A place linked to soldiers for long

The Defence Services Staff College (DSSC) was shifted from Quetta in the contiguous time Pakistan to Wellington, Coonoor, lone aft Independence successful 1947. However, much than 150 years ago, the British had sent their regiments to convalesce successful the Nilgiris mountains, distant from the dry, blistery clime of the plains. A depot was established successful 1862 to dainty up to 500 convalescent soldiers each year, with the onshore for the barracks acquired from the Todas and the Badagas.

Reverend Phillip K. Mulley, a long-time chronicler of the Nilgiris, who spoke to The Hindu about the past of the Wellington Cantonment, said overmuch of the onshore connected which the barracks basal was acquired from the Inkity clan of the Todas and the remainder was acquired from the Badagas. “Interestingly, erstwhile the onshore was acquired by the British, their determination to chopped down 2 Nilgiri elm trees (Celtis tetrandra), which were ineffable to the Badagas, led to a riot successful 1855. This stopped the British from cutting the 2nd histrion for 50 years,” said Reverend Mulley.

Named aft Wellington

Before the operation of the barracks successful 1862, the country was named Wellington to commemorate the Duke of Wellington, Arthur Wellesley, who had advocated for a sanatorium to beryllium opened successful the hills, added Reverend Mulley.

Till 1947, 27 British regiments had been stationed astatine Wellington, which had a contention course, a cricket pavilion, a polo ground, and an 18-hole play people for the recreation of soldiers. Following Independence, the DSSC was relocated to the Nilgiris. The Madras Regimental Centre astatine Madukkarai in Coimbatore district, too, was shifted to Wellington connected the eve of Independence. Since then, much than 30 officers from the DSSC have gone connected to go the Chiefs of Army Staff, Air Force Staff, and Naval Staff, said Reverend Mulley.

One of the astir instantly recognisable landmarks successful Wellington is the imposing War Memorial. “Known arsenic the Madras Regiment War Memorial, it was archetypal erected successful representation of the soldiers of the regiment who laid down their lives during the Second World War and the Jammu and Kashmir operations of 1947. Today, it bears the names of each the soldiers who laid down their lives successful the enactment of work from 1941. It was unveiled by the archetypal Indian Colonel of the regiment, Lt. Gen. (later General) S. M. Sriganesh, connected October 1, 1951,” said P.J. Vasanthan, a history-enthusiast of the Nilgiris.

Mr. Vasanthan said that astatine the spot wherever the warfare memorial stands was erstwhile a fountain, an important landmark successful Wellington. “The earliest notation of this fountain is by Grigg in his Manual of 1880, which helium describes arsenic the centre constituent of the cantonment, and calls it the fountain wherever 10 roads met — from Kotagiri, Coonoor, Barracks, and the Commissariat being the astir conspicuous.”

“In the 1908 Gazetteer of Sir W. Francis, it is again plainly described arsenic ‘The Fountain’, wherever six roads met, presumably the roads converging from the Gymkhana, the Officers Mess of the DSSC, the Supply Depot, the Flagstaff House, and from the township of Kotagiri,” helium added.

‘Inauspicious’ crest

The crest of the DSSC still showcases its links to its erstwhile iteration successful Quetta, wherever it was represented by the crest of the Staff College successful Camberly — a ‘Wise Owl’ with a Latin motto Tam Marte Quam Minerva (By the pen arsenic overmuch arsenic the sword). Following its relocation to the Nilgiris, determination were immoderate efforts to alteration the crest, with the owl being considered inauspicious by officers.

While the service office preferred the owl to beryllium replaced with a falcon, the owl won retired aft a agelong battle. “Though the falcon’s looks were martial enough, it lacked the owl’s sage and omniscient countenance. After overmuch bickering and plan changes, the owl, perched connected crossed swords against a maroon background, was approved by the Chiefs of Staff successful 1963, and the motto Yuddham Pragya (To warfare with wisdom) was ratified successful 1964. The omniscient aged owl yet won the warfare for its endurance aft warring its battles tenaciously for 16 agelong years,” added Mr. Vasanthan.