The Indian Military Academy (IMA) kept its 83-year old tradition of supplying fine young officers to boost the Indian Army and the armies of friendly countries on Saturday as 519 Gentlemen Cadets (GC) and Foreign Gentlemen Cadets (FGC) passed out from its portals. These GCs and FGCs belonged to 137 Regular course and 120 Technical Graduate course.
The marching contingent consisting of 489 Indian and 50 FGCs entered the famed Drill Square located in front of the imposing building of Chetwode Hall when the makers call was given by sounding of bugle in the wee hours of Saturday. The weather which appeared gloomy with looming clouds also got cleared by the time the parade entered the tarmac. Smartly led by Academy Under Officer (AUO), lalit Thapliyal the marching contingent received regular applause from the audience for their perfect coordination, synchronization and turn out. The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), General Dalbir Singh who was the Reviewing Officer (RO) of the parade and his wife were brought to the parade ground on the famed Patiala chariot which was donated by Maharaja of Patiala in the year 1969.
Addressing the newly-commissioned officers, Gen Dalbir Singh said that they should earn the respect of men under their command by their unending commitment to the job assigned. He advised the young officers to let actions speak louder than words. The COAS said that many of the young officers would get the chance to command troops in the areas like Jammu and Kashmir, North-east, high altitude areas and zones of counter-insurgency activities and these testing places would be a real test of their qualities. The Reviewing Officer emphasized upon endeavour to achieve professional excellence in all spheres of military training and advised the Gentleman Cadets to “Never Stop learning”. He also congratulated the parents of the young officers to guide them to join the Army. “You handed over your boys to the academy which has transformed them into responsible men,” he quipped.
The Reviewing Officer (RO) also inspected the Guard of Honour given by the GCs and presented the medals to award winners. The coveted Sword of Honour was presented to AUO lalit Thapliyal by the RO. Thapliyal incidentally also received the bronze medal for being third in order of merit in regular course. The gold medal for standing first the overall order of merit was presented to Battalion Under Officer (BUO) Abhishek Kumar. The Silver medal for standing second in overall order of merit was presented to BUO Ravi Somanagouda Mulimani. For standing first among the Technical Graduate course GC Iqbal Singh was presented silver medal while FGC Nabin Shrestha was awarded silver medal for being best foreign cadet. The Chief of Army Staff banner was awarded to Hazipir Company for standing overall first in the term of the course.
Three Chetak Helicopters of Army Aviation Wing flew past the parade ground and showered floral petals on the audience who responded with clapping in appreciation of the spectacular show. The fly past marked the end of the parade after which the GCs marched into the historic Chetwode Hall.
The western portal of the Chetwode building has the ‘Antim Pag’ (last step) and as the GCs pass out from this portal they become officers in the Indian Army.
After the spectacular parade the young officers headed to the Somnath stadium for the ritual called peeping ceremony. In this ceremony the proud parent put epaulets on their shoulders marking advent of their career as officers.