Red Cross Home, ( St. Mary's Home) Bangalore

A Home for the Totally Disabled Ex-Servicemen

This Red Cross Home is located in a beautiful very old building and adjoining cottages just opposite the Kensington Swimming Pool on Ulsoor Lake. There are remnants of a Chapel still standing. The Home was started in 1947 by Maj. N.J. Nicholas, who was it's Medical Superintendent from 13.2.1947 to 25.2.1948.

The Home caters to battle causalities, and provides total care in looking after the wounded. The inmates used to get small jobs from ITI to help in the therapy, and give certain exercise to the paralyzed. The Home is only for non-commissioned soldiers, who need total care and re-inhabitation, nursing, financial support. The soldiers are treated by the Superintendent Dr. C. Prabakar, who is assisted by a Welfare Officer and Staff Nurses. Some of the Staff stay on the premises. About 200 inmates have passed through the Home, and presently there are only 17 inmates. The Red Cross has however stopped taking in any more inmates!. Serious illness are treated by the Command Hospital which is on the HAL-Airport Road and quite close to the Home.

Some of the Superintendents that served the Home are:

Captain M. Bhattacharjee ( 26.2.1949 to 20.10.1959 )

Captain A.N. Sharma ( 21.10.1952 to 9.3.1960 )

Major P.S. Dorairaj ( 10.3.1960 to 27.2.1961 )

Major D.R. Batura ( 28.2.1961 to 15.6.1965 )

Major A.M.A. Khan ( 16.6.1965 to 17.2.1966 )

Major V.V. Venkatramiah ( 18.2. 1966 to 6.4.1966 )

Major N. Achyut ( 7.4.1966 to 2.12.1970)

Dr. B.S. Venkatashamanna ( 20.7.1971 to 16.4.1972 )

Major A.G. Gupta ( 29.1.1973 to 13.12.1974 )

Air Cdre K.N. Kothaneth ( 16.1.1975 to 26.4.1976 )

Captain Dr. C. Prabhakar ( 7.1.1977 till date)


St. Mary's Home

The Red Cross Home was previously St. Mary's Home. This institution was under the charge of the Sisters of the community of St. Mary the Virgin, Wantage, England. The object was rescue work amoung young girls and women. There were two departments one a home for children and the other a training home for older girls and women. It was maintained by voluntary subscriptions.


Extract of News: Deccan Herald , Bangalore, Tuesday, April 1, 1997, Page: 5
"Red Cross land sold illegally, claim Members"

Extracts as reported by a Staff Reporter of the Deccan Herald, Bangalore March 31:

"A few members of the Indian Red Cross Society (IRCS) alleged that attempts were being made by some unscrupulous elements to sell the property belonging to the Indian Red Cross Society building located at Ulsoor to Real Estate Agents.

Speaking to reporters at Bangalore, for vice-chairperson of the IRCS, Ms. K.P. Aiyappa and some members jointly criticised the people who were trying to dispose of eight acres of Society land.

The members alleged that the property deal is being negotiated with Real Estate Agents for a sum of Rs. 60 Crores by using fictitious names and records. They said they would move the court on the issue and seek justice.

They said the prime property belonging to the IRCS was purchased by the Society from the Church of South India (CSI) for Rs. 10 lacks in 1971 to help promote its humanitarian activities for which the Red Cross is known the world over.

The members pointed out that several letters having been written to the Secretary-General of the IRCS, Delhi, and despite sufficient correspondence requesting him to issue a public notice that the property belonged to the IRCS, no action has so far been taken.

The members alleged that several attempts have been made to dispose of the property before the present Secretary-General of the IRCS who took charge in 1995. Dr. S. Seshagiri Rao who was the General Secretary of the Red Cross Society, Karnataka branch, for nearly 15 years, said that during his tenure the Red Cross Society had purchased the land from the CSI and had informed the IRCS of the facts, requesting the officials concerned to take immediate action to stop this nefarious activity.

However after his death, the premises of the IRCS again attracted Real Estate sharks who purportedly with the connivance of a few unscrupulous officials of the Society are trying their best to hoodwink the public as well as the Indian Red Cross Society.

The members said a memorandum had been submitted to President Shankar Dayal Sharma who is also the President of the IRCS on March 21 when the President was on a visit in Bangalore. The President assured them that he would look into the matter, they added."


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Thought for the Day:" Blessed are you poor, For yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you who hunger now, For you shall be filled. Blessed are you who weep now, For you shall laugh. Blessed are you when men hate you, And when they exclude you, And revile you, and cast out your name as evil, For the Son of Man's sake. Rejoice in that day and leap for joy! For indeed your reward is great in heaven, Fon in the manner their fathers did to the prophets. But woe to you who are rich, For you have received your consolation. Woe to you who are full, For you shall hunger. Woe to you who laugh now, For you shall mourn and weep. Woe to you when all men speak well of you, For so did they fathers to the false prophets." Holy Bible: Luke 6:20-26

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