Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 1 Sep: A grand programme was organised by the veterans of the 14th Battalion of the Garhwal Rifles at Doon Sainik Institute, Garhi Cantt, Dehradun, to mark the 50th Raising Day (Golden Jubilee) of the battalion.
The programme was inaugurated by Uttarakhand Cabinet Minister for Sainik Welfare Ganesh Joshi by lighting the ceremonial lamp and paying tribute to the martyrs. During the event, a two-minute silence was observed in memory of the brave soldiers who made the supreme sacrifice in the service of the nation. Minister Joshi also felicitated Veer Naris and ex-servicemen who have been recipients of gallantry medals.
Addressing the veterans, Joshi extended his greetings to the former personnel of the battalion and recalled his own years of service with the 14th Battalion, Garhwal Rifles. He said, “Whatever I am today is because of my military background,” and fondly remembered the time he spent with the regiment.
Describing the Garhwal Rifles as a symbol of valour, he said that Uttarakhand is a land of brave soldiers and patriots. He noted that nearly 17 per cent of the country’s soldiers come from Uttarakhand, despite the state having a relatively small population.
Minister Joshi praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his special regard for the armed forces and said that the Modi government has fulfilled several long-standing demands of ex-servicemen, including the One Rank One Pension (OROP) scheme. He said that a nodal officer has been appointed at the district level to address the issues of ex-servicemen and that the state government is providing employment to the families of martyrs.
The Minister also highlighted various initiatives being implemented by the state government for ex-servicemen, including enhanced benefits for gallantry medal recipients. He said that the construction of Sainy Dham in Uttarakhand, a tribute to the armed forces and the martyrs of the state, has been completed and its inauguration will take place soon.
Reiterating his commitment to the project, Minister Joshi said that Sainy Dham would serve as a memorial commemorating the valour of the brave martyrs and the glorious history and military heritage of the Indian armed forces.
Minister Joshi reminisced with veterans, participated in traditional dance with them and congratulated everyone while recalling the battalion’s glorious 50-year journey, achievements, medals and tales of valour.He stated that the 14th Battalion, Garhwal Rifles, was raised on September 1, 1976, under the able leadership of Colonel Soundhi. He himself served in the battalion as a soldier.
Minister Joshi also paid his heartfelt respects to the brave personnel of the 14th Garhwal Rifles who made the supreme sacrifice while defending the nation. He remembered their courage and devotion to duty with deep reverence.
The battalion is currently stationed in Bathinda, Punjab. Due to official engagements and previously scheduled programmes, the Minister could not travel to Bathinda personally. However, he joined the members of the 14 Garhwal Rifles Ex-Servicemen Association and other veterans in Dehradun to share the joy and pride of the battalion’s Golden Jubilee year.
He stated that that his military background and the years he spent serving with the 14th Garhwal Rifles have played a significant role in shaping his journey in public life. He said that the discipline instilled through military service has contributed greatly to his journey and enabled him to serve the people as a legislator for four consecutive terms and as a Cabinet Minister in the state.
There was a felicitation of Veer Naris and Gallantry Medal Recipients as well. The Veer Naris honoured during the programme included Lakshmi Devi, Deepa Rawat, Basanti Devi, Asha Devi, Chimuadi Devi and Deepa Devi.
Gallantry medal recipients felicitated on the occasion included Army Medal recipient Rifleman Karmendra Singh, Subedar Prem Singh and Havildar Khilaf Singh.
Several distinguished persons attended the programme, including former President of the 14 Garhwal Rifles Ex-Servicemen Organisation Captain (Retd.) Gulab Singh, Naib Subedar (Retd.) Balwant Singh Panwar, Subedar (Retd.) Maharaj Singh, Captain (Retd.) Jyoti Rautela, Vikram Singh, Dharam Singh, Dr Subhash, and several other veterans and members of the community.
