05/02/2026
On the auspicious day of the 5th of February in the year 1910, a noble person was born who dedicated most of his life for the service of humanity.
Padma Shri Koka Simhadri Babu, served in the army for 20 years and retired in 1960 as a Lieutenant Colonel on attaining the superannuation age of 50 years. During the last 10 years of his service , he was a Resettlement officer in the Ministry of Defense, dealing with the rehabilitation of Ex-Servicemen in various avenues of civil life, In this connection he established several land colonies in India of which the Afzalgarh Land Colony in Bijnor District was the biggest ever established in India at that time for the resettlement of Ex-Servicemen.
After retirement he did not take up any employment, but dedicated himself to render Honorary Social Service, out of love for Ex-Servicemen and zeal for rural reconstruction.
During the course of 21/2 decades, a thick jungle of 16,000 acres, once called "the Andaman (Kalapani)" of Uttar Pradesh has been transformed into a modern agricultural settlement with several facilities for living, education and cultivation. In recognition of his social service he was awarded PADMA SRI title in 1973.
In 1980 when his health failed, he went away to South India for treatment and to be with family. Though his health deteriorated his love for Ex-Servicemen and interest for developing the Colony did not wane. He continued to contribute through correspondence and occasional visits to Delhi and the Afzalgarh Colony whenever his health permitted. He passed away with health problems and a hip fracture in late 1989.
