The Golden Jubilee Course reunion was held at IMA which was filled with nostalgia for the officers who passed out from IMA in June 1963. A total of 55 officers and their wives attended this glorious get together.
Besides the emotional homecoming for these officers, a number of events were organised to mark this momentous occasion such as wreath laying at the IMA memorial, golden jubilee dinner, visit to IMA museum and group photographs.
IMA Commandant, lt Gen Manvender Singh set the event rolling with the welcome address at Khetarpal Auditorium. During the address, he warmly welcomed the veterans and their wives to their alma mater and updated them of the progress made in the Academy since they were Gentlemen Cadets and also the many ongoing projects, which would transform IMA into a premier world-class military training institution.
During the two days, the veterans relived the time spent together at IMA almost five decades ago. Nostalgia made many an eye moist and for these proud veterans, time indeed stood still. To mark the occasion, the Golden Jubilee Course presented a Trophy to the Indian Military Academy and in turn, the Commandant, IMA presented each veteran with a specially designed photograph of the Chetwode Building to remind them of their historic visit to IMA.
As the wildlife experts and old hands in Kumaon here maintain, earlier the entire said area of Tanakpur used to represent a densely covered forest area. Now increasing number of colonies on both side of the border have replaced these forests from across the border on both sides.
Thus all the efforts taken for preservation of flora and fauna in Uttarakhand seem to have given way to politics. The matter of fact is that, the wildlife experts here believe, lalkuwan’s Bindu Khatta area where many a number of unauthorised colonies have come up, is no less setback for the wildlife movements particularly elephants.
Similarly, poor efforts on part of the respective Governments to remove the encroachments on both side of the border between Indian and Nepal in Tanakpur has only given that impression.