Vijay Mohan
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, June 8
One of the most cherished moments in a military officer’s life is the passing out parade (POP) from their training academy when they take the ‘antim pag’ or the final step from being cadets to becoming combat leaders. This summer, however, the POP at the Indian Military Academy (IMA), traditionally a grand and elaborate affair, would be a watered down event due to restrictions imposed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Parents, siblings and friends of the cadets passing out would not be present. The event has as much significance and pride for parents and siblings as for the cadets themselves. Traditionally, it is the parents, brothers or sisters who ‘pip’ the cadets — which is the pinning of the two stars of a Lieutenant on each shoulder — to formally make them commissioned officers.
To compensate, the Army has made elaborate arrangements for a live telecast of the event on some TV channels and also on social media in the same manner as is being done for the Republic Day Parade and the Army Day Parade. Special accounts have been opened on popular social media platforms and these are being widely circulated.
The POP for the spring term is scheduled to be held at Dehradun on June 13 and the Chief of the Army Staff, General Manoj Mukund Naravane, is expected to be the reviewing officer. Special precautionary measures are being undertaken in view of the prevailing coronavirus situation.
Last month, the POP at the National Defence Academy, Kharakvalsa, was also a toned-down affair, with no parade being held. Instead, an indoor ceremony in the academy’s auditorium was conducted. Similarly, the graduation ceremony held last week at the Army Cadet College, attached to the IMA, where jawans selected to become officers are trained for three years, was also a low key affair.
The IMA holds two POPs each year, the other being in December. The event is seeped in military tradition and elan and proceeds with clockwork precision. Several events precede the POP such as the Commandant’s dinner, prize distribution and cultural programmes. The final day begins with paying tributes at the IMA war memorial and then falling in at the spruced up parade ground in front of the historic Chetwood Hall under the watchfull eyes of the Academy Adjutant mounted on a horse. The Academy Colours are brought on parade.
The reviewing officer then arrives, usually in a horse drawn carriage, and is received by the IMA Commandant and escorted to the saluting dias. Reviewing officers in the past have included presidents, prime ministers, defence ministers and service chiefs. After presenting the sword of honour and reviewing the parade, the reviewing officer addresses the gathering. Helicopters shower petals on the parade ground and there may also be a fly-past to mark the event. Cadets then march off the parade ground into the Chetwood Hall, taking the final step.
Next is the pipping ceremony in the lawns across the main road from the Chetwood Hall. Foreign cadets, whose relations may not have made it here, are pipped by Indian officers. Finally comes the oath taking ceremony where the Tricolour is brought on parade and the newly commissioned officers swear their allegiance to the Constitution.
The IMA was established in 1932 and imparts pre-commission training to officers. It takes in cadets from the NDA, who undergo 12 months training, as well as direct entry graduates who undergo 18 months training. It has trained about 65,000 officers so far, including about 3,000 from 30 friendly foreign countries.