688 cadets pass out of IMA

A total of 688 cadets, including 71 cadets from Nepal, Bhutan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Maldives passed out of the Indian Military Academy on Saturday in the presence of Defence Minister A.K.Antony and Chief of Army Staff General Bikram Singh.

The highest number of cadets was from Uttar Pradesh (61), followed by Haryana (47) and Uttarakhand (34).

On the occasion, Antony gave the coveted Sword of Honour to Academy Under Officer Akshat Joshi and the gold medal to battalion under officer Kamlesh Mani.

Speaking on the occasion, Antony said: India's quest for peace should not be mistaken for its weakness.

"We are a peace-loving nation, but our quest for peace should not be mistaken for our weakness," he said.

"History is witness to the fact that whenever there has been trouble along its borders, Indian soldiers renowned for their ability to deliver in times of crisis have shown exemplary valour to ensure the safety of the country," he added.

He said the country can never forget the valour displayed by the armed forces in the massive evacuation exercise carried out in wake of the natural calamity that struck Uttarakhand in June this year.

Asking the cadets to draw lessons from the sacrifices made by members of the armed forces during the rescue operations in Uttarakhand, Antony said they should be proud of the high standards of training received at the academy and should dedicate their lives to the service of the nation.

"Remember that the uniform you wear is not just a uniform, but a way of life in which safety and welfare of the nation comes first," he said.

He said the cadets should be ready to deal with both conventional and unconventional challenges during their careers.