Madikeri:
The 116th birth anniversary of the late Field Marshal Kodandera Madappa Cariappa was respectfully observed here on Wednesday, under the joint aegis of the Kodagu district administration and the department of Kannada and culture.
The function began at the Field Marshal Cariappa circle with the garlanding of his lifesize statue by MP Pratap Simha, MLA M P Appachu Ranjan, Tobacco Development Board chairperson T P Ramesh, zilla panchayat president Chodumada Shareen Subbaiah, vice president Allaranda Beena Bollamma, town municipal council president Julekhabi, Karnataka Kodava Sahitya Academy president Biddatanda S Thammaiah, deputy commissioner Anurag Tewari, zilla panchayat CEO Kurma Rao and other prominent citizens.
At a formal programme held in Cauvery Bhavan of the TMC premises, Pratap Simha spoke on the late Field Marshal and termed him as a solider, general and commander-in-chief beyond compare. His ideals, discipline and commitment would always remain a source of inspiration to the modern generation, he said.
He also gave a call to everyone to adopt FM’s exemplary virtues like discipline, consistency and punctuality for which he was known all along his life. Programmes of this kind to honour those personalities who had taken the status and honour of the nation to greater heights should be regularly held, he further said.
MLA Appachu Ranjan too spoke on the integrity, sense of time and efficiency of the late Cariappa, who ought to be remembered by everyone. He was the one who introduced the martial traditions and culture to regions within India and abroad, he added.
He informed that the house in Shanivarasante where the Field Marshal was born had been turned into a library. Similarly, the ‘Sunnyside’ residence here where Gen Thimayya lived would soon be converted into a memorial edifice.
Col K C Subbaiah, president of FM K M Cariappa and Gen Thimayya Forum recalled that the former was the very first Commander-in-Chief of independent India’s armed forces. He urged the members of the parliament to make efforts to have the Bharat Ratna honour bestowed posthumously on Cariappa.
He further put forward a suggestion that the FM’s birthday be officially observed as Discipline Day on an all-India basis. He also made a fervent request for the early completion of the Sunnyside memorial project.
Nadikerianda Bose Mandanna, who received the Lifetime Achievement Award for his meritorious service to various fields, also gave a call to the younger generation to imbibe the virtues which Cariappa stood for like dedication and punctuality.
Forum secretary Ulliada M Poovaiah spoke on the life of FM Cariappa. A booklet on his life was also released on the occasion.
Department of Kannada and culture assistant director Mangala Nayak was also present at the function.
source: http://www.mangalorean.com / Mangalorean.com / Home> Broadcast> Madikeri / by Richard Lasrado / Thursday – January 29th, 2015
