Madikeri :

The government has not done anything to keep permanent the memory of the first commander in chief of the Army Field Marshal Kodandera M Cariappa. But the house he lived in, in Madikeri, has some remarkable things intact that remind people of his disciplined way of life as a soldier.

Cariappa had purchased a house in Madikeri in 1944 and had named it Roshanara. The house is now maintained by his son, retired Air Marshal Cariappa and his wife Meena, a native of Punjab. Inside Roshanara, a ‘sulking’ room of the Field Marshal is still maintained without change. “It was my father’s favourite room,” says Air Marshal Nanda Cariappa. He invariably spent an hour or so every afternoon, catching up on newspapers, reading mail or catnapping for 10 to 15 minutes. The room was so named because it was a particularly bright and cheerful place that had been added after he had retired.

The drawing room in the house is also maintained unchanged. “In one corner of the drawing room, my father’s chair has been left unmoved,” says Nanda Cariappa. The top wall portion of the chair is visible with four swords. These were presented to him by Hindu, Muslim and Sikh organizations. Another Katana of Japan was also gifted to him. In the drawing room, the depiction of a Kodava warrior, circa, 1850 used on a medallion, was awarded by the British. The table lamp was brought by an English lady Shone, during 1949.

Cariappa was cremated at Roshanara’s outer grounds during 1993, where the samadhi was built and is maintained by his daughter, a spinster, Nalini Cariappa, who lives in a separate house near Roshanara. Nanda Cariappa has four daughters and a son who are all settled outside. His son, Vikram, is interested in adventurous tours and once a year, Nanda Cariappa, also joins Vikram’s team in climbing the 18,000 feet high Himalayas.

Speaking to TOI, Nanda Cariappa called upon Kodagu youths to join the Army. He indicated the scope for minimum service of seven years in the Army for youths. Even girls can join administrative, accounts, electronic, electrical and other sections, he said.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Mysore / by G Rajendra / TNN / December 12th, 2011