Jaipur : 50th Regular & 34th Technical Courses of the Indian Army celebrated the Golden Jubilee of passing out of its course at IMA Dehradun on 15 Dec 2022. 50th Regular & 34th Technical Courses passed out from IMA Dehradun in December 1972, putting on the rank of 2nd Lieutenant which stands abolished now. The 50th Course had strength of 330 Gentleman Cadets and 74 Gentleman Cadets from the 34th Technical course.
The Golden Jubilee Celebrations were attended by 133 veterans of Dec 1972 batch and majority were accompanied by their better halves. Eleven ladies and next of kins of deceased course mates also joined the celebrations whereas five veterans came all the way from foreign countries like England, USA, Canada and Australia to be with their ‘Buddies’ of training days.
The Golden Jubilee Celebrations commenced with ‘Paying Homage’ at the IMA Memorial. The veterans, in their especially “made for the occasion” outfits, proudly displayed their glittering medals on the chests, paid homage to the bravehearts who made supreme sacrifice for the motherland and also remembered 94 of their deceased course mates.
A Life size bronze statue of Field Marshal KM Cariappa was presented to IMA by the Golden veterans to express gratitude to their ‘alma mater’. Fifty saplings of exotic varieties were also planted in the Academy campus to enhance its green cover and add to its floral beauty. The occasion was marked by a number of social events taking veterans back into the memory lanes of training days including a round of Golf to exhibit their Skills, fitness and love for the games, amidst bright and clear sunlight in Dehradun.
Out of 404 course strength, a total of 94 officers have left for heavenly abode till now, during service and post retirement. Amongst them, Major Ranjit Muthanna of this batch made supreme sacrifice in the finest traditions of Indian Army while serving in SRILANKA. The course during its service provided 10 Lt Gen, 13 Maj Gen, 46 Brigadiers to the Indian Army. Amongst Honours & Awards the course received – 01 Vir Chakra, 05 Sena Medal (Gallantry), 03 PVSM, 24 AVSM, 01 YSM, 29 VSM & more than 50 Commendation Cards.
Lt Gen Nand Kishore (1/3 GR) of 50th Regular course & Brigadier Shruti Kant (AEC) of 34th Technical Course were most decorated officers of this batch respectively.
Lt Gen Nand Kishore retd as Deputy Chief of Army Staff while Brigadier Shruti Kant served Defence PRO in J&K, South Western Sector and was Media Advisor to COAS & Spokesperson Army at South Block (MoD) in his last appointment.
Amongst Senior Command appointments the course contributed one Vice Chief of Army Staff in Lt Gen S K Singh, Two Deputy Chief of Army Staff Lt Gen Nand Kishore & Lt Gen Ramesh Halgale, Commandant DSSC Lt Gen BV Nair, Commandant CME Lt Gen SS Sengupta & Commandant Infantry School Lt Gen KJS Oberoi.