Sword of Honour for Jhajjar lad at IMA

Jotirmay Thapliyal

Tribune News Service

Dehradun, June 9

Lt Sachin Kumar Chahar from Jhajjar, Haryana, was bestowed with the Sword of Honour at the passing-out parade of the Indian Military Academy (IMA) here on Saturday. His father Krishna Kumar, who was with 2 Jat, had retired as a Havildar.  

Commissioned into 338 Medium Regiment, Lt Chahar did his schooling from Sainik School, Dholpur. 

  Nepalese army chief Rajendra Chhetri reviewed the parade at Chetwode Drill Square. Of the total 457 Gentlemen Cadets,  29 were from Punjab, 49 from Haryana and 63 from Uttar Pradesh. 

As many as 74 of those who passed out were from seven friendly countries — Afghanistan, Bhutan, Kyrgyzstan, Lesotho, Nigeria, Tajikistan and Tanzania. The gold medal was bagged by Aaditya Neekhara, the silver by Aatish Sehgal and the bronze medal by Kuldeep Nanasaheb Pawar. 

Bukhori Saydulloev from Tajikistan was adjudged the best foreign Gentlemen Cadet. The Chief of Army Staff banner was awarded to Miektila Coy.

Lt Chahar credited his success to his grandmother Murthi Devi. “Today I have fulfilled my grandmother’s dream”, he told The Tribune as a proud Murthi Devi looked on. Lt Chahar’s mother Sushila Devi is a housewife and younger brother a student.

Talking to the media on the sidelines of the spring term passing-out parade, Nepalese army chief Chhetri said not too much should be read into his recent meeting with Pakistan Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa, “which was only a goodwill gesture”. 

The Nepalese General, who also holds the honorary rank of General of Indian Army, said Nepal was of the firm opinion that it could not go beyond the interest of its close neighbours, 

an obvious reference to India. Earlier, addressing the Gentleman Cadets, he reminded them of the trust and camaraderie between the troops of India and Nepal.