FUNCTION TO HONOUR ARMED FORCES MARTYRS

On the eve of Independence Day, a function to honour Armed Forces Martyrs was held at the VIF Auditorium at 1830h on 14 Aug 10. The Keynote Address was delivered by Gen V N Sharma PVSM, AVSM (retd), former Chief of the Army Staff (and younger brother of Maj Somnath Sharma, independent India’s first PVC). He spoke on “The Indian Armed Forces: A Tradition of Honour and Leadership”. The families of Maj Sandeep Unnikrishnan AC (posthumous), Capt Vikram Batra PVC (posthumous) and Capt Vijayant Thapar VrC (posthumous) were felicitated. Maj Gen G D Bakshi SM, VSM (retd) made a presentation on the need for a “New Mythology of Post Independence Military Heroes”. The highlight of the evening was the release of Graphic War Novel entitled “Maj Sandeep Unnikrishnan AC: Braveheart of Mumbai”. Aditya Bakshi, the author gave a touching presentation on the life and exploits of Maj Sandeep Unnikrishnan AC.