India’s Military history is replete with many examples of valour, courage and sacrifice and we should learn lessons as well as take inspirations from them, said the Union Minister of State for External Affairs General VK Singh (Retd) while addressing a seminar on Military History organised at Welham’s Boys school here on Friday.
The two day seminar started on Friday. Addressing the audience on the occasion, Gen Singh said that the history of conflict as old as civilisation as imperialistic ideas started with the onset of the human civilisation. He said that it is very important to understand Military History and take lessons from it.
“If you will not have a peek into the military history then you will commit mistakes. It will also make you strategically strong,’’ he said. The Union Minister appreciated the idea of organising a seminar on Military history and said that it is very important that today’s generation is aware of the valour of those defended the nation. Gen Singh gave a number of examples to hammer home the point of learning from the history.
He accepted that the Indian Army is having a shortage of officers. General Singh said that the number of youngsters eager to join Army after Class XII is much more than the training capability of the force due to which large numbers of youngsters are deprived of the chance to join the forces. He said that the real problem is in the selection of youths after Graduation when the students have got plenty of other options. Gen Singh suggested that one option could be that the left out youngsters (Class XII pass outs) are given military training and they are sent to different universities to complete their graduation. After completion of their studies, such youngsters can be absorbed in the Army in Short Service Commission (SSC). Even if such youngsters don’t join armed forces they would become better citizens, he quipped.
Earlier the Principal of the school, Gumneet Bindra and members of the management committee of the school welcomed the guests at the time of inauguration of the seminar. large numbers of students from different schools of the country are participating in the event. The programme started with a spectacular flag march.