Displaying 'ARMY' on private transport is an attempt to milk the respect and reverence that the common citizen has for a person in the armed forces, observes Colonel K Thammayya Udupa (retd). By writing 'ARMY' and displaying regimental insignias, we expect a few misdemeanours to be overlooked.

On this Teachers Day, I once again bow my head as I remember all the teachers who had taught me in school, college, military academy, army courses and so on. But Ms Shantha Potty Aunty, this one more head bow is specially for you, admirably says Colonel K Thammayya Udupa (retd).

'As a course mate who has followed closely this star on the Bombay Sappers firmament, my heart swells with pride to see his extraordinary brilliance and focus; his commitment and his dedication; his hard work; and his technical as well as tactical knowledge,' says Colonel K Thammayya Udupa (retd) of his batchmate General Manoj Pande who will take over as chief of the army staff on May 1.

If the government of the day would like to set in place a smooth and well-planned changeover and facilitate the incoming chief to chalk out his action plan well in advance, the announcement of a successor needs to be done early, observes Colonel K Thammayya Udupa (retd).

'One evening, my mother announced during dinner that we would open a Cumulative Time Deposit account in the post office. 'My father froze. 'The handful of curd rice that he had just put into his mouth remained there for a few extra seconds.' Colonel K Thammayya Udupa (retd) recalls an important decision that changed his family's life forever.

'I never fail to remember those spirited men of the 390 Field Company who moulded me into an army officer worthy of being their commander.'