Apparandra Aiyappa belonged to a noble Kodava family and served as a Captain in Malaya against the Japanese during the Second World War. He was the first Indian Chief of the Signal Corps.
His Early Life and Career
Apparandra Aiyappa was born in the illustrious Apparandra family in Kodava country. He studied in Bishop Cotton Boys School and later in Stamford School in the UK. He joined the Army and, as a Captain, took part in the British campaign against Japan in Malaya. For his services he was awarded the MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire).
His Role in the Signal Corps
In India, there was no separate Signals Corps until 1911. The Signals Service unit is one of the units of the army that are normally the first to enter the action zone, setting up vital communication networks and systems.
In 1935, Second Lieutenant AC Aiyappa was the first Indian to be commissioned into the Signals Corps. He later became the Director of Signals and Chief Signals Officer in the post-independence Corps of Signals in the Indian Army.
After independence, the Indian Government felt the need to set up a facility that could serve the special technology needs of the Defense Service. For this reason, Bharat Electronics Ltd. was set up in Bangalore in 1954.
Lt. General Aiyappa was deputed to Bharat Electronics Ltd, where he served as the Chairman till his retirement in the year 1972. He’s popular till date for this extended and unflinching service during his professional tenure.