By OUR STAFF REPORTER
Dehradun, 17 Jun: It was in June 1974, when a band of over three hundred strapping youngsters passed through the hallowed portals of the Indian Military Academy (IMA), here, with stars on their shoulders and a chance to safeguard the sovereignty of India. Exactly after an adventurous life journey spanning over five decades, the band of men of steel of 53 Regular and 37 Technical Course assembled at IMA on 15-17 June.
They arrived with their spouses, this time as grey- haired matured veterans, to pay their respects at the place which turned them into hardy soldiers from young men. This long journey for them has been arduous, adventurous, fruitful, satisfying, eventful and a humbling experience.
They came from all corners of the country and some even from across the seas. They reminisced about the days gone by recounting the days spent in IMA, under the best of instructors and ustads who inculcated in them the finest qualities of leadership traits which stood them through the thick and thin of a very demanding professional life. As a goodwill interservice gesture, some veterans of equivalent courses from the other two services Navy and Air Force along with their spouses also joined them in the celebrations.
Apart from general bonhomie and camaraderie seen in the body language and gestures, the recharged atmosphere created in these three days was boisterous, at times juvenile as is to be expected at such gatherings.
In upholding the course spirit, the ceremony commenced with remembering and paying tribute to their fallen buddies. The welcome by the Commandant, IMA, Lt Gen Sandeep Jain was a reminder that the cradle never forgets those who took their learning from here and became its ambassadors for life and after. The main ceremony was the Wreath Laying in the memory of fallen martyred heroes at the War Memorial. This was followed by a group photograph outside Chetwood Hall, a walk through the individual dossiers of these officers when they were cadets and a grand tour of IMA. The evening was reserved for golf, merrymaking and reliving good old times at IMA and thereafter.
These officers have served in all parts of the country and many have served in overseas assignments too. The course proudly boasts of ex- Chief of Army Staff, Gen Dalbir Suhag, who has been our High Commissioner to Seychelles. In addition, the course has also produced one Army Commander, Lt Gen Sanjiv Chachra, and several Lt Generals. Officers from the course have done many command and staff assignments at various ranks all through their service, including command of formations and premier Army Training Institutions. This course boasts of one Vir Chakra and three Shaurya Chakras, and several other awards for bravery. Many from the course are also in receipt of multiple awards for distinguished service.
Some of the officers from the course, post retirement, have become entrepreneurs and have been providing employment opportunities to scores of Indians. Others joined the corporate and education world and excelled in their respective fields, in the process further contributing to Nation building.
The Indian Military Academy expressed pride in the service and achievements of the course of 53 Regular & 37 Technical and wished the band of the summer of 1974 and their families good health, happiness and thank them for visiting the Academy after half a century.
