On his father 's side , he belonged to the Kodendera clan to which India 's first commander-in-chief Cariappa also belonged ( His uncle in fact ) . His mother Cheppudi Chittauwa was from the Cheppudira family . His wife Mrs Nina Thimayya was a recipient of the Kaisar-e-Hind Medal for her philanthropic contribution during the 1935 Quetta earthquake . His maternal uncle C B Ponnappa was in first batch of commissioned Indian officers from the Indore defence school and a batchmate of Cariappa . Desiring that he receive a good education , he was sent at the age of eight years to St Joseph 's College in Coonoor a convent run by Irish brothers . Later , Thimayya was sent to Bishop Cotton Boys ' School in Bangalore , along with his brothers . After completing school , Thimayya was sent to the Prince of Wales Royal Indian Military College , a necessary stepping stone for a commission in the Indian Army . His elder brother Ponappa ( later joined INA ) as well as younger brother Somayya ( died in a mine accident in 1947 – 48 Kashmir operations ) joined Indian army . Following his graduation from RIMC , " Timmy " , as he was affectionately known , was one of only six Indian cadets selected for further training at the Royal Military College , Sandhurst
1935 Quetta earthquake
1935 Quetta earthquake
Kodandera Subayya Thimayya