2 Passing Out Parades

Lt Gen Raj Sujlana (Retd)

June 13, 1970 is unforgettable in the narrative of our military life. It was on this day that we passed out from the National Defence Academy. A year later, after our final training, those commissioned in the Army as Second Lieutenants passed out from the Indian Military Academy, to get bloodied in battles during the India-Pakistan War of 1971. The Naval officers as Midshipmen joined battleships and the Air Force pilots took to the air battle. We all earned for ourselves the right to be called the ‘Born to Battle Course’.

The war took its toll on course mates. In later years, too, facing challenges, many laid down their lives for the country. This year marks the golden jubilee of our Passing Out Parade. With impatience and exuberance, we looked forward to our alumni meet back at our alma mater at Khadakwasla. Little did the word pandemic cross our mind, something which would ruin this dream event.

Preparations had been afoot for nearly a year. A core dedicated team siting in Pune (or Poona, as we fondly remember) worked non-stop tying up details. Those away from the hub, especially the ones living abroad, did not want any slip-ups; there was much to look forward to.

Ours is the only course whose batchmates have been honoured with the nation’s top gallantry awards in war and peace — 2/Lt Arun Khetarpal, Param Vir Chakra, and Col NJ Nair, Ashoka Chakra.

The inaugural event was to be a ceremonial salute and evocation at the Hut of Remembrance for our course mates, who now watch us from the skies. We looked forward to meeting some friends after five decades — the bonhomie, camaraderie, that back-slapping, the loud lovable shouts and many adjectives! But then Covid-19 struck, and the plans came crashing down.

The disappointment is immense but then something else struck me. Our loss is that of an alumni meet, but for those who passed out recently, the Passing Out Parade — the grand finale of successful completion of three years of hectic training — was scaled down.

That day on the Khetarpal Drill Square is one to cherish. The atmosphere is charged, the air feels different, the stamping of feet is louder, the heels dig in like never before. The presence of parents and guests adds to the pageantry.

Then there is the final slow march to the haunting lyrics of ‘Auld Lang Syne’, the solemnity of the salute as one marches over the quarter deck, the fly past and the traditional cheers of ‘38th course ki jai’ — as it happened in our case 50 years back — by the juniormost course, strung smartly on the Jacob’s ladders alongside the mast.

It was music to our ears, the sound of this ‘jai’ remains etched in memory; but 100 courses after us, for the 138th course, the near-absence of this tradition would have been felt. But, as elders, we cheer you all and we are sure that 50 years down the line, you all will be there to enjoy your alumni meet!