Lt Col SC Khanna

Dear Signallers,
I am sad to inform you about the demise of a veteran Signaller, IC- 14297 Lt Col SC Khanna (Retd), on 13 Nov 2009 at Jaipur. He died of lung cancer.
For more details, please see the email received from DG Sigs Adm, appended below.
We pray to Almighty to give peace to the departed soul and strength to all near ones and dear ones to bear this irreparable loss.
Those of you who wish to write a "Shradhanjli" for him, may kindly send it for being posted to our weblog -
http://reportmysignal-shradhanjli.blogspot.com/
The Shradhanjli be kindly emailed to - Col James Kanagaraj, The Moderator at - reportmysignalblogspot@gmail.com

In sorrow -
Chander Kamboj.


DEMISE OF SIGNALS OFFICER
Dear Sir,
We regret to inform about the sad demise of IC- 14297 Lt Col SC Khanna (Retd), on 13 Nov 2009 at Jaipur.
Details of illness: Lung Cancer
Next of Kin: Mrs Meena Khanna (wife)
Cremation
Date and time of Cremation 16 Nov 2009 at Jaipur at 1000hrs.
Last Rites/ Prayer Meeting/ Chautha Not yet known

Information about Officer
1. Date of birth 26 Jan 1938
2. Date of Seniority 19 Dec 1960
3. Date of retirement 31 Jan 1989
4. Date of demise 13 Nov 2009
AS Mankoo
Lt Col
Dir Sigs Adm

Lt Col SC Khanna

I am really sad to learn about sad demise of Lt Col SC Khanna (Retd) on 13th Nov 2009 at Jaipur.
My heartfelt condolences may please be conveyed to Mrs Meena Khnna, his wife and to the whole family.

Col JL Chatterji

Lt Gen (Retd) ID Verma

Lt Gen (Retd) ID Verma, PVSM, ex SO-in-C and Senior Colonel Commandant, passed away on 29 Oct 09 at Delhi. Commissioned in 1940, he became the first Indian officer to head the Indian Signal Corps School at Mhow during Partition (1947) as its Offg Comdt. He came back as Colonel to head the School in 1954 and remained at the helm till 1959. Incidentally, the ISC School was renamed as School of Signals on his bidding and the School became College (MCTE) in 1967 when he was the SO-in-C. As Comdt MCTE, he was instrumental in changing the site of the Corps of Signals HQ Mess from the proposed B I Bazar area to its present location in the Airfield (One Tree Hill).

The Gen Officer became the SO-in-C on 23 Jul 1966 and relinquished this appointment on 02 Jan 1971 when he opted out prematurely to serve in the private sector. He, however, continued to be the Colonel Commandant till 30 Sep 1976. As SO-in-C his most remarkable contribution was the implementation of PLAN AREN which revolutionised the Army communications.

In his passing away the Corps has lost one of its most revered and celebrated compatriot. And, the MCTE mourns his demise that much painfully. (being two-time Commandant with the longest reign)

To pay obeisance a formal condolence meeting was held at the Iyappa Hall, MCTE on 29 Oct 09 which was attended by serving and retired officers and ladies. Lt Gen VK Sharma, Comdt MCTE, Maj Gen (Retd) BS Paintal and Maj Gen (Retd) Yashwant Deva paid the glowing tributes.

May the Almighty grant peace to the departed soul and give strength to the bereaved family to bear this loss.

Lt Col (Retd) H S Bhandari
Editor, MCTE Newsletter

Maj TM Krishnan

It is with deep sense of grief I came to know the sad and sudden demise of my dear good friend and colleague- Major TM Krishnan. Krish and myself reported to OTS POONA during September 1948 for military training prior to post commission training at the then School of Signals. Krish had the distinction to be the sword of honour cadet at the passing out parade of ots 1. Even at the school of signals he acquitted well and was fairly high on the merit list.he was a very good hockey and cricket player and a good leader of men, beloved by the troops.

We were a bunch of young officers from 1 Air Formation Sig Regt, AHQ Sig Regt and the then 2 Coy of Western Comd Sig Regt who used to storm into Krish's house at Delhi cantt in weekend days in 1949- 1950. Krish and his dear wife and Rathi were good hosts and we all enjoyed the hospitality extended by them.'

Krish was a cheerful and friendly individual acquitted himself as a good regimental officer. The sudden and sad demise of RATHI, his dear wife coupled with his departure on 2 Nov 2009 has been a severe blow to his children and their family.

We all pray GOD ALMIGHTY to grant ever lasting peace to RATHI and KRISH and give strength and courage to his children to withstand the irreparable loss they have suffered......in deep sorrow
Col NS Dwarakanath AVSM

LT Gen ID Verma and Col Vasudevan Nair

Greetings from Mhow. Having lost my father in May this year I felt very sad to read about the news of General Verma's demise on Report My Signal. I am enclosing a photograph which shows both these veterans. I have been seeing this photograph in our family album for well nigh four decades now. When I asked my mother, Mrs. Ponnamma Vasudevan, about this photograph she told me that this was clicked in Dec 1970. The occasion- my father who was then a major and the senior instructor at the Cipher Wing, MCTE, Mhow was giving a lecture on ciphers and communication security to student officers attending the higher command course at the College of Combat (presently known as Army War College). The SO-in-C Lt Gen I D Verma had also attended this talk along with the then MCTE Commandant Brig Pinto. I am sending this for posting in the blog. I feel it will take many a veteran down memory lane.
With best wishes
Dev Kumar Vasudevan

Maj TM Krishnan

Dear Signallers,
I am sad to inform you about the demise of Maj TM Krishnan, Signals. The only information available to me is as received vide the email of Brig Sarathy appended below.

I request Signallers at Chennai to kindly get more information about Late Maj TM Krishnan and forward to me.

Kindly also inform the nearest Signal Unit/ HQ, who in turn be requested to inform the Dte Gen of Signals.

We pray to Almighty to give peace to the departed soul and strength to all near ones and dear ones to bear this irreparable loss.

In sorrow -
Chander Kamboj.

From: Brigadier Sarathy
Dear Kamboj Sir,
You may or may not have received the news about the sad demise of Maj(Retd) TM Krishnan (Signals) yesterday(02 Nov 2009) at about 0900 hrs in the morning in Apollo hospital here in Chennai after cardiac arrest
His full name is Thayyari Madabusi Krishnan. He was SO2 Signals in Tezpur (4 Corps) in 1969. The cremation was over on 02 Nov itself. No other details are available.
Brig Sarathy (Retd)

Obituary: Maj TM Krishnan (Retd)- Published in the Hindu dated 03 Nov 2009
Our beloved Father passed away on 02 Nov 2009
May his soul resst in peace
Ranganatan and Shoba (Son and his wife)
Chithra and Prasankumar (daughter and her husband)
Kalpana and Aswanth (daughter and her husband)
Mrs. Rathi Krishnan (Radha), W/o. Major T.M. Krishnan passed away on 28 Aug 2009.
(inserted by Son, daughters and Grand children)

Lt Gen ID Verma

The passing away of Lt Gen ID Verma (Retd), PVSM, former Signal Officer-in- Chief and Senior Colonel Commandant on 30 Oct 2009 has left a great void amongst the Corps fraternity. He was Signal Officer-in- Chief and Senior Colonel Commandant for nearly five years from 1966-71. Joining the Corps in 1940, he superannuated in 1971.

General ID Verma made remarkable contributions to the Corps and the Army with his vision and stellar qualities. He had great ability to influence events with his towering and genial personality. Corps of Signals was able to get a hand on Electronic Data Processing with his persuasive efforts. He also geared up the Corps to a high peak for
1971 War against Pakistan.

He was a thorough bred gentleman with suave disposition and compassion for all. Popular amongst all ranks and his peers, it was always a pleasure to meet him. The General was a role model for all.

The last rites for the General were performed in a befitting manner by the Corps at Brar Square, Delhi Cantt. The Chautha ceremony at New Delhi on 2nd Nov at Lodi Road was a sober and very dignified indeed. The stage was beautifully decorated with flowers and a large portrait of the General. The Kirtan and the brief but very emotional speeches by General's son and daughter made everyone's eyes moist. Hundreds of Signallers as also friends and relatives of the Family attended the Chautha.

General ID Verma leaves behind a great legacy. He will always be
remembered for his contributions to the Corps, professionalism, great personality and friendly disposition. His was a father figure for the Corps for many years after superannuation.

May the departed soul rest in peace and Nimmi Ji and the Family bear the immense loss with fortitude.

Harbhajan Singh
Lt Gen (Retd) PVSM
Signal Officer-in -Chief and Senior Colonel Commandant 1988-91