Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 15

The three-day Military Literature Festival concluded here on Sunday with Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh honouring the units and kin of Victoria Cross recipients from the Burma Campaign of the World War II.

The units that were honoured included 2/5 Gorkha Rifles for VCs awarded to Naik Agan Singh Rai (1944), Subedar Netra Bahadur Thapa (1944) and Havaldar Gaje Ghale (1943), 2 Sikh for Sepoy Ishar Singh (1921) then serving with 28 Punjabis, which later merged into this unit, 1/11 Sikh, now 4 Mech, for Naik Nand Singh (1944) and 30th Mountain Regiment, now 22 Field Regiment, for Havaldar Umrao Singh (1944).

Presiding over the closing ceremony of the MLF, which commemorated the 75th year of the Burma campaign, the Chief Minister presented mementos to representatives of various regiments. The names and units of other VC recipients were also read out. The Victoria Cross was the highest awarded for gallantry in the face of the enemy during the Pre-Independence era.

The Chief Minister also honoured Sukhjinder Kaur, the daughter of Lt Col Anant Singh, who commanded the 4th Battalion of the Sikh Regiment during operations in the 1965 war that led to the capture of Burki. This was one of the most decisive battles of the war. Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal was also present on the occasion.

Speaking on the occasion, Capt Amarinder Singh said the memories of the war heroes continued to inspire Indian soldiers even today. He said the MLF would go a long way to inculcate the youth with the spirit of patriotism and nationalism and motivating them to join the defence forces. It was a matter of great pride and satisfaction that several of youth from Punjab had cleared the NDA exam and were ready to don the uniform to serve the nation, he added.

Earlier, he participated in an interactive session with a team comprising British army officers. Military history, regimental affairs and heritage, historical linkages between the British and Indian armies were deliberated upon.