Patiala: Bike rally marks end of Military Literature Festival
Tribune News Service
Patiala, February 3
The second edition of Military Literature Festival concluded at Khalsa College here today. The two-day event was part of Patiala Heritage Festival.
Tributes were paid to the Indian Army’s Black Elephant division at the YPS Chowk in Patiala.
General Officer Commanding (GOC) Black Elephant division Major General Punit Ahuja, chairman of Military Literature Festival Association Lt Gen (retd) TS Shergill, vice-chancellor Maharaja Bhupinder Singh Punjab State Sports University Lt Gen (retd) Chetinder Singh and Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) Anuprita Johal, among others, paid homage to the martyrs.
Following the wreath-laying ceremony, 150 bikers from various motorcycle clubs gathered at the Polo Ground for the Braveheart Bike Rally, which was flagged off by Major General Ahuja. The bikers covered 26 kilometres across the city before ending the rally at Khalsa College. The bikers were honoured by Health and Family Welfare Minister Balbir Singh.
The rally was led by Colonel RPS Brar. Under the leadership of Imran from Bajaj Avenger Club, Chandigarh, riders from various groups, including Nomads on Wheels led by Rajdeep Singh, Highwayazers led by Jeevan, Thumpers led by Muneesh, and Patiala Bikers led by Purab, displayed their prowess.
ADC Johal said the bike rally was held in honour of all the soldiers who had sacrificed their lives for the country.
The rally was organised with the collective efforts of the Military Literature Festival Association, the Indian Army, and the district administration. Johal said it would inspire the youth to join the armed forces and serve the nation.
During the Military Literature Festival, documentaries depicting the nation’s military history were shown to the audience. Films like ‘Rakshak-E-Hind’, celebrating 100 years of the Sikh Regiment, and others — like ‘Transformation of Indian Army’, ‘Submarines of Indian Navy’, ‘Siachen and Operation Meghdoot’, and ‘Indian Army: Invisible But Effective’— were in the list of movies that the audience got a chance to enjoy.