Bangalore stories: Major (Dr) N. Achyut AMC, Freedom Fighter, WWII veteran and an Athlete. And Tara’s grand uncle😊.

Prasan’s memories of his remarkable father, a multi-dimensional personality, takes us beyond the Armed Forces, the theme of my blogs. 

Guess what? His origin is also from Nuggehalli! 

I am really thankful to Prasan for narrating a fascinating story. He wonders “I am not sure whether my Dad was the only one who was in the freedom movement against the British, and also served in the pre-independence (British) Armed Forces during World War II.”

It could be, truly life of Maj Achyut is quite unique. Read on. 

My father, Achyut, was born on 2, March, 1911 in Bangalore, at MITRANANDA*, Sheshadripuram, Bangalore. Son of Nuggihalli Narasimha Iyengar (1874) and Rukmini (1881). One of 10 siblings. (4 brothers and 6 sisters.)

While in school, he would accompany his father to hear lectures on Freedom Movement given by eminent speakers. The struggles and activities by the movement for obtaining India’s independence were very much a part of the lives of Achyut and his brother Govardhan. While in Intermediate college , he joined freedom fighter Dr. Hardikar’s camp in Tumkur for six weeks.

Achyut also joined Hindustan Sevadal Satyagraha Camp in Hubli, and then moved to Ankola to attend Dr. Hardikar's Salt Satyagraha Camp. Around this time, April 1930, Gandhiji broke the Salt Law at Dandi. Achyut moved on to Kundapur to join the campaign to persuade people to discard and burn foreign clothes.  He then moved to Banavasi in July to start a new Satyagraha camp.  

 

He was arrested in August in Sirsi and was sentenced to four months of rigorous imprisonment and was kept in Karwar jail. He was released in December 1930. 

Deputed to attend the Karachi Congress meet, both Govardhan and Achyut sailed from Mumbai along with Kamala Nehru, Indira and Ambalal Sarabhai in April 1931. 

An absorbing story! It shows how even teenagers were involved in the struggle for Independance! In this case with parental support. It was hard work and dangerous. The sacrifices made were phenomenal. 

Achyut returned to Bangalore, rejoined college, passed Inter Science exam and joined the Freedom Movement again in 1932. He campaigned in Shimoga against British Govt. auctioning of assets of farmers who had refused to pay taxes. Secretly met such farmers and assured them of support. Persuaded other farmers not to bid or buy at such auctions. Repeatedly escaped CID vigil during such missions. 

  

Finally caught in 1932 and taken to Siddapur , he gave his name as Ramnat Govind Sheth at the police station to avoid being linked with his previous arrest. He was sentenced to an of year of RI.  Imprisoned at Karwar Jail, he met his brother Govardhan who was also jailed there. They were together till December, when Achyut was transferred to Visapur jail.

Being caught and jailed was not a deterrent for the spirited young brothers. It is good to know that the government of  Independent India honored the brothers with an award of “Tamra Patra”. (Copper Plaque!)

After release, he joined Fergusson college, Poona for a B.Sc. (Botany & Zoology) degree and worked as a Demonstrator in the Botany Lab of the college. He then joined BJ Medical School, Poona in 1938 and passed LCP&S Diploma course (Bombay University). In December 1940 joined the Public Health Dept., Govt. of Bombay, as Anti-Malaria Medical Officer for North Supa and Castle Rock, Karwar District.

 

He resigned from this job in 1941 to enlist in Indian Military Division (IMD). After brief training period, was posted as Surgical Assistant in CGH Colaba, Bombay (VD Ward).

 

Married  to SEETHA in Bangalore on 05 June 1941, he returned to Bombay after 5 days. 

Seetha and Achyut 

 

 He was transferred out of CGH Colaba in July and Received Emergency Commission in Indian Army Medical Corps (IAMC) and was posted as Asst. Surgeon on board Hospital Ship SS TALAMBA. The next two years he made several voyages on board of the hospital ship moving wounded soldiers and prisoners of war from Tripoli, Naples, Durban and other ports along the Mediterranean to Karachi, Mumbai and Colombo. 

 

He was disembarked in Port Alexandria, Egypt, in mid 1943, and was posted there as Medical Officer.  He also had a brief stint as Doctor on board a troop ship. Disembarked in Italy in mid July 1944, he was attached to a Field Company as it’s RMO.  Finally repatriated to India and arrived in Bombay in April 1945.

 

From 1945-50, postings in India were at Military Hospitals and Medical Units in Bangalore (Jalahalli and Agaram), Belgaum, Poona and Lucknow. Finally, was Released from Emergency Commission, IAMC, in April 1950.

His wife Seetha must have had a tough time coping with the war situation as a newly wed and the numerous postings immediately after. It was also the time she was busy with the arrival of her two sons! Prasan Kumar was born in June 1946 and second son Shanti Kumar in 1949. 

Joined Lake Medical College, Calcutta in 1950, and completed MBBS degree in 1952. Commissioned again in Army Medical Corps (AMC) in mid 1953 at MH Bangalore, he was posted to Agartala, Tripura State, and was attached to the Assam Rifles. During his tenure of five years, he extensively toured tribal areas on foot in NEFA to extend medical coverage to several Naga villages. 

Thereafter, he was posted at Military Hospitals in Secunderabad, Poona, Calcutta, Barrackpore, Shillong, Jullundar and Simla. He also did a brief stint with the Mobile Surgical Unit attached to the Border Roads Organization (BRO) in NEFA area. He also specialised in Anesthesia from AFMC Poona.

 

During the 1962 war against China, he was posted in the forward areas at Bomdila field hospital. At this time, the family totally lost contact with him for over two months. Learnt later that he was one among many who were scattered and formed part of the unorganized retreat, walking over hills and dales for 10 days before he was picked up by helicopter and transferred to a base hospital in poor condition. 

 

During the 1965 war against Pakistan, he saw action in forward area field hospitals near Ferozepore. Retired as Major from the Army Medical Corps in March 1966 on superannuation.

 

Thereafter, for five years, he served as the Medical Superindnent of the RED CROSS HOME in Bangalore. This was a home for totally disabled ex-servicemen. They were war veteran paraplegics due to spinal injury sustained during active service in the front, and some who had lost all four limbs. Keeping them physically active, involved in day to day activities, also mentally alert and cheerful everyday was indeed a very challenging task which Achyut and the staff of the Home performed with a lot of love and care.

With both sons on their own and well settled Achyut and Seetha took to travelling all over India and USA, and having a good time with children and grandchildren.

*Tara says that a congress flag was always seen flying on top of Mitrananda. Rukkamma, who was also Tara's great-grand-mother, was a Gandhian, spun khadi and it is said that Kasturba Gandhi had visited their home. She was known as 'Bavuta (Flag) Rukkamma' in Sheshadripuram. Prasan's cousin Vasanth adds that whenever they came to Bangalore on a visit, all they had to say to the Jatka driver was 'Bavuta Mane' at the rail station and they would be brought home! It shows that the whole family was well known  for their active participation in the struggle for freedom. 

On a personal note: Achyut mama belongs to my father's generation, a few years younger. I had met him during my college days when I joined my brother-in-law, S.K. Narayan on a visit. I remember Major Achyut as a very pleasant person. I was too young to be part of the friendly conversations between the cousins. I recall his wife Seetha worked as a Professor of Sanskrit at Maharani's college. 

Prasan as a cousin of Tara’s father became my uncle by marriage! Prasan is married to the niece of my cousin’s husband. That’s how we Iyengars are often connected! 

To top it all Prasan and I played Basket Ball for the same club. Being younger he was in the  Junior team. But I remember him at the court early and practising hard. 

 

 

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Foot note:

The notes he shared with me was packed with dates and events. We have tried to make it as short as possible. Not easy as there is so much to write. 

We could not share more pictures as Prasan couldn’t arrange to get them from his home in India. He lives in the US. 

I messaged him: “You have given a fantastic account. However you have not spoken about the hardships the family faced, the wars and the frequent transfers.”

He replied “Thanks. That's part of an Army Officers life !!”

He told me that the “Obituary note” could be taken out to make the blog a bit shorter. It is there abridged a bit. 

Obituary note

ACHYUT  NUGGIHALLI 

 

Sunrise : March 02, 1911

Sunset : September 06, 1999.

 

A good man, soft spoken, who greeted everyone with a smile. Was a voracious reader, with an unquenchable thirst for learning more, on a wide variety of subjects. 

A veteran of 3 wars -- WWII , wars with China and Pakistan.

A doctor dedicated to his work, and one who added a personal touch while treating his patients.

Active in India's freedom struggle, imprisoned for 18 months, and was awarded the "Tamra Patra".

A long distance cum cross country runner, who loved hill climbing and trekking in the mountains.

Was well disciplined and practiced Yoga almost all through his life. After he retired from the Army, headed the Red Cross Home, a home for totally disabled ex-servicemen.

A keen photographer who even developed and printed his own black & white pics in those days !

Loved to travel. Widely traveled in India. Also toured USA in 1973, coast to coast, with my mother.

A passionate gardener. Our house was full of plants, including orchids brought all the way from Assam ! Kept contact with many friends and relatives through greeting cards, letters, phone calls, visits, etc. Was married to my mother for 58 years at the time of his passing away.

Loved his four grand-children; was happy to see the eldest one take after him in the medical profession. In short, his was a full and complete life, and his passing away was also very good.

May his soul rest in peace.

Prasan.

This is a picture from the web and not the one given to the brothers!