Guwahati: Dispur College celebrates Navy Day 2024, honours veterans of Indo-Pak war

Guwahati: The 48 Assam Naval Unit NCC, Dispur College, Guwahati - 06 celebrated Navy Day 2024 on December 4 with a day-long programme organized at the Pratima Baruah Pandey Auditorium of Dispur College titled "Indian Navy Day 2024 Celebrations cum Felicitation of 1971 Indo-Pak War Veterans.".

The event was organized to honour the valour and commitment exhibited by the Indian Navy in the Indo-Pak War of 1971-with special reference to the Indian naval victory earned under "Operation Trident" at the Port of Karachi on the night of December 4-5, 1971-and as a mark of tribute to the fallen heroes of the said war. The event was graced by two flag officers of the Indian military, with Brig Ajit Kumar Borah, VSM, Group Commander of the Guwahati Group, NCC NER, gracing the august occasion as the chief guest and Cmde Kamalesh Chandra Choudhury, VSM (Retd.), former director, Directorate of Sainik Welfare, Government of Assam, and honourary advisor to AIWTDS, honouring the event as the guest of honour.

It is worthy of note that Cmde Choudhury was the first Assamese naval officer appointed as a diplomat in a foreign country-as the defence advisor in the Indian High Commission, Kenya. The event, chaired by Dr. Navajyoti Borah, Principal, Dispur College, and jointly coordinated by CTO Serlin Engjaipi and CTO Sutibra Malakar of the 48 ANU NCC-DC, was attended by Lt. Cdr. Debanand Doley, Commanding Officer, 48 Assam Naval Unit NCC, as the special invitee, and Mr. Lakhi Borah, a veteran of the Indo-Pak War of 1971, as the guest invitee.

The event began with the presentation of the Guard of Honour by the NCC cadets, followed by ceremonies like the performance of the College Anthem, the felicitation of the dignitaries, and the lighting of the lamp to commemorate the war heroes. Following this, Dr. Navajyoti Borah, Principal, delivered the welcome address wherein he highlighted the significance of Navy Day and the role of the NCC in moulding leadership and social values among the students. This was followed by the keynote address being delivered by Brig Borah, Grp Cdr, in which he termed the youth as being the 'cornerstone' in the Indian nation-building process towards a Viksit Bharat by 2047. The speech of the guest of honour, Cmde Choudhury, ensued the keynote address in which he recollected the evolution and transformation of the Indian Navy from a coastal navy to a formidable, future-ready blue-water navy and as a force to eckon with. He also shed light on the annals of history associated with Operation Trident and the defeat of Pakistan in the Indo-Pak War of 1971. A short documentary on Operation Trident, designed and made in the vernacular of Assamese by the 48 Assam Naval Unit NCC, Dispur College, was released on the occasion as an initiative for the dissemination of the heroic actions of the Indian Navy as well as their service to the greater Indian nation and society into the community cognition.

The inauguration of "Beacon"-the" annual newsletter of the 48 Assam Naval Unit NCC, Dispur College-was also announced. This was followed by speeches of Lt. Cdr. Doley and Mr. Gogoi, who shared anecdotal experiences of life in the Indian Navy. A felicitation programme followed the speeches wherein the cadets who attended various NCC camps of international and national levels, like the Overseas Deployment Camp, Republic Day Camp, All India Nau Sainik Camp, etc., were felicitated with mementos for their active participation, a press release stated.

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