Wellington Of Yesteryears

The oldest inscription which makes mention of the dates back to about 930 AD. It was then known as T‘the Land of Swamps’. A Mysore inscription of the Kadamba period, 12th Century AD, describes the district as ‘an adultress with black waving curls, an adultress with full moon face, an adultress with endless side glances, an adultress with adorned slim figure was the double Bayanad’ which was the then name for the Nilgiris. The first mention of the names - Toda and Nilgiri – is found in a record of 1117 AD, belonging to the period of Vishnuvardhana, the Hoysala King. The possession of this area changed hands quite often in later years. But inhabited this was, for the account by the Jesuit priest Ferreira or Finicio of his visit to the plateau in 1602 states that Todas and Badagas were already settled there at that time. The Treaty of Srirangapatanam put the Nilgiris into the possession of the East India Company in 1799, but apparently the area was not visited by any Englishman until 1812, and certainly contained no European residence till 1819.

It is worth mentioning that Mr John Sullivan, the then Collector of Madras, was not so much the discoverer of Ootacamund, for that is under dispute, but was the first Englishman to set up residence there, and is generally considered a champion of the cause for promoting the area. He Mr John Sullivan, recorded that “the scenery was of extraordinary grandeur and First Collector of Ootacamund. magnificence. Everything that a combination of mountains, 1819 valleys, woods and water can afford, is to be seen here. Your readers will perhaps be surprised to learn that frosty regions are to be found at not very great distance from the Presidency (meaning Fort St. George at Madras) and within eleven degrees of the Equator”.

Wellington of yesteryears.

23 Old Madras Presidency map showing Jackatalla

This form of temple (also formerly the dominant house-type) is common in Toda communities.

24 Arrival of British Troops The first regular troops moved into the barracks at Wellington in 1854 which then had accommodation for only 54 NCOs and 820 men. There were no ‘hill stations’ in India then, and officers and officials of the Company, who were broken in health by the climate of the plains, travelled all the way to the Cape of Good Hope or Mauritius (both altogether climatically inferior to the Nilgiris) to recoup. The possibility of there existing in , so close to the Equator, a region where the climate was cool and invigorating was at that time, to most people, absolutely incredible. The desirability of cantoning British regiments, especially those newly arrived from ‘Home’, in order to obviate the large occurrence of sickness which usually afflicted them from residence in the plains during the hot weather, was one of the JACKATALA Wellington Barracks 1897 first things that struck the earliest European visitors to the hills. But there were a few among them who apparently opposed it vehemently.

Strategic objections to the location of troops in the hills were based on fears that the men would contract malaria when marching up, especially through the extremely feverish jungles on the Mysore side, as the ‘ghats’ had not been opened up sufficiently till then. In fact, it might be of interest to note that the ABC Club (the present Gymkhana Club) of Ootacamund, so named after the games played - namely Archery, Badminton and Croquet, was more popularly referred to as Asthma, Bronchitis and Cough Club! However, initial efforts were only to erect a few temporary buildings for sick officers, so that experiments regarding the effects of the climate could be made. The visit of Sir Thomas Munro, the then Governor of Madras, in 1825 and again in 1826, and his favourable comments helped to offset some of the unfavourable reports. In 1827, the Government sanctioned a hospital for 40 invalid soldiers, and certain other works, at Ootacamund. Mr Sullivan’s dream was thus fulfilled at last.

Wellington Gymkhana Club of yesteryears

25 It was in 1832 that the matter of cantoning troops was forcibly brought to the attention of the Medical Board by Dr Baikie. At the end of 1839, a proposal was made by Lord Elphinstone to station a regiment, but this was turned down by the Government. In 1842, the Marquis of Tweed Dale, who was the Governor, had views similar to Lord Elphinstone, and suggested that an expansion programme of laying out barracks at Trichinopolly be dropped and similar accommodation be built in the Nilgiris. The present site of the barracks was suggested by Maj Ouchterlony for temporary accommodation and official sanction was obtained in 1847. However, for some reason the work was not immediately taken up. But plans for permanent barracks were drawn up in 1849 and were approved by the Government and the ‘Home’ authorities in 1850-51 and the construction finally began. The first regiment, 74th Highlanders, moved into the barracks on 30 March 1854 and Wellington became a military cantonment; a status which has been maintained ever since.

This place was not known as Wellington then. A name so foreign could not obviously have been associated with a place so Indian. One wonders whether the name ‘Jakatalla’ would have aroused any interest at all in the many foreigners one sees on the Wellington roads today. This place was then thus known, after the Badaga village of that name to the North of this place. Sir Arthur Wellesly, who later came to be known as Wellington, the Iron Duke (although he never actually came up to these parts), was, in later life, a strong advocate of a Military Sanatorium in the Nilgiris, and had expressed his unqualified approval of the scheme. Sir Richard Armstrong had suggested the name Wellington, but Sir Henry Pottinger believed that the name Wellington would be unintelligible to the natives. In 1860, Sir Charles Trevelyan held that this interesting military establishment could not be connected with a more appropriate name than Wellington, and ordered it to be so called forthwith.

26 The barracks were completed in 1860 and a new wing was added in 1876. Almost every conceivable British infantry regiment was stationed in Wellington at one time or another. The 60th Royal Rifles followed the Highlanders. There were the battalions of Norfolk Regiment, the Royal Scots, the Durham Light Infantry and the Devonshire Regiment prior to 1900. In the period that followed, Wellington housed the Suffolk Regiment, The Royal Ulster Rifles, the Lancashire Fusiliers, the Somerset Infantry and the King’s Own Royal Regiment. The last British regiment to occupy the barracks before the Madras Regimental Centre was formed in 1947, was the Second Wellington Barracks Battalion of Worcestershire Regiment in 1942. The Marine Survey of India was established in the Wellington Barracks in 1901. Between 1916 and 1920, the barracks were converted into an Officer Cadet College. Wellington, as a seat of learning has therefore, historical precedent.

Ghat Roads to Coonoor All through this period, the Cantonment in particular, and the Nilgiris in general, were improving steadily in facilities. Of all these, the means of communication would be of interest. The earliest European visitors climbed up to Dimhatti (North of ) and Kotagiri by the rough path which led from the now deserted village of Dananayakkankottai (near the confluence of Bhavani and Moyar). The first bridle path to be made was from Sirumugai, near Mettupalayam, which led to Dimhatti. This continued to be the chief route to the hills from the Coimbatore side until the first Coonoor ‘ghat’ road was completed in 1832. The present ‘ghat’ road was completed in 1871 and crossed the old ‘ghat’ road at nine different points, thanks to Lt (later Col) GC Law, whose name is perpetuated by the cascade called ‘Law’s Falls’ today. He built the splendid 16-mile road from Kallar, at the foot of the hills, to Coonoor. The handsome suspension bridge you come across over Kallar river was built in 1894.

27 Black Bridge and Other Structures The other ‘ghat’ road from Mettupalayam is to Kotagiri and A map of Wellington Cantonment dated August 1877 shows is 21 miles long. This was completed in 1875 but is little used the Waterloo Bridge over which passes the road which runs today. Two other ‘ghat’ roads were tried out in the North from Wellington to join the Ootacamund-Coonoor road. (Sirur Ghat) and West-South-West (Sisara Ghat) respectively. Today it is called ‘Black Bridge’. This was first built in 1858 However, it was the Gudalur ‘ghat’ road which became the and collapsed before completion. It is on record that the final route to Mysore. The first track for this was made in 1823 Executive Engineer was sent back to military duty. The wooden and completed in 1829. The present Gudalur ‘ghat’ road was construction was put up in 1878. A lake, was made in 1875. started in 1865 and became an all weather road in 1885. Alas! today, the ‘Lake-View’ house only commands a view of dense weeds. Locke Hospital, now the Military Hospital, was The Rail a hospital for venereal diseases, which had to be established The only railway in this district runs from Mettupalayam to alongside the barracks when an urgent necessity for it arose. Coonoor and then on to Ootacamund. Between Mettupalayam The Commandant’s house has retained its location to date. and Coonoor it is 16.90 miles long and the ghat portion, which begins at Kallar, is worked on the Abt system, an improved modification of the Rigi rack-rail principle. The first sod of the line was cut by Lord Wenlock in 1891 and the line to Coonoor was commissioned in 1899. It was extended to Ootacamund in 1910.

Black Bridge

28 DSSC, Wellington - TIMELINE

1947 1949 Indian elements of Staff College Quetta, under Air Wing was established in the College. Col SD Verma moved to Wellington on 8th November A full 10 month course was held for Army and Air Force 1947, which was selected as the temporary location for student officers from May 1949. 60 Army and eight Air Force the Staff College. officers attended. The course was intended to train officers Col SD Verma promoted in situ to the rank of Brig. up to the level of Grade 2 staff appointments. Wellington was confirmed as the permanent location of 1948 DSSC after lengthy correspondence between the College, Maj Gen WDA Lentaigne, CB, CBE, DSO, took over Army Headquarters and Ministry of Defence. The as the Commandant and Brig SD Verma as the Assistant alternatives considered were Belgaum, Bangalore, Devlali and Commandant in March 1948. Secunderabad. 1st Interim Staff Course of 20 weeks duration was held from April 1948 with 46 Army, two Naval and two Air Force student officers. The course was intended to train Army officers for Grade 3 staff appointments. The Naval and Air Force officers covered the same syllabus as the Army officers. 2nd Interim Staff Course of six months duration was held from September 1948 with 52 Army, two Naval and three Air Force student officers. Gandhi Hall was built (renamed Sardar Patel in 1951). Mountbatten and Slim Model Rooms were built. A large airy ante room was added to the Officers’ Mess.

Gandhi Hall renamed as Sardar Patel in 1951

29 1950 Naval Wing was established in the College. The concept of Defence Services Staff College for all the three Services was fully implemented. 4th Staff Course, of 10 months’ duration, was conducted for Army, Naval and Air Force student officers. 77 Army, eight Naval and 11 Air Force officers attended the course. For the first time a batch of seven foreign student 1954 officers attended – two from Britain, two from Burma Four civilian officers - three from the Indian Administrative Service and one from the Indian and one each from USA, Australia and Canada. Defence Science Organisation - attended the Course for the first time. A short Senior IAF Officers’ Course was held.

1951 A Short Staff Duties Course was held for the 1955 first time for technical staff officers from Technical Maj Gen PS Gyani took over as the Commandant from Development Establishment, Kirkee. Maj Gen WDA Lentaigne, CB, CBE, DSO. Mountbatten and Slim Model Rooms were A short Junior Naval Officers’ War course was held - the first of three expanded with the addition of galleries to the such courses. two rooms. The sailing club was shifted to Pykara Lake, where a permanent boat 1953 house was constructed. TheThe StaffSt af f CollegeCollege CourseCourse capacity w wasas increasedincreased toto overover 100.100. As manmanyy as 7676 Army,Army, sevenseven NavalNaval and 1818 Air ForceForce officersofficers attendedattended the course.course. A ttotalotal of nine fforeignoreign studentstudent officersofficers also attendedattended - fourfour fromfrom 1956 Britain, two from Burma and one each from USA, Army Wing Training Camp at Bhavanisagar was introduced. Australia and Canada.

30 1957 New Administrative Block was opened by Shri Sri Prakasa, Governor of Madras, in August 1957. 1958 The Prime Minister, Shri Jawaharlal Nehru, visited the College for the first time. 110 student officers including 25 foreign officers 1960 1963 – seven from Indonesia, six from UAR (present The Army Wing was divided into A and B Divisions, one of The course duration was further decreased to six months. day Egypt), three each from Britain and Nigeria, the divisions being under charge of a Colonel. Post of Chief Instructor (Army) was upgraded from two from Ethiopia and one each from USA, The course capacity was increased to 120 officers. 24 foreign the rank of Colonel to Brigadier. An additional Australia, Canada and Nepal - attended officers – seven from Indonesia, four from UAR, three Colonel-in-Charge Division was authorised. the Course. from Britain, two each from Nepal, Ethiopia and Malaysia, and one each from Canada, 1964 Australia, Sri Lanka and USA - attended The course capacity was increased to 170 officers. the course. 16 foreign officers - three each from Britain and Nigeria, two each from Malaysia and Jordan, and one each from Canada, Australia, UAR, USA, Nepal and 1961 Sri Lanka - attended the course. Course capacity was increased to 150 officers. 31 foreign Chandragupta Model Room was built. officers - seven from Indonesia, four from Britain, three each from UAR and Iraq, two each from Nepal, Malaysia, Sri Lanka and Ethiopia and one each from Jordan, 1959 Syria, USA, Canada, Australia and Maj Gen PP Kumaramangalam, DSO, took over Burma - attended the course. as the Commandant from Maj Gen PS Gyani. The Prime Minister, Shri Jawaharlal Nehru, 1962 visited the College for the second time. The duration of the Staff Course Maj Gen SHFJ Manekshaw, MC, took was decreased from 10 months to over as the Commandant from Maj Gen PP seven months due to a state of emergency following the Kumaramangalam, DSO. Sino - Indian conflict. Maj Gen D Som Dutt took over as the Commandant from Maj Gen SHFJ Manekshaw, MC.

31 1965 1972 1975 Maj Gen Har Prasad took over as the Maj Gen SP Malhotra took over as Commandant from Maj Gen AM Sethna, AVSM, took over as Commandant Commandant from Maj Gen Som Dutt. Maj Gen RK Ranjit Singh. from Maj Gen SP Malhotra, PVSM. An officer each from Singapore and Tanzania attended the Gen TN Raina MVC, alumni of the First Interim Course in 1968 course for the first time. 1948, was appointed Chief of the Army Staff. The first post-emergency long course of The post of Chief Instructor (Air) was upgraded to the rank A lady student from Military and 10 months duration was held from January 1968. of Air Commodore. Cantonments Service attended the 176 student officers attended the course. A total of course for the first time. 20 foreign officers – five from Malaysia, three from Britain, two each from USA, Iraq and Sudan and 1973 one each from Australia, Canada, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Library complex Valmiki was built. Ghana and Uganda - attended. Raksha Mantri, Shri Jagjivan Ram, visited the College. 1969 An officer each from Afghanistan, People’s 1976 Republic of South Yemen and Zambia attended the Forward Area Tour for Naval and Air Force officers was course for the first time. introduced. Five new syndicate rooms For the first time a student officer from Mauritius attended were built. the course. 1970 1977 The President of India, An army officer from Dr VV Giri, visited the Jamaica attendedattended the coursecourse College. This was the first ever for the first time. visit by the President of India to the College. 1978 Issue of Parchment to the student officers on Maj Gen Mohinder Singh successful completion of the course was started. tooktook ooverver as Commandant fromfrom Maj Gen AM SeSethna,thna, 1971 1974 AVSM. Shri GS Pathak, Vice President of India visited A delegation of Parliamentarians visited the College. The the College. High Commissioners and Ambassadors of Japan, USA, UK, The post of Chief Instructor (Navy) Bangladesh, Australia, Malaysia, France, Poland and Nigeria was upgraded to the rank of Commodore. also visited the College.

32 1987 Lt Gen Gurinder Singh, AVSM assumed command of the College. For the first time the Army Wing had a husband and wife team attending the course. For the first time, a lady student officer, Mrs A Kaul from the Indian Railways Traffic Service attended the course with the Army Wing. 1988 For the first time ever, a student officer from the USSR attended the course. The course also had student officers 1979 1982 from USA and some of its major NATO partners such as, Chanakya Information Room was built. A beginning was made to award the winners of the ‘Owl UK, Canada and West Germany. Thus, DSSC probably DSSC was affiliated to Madras University for Essay Contest’ with a ‘Silver Salver’. became the only institution in the world to train military award of M.Sc degree in Defence and Strategic Lt Gen Balaram, PVSM, assumed command of the College. officers both from the NATO and Warsaw Pact countries Studies. Maj Gen DS Rai took over the first upgraded post of together in the art of warfare. CI (Army). Indira Block was built. 1980 Cross-attachment of two officers from each Service to other The College commenced awarding MSc degree in 1984 Wings started with the 44th Staff Course. Later discontinued Defence and Strategic Studies. Lt Gen Mahipat Sinhji, PVSM assumed command from the 47th Staff Course. 1981 of the College. The post of Commandant was upgraded 1985 to the rank of Lt Gen. President Giani Zail Singh visited the College. President of India, Shri Neelam Sanjeeva Reddy, Jawahar syndicate rooms were built. visited the College. The Governor of and Vice 1986 Chancellor of Madras University, His Excellency Lt Gen FN Bilimoria assumed command of the College. Shri Sadiq Ali, presided over the ceremony to award MSc degrees at the College.

33 1989 1994 1999 Lt Gen KS Brar, PVSM, AVSM, VrC, assumed Lt Gen VP Malik, AVSM, assumed command of the Cyber café set up. command of the College. College. Para-sailing introduced as a sport. For the first time a student officer from Italy First issue of ‘The Hoot’ was published. Lt Gen SRR Iyengar, PVSM, AVSM, assumed command of attended the course. Capt (IN) MS Mamik was the first officer from DSSC to the College. Scudder Medal was instituted for the student receive a Ph.D from Madras University. officer standing first in the order of merit for the 2000 MSc degree. 1995 Local Area Network (LAN) established in the College. Publication of the College professional journal Lt Gen Baldev Singh, AVSM, VSM, assumed Command of ‘Trishul’ was started. the College. 2001 Lt Gen PPS Bindra, PVSM, AVSM, VSM, assumed 1990 1996 command of the College. Lt Gen YK Vadehra, AVSM assumed command Short capsules on Low Intensity Conflict, Media Warfare, of the College. Information Technology and the United Nations were 2003 DSSC was recognised as a ‘Research Institute’ by introduced for the first time. Lt Gen TPS Brar, PVSM, YSM, assumed command University of Madras. M Phil and Ph D Programmes of the College. started. 1997 Information Technology Resource Centre opened. Post Graduate Diploma course of the Madras University For the second time since the 1971 Indo-Pak War, the army 1991 was introduced for ladies. student officers of the 59th Staff Course were nominated An army student officer from Namibia and a Lt Gen AS Rao, PVSM, AVSM, assumed command based on computerised selection since the written entrance Naval student officer from Australia attended the of the College. examination was not held due to Operation PARAKARAM. course for the first time. For the first time the Soviet Navy was represented 1998 at Wellington. However the students had to return Golden Jubilee of DSSC to Moscow halfway through the course due to the was celebrated. break up of the Soviet Union. ‘Trishakti’, the new auditorium was inaugurated. 1992 Lt Gen BS Nalwa, PVSM, assumed command of 2004 the College. A team from DSSC led by the Commandant, Lt Gen TPS Brar, PVSM, YSM, visited the Joint Services Command and Staff College, Shrivenham, UK.

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