VETERANS OF 1970 AUTUM POP WHO LED THIER MEN IN 1971 WAR AND SAW BIRTH OF A NEW NATION MET AT THEIR ALMA MATTER IMA DEHRADUN
-uttarakhandhimalaya.in –
DEHRADUN, 23 DECEMBER. The promising winter morning of 20 December 1970 saw the commissioning of 46th Regular and 30th Technical Courses pass out from IMA donning the proud stars on their young shoulders, a year before the 1971 Indo-Pak War.
Having been at the forefront of this war as young dynamic officers, they led their men in battle to win laurels for the Indian Army that saw the birth of a new nation. Twelve young officers from their course paid the supreme sacrifice in this war, while four of their mates were awarded the coveted Vir Chakra, two of them posthumously to 2nd Lt S Manjunath and 2nd Lt Kanwarjit Singh. Brig Baljit Singh Gill and Lt Col Tamal Roy, the latter now settled in the USA, being the other two VrC awardees, were present for the Reunion.
The Course was earlier set to have its Golden Jubilee Reunion Celebrations in December 2020 on completion of 50 years of their commissioning, but COVID 19 pandemic negated that. However, the course was instead able to conduct the solemn Wreath Laying Ceremony in an orchestrated befitting manner at the IMA War Memorial, the National War Memorial, Delhi, and at the various Army War Memorials located at Pune, Lucknow, Bangalore and Chandigarh. The Course also published a Souvenir Magazine to commemorate the Golden Jubilee Event.
Belated though, the course veterans arriving from various corners of the country assembled for the grand Reunion at IMA from 21 December to 23 December 2023 and renewed their inimitable camaraderie and course spirit with cheerful bonhomie that was infectious and indeed most lively. They were mostly accompanied by their gracious wives who have always been a great support to their husbands throughout their tumultuous and eventful active service career.
Maj Gen Alok Joshi, officiating Commandant IMA, and the staff of the IMA were graciously welcoming in hosting the event for the veterans with warm hospitality and befitting fanfare. The landmark Reunion saw boisterous intermingling of veterans and the ladies after decades of separation. In all a total of 406 from the Regular stream and 65 from the Technical stream had graduated for commissioning in the course. Sadly 129 officers (including 6 foreign officers) of the course have since passed away over the years. The Reunion was blessed with the presence of three Veer Naaries who continue to maintain their bonds with the course. In keeping with the traditional ethos, the Golden Jubilee Reunion quite befittingly commenced with paying homage to their fallen comrades at the Wreath Laying Ceremony at the IMA War Memorial.
During their long service, these officers have served at numerous locations all over the country and abroad, with better part of their service being spent in difficult multi- terrain field areas facing our two known adversaries. War veterans of 1971 Indo Pak War, and having confronted adversarial situations against China and Pakistan to ensure sovereignty of our country, they faced many challenges, keeping their life on line in the various counter insurgency operations in the Valley, the Northeast and Punjab. The course has produced two army commanders, Lt Gen BS Jaswal and Lt Gen Pradeep Khanna, besides ten other Lt Generals heading important directorates and institutions in the Army. Large number of officers from the course have held numerous important command and staff appointments in various ranks, besides heading training institutions and other equally important establishments during their long active service, and in doing so were awarded numerous gallantry and distinguished service awards. Some of the officers from the course post retirement have ventured into the corporate world in different fields, viz., hospitality industry, information technology, social media, motivational persona etc, thereby contributing further to the society’s growth at large and particularly to the youth of the country.
The Golden Jubilee Reunion celebrations at their alma mater made a strong connect between the veterans and this great Institution and they will ever be beholden to the great military tradition of the institution that was most forthcoming in establishing a great bond with the course, displaying venerable pride in extending warm hospitality to the veterans that shall always be cherished by one and all.