Readers Letters

First Woman Army Officer awarded Gallantry Medal
Dear Brigadier Kamboj,
Ref Blog Post: Major Mitali Madhumita, 34, of Army Education Corps- click here
The first woman Army Officer to be awarded a medal for gallantry was Capt Leena Dadhwal, AMC for gallantry in the Valley while doing RMO with 3/5 Gorkha Rifles (FF). The Gazette Notification was published on 26 Jan 2004 and she was awarded the Sena Medal on 15 Jan 2005.
This is just to set the record straight. Would be grateful if you could publish this in 'Report My Signal'.
Thanks
Ian Cardozo (Maj Gen)

IESM Meet in Chennai
Dear Veterans,
1. The IESM, Tamilnadu will be holding a meeting on 27 Feb 2011(Sunday) as per programme appended.
Venue: Community Hall, AWHO Parameswaran Vihar, 67 Arcot Road, Saligramam, Chennai– 600093
Contact: 044-23652932/ 044-42048722 Email:pvma(at)airtelmail.in
Time: 9.00 A.M. to 1.00 P.M. (Lunch will be provided)
2. All members of IESM and the Office bearers of other ESM Organisations are cordially invited to attend.
3. Volunteers: We require volunteers to assume the responsibility at all Districts, Towns, Taluks and Villages level, as conveners /coordinators to spread the message of IESM.
4. Kindly intimate your confirmation of attendance to enable us to tie up the administrative arrangements.
Col(Retd) T N Raman

Chief's Interview to NDTV
My dear Brigadier Kamboj,
The Army Chief’s well articulated interview to Ms Barkha Dutt was broadcast in the NDTV at 2200 hours on 14 Feb 2011. The Chief’s reply to a question on OROP however gave an impression that he was not well informed and perhaps to an extent ill informed on the issue. A great opportunity was missed out. The Chief’s words would have carried a lot of weight.
The AG’s Branch, which deals with the subject, obviously has not briefed him appropriately. This may be due to lack of interest, knowledge and information or both. The Army Headquarters may therefore not be in a position to present a comprehensive and correct picture of the entire issue to the Government.
I am therefore of the view that some of our retired senior officers need to meet the service chiefs, the AG and the officers dealing with the subject and their equivalent in the other services and brief them on the issue besides handing over a one page note in point form explaining the rationale.
Regards,
Brigadier V Mahalingam (Retired)