Saturday turned out to be a memorable day in the history of Madras Regimental Centre, Wellington, situated in the picturesque Nilgiris in the Western Ghats. 134 young recruits who underwent a year-long training in different aspects of military life were inducted into the Indian Army in a ceremonial function known as Attestation Parade held at historic drill ground of the Srinagesh Barracks, where the lives of future-soldiers are moulded.
Though held under strict Covid-19 protocol, the parade had the usual splendour. It is a special day for the young soldiers to ‘graduate’ out of MRC Wellington’s Basic and Advanced Military Training as they will be straightway posted in border areas to save the country’s borders from the intruding unwelcome ‘guests’. The cry “Thampi Kaisa? Tiger Jaisa” (Thampi is Tamil for young brother, as the MRC products are addressed in Army parlance) ranted the MRC campus from the new soldiers who will take position in the western, eastern and northern borders of India.
The fresh, untrained youngsters who joined the regiment fresh from schools were trained in all aspects of Army life and have turned out to be smart soldiers. Brigadier Rajeshwar Singh, Commandant, who reviewed the parade and addressed the young soldiers reminded them about Saturday’s importance.
“It is Teachers’ Day today. You must cherish the values imbibed in you by your instructors and that’s the gift you can give them,” said the commandant.