Batch comprising 234 Engineer Officers was commissioned on 30 June 1963.
At 11 AM on 01 July, 2026, before our 63rd Commissioning Anniversary Luncheon

Veteran IC-15090 Col SS Rajan,The Bombay Sappers,Bangalore, 9449043770

Post Chinese aggression in Oct-Nov 1962, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the then Prime Minister of India, gave a ‘clarion call’ asking the youth to join the Army; and in response to which thousands & thousands of young men between the ages 20-35 years joined the Army as Emergency Commissioned (EC) Officers.
In order to facilitate speedy induction of EC Officers, two more training establishments, viz. Officers Training School (OTS) at Chennai and OTS at Pune came up; and the training of EC-1 Course at the two OTS’ commenced on 07 Jan 1963.
In order to induct Officers speedily into Units of various Arms & Services the training period of Regular Courses at IMA, Dehradun, was cut short; and all Gentleman Cadets (GCs) were allotted various Arms & Services by mid-March 1963. And, same was the case with GCs at OTS Chennai & Pune.
In order to accommodate the heavy influx of EC Courses, starting with EC-2 at IMA, EC-3 at OTS Chennai and EC-4 at OTS Pune, in the month of April 1963, only those Gentleman Cadets who were allotted Armoured Corps and Infantry, were retained at IMA, OTS Chennai & OTS Pune; and the rest allotted various Arms & Services were despatched to their respective Colleges/Schools of Instruction in the first week of April 1963, for further pre-commission training, as enumerated below:
School of Artillery, Deolali, Maharashtra.
College of Military Engineering (CME), Pune, Maharashtra.
Military College of Telecommunication Engineering, Mhow, MP.
School of Electronics & Mechanical Engineering (EME), Baroda, Gujarat.
ASC School, Bareill, UP.
AOC School, Jabalpur, MP.
AEC School, Pachmarhi, MP.
30 June 1963 was a “Red Letter Day” in the Annals of the Indian Army; for on that day, approximately 1500 Officers comprising ten courses as listed below, passed out from IMA, OTS Chennai & OTS Pune; and various Colleges/Schools of Instruction, as enumerated in Para 4 above:
18 Technical Graduates Course;
32 Direct Entry (DE) Course;
23 NDA Course;
17 NCC Course;
2 Officers Training Unit (OTU) Course;
33 DE Course;
18 NCC Course;
34 DE Course;

(j) EC-1 Course; and,

(k) EC-1 Technical Graduates Course.

6. We, the Sappers of June 1963 Batch, did the Combat Engineering leg of the YO’s Course as pre-commission training as GCs; and, 234 Officers were commissioned in the Corps of Engineers at mid-night 29/30 June in the Hall housing the Library of the Combat Engineering Wing at CME, Pune. It was a momentous occasion.

7. Having been commissioned in CME, Dhapodi, Pune, the Sappers June 1963 Batch celebrated the Golden Jubilee of our Commissioning Anniversary at CME, Pune, on 29-30 June 2013; and, the Diamond Jubilee of our Commissioning Anniversary at CME, Pune, on 29-30 June 2023; and, we now look forward to celebrating our 65^th Commissioning Anniversary at CME, Pune, on 29-30 June 2028.

Au revoir till then.

COL SS RAJAN ,BOMBAY SAPPERS Veteran at the age of 82 years wearing a Uniform on Ceremonial functions.

PAYING HOMAGE TO BRAVE IC-15055 MAJOR SURINDER VATSA, VrC, WHO LAID DOWN HIS LIFE IN THE LINE OF DUTY ON 13 DECEMBER 1971

Major Surinder Vatsa VrC

The citation of Vir Chakra awarded to him reads:

On 13 December 1971, Major Surinder Vatsa of an engineer regiment accompanied a column of Maratha Light Infantry assigned the task of raiding an enemy locality on the Kamalpur-Bskashiganj axis in the Eastern Sector. The raid was successful and four enemy 130mm mortars were captured. Apprehending enemy reinforcements, Major Vatsa was ordered to destroy the mortars before the raiding column returned to base. He destroyed two mortars with explosives but while preparing the charge for the third mortar he was shot by an enemy sniper. Though seriously wounded, realizing the importance of the task he held on and managed to damage the remaining mortars by exploding grenades in their barrels before he died. In this action, Major Vatsa displayed gallantry, determination and devotion to duty of a high order.

Major Surinder Vatsa hailed from Ferozepur district in Punjab and was born on 01 Jan 1942. Son of Shri S L Vatsa, he got commissioned into 59 Engr Regt of the Bengal Engineers Group (BEG) of the Corps of Engineers, one of the oldest arms of the Army manned by combat engineers. By the year 1971, he had been promoted to the rank of Major and developed into a committed soldier and fine officer who commanded respect of his juniors and seniors as well.

Battle of Jamalpur (Indo-Pak War)- Dec 1971

During Indo- Pak 1971 war Maj Surinder Vatsa’s unit 59 Engr Regt was deployed on the eastern border. The unit was providing engineering support to infantry units functioning under the operational control of 95 Mountain Brigade. As part of operational plan, 95 Mountain Brigade was tasked to advance along axis Kamalpur – Bakshiganj – Jamalpur – Tangail –
Dacca. IB was crossed on 03 December 1971 and after a brief artillery action at Bakshiganj, Pak garrison withdrew to Jamalpur. The Brigade forces resumed advance on 06 December, Brahmaputra River was crossed 8 kms West of Jamalpur and road blocks established South & South – East of Jamalpur on 7/8 December 1971. By 10 December 1971, 95 Mountain Brigade concentrated around Jamalpur with 1 MLI in the South, 13 Guards in the South East and across the river was the Brigade HQ along with 59 Engr Regt & a battery of 120mm Mortars. It was planned to launch an attack on Jamalpur on the night of 10/11 December from the South using 1 MLI to get a foothold in the built up area & then 13 Guards to attack from South – East.

As part of the ongoing operations, on 13 Dec 1971 Maj Vatsa commanding a Company of 59 Engr Regt was accompanying a column of a battalion of 1 MLI. They were assigned the task of raiding on enemy locality on the Kamalpur- Bakshiganj axis. Having set up an ambush, the enemy force walked in and started deploying its mortars and when trapped, opened heavy retaliatory fire. Rising to the occasion, Maj Vatsa improvised a charge using anti-tank mine and charged at the enemy guns along with a section of his men. Maj Vatsa and his comrades were successful in destroying two enemy mortars. Maj Vatsa then targeted the third enemy gun and while doing so came under enemy fire. He got seriously wounded but undeterred he held on and managed to damage the remaining mortars by exploding grenades in their barrels. Eventually he succumbed to his serous injuries and was martyred. Maj Surinder Vatsa was a valiant soldier and gritty officer who led from the front and laid down his life in the line of his duty.

Maj Surinder Vatsa was given the nation’s third highest gallantry award, “Vir Chakra” for his outstanding courage, unyielding fighting spirit and supreme sacrifice during the operation. Major Surinder Vatsa is survived by his wife Smt Prabha Vatsa.

Respected Veterans Sanjha Morcha,

Our Batch comprising 234 Engineer Officers was commissioned on 30 June 1963. At 11 AM on 01 July, 2026, before our 63rd Commissioning Anniversary Luncheon Get-together at RSI Bangalore, Brig Yogender Parimu laid a Wreath at the National Military Memorial, Bangalore, in memory and as a mark of respect to our Batchmate, IC-15055 Major Surinder Vatsa, VrC, Bengal Sappers ,ex 59 Engr Regt who laid down his life in the line of duty during the 1971 War, in the Eastern Theatre on 13 Dec 1971.

Below are a few photographs taken on the occasion of Wreath Laying.

70 feet tall monolithic granite Veeragallu (stupa) symbolising the Aatma of 22,000 Soldiers who laid down their lives in the Line of Duty in Wars, CI Ops & Low intensity Conflicts (LIC) along the Line of Control (LoC) with Pakistan and Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China, starting from 27 Oct 1947.

Wreath laid in memory and as a mark of respect to our Batchmate, Brave IC-15055 Major Surinder Vatsa, VrC, A Bengal Sapper, who laid down his life in the line of duty during the 1971 War, in the Eastern Theatre on 13 Dec 1971.

IC-15005 Brig Y Parimu of the Spr June 1963 Batch laying a Wreath at the National Military Memorial, Bengaluru, in memory & as a mark of respect to our Batchmate, Brave IC-15055 Major Surinder Vatsa, VrC, A Bengal Sapper, who laid down his life in the line of duty during the 1971 War, in the Eastern Theatre on 13 Dec 1971.