The Army Day was celebrated with traditional gusto throughout the country. Gallant soldiers were honoured. Martyrs were remembered. We bring you a glimpse of the solemn functions held in different parts of the country.

Gallantry and distinguished services awards were presented to 183 soldiers at a glittering and colourful investiture ceremony held at Mamun Auditorium of Gurj Division.

General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Northern Command, Lt Gen RK Nanavatty presented two Bar to Sena Medal, 173 Sena Medals for gallantry, four Sena Medals for distinguished services and four Vishisht Seva Medals to the brave officers and men of the Indian Army. Out of them, nine Sena Medals were awarded posthumously which were received by the next of kins of the martrys.

President, AWWA Northern Command, Mrs RK Nanavatty interacted with the next of kins of the martyrs and lauded the supreme sacrifice of the jawans. Lt Gen TPS Brar and Maj Gen, RK Mehta were also present on the occasion.

An investiture ceremony by the Central Command was organised on the Army Day to honour those soldiers who displayed exceptional gallantry while fighting on the border or the militants in war like conditions. The ceremony was held at Bhopal.

Lt Gen DS Chauhan, the Central Army Commander, at the ceremony awarded gallantry awards and distinguished service medals to 55 personnel. Of them, 12 were awarded posthumously.

Whereas Maj Pingili Himavanth Reddy of 9 Rashtriya Rifles (Engineers) and Col Ramesh Singh Chauhan of Army Aviation were conferred the Sena Medal for the second time, Brig Vir Chand Jain (EME) got Bar to the Vishisht Seva Medal. The only Jeevan Raksha Padak presented on the occasion went to Maj Ushnisha Jaitly (Posthumous), of 3/11 GR.

Speaking on the occasion, Lt Gen DS Chauhan, urged all ranks, ex- servicemen, civilians and their families to rededicate themselves to the cause of their nation. He commended all ranks for their dedication and devotion to duty in the highest tradition of the Indian Army and congratulated those who had been decorated for bravery and efficiency.

At a glittering Army Day investiture ceremony held at the majestic Chowdiah Hall at Banglore Lt Gen GS Sihota, GOC-in-C, Southern Command gave away awards to 71 officers, jawans and war widows. Among them eight awards were posthumous.

The ceremony started with the giving away of Yudha Seva Medal to Brig Soli Noshir Pavri for his distinguished service of a high order. Capt Johny Joseph received Sena Medal for a second time for his exceptional devotion to duty. Maj Gen ST Manimala, former Commandant of the Intelligence Corps received Vishisht Seva Medal for the second time.

Sena Medal (gallantry) was awarded to 34 soldiers and Sena Medal (distinguished) to eleven. Twentyone soldiers received Vishisht Seva Medal for distinguished service of a high order. Besides, two jawans received Jeevan Raksha Padak for courage. The lone woman officer to receive any award was Lt Col Sudarshan Devi of Military Nursing Service. She received Vishisht Seva Medal.

The fully packed Chowdiah Hall was thundered with applause when Capt Rajeev Kumar Bahuguna of Sikh Light Infantry came on a wheel chair to receive Sena Medal for his services of the highest order. Though grievously injured while engaging the terrorists in Baramulla in Kashmir, Capt Bahuguna killed one and injured a couple of them in a daring action. At present, Capt Bahuguna is with the Station Headquarters Kirkee, Pune.