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Bittersweet Graduation Day at OTA
By Express News Service
Published: 14th September 2014 06:24 AM
Last Updated: 14th September 2014 07:29 AM
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And for the 21 foreign graduates from three countries who will now go on to serve in their own armies, it marked the end of life in what many thought was their second home. This particular batch of foreign students included 16 cadets, from Afghanistan, four from Seychelles and one from Lesotho.
For every single one of these, it was a bittersweet experience, marked by effervescent joy at finally receiving their commissions mixed with sorrow at leaving behind their Indian counterparts, some of whom had become fast friends.
“Never were we made to feel like outsiders,” said FGC Ajmal Rahimi, his arms resting on the shoulder of his room-mate Lieutenant Piyush Yadav. “We are going to miss our friends. We think of this as our OTA. These instructors as our instructors. And we will always carry it along with us,” he added.
And how their Indian counterparts felt about them can best be described by a single fact. After the ‘pipping’ ceremony, where families pinned on officer’s stars onto epaulettes, every single Afghani was subjected to innumerable hugs, handshakes and some of them were even lifted onto shoulders and cheered.
“They are some of our best friends. When Ajmal first joined me in my room he couldn’t speak a word of Hindi. Now, he is almost as fluent as I am,” said Yadav, patting his friend on the back. Emotions also ran high among the latest entrants to the Army’s Officer Corps on receiving stars. Broad grins, ecstatic shouts and cheers were the norm as stars were pinned on to epaulettes by families.
The passing out parade though, which preceded the ‘pipping’ ceremony, was a solemn affair. Reviewed by the Vice Chief of Staff of the Indian Army Lt General Philip Campose, the graduating cadets were reminded of their duties and implored to remain ever vigilant.
The Sword of Honour, for best overall performance during the course, was presented to Academy Cadet Adjutant Maninder Pal Singh and the Gold Medal for standing first in the overall Order of Merit went to Battalion Under Officer Preeti Mudela.
By Express News Service
Published: 14th September 2014 06:24 AM
Last Updated: 14th September 2014 07:29 AM
Email 1
-
Indian Army officers hoist Afghanistan cadet Ajmal Rahimi in the air during the graduation day at the OTA, on Saturday | Albin Mathew
And for the 21 foreign graduates from three countries who will now go on to serve in their own armies, it marked the end of life in what many thought was their second home. This particular batch of foreign students included 16 cadets, from Afghanistan, four from Seychelles and one from Lesotho.
For every single one of these, it was a bittersweet experience, marked by effervescent joy at finally receiving their commissions mixed with sorrow at leaving behind their Indian counterparts, some of whom had become fast friends.
“Never were we made to feel like outsiders,” said FGC Ajmal Rahimi, his arms resting on the shoulder of his room-mate Lieutenant Piyush Yadav. “We are going to miss our friends. We think of this as our OTA. These instructors as our instructors. And we will always carry it along with us,” he added.
And how their Indian counterparts felt about them can best be described by a single fact. After the ‘pipping’ ceremony, where families pinned on officer’s stars onto epaulettes, every single Afghani was subjected to innumerable hugs, handshakes and some of them were even lifted onto shoulders and cheered.
“They are some of our best friends. When Ajmal first joined me in my room he couldn’t speak a word of Hindi. Now, he is almost as fluent as I am,” said Yadav, patting his friend on the back. Emotions also ran high among the latest entrants to the Army’s Officer Corps on receiving stars. Broad grins, ecstatic shouts and cheers were the norm as stars were pinned on to epaulettes by families.
The passing out parade though, which preceded the ‘pipping’ ceremony, was a solemn affair. Reviewed by the Vice Chief of Staff of the Indian Army Lt General Philip Campose, the graduating cadets were reminded of their duties and implored to remain ever vigilant.
The Sword of Honour, for best overall performance during the course, was presented to Academy Cadet Adjutant Maninder Pal Singh and the Gold Medal for standing first in the overall Order of Merit went to Battalion Under Officer Preeti Mudela.
