By OUR STAFF REPORTER
DEHRADUN, 20 Feb: The 26 Degree Engineering Course of the Army celebrated its 49th year of Passing Out, here, from 16 to 18 February. More than 32 members participated from all over, including the USA. Celebrations began by paying homage to Martyrs Maj Chitresh Bisht, Maj Vibhuti Shankar Dhoundiyal and other martyrs who laid down their lives in the service of the Nation. Homage was also paid to nearly three dozen officers and ladies from the course who have passed away. There are many decorated officers who have not only lost their lives in war, but also suffered wounds.
Visits were organised for them to the Indian Military Academy and various other places in the Doon Valley. These officers had passed out from the Academy nearly 55 years ago in 1963 after the Chinese aggression and now are in the higher age group, yet they attended the celebrations from far flung areas due to their great esprit de corps.
There was a light entertainment programme performed by KS Mann, Raminder, NC Sehgal, Suzanne, Meena, Rita, Vinay, Kusum, BM Thapa and a few others. The Course mates also felt very proud as their sons and sons-in-law have joined the Defence Services and have reached pinnacles of glory in the Army and Navy.
Those who attended the celebrations were Cols AR Ganpath–Meena, KS Mann-Ramminder, BM Thapa-Meera, TR Sehgal-Birender, IS Khara-Nirmal, Dharmendra-Pushpa, Balwant-Paramjit, Lalit-Prabha, RP Mediratta-Sneh, CPS Dewan-Guljit, Surjit-Abnash, VK Naroola-Rita, BD Gambhir-Kusum, NC Sehgal-Suzanne, DS Aujla and Anu Mittal.
During the summing up at the end of ceremony by Col KS Mann, it was decided that the next such celebration would be held in the NCR.
