Dear Arvind: Many thanks for this. It seems a reasonable explanation. It is possible that this is a matter of rote for the locals here - but surely the man must have done something good during his life time to earn this kind of approbation.What I feel very sorry about is, that he seems to have been totally forgotten although someone has put up this tablet. Neither the Indians nor the British seem to have any inkling as to who he was. I have not been able to trace his roots either in the UK and he does not appear in the Madras Army lists either. I still have to check the Bengal and Bombay army registers. I would appreciate anything further on him - since you have been kind enough to take this up. Sincerely John -- John Dr. John A.Thomas,MD,FRCPath, FAMS