bangalore is one of the best cities in the world. We are fortunate to have a very balanced climate, people living in harmony and the city has the potential for growth. In future, all developments must be done in a planned manner - pay more attention to hygiene and sanitation, traffic management and environment. We must also plan for creating additional power & water.
CE: What are the main problems that the Army is facing in Bangalore?
KSV: Encroachments on defence land in various pockets is a challenge. As the Metro grows, there will be more pressure on defence land due to unplanned growth and expansion of townships.
CE: Is there any delay in major expansion plans of Indian Army in Bangalore due to the state government’s apathy?
KSV: No. The state government has been very helpful in all cases except the firing range at Belgaum, which was denotified unilaterally without informing the Central government. The range was earlier notified up to 2020. This move has adversely affected training of our personnel as well as joint training with other countries.
CE: With the city growing, is the Army finding it tough to protect its land?
KSV: No. We have done the survey of most of the land jointly, with the help of state administration. All arrangements are in place to protect our land. The state government has been considerate to assure us of equal value land in lieu of the defence land encroached and under dispute.
CE: What are the main problems the Army is facing in Karnataka?
KSV: The main problem is revamping of the Kendriya Sainik Board and ensuring that the veterans get their due and they are able to live with dignity. Though the state government has been very helpful, more needs to be done for the ex-Service men (ESM). Each district should have a welfare board and all privileges such as employment in state departments, allotment of dwelling units, admission to children and so on, due to them must be given on time and in a transparent manner.
CE: What are your most unforgettable moments in uniform?
KSV: There are many. Important ones being my tenure as the Company Commander in Sri Lanka and Battalion Commander in Kashmir Valley.
In Sri Lanka, we had lot of difficulties. There were no maps, no photographs and lack of knowledge of the terrain and people. I was commanding a company of 14 JAT. None except me knew Tamil. That added to our problems. We were operating in another country and it was extremely difficult to explain to men the ‘rationale’ of being there. As a young Company Commander it was a great challenge to motivate the men and fight for the ‘cause’ of another country.
The other moment was when I was the Battalion Commander of 14 JAT, inducted into Lolab Valley infested with militants, after a three-year tenure in Rashtrapati Bhavan and Red Fort. It was a herculean task to bring all ranks into the operational grid. But it was highly satisfying to see the Battalion settling down quickly.
CE: As GOC K&K Sub-Area, what were your major challenges?
KSV: The major challenges were protection of the land entrusted to us by the Government, ensuring respectability to the serving and retired soldiers and streamlining the Ex -Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme.
CE: What’s your message to young aspirants?
KSV: If the younger generation wants to lead a clean, healthy and happy life, they must join the Army. Each citizen must give something in return for what the nation has given you. What better than being a part of an organisation that defends the country from external aggression and internal disorders. Be honest, pro-active and adventurous. You will remain physically fit, mentally alert and socially happy and the respect you earn from the society will carry you through.