Past meets present at 4 Gorkha Rifles meet

On the issue of the proposed integration of the three service headquarters and a possible merger of certain Army commands, the Vice Chief said that it was premature for him to comment at this point, but added that new ideas and concepts were always welcome and all proposals and recommendations were examined minutely.

Saying that modernisation and restructuring in the forces is an on going process, Lt Gen Shekhar said that all weapon systems cannot be replaced concurrently as cost and budgetary implications have to be considered. The move to acquire T-72S or T-90 tanks is to sharpen the edge of armoured formations and not to fully replace the T-55 or Vijayanta fleet, which are also to be upgraded. Earlier, as a part of the 3-day reunion celebrations, a guard of honour was presented to Lt Gen Shekhar, who is also the Colonel of the regiment. A solemn wreath laying ceremony at the 14 GTC war memorial followed. Tributes were paid to the unknown soldier by serving as well as retired officers.

Subsequently addressing troops at a sainik sammalen, the Vice Chief said that the reunion is a meet of the past with the present, where serving soldiers get an opportunity to share the rich experience of the veterans.

The president of the British chapter of the Fourth Gorkha Rifles Association, Maj D. S. Day also spoke to the troops — in fluent Gorkhali — learnt during pre-independence days.

Former Colonel of the Regiment, Maj Gen B D Kale and Sub Maj Puran Singh Gurung also spoke on the occasion. As many as 10 ex-British officers who had been a part of the regiment during pre-independence days were also present. They include Lt Col F. J. Meikle, Lt Col W. S. Stannard, Maj M. J. Fuller, Maj G. R. Lloyd, Maj D. F. Owens, Capt A. I. Andrews, Capt J. S. McMichael, Capt E. W. Pope Simmonds and Capt W. S. Senior.

The British officers presented the 14 GTC Commandant, Brig S. K. Bhasin with two wall paintings one showing the Stope Poges Golf Club, home of the British chapter and the other of The Prince of Wales Own Gorkha Rifles’ memorial.

Later during a casual talk, Maj Day said that in Britain their regimental reunion is an annual affair, held on the second Friday of June. He added that last year nine Indian officers, including a Major General had arrived in the UK for the occasion. The most significant change he noticed in the Gorkha soldier since World War II is that the Gorkha "is now much taller".

This apart, four Lieutenant Generals and five Major Generals were also present. The governors of Punjab and Himachal Pradesh will also be attending some of the events.

A cycle expedition organised to mark the reunion was also flagged-in by Lt Gen Shekhar. Members of the team had been drawn from all the five battalions of 4 GR. The team, which had been flagged-off from the respective locations of the five battalions congregated after traversing a total distance of 3,500 kms. A First Day cover, a book, "Veer Yoddha" by Lt Gen K. Chiman Singh (retd) and "The Reunion Newsletter" by Lt Gen Vijay Madan (retd) were also released.