Ludhiana, February 7
The Vice-Chancellor of Punjab Agriculture University, Dr K.S. Aulakh, today presented prizes to NCC cadets who had participated in the Republic Day camp in Delhi this year.
Speaking at the felicitation function, Dr Aulakh said the NCC and military training should be made compulsory disciplines in the education institutions as this inculcated the sense of “pride, patriotism, commitment and discipline in life”. Also, such a training and drill enabled the youth to imbibe values of life and enabled them to stay away from “abuses and vices”, which were the bane of society.
Speaking about his own experiences, when he was conferred the rank of Honorary Colonel by the Governor, Gen S.F. Rodrigues, last year the Vice-Chancellor said being in uniform was a unique experience. “It transformed me and changed my perception about society and my own commitment to work”. He congratulated the prize winning cadets. He also called upon the parents to encourage their children to join the NCC.
Group Commander NCC Col S.K. Varni told the audience how NCC cadets from all over the country were selected for the Republic Day parade, camp and other activities associated with it. He said Ludhiana district was proud that at least 18 cadets from different schools and colleges had made it to the Republic Day out of eight lakh cadets across the country. Every year about 1,800 Indian cadets are short-listed, “ purely on the strength of their merit and performance”.
Giving a personal touch to the process of selection for the Republic Day events, Colonel Varni said neither he nor his daughter could make it to the Republic Day camp, which only showed that no ‘sifarish’ works and only merit matters. “Today, I see my own unfulfilled dream being realised as I look at these cadets who made it to Republic Day in the spirit of sportsmanship, he added. Referring to Aulakh, the Colonel said he was in true spirit “a kisan, a jawan”.
Among those who received the felicitations from Dr Aulakh was Jitesh Vaid, who is the first Indian civilian to have flown SU-30 MKI fighter aircraft of the IAF, have attained the top position in the National Geographical Competition, and short-listed for IAF’s “Mission Uran”.
Others who received trophies included two veterinary students of the PAU, cadet Dilpreet Kaur and cadet Harmanjit Singh, cadet Vibhuti Jain, who had won a bronze medal in the best cadet competition, cadet Akashdeep Singh, Sgt. Gursimran Singh, senior under officer Anuj Chhabra, Sgt. senior under officer Ravinder, and cadet Annu Jain. Cadets Hawa Singh, Avtar Singh and Hardeep Kaur were also honoured.
