Mysore/Mysuru: The city-based Mysuru Ex-Servicemen Movement (MEM) held its bimonthly meeting on Dec. 3 at Chamundeshwari Convention Hall, Bannur Road, Mysuru. 

Air Veteran Mandetira N. Subramani, President of VeKare Ex-Servicemen Trust, Mysuru, was the chief guest.

During the meeting, members unanimously elected Army veterans Prince Anthony, Shridhar and Maqsood Khan as President, General Secretary and Treasurer respectively besides electing other office-bearers and Committee Members. 

Air Veteran and advocate M.N. Subramani was appointed as Honorary Legal Advisor while Veteran V. Mahesh was designated as Patron of MEM.

During the discussion on various agenda points, the members of MEM requested Subramani to explain the reason for delay in establishing the War Memorial in Mysuru despite a suitable plot measuring 40 x 40 feet was earmarked in the huge Public Park (previously a parade ground) adjacent to the Deputy Commissioner’s Office which is right in front of NCC Group Headquarters, Mysuru, as suggested by him to the District Administration while he was the President of Air Force Friends Association, Mysore (AFFAM) two decades ago — that is during the year 2000, when Basavaraju was the Deputy Commissioner of Mysuru. 

The Veterans also requested Subramani to impress upon the District Administration to refer to the proposed War Memorial which would be established in Mysuru in due course as ‘Mysuru War Memorial’ and not as ‘Martyrs Memorial’ or ‘National War Memorial’ as suggested by an Army Veteran. 

Addressing the members of MEM, who are mostly Army Veterans belonging to Junior Commissioned Officers, Non- Commissioned Officers and Other Ranks, Subramani reiterated that the War Memorial in Mysuru has to be referred to as ‘Mysuru War Memorial’ only as the historic city of Mysuru will be incomplete without an impressive War Memorial to pay rich tributes to the Armed Forces soldiers who achieved martyrdom in all the wars and war-like situations in the past and in future.  

When an Ex-Serviceman suggested that the prominent roads, huge Circles and imposing Government buildings should be named after Armed Forces martyrs from their respective  native district only, Subramani clarified that martyrs sacrificed their life for their country and not just for their native District. He gave the example of Field Marshal K.M. Cariappa Circle and Gen. K.S. Thimayya Road in Mysuru city and in many prominent cities of India. 

He also made a mention of naming the imposing building which houses Sainik Aram Ghar and Office of Deputy Director, Department of Sainik Welfare and Resettlement in Mysuru after martyr Sqn. Ldr. A.B. Devayya, MVC (posthumous).

MEM General Secretary Shridhar welcomed. Patron Mahesh and President Prince Anthony explained the aims and objectives of MEM. Treasurer Maqsood Khan proposed a vote of thanks.   

NOTE: Mysuru Ex-Servicemen Movement can be reached on Mob: 99808-92298.