Apparanda Aiyappa
Encyclopedia
Apparanda C. Aiyappa was a World War II
hero and the first Indian Signal officer in chief (Head of the Indian Army Corps of Signals
). He was also the first chief of the Bharat Electronics Limited
(BEL).
, into the wealthy and influential Apparanda family which belonged to the Kodava
community of Kodagu
. He studied in Bishop Cotton Boys' School, Bangalore and later in Stamford School
, Lincolnshire in England
. After college he went on to join the British Indian Army
.
Based on the recommendation of various committees, 2 Divisional Signals Companies (31 & 32) under Northern Army, were raised on 15th February 1911 at Fatehgarh, with Lieutenant Colonel S H Powell being conferred Commandant Designate. Two more Signal Coy (33 & 34) under Southern Army at Ahmednagar and One Wireless Company (40) at Roorkee, were raised on 1st March 1911.
Composition of each Divisional Signal Company:
Previously it was called the Royal Signals. On India attaining independence in 1947, the Corps was completely Indianised and on 26 January 1950, on India attaining full sovereignty, the Indian Signal Corps was redesignated as the Corps of Signals. It is presently stationed at Jabalpur.
September 1935 saw the commissioning of the first Indian officer from the Indian Military Academy; 2/Lt A C Iyappa was commissioned into the Corps. As a captain he saw action in the Malayan campaign in 1942 against the Japanese in World War II
, and was awarded the MBE
(Member of the Order of the British Empire). Iyappa later became the Director of Signals and Signal Officer-in-Chief. He was the first Indian Signal officer in chief; he became the Master General of Ordnance in the rank of Lt General, and was also the first Indian to be Colonel Commandant of the Corps of Signals. Afterwards he was deputed to Bharat Electronics Limited
(BEL) where he became chairman and held the post until 1972.
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
hero and the first Indian Signal officer in chief (Head of the Indian Army Corps of Signals
Indian Army Corps of Signals
Indian Army Corps of Signals is a corps and an arm of the Indian Army, which handles its military communications. It was formed on the 15 February 1911 as a separate entity under Lt Col S H Powell, and went on to make important contributions to World War I and World War II...
). He was also the first chief of the Bharat Electronics Limited
Bharat Electronics Limited
Bharat Electronics Limited is a state-owned electronics company with about nine factories, and few regional offices in India. It is owned by the Indian Government & primarily manufactures advanced electronic products for the Indian Armed Forces.BEL is one of the eight PSUs under Ministry of...
(BEL).
Early Years
Iyappa was born during the British RajBritish Raj
British Raj was the British rule in the Indian subcontinent between 1858 and 1947; The term can also refer to the period of dominion...
, into the wealthy and influential Apparanda family which belonged to the Kodava
Kodava
The Kodavas are a patrilineal ethno-lingual group from the region of Kodagu, in Karnataka state of southern India who traditionally were land-owning agriculturists with martial traditions and natively speak Kodava takk...
community of Kodagu
Kodagu
Kodagu , also known by its anglicised former name of Coorg, is an administrative district in Karnataka, India. It occupies an area of in the Western Ghats of southwestern Karnataka. As of 2001, the population was 548,561, 13.74% of which resided in the district's urban centres, making it the least...
. He studied in Bishop Cotton Boys' School, Bangalore and later in Stamford School
Stamford School
Stamford School is an English independent school situated in the market town of Stamford, Lincolnshire, England. It has been a member of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference since 1920.-History:...
, Lincolnshire in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. After college he went on to join the British Indian Army
British Indian Army
The British Indian Army, officially simply the Indian Army, was the principal army of the British Raj in India before the partition of India in 1947...
.
Military Career
At the turn of the 20th century there was no organised signal service in existence in India. As far back as 1857, there is a record of a Signals service in India, though it was not until 1911, as a result of the recommendations of Headlam Committee in 1910, that Signals in India came into being on a separate establishment under the auspices of the Corps of Sappers and Miners. The Corps was raised with a signal company for each Division and a nucleus of a wireless company for the line of communication.Based on the recommendation of various committees, 2 Divisional Signals Companies (31 & 32) under Northern Army, were raised on 15th February 1911 at Fatehgarh, with Lieutenant Colonel S H Powell being conferred Commandant Designate. Two more Signal Coy (33 & 34) under Southern Army at Ahmednagar and One Wireless Company (40) at Roorkee, were raised on 1st March 1911.
Composition of each Divisional Signal Company:
- British Officer:5
- Indian Officer:2
- Soldier Rank(British):44
- Soldier Rank(Indian):78
Previously it was called the Royal Signals. On India attaining independence in 1947, the Corps was completely Indianised and on 26 January 1950, on India attaining full sovereignty, the Indian Signal Corps was redesignated as the Corps of Signals. It is presently stationed at Jabalpur.
September 1935 saw the commissioning of the first Indian officer from the Indian Military Academy; 2/Lt A C Iyappa was commissioned into the Corps. As a captain he saw action in the Malayan campaign in 1942 against the Japanese in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, and was awarded the MBE
MBE
MBE can stand for:* Mail Boxes Etc.* Management by exception* Master of Bioethics* Master of Bioscience Enterprise* Master of Business Engineering* Master of Business Economics* Mean Biased Error...
(Member of the Order of the British Empire). Iyappa later became the Director of Signals and Signal Officer-in-Chief. He was the first Indian Signal officer in chief; he became the Master General of Ordnance in the rank of Lt General, and was also the first Indian to be Colonel Commandant of the Corps of Signals. Afterwards he was deputed to Bharat Electronics Limited
Bharat Electronics Limited
Bharat Electronics Limited is a state-owned electronics company with about nine factories, and few regional offices in India. It is owned by the Indian Government & primarily manufactures advanced electronic products for the Indian Armed Forces.BEL is one of the eight PSUs under Ministry of...
(BEL) where he became chairman and held the post until 1972.