'Sardar Madan Singh' warship unveiled at Dalhousie school

The first Defence Park in an Indian educational institution was launched here on Sunday with the inauguration of a huge model of a naval warship at the Dalhousie Public School in Dalhousie, located in Chamba district of Himachal Pradesh.

The Controller of Logistics (Navy) in the defence ministry, Vice-Admiral Jaywant Korde inaugurated the exhibit of the warship named "Sardar Madan Singh", after the naval officer who led the historic Royal Indian Naval Mutiny of 1946 that hastened the end of British colonial rule in the country, according to a statement here.

"The Indian Navy honoured Sardar Madan Singh by inducting a warship auxiliary in his name at Mumbai on February 26, 1999," the statement said.

The model unveiled at Dalhousie Public School represents the Shivalik class stealth frigate which is fitted with latest weaponry like the Brahmos cruise missiles and 9M317 surface-to-air missiles, it added.

"The remarkable project is undertaken at an altitude of 7,000 feet, which adds to the inherent complexities of transporting war memorabilia of such size and dimension," Korde said.

"This will help to create greater awareness for naval recruitment in the northern states," he added.

Dalhousie Public School principal Captain G.S. Dhillon (retd) said: "We have installed a 108 feet-tall flagpole hoisting the tallest national flag in Himachal Pradesh, which is illuminated at night to generate patriotic fervour among the young. It is even visible at night from some parts of Punjab."

This Defence Park also has on display war memorabilia such as the MIG 21 fighter aircraft, surface-to-air Pichora missiles and the T-55 battle tank.