The three-day Golden jubilee reunion of 33, 34 and 35 regular courses and 7 emergency course ended at the Indian Military Academy (IMA) campus here on Friday. An air of nostalgia prevailed in the sprawling IMA campus as old buddies bid adieu to each other on the last day of the reunion.
During the reunion ceremony the officers relived the time spent together at IMA almost five decades ago. The war hardened veterans became nostalgic and many eyes were moistened at the end of the ceremony. To mark the occasion the veterans of the Golden Jubilee Course presented a trophy to their Alma Mater and in turn the IMA Commandant lt General Manvender Singh presented each veteran a specially designed photograph of the historic Chetwode Building to remind them of their visit to IMA.
A number of events like wreath laying at the IMA Memorial, Golden Jubilee Dinner, visit to IMA Museum and group photographs were organised to mark the occasion. These brave veterans have faced the brunt of two major wars of 1965 and 1971 in which many of their fellow batch mates sacrificed their lives while many others still carry the scars of the wounds of these battles. The former Commandant of IMA lt Gen (Rtd) TS Shergill is from this batch and was present on the occasion.
In his address IMA commandant lt General Manvender Singh updated the veterans about the progress made in the academy since they were Gentlemen Cadets and many ongoing projects, which would transform IMA into a premier world class military training institution. A total of 53 Officers who passed out in February 1964 attended the Golden Jubilee get together along with their wives.