In This Issue Since 1909 PRESIDENT’S ADDRESS TO THE NATION India’s 69th Independence Day 4 (Initially published as FAUJI AKHBAR) Vol. 62 No 16 25 Shravana - 9 Bhadrapada, 1937 (Saka) 16-31 August 2015 The journal of India’s Armed Forces published every fortnight in thirteen languages including Hindi & English on behalf of Ministry of Defence. It is not necessarily an organ for the expression of the Government’s defence policy. The published items represent the views of respective writers and correspondents. Editor-in-Chief Independence Day Motto of ‘Unity and Hasibur Rahman 6 11 Editor Editor (Features) Celebrations... Discipline’ Dr Abrar Rahmani Ehsan Khusro Coordination Business Manager Sekhar Babu Madduri Dharam Pal Goswami Our Correspondents DELHI: Dhananjay Mohanty; Capt DK Sharma; Manoj Tuli; Nampibou Marinmai; Wg Cdr Rochelle D’Silva; Col Rohan Anand; Wg Cdr SS Birdi, Ved Pal; ALLAHABAD: Gp Capt BB Pande; BENGALURU: Dr MS Patil; CHANDIGARH: Parvesh Sharma; CHENNAI: T Shanmugam; GANDHINAGAR: Wg Cdr Abhishek Matiman; GUWAHATI: Lt Col Suneet Newton; IMPHAL: Lt Col Ajay Kumar Sharma; JALANDHAR: Naresh Vijay Vig; JAMMU: Lt Col Manish Mehta; JODHPUR: Lt Col Manish Ojha; KOCHI: Cdr Sridhar E Warrier ; KOHIMA: Lt Col E Musavi; KOLKATA: Gp Capt TK Singha; LUCKNOW: Ms Gargi Malik Sinha; MUMBAI: Cdr Rahul Sinha; Narendra Vispute; NAGPUR: Wg Cdr Samir S Gangakhedkar; PALAM: Gp 18 The Indian Navy and 1965 The Battle of Barki 15 Capt SK Mehta; PUNE: Mahesh Iyengar; SECUNDERABAD: MA Khan Shakeel; 20 Air Force Awardees SHILLONG: Gp Capt Amit Mahajan; SRINAGAR: Col NN Joshi; TEZPUR: Lt Col Sombith Ghosh; THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Suresh Shreedharan; UDHAMPUR: 22 Role of NCC Cadets in 1965 War Col SD Goswami; VISAKHAPATNAM: Cdr CG Raju. 26 Medical Officers Basic Course… Published by: Sitanshu Kar Director General (Media & Communication) Regulars Directorate of Public Relations, South Block, Ministry of Defence, New Delhi-110011 27 Armed Forces Panorama Follow us on: www.facebook.com/DefenceMinIndia https://twitter.com/spokespersonMoD Army and the IAF Play Saviours 24 Editorial Offi ce: L-1 Block, Church Road, New Delhi-110001, in Flood Ravaged Gujarat Telefax : 23094668 Telephone : 23092768 Email : [email protected] E-in-C: ASCON-32078 [email protected] For subscriptions contact : Business Manager, Sainik Samachar, Telephone : 23092768 Subscription Rates: Inland (Ordinary): One Year Rs 100.00, Overseas (Surface Mail): Rs 450.00 Concessional (per year): Rs 20.00 (Applicable for dependants of service personnel & ex-Servicemen.) For all correspondence subscribers must quote their subscription number For more details visit our website: http://sainiksamachar.nic.in OOnn ffrontront ccover:over: TThehe PPrimerime MMinister,inister, MMrr NNarendraarendra MModiodi uunfurlingnfurling tthehe TTricolourricolour fflaglag aatt tthehe rrampartsamparts ooff RReded FFort,ort, oonn tthehe ooccasionccasion ooff 669th9th IIndependencendependence Day,Day, inin DDelhielhi oonn AAugustugust 115,5, 22015015 ppic:ic: GGDD MMehraehra PRESIDENT’S ADDRESS TO THE NATION India’s 69th Independence Day ellow citizens: F On the eve of 68th anniversary of our Independence I extend warm greetings to you and to all Indians around the world. I convey my special greetings to members of our armed forces, paramilitary forces and internal security forces. I also congratulate all our sportspersons who have participated and won laurels in various tournaments in India and abroad. My congratulations to Mr Kailash Satyarthi, Nobel Peace Prize winner for 2014, who has done the country proud. On 15th August 1947, we won political freedom. The birth multiple freedoms. It turned liberty legislature, the executive and the of modern India was a moment into a living opportunity for the judiciary. The factors on which the of historic exhilaration; but it was oppressed and impoverished, working of those organs of the state also tinged with the blood of offered equality and positive depends are the people and the unimaginable suffering along the discrimination to the many millions, political parties they will set up as length and breadth of our country. who had suffered social injustice, their instruments to carry out their The ideals and convictions, that had and instituted a gender revolution wishes and their politics. Who can held through the travails of an epic that has made our country an say how the people of India and struggle against British rule, were example of progress. We abolished their parties will behave?” (unquote) under strain. archaic customs and laws, and If the institutions of democracy A great generation of supreme ensured change for women through are under pressure, it is time for heroes faced this formidable education and jobs. Our institutions serious thinking by the people and challenge. The sagacity and maturity are the infrastructure of this idealism. their parties. The correctives must of that generation saved our ideals The finest inheritance needs come from within. from deviation or degeneration constant care for preservation. Our Our country’s rise will be under the pressure of emotion, institutions of democracy are under measured by the strength of including rage. India’s pride, self- stress. The Parliament has been our values, but it will equally be esteem and self-respect, born converted into an arena of combat determined by economic growth from a civilizational wisdom which rather than debate. It is time to recall and equitable distribution of the inspired the renaissance that won what Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, Chairman nation’s resources. Our economy us freedom, was distilled into the of the Drafting Committee of the promises much hope for the future. principles of our constitution by these Constitution, said while making his The new chapters of the ‘India Story’ extraordinary men and women. We closing speech in the Constituent are waiting to be written. ‘Economic have been blessed by a constitution Assembly in November 1949 and I reforms’ is a work-in-progress. Our that launched India’s march towards quote: performance over the last decade greatness. “The working of a constitution has been commendable; and it is The most precious gift of this does not depend wholly upon most heartening that after a dip, we document was democracy, which the nature of the constitution. have recovered to 7.3% growth in reshaped our ancient values into a The constitution can provide only 2014-15. But the benefits of growth modern context and institutionalized the organs of state, such as the must reach the poorest of the poor 4 Sainik Samachar August 16-31, 2015 much before they land in the bank patience. Vested interests chip away any attempt to use terrorism as an accounts of the richest of the rich. at social harmony, in an attempt to instrument of state policy. Infiltration We are an inclusive democracy, erode many centuries of secularism. into our territory and attempts to and an inclusive economy; there is In an age of instant communication create mayhem will be dealt with a place for everyone in the hierarchy through ever-improving technology, strong hand. we must remain vigilant to ensure of wealth. But the first call goes to I pay homage to the martyrs that the devious designs of a few those who suffer on the brink of who made the supreme sacrifice of never overcome the essential deprivation. Our policies must be their lives defending India. I salute oneness of our people. For both geared to meet the ‘Zero Hunger’ the courage and heroism of our government and people the rule of challenge in a foreseeable future. security forces who are maintaining law is sacrosanct, but society is also The symbiotic relationship an eternal vigil to safeguard the protected by something greater than between man and nature has to be law: humanity. Mahatma Gandhi territorial integrity of our country preserved. A generous nature when said and I quote: “You must not and the safety of our people. I violated can turn into a destructive lose faith in humanity. Humanity also specially commend the brave force leading to calamities resulting is an ocean; if a few drops of the civilians who boldly detained a in huge loss of life and property. ocean are dirty, the ocean does not hardened terrorist ignoring the risk Even as I speak, large parts of the become dirty” (unquote). to their own lives. nation are barely recovering from India is a complex country of floods. We need immediate relief Peace, friendship and 1.3 billion people, 122 languages, for the afflicted as well as long-term cooperation bind nations and 1600 dialects and 7 religions. Its solutions for the management of peoples together. Recognizing the strength lies in its unique capacity to both, water deficiency and excess. shared destiny of the Indian sub- continent, we must strengthen blend apparent contradictions into A nation which forgets the connectivity, expand institutional positive affirmations. In the words idealism of its past loses something capacity and enhance mutual trust of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, it is a vital from its future. Our educational to further regional cooperation. As country held together and I quote: institutions multiply as the aspirations we make progress in advancing “by strong but invisible threads….. of generations continue to exceed our interests globally, India is also About her there is the elusive quality supply. But what has happened engaged in pro-actively promoting of a legend of long ago; some to quality, from base to apex? We goodwill and prosperity in our enchantment seems to have held her recall the guru-shishya parampara immediate neighbourhood. It is mind. She is a myth and an idea, with legitimate pride; why then have heartening that the long pending a dream and a vision, and yet very we abandoned the care, devotion land boundary issue with Bangladesh real and present and pervasive” and commitment that is at the has been finally resolved. (unquote).