The Chief of the Army Staff, Gen S Padmanabhan accompanied by the President Army Wives Welfare Association, Mrs Roopa Padmanabhan visited Udhampur recently. On their arrival at Udhampur, they were received by Lt Gen RK Nanavatty, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Northern Command and Mrs Suniti Nanavatty.

At the headquarters of the Northern Command, the Army Chief was given a detailed briefing and an assessment of the current situation along the Line of Control and in the hinterland of Jammu and Kashmir. He had detailed discussions with the Army Commander on various other issues.

The 110th Flying Instructors Course ended when 33 operational pilots graduated after a five-and-half month training at the Flying Instructors School, Air Force Station, Tambaram. Air Marshal VK Bhatia, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, South Western Air Command gave away certificates to the graduate flying instructors. He also complimented Air Cmde KS Sahota, Air Officer Commanding, Air Force Station, Tambaram and Gp Capt YK Yajurvedi, Commanding Officer of the School for producing good flying instructors.

Among those passed out, 26 were from Air Force, three each from Army and Navy and one from Coast Guard.

The Flying Instructors School was established at Ambala during 1948 and six years later it moved to Tambaram. The school is a renowned institution and it often trains pilots from foreign countries.

A training programme for selected correspondents based in North Bengal and Sikkim was held at Siliguri. The training included a visit to froward areas in Sikkim. Fourteen Siliguri based correspondents from national / regional, print and electronic media and two from Gangtok attended the training.

Correspondents exhibited great enthusiasm to learn about the Army as they realised that their knowledge of the Army was insufficient. The correspondents learnt about Army and the training would help them reporting on defence matters adequately.

A week-long celebrations marked the International Women’s Day at Air Force Station, Tambaram, Chennai. The hallmark of the celebrations was a performance by the renowned Kuchipudi dancer, Ms Sudha. A variety entertainment programme, movie shows and free medical camp were also conducted. The Air Force Wives Welfare Association(local) under the leadership of its President, Mrs Rita Sahota collected Rs 25,000 to contribute towards Gujarat Relief Fund.

The Army authorities at Shillong conducted a one-day workshop on ‘defence journalism’. The workshop was conducted by Col Anil Kaul, HQ 101 Area and was attended by a host of journalists representing both the print and electronic media. Serving and retired Defence officers also took part in the workshop.

In his address, Col Kaul urged the journalists to gather authentic information while reporting on Defence-related subjects. With the help of visual aids, Col Kaul elaborately explained various Defence-related matters including the organisation of the Armed Forces and higher Defence organisations. Brig SB Atri, Lt Col Razora and others also spoke on the occasion.

In his brief address, Mr Manas Choudhury, Editor of The Shillong Times, urged the Defence authorities to be forthcoming while disseminating information relating to Defence matters.

The journalists took part in the exhaustive inter-active sessions during which various queries relating to the Armed Forces were answered by the officers present. Certificates were also distributed among the participants of the workshop.

Vice Admiral Madhvendra Singh has taken over as the Vice Chief of Naval Staff. He was commissioned in the Indian Navy on January 1, 1963 after his training at the National Defence Academy, Khadakvasla. As a cadet, he was awarded the Binocular for standing first in the overall order of merit and the Telescope for being the best all round cadet. Later, he was also awarded the coveted Sword of Honour on being adjudged best all-round Midshipman of the Fleet. As a Flag Officer, he has served as Chief of Staff of the Western Naval Command, the Chief Instructor (Navy) at the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington and as the Flag Officer Commanding, Western Fleet prior to taking over as the Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Policy & Plans) at Naval Headquarters in June 1994. On promotion to Vice Admiral, he took over as Controller Warship Production and Acquisition at Naval Headquarters and later assumed the charge of the Deputy Chief of Naval Staff. He was also Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Naval Command and Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Naval Command, the premier operational command of the Navy.

Vice Admiral Madhvendra Singh has twice been commended by the Chief of Naval Staff and is a recipient of the Param Vishisht Seva Medal and the Ati Vishist Seva Medal.

Vice Admiral Vinod Pasricha took over as Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Naval Command at INS Kunjali. Vice Admiral Vinod Pasricha was commissioned in Navy in July 1963. A qualified naval pilot, he has held a number of aviation appointments including command of the Fighter Squadron INAS 300 of the aircraft carrier.

A graduate of Defence Services Staff College, Wellington and National Defence College, New Delhi, Vice Admiral Pasricha has also held various staff and command appointments. He has commanded a Russian built frigate INS Katchall and indigenous Leander class frigate INS Vindhyagiri. He was also the first Commanding Officer of INS Viraat.

As Flag Officer, he has served as Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Air) at Naval Headquarters, Flag Officer Commanding Maharashtra Naval Area, Flag Officer Naval Aviation, Commandant of the National Defence College and the Deputy Chief of Naval Staff. Prior to taking over present appointment, he was the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Naval Command.

Vice Admiral John Colin DeSilva took over as the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Naval Command.

Vice Admiral John C DeSilva joined the National Defence Academy at Khadakvasla in July 1960 and was later commissioned into the Executive Branch of Indian Navy in January, 1965. Vice Admiral DeSilva held many important operational and staff appointments during 36 years of an illustrious career. His afloat command assignments include command of missile vessels INS Sindhudurg and INS Vijaydurg, Commissioning Commanding Officer of Guided Missile Destroyer, INS Ranvijay and command of the Western Fleet.

He was instrumental in setting up the Warship Workup Organisation of the Indian Navy in 1982. His prominent shore assignments include appointments as Chief Instructor of Gunnery School at Kochi, Deputy Director and later Joint Director of Combat Policy and Tactics, Joint Director and later Director of Naval Intelligence at Naval Headquarters. He was also the Naval Assistant to the Chief of Naval Staff.

Vice Admiral John C DeSilva was decorated with the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in 1993 for distinguished service of an exceptional order. He assumed charge as Director General Coast Guard in March 1999 which he held till the present appointment. In January this year, he was decorated with the Param Vishisht Seva Medal.

Air Marshal TJ Master has taken over as new Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Training Command (TC) in Bangalore. Air Marshal TJ Master, a veteran of 1965 and 1971 wars, is a founder member of the premier fighter flying establishment TACDE. He has been an instructor at Defence Services Staff College, Wellington. He has also served as Defence and Air Attache at Embassy of India in Washington DC, USA and SASO, SWAC.

Lt Gen Shamsher Singh Mehta has taken over as General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Army Training Command at Shimla.

Commissioned into 63 Cavalry in December 1962, the General Officer has a rich command, staff and instructional experience during his illustrious career of about four decades. He led an independent armoured squadron in operations during the 1971 war with Pakistan and commanded 63 Cavalry, an independent armoured brigade, an Armoured Division and a corps in the Western Sector.

Lt Gen Mehta has been a Directing Staff at Higher Command Wing and Director of Faculty of Studies at College of Combat, Mhow. He also held instructional appointments at the Intelligence School, School of Artillery and Defence Services Staff College. The General also held the appointment of Additional Director General, Military Operations at Army Headquarters. Lt Gen SS Mehta is Mentioned-in-Despatches during the 1971 war. He is a recipient of the Param Vishisht Seva Medal, Ati Vishisht Seva Medal and Bar and Vishisht Seva Medal.

Prior to taking over as GOC-in-C Training Command, Lt Gen SS Mehta was Deputy Chief of the Army Staff (Planning and Systems) at Army Headquarters. He is a member of Task Force on Re-organisation of Defence Management and Information Technology.

Vice Admiral Yashwant Prasad has taken over as the Commandant, National Defence College from Air Marshal VG Kumar.

Commissioned in 1967, Vice Admiral Y Prasad is a navigation and aircraft direction specialist. He has held various key command and staff appointments notable among which are Flag Officer Commanding Western Fleet, Flag Officer Goa Naval Area, Flag Officer Naval Aviation, Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Ops) and Chief of Staff, Western Naval Command. He has also commanded four naval ships including INS Viraat and Ranvir. His previous appointment was Chief Instructor (Naval) at Defence Services Staff College, Wellington. For his distinguished service he has been awarded the Vishisht Seva Medal and Ati Vishisht Seva Medal.

A welfare package from National Defence Fund has been announced by the Army Headquarters for pre-Kargil battle casualties of EME. A financial assistance of Rs 50,000 each was paid to three widows of North Bengal at a simple ceremony at Sukha. The cheques were presented by Mrs Shikha Chaki, President Army Wives Welfare Association, 33 Corps. The honoured included Mrs Pushitha Sengupta, wife of Hav Kumud Ranjan Sengupta of Desbandhupura (Siliguri), a battle casualty of 1962 war, Mrs Subaba Barman, wife of Nk Karendra Nath Barman of Tufanganj in Coochbehar and Mrs Shakila Chettri, wife of Nk Suresh Kumar Giri of Kurseong, in Darjeeling.

A financial assistance of Rs 1,00,000 each was earlier given to these widows during January last year from the Army Central Welfare Fund.

An Ex-servicemen’s Welfare Meet was held at Surya Officers’ Institute (SOI) at Lucknow Cantonment.

Lt Gen PS Joshi, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Central Command, the chief guest, met the ex-servicemen and heard their problems. Nearly 5000 ex-servicemen attended the meet.

Representatives of the CCDA, Pension, Allahabad, were also present to sort out pension-related problems. The welfare meet is an annual feature to mitigate the problems of the ex-servicemen.

Dr Gurmukh Singh Park, spread over an area of 75 acres in Lucknow Cantonment, has been renovated. Dr Gurmukh Singh, after whom the park has been named, was the medical officer of the Cantonment General Hospital nearly 60 years ago. He had a keen interest in environment. Brig RN Rastogi, Commandant of the Base Hospital and Col AK Dutt, the Administrative Commandant of Station Headquarters, members of the Cantonment Board and guests were present on the occasion.

An attestation parade was held at Army Medical Corps (AMC) Centre and School at Lucknow Cantonment.

At the parade, 70 recruits on completion of their training were attested and included into various trades in the AMC. The chief guest, Maj Gen AK Misuriya, officiating Commandant of the AMC Centre and School, in his address congratulated the newly inducted soldiers for having joined the Army.

The fourth Gorkha Rifles Regimental Day get-together was held at the residence of Lt Gen Ashok Chaki, GOC 33 Corps and Colonel of 4th Gorkha Rifles.

About one hundred ex-servicemen and serving soldiers of the regiment were present on the occasion. Lt Gen Ashok Chaki interacted with them.

The regiment was raised in July 1857 as the 4th Prince of Wales Own Gorkha Rifles. The regiment has five battalions and also a Rashtriya Rifles Battalion (15 participating in the RR). It has the distinction of maximum number of operations in countries like Afghanistan, Waziristan, China, France, Tigris, Baghdad, Burma and Malaya and earned many battle honours. After independence, the regiment successfully fought in the 1947-48, 1962, 1965 and 1971 wars.

A Comprehensive Health Camp was organised by Station Health Organisation, Red Fort, Delhi and one of Army’s Air Defence units at Anand Parbat. This was one of the several on-going welfare measures initiated to mark the World Health Day and golden jubilee celebrations. The camp was inaugurated by Lt Gen Naresh Chand, Director General, Air Defence Artillery.

Clinical and dental checkup by doctors from Base Hospital, Hepatitis B-immunisation and baby care by SHO Red Fort were undertaken. Cancer Society of India and "Drishtikon" educated the public on various aspects of cancer HIV/AIDS. Integrated health education was imparted to a large number of jawans and their families by the health team of SHO Red Fort. A voluntary blood donation drive by Armed Forces Transfusion Centre drew a large number of blood donors from the Army.

Col MS Phani Raj, Commanding Officer of the unit said that this Health Camp was a major step in ensuring health of all troops and families.

Maj SK Garg, Officer Commanding Station Health Organisation, Red Fort and the chief organiser of the health camp stressed that health education and community participation could control the suffering of the people.

The health camp drew large crowd both from military and civilian population in the area. Various services provided at the health camp were appreciated and the need to organise more such camps was expressed by the local public.

The Defence Secretary, Mr Yogendra Narain addressed the annual NCC Deputy Directors General conference held in New Delhi. The conference is an annual event where all the Deputy Directors General who head 16 Directorates covering one or more States, participate.

The Defence Secretary echoed the feelings expressed at various forums by various dignitaries on the need to extend the activities of the NCC. He desired to evolve new training methods keeping time as a premium factor. Since NCC activities are associated at the crucial juncture in the life of the youth, the time available to them could be compressed. He wanted the DDsG to deliberate on this important issue. He observed with satisfaction that in the last two years a quantum impetus has been given to community development and national integration. National Integration Camps were held in remote and far flung areas like Leh and Bomdilla.

Notwithstanding the paucity of funds at the state level, he suggested for a more close interaction with respective state administrations to obtain the necessary funds for NCC activities by bringing about better awareness of NCC programmes and policies. In this context he also suggested working out a cost effective scheme whereby NCC can be further expanded. Increase of cadet strength by one lakh is a step in the right direction, he added.

The Defence Secretary also gave away Best Habitat Trophy to Commodore CR Charyuiu of NCC Directorate Orissa and Rajbhasha Trophy to Air Cmde G Chaturvedi of NCC Directorate Karnataka and Goa Directorate (for non-Hindi region) and to Col Bhupinder Singh of OTS Kamptee (Hindi region).

A colourful pageantry marked the Annual Day celebrations of the Air Force School, organised at the Vayu Sena Nagar Auditorium at HQ Maintenance Command of IAF.

The chief guest was Mrs Kusum Gupta, President Air Force Wives Welfare Association (Regional). The annual report was presented by the Headmistress, Mrs Kiran Dudhbade. The children presented a variety of cultural programmes.

One item flowed into another leaving the audience, parents and senior Defence officials enthralled for a couple of hours. The Senior Education Officer, Sqn Ldr Ayush Katiar proposed the vote of thanks. Air Marshal DC Nigam, Air Cmde RN Diwan, Wg Cdr JJ Deshmukh and other senior Air Force officers and their families were present on the occasion.

Sergeant Gurabh Singh of SFS High School, Nagpur has been adjudged as the Best Junior Division Cadet of NCC Group, Nagpur.

Selected on the basis of drill, academics and aptitude towards the Defence Services, Master Gurabh was presented a cash award of Rs 1000 by the Commanding Officer of 2 (Maharashtra) Artillery Battery NCC Nagpur, Lt Col AK Sharma.

The Garuda Golf Cup tournament was sponsored by the Guards Regimental Centre, Kamptee and was conducted under the aegis of the Garuda Golf Institute. A total of 64 golfers from Nagpur played nine holes on each of the two days of the tournament.

The glittering Garuda Cup was won by veteran golfer Air Cmde AL Deoskar who returned a best gross of 86. Other notable winners included Mr Tejinder Singh Renu for best net(72), Mr Suresh Kumar Sharma for stableford (33), Lt Col SK Datta for best gross in the veterans category (94), Mr SK Guruwara for best gross in the senior citizens category (99) and Mr PM Kheta for best gross in the 18 handicap category (95).

In the ladies section veteran ‘putters’ Mrs Ritu Brijkrishnan and Mrs Minoti Ghosh won the first and second prize respectively. Prizes were awarded to the winners by Brig Tejinder Singh, Commandant, Brigade of the Guards Regimental Centre and Patron of the Garuda Golf Institute.

The Stable Ford Tournament was held at the Chinar Golf Course. Lt Gen HM Khanna, Goc-in-C, Northern Command inaugurated the tourney. It had 34 golfers in the fray for the coveted 15 prizes. The tournament was played as stable ford event with full handicap. Lt Col Paranjit won the first prize and Maj Vipin Kotwal won the second prize.

Mrs Veena Khanna, President, AWWA, Northern Command gave away the prizes. Mrs Magotra won the consolation prize while the second prize was won by Mrs Neena Katoch. The winner was Mrs Dutta.

In the Rabbits category, Maj Vipin Kotwal won the tournament with a net score of 10. The runners-up was Maj Amit Datta with a net score of 9. In the under 18 handicap, the winner was Col RS Langeh and the runners-up was Maj IS Yadav who also achieved a net score of 17.

The Bakshi Cup and Hexagonal Sports Meet were hosted and conducted by IMA. The Bakhshi Cup Competition is held once a year between IMA and NDA since 1975. The Bakshi Cup was instituted by Maj Gen Ranbir Bakhshi (Retired). Five major games— football, hockey, basketball, volleyball and cricket and five other games— squash, tennis, golf, debates and quiz form part of the Bakshi Cup competition.

In the Hexagonal Sports Meet, four teams participated. They were IMA, Dehradun, NDA, Khadakvasla, INS Shivaji and OTA, Chennai. Hockey, volleyball, tennis and English debate were included this year. The first Hexagonal Sports Meet was conducted at NDA in 1991 and the then Commandant NDA, Air Marshal DS Sabhiki instituted a trophy called Sabhiki Cup which is awarded to the winner of the meet.

Maj Gen Ranbir Bakhshi (Retired) was the chief guest at the closing ceremony. On arrival, he was received by Lt Gen Yuvraj Mehta Commandant IMA. The final hockey match was played between IMA and NDA which was won by IMA, 2-0.

A paramotor display was also conducted at the stadium in which Capt Jaideep Chanda and GC Ajai Sharma exhibited their acumen in this sports. The IMA’s paramotor sky-riders team is the one and only paramotor display team in the country.

The Indian Military Academy won Bakhshi Cup by 26-19 against NDA. The Sabhiki Cup of Hexagonal Sports Championship was also won by IMA. IMA stood first in debate, hockey and volleyball. The trophies and prizes were given away by Maj Gen Ranbir Bakhshi to winners.

The aim of this meet was to foster and promote a spirit of sportsmanship, esprit de corps and healthy interaction among the participants.