From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
Bengaluru, Mar 3: CHRIST (Deemed to be University) in Bengaluru hosted the 1971 Indo-Pak War Victory Flame - the 'Swarnim Vijay Mashal' - on Wednesday.
The victory flame was handed over to the Indian Army by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to commemorate the 50 years of victory of the Indo-Pak War as 'Swarnim Vijay Varsh'.
A short programme was organised by the NCC Army Wing of CHRIST (Deemed to be University) along with the two Parachute Regiment from 12 noon to 1 pm to receive the Victory Flame in front of the Central Block of the University.
During the programme vice-chancellor, Dr Fr Abraham V M and Brig Sunil Sheoran, commandant of two Parachute Regiment received the Victory Flame.
The event was accompanied by military band tunes. The officers and soldiers from the Parachute Regiment, NCC cadets and the staff and the students of the University were in attendance.
During the programme, a motivational film from two Parachute Regiment which played a decisive role in ending the war and gaining victory in the 1971 War was screened.
The Parachute Regiment also displayed the weapons, especially the Israeli weapons, used by the Indian Special Forces in their special operations.
Speaking on the occasion Brig Sunil Sheoran, appreciated the efforts of the students and the University in hosting the flame and hoped that it would inspire the next generation studying in the University to take the legacy forward. He mentioned that soil from key battle areas, war memorials, and native places of gallantry medal awardees will be collected and amalgamated with the soil for planting trees in the National War Memorial on December 16, 2021. He also mentioned that Christ University was the only educational institution in Bengaluru to which the Victory Flame was brought.
Dr Anil Joseph Pinto, registrar of the University thanked the Parachute Regiment for bringing the Victory Flame to the University and remembered the heroes and their families who had given their yesterdays for our today. He hoped that the students would pass on the spirit of the event to others.
The Victory Flame is travelling in the four cardinal directions of the country and the flame travelling in the Southern Cardinal reached Bengaluru on February 20 and will remain here till March 5.
The Victory Flame will move to Coimbatore on March 6.
Various commemorative events were organised in the military establishments spread across Bengaluru during the SwarnimVijay Marshal's sojourn in Bengaluru. In these events, war veterans were facilitated along with events like band display, seminar, short film, wreath-laying, adventure activities, etc.
The Victory Flame was taken to the villages of Param Vir Chakra, Maha Vir Chakra and Vir Chakra awardees of 1971 war. The event helped to recall the valour and sacrifices made by the war heroes of 1971 residing in Karnataka.