Chennai: Averring that India’s security challenges went “much beyond conventional borders and conventional threats in the international arena,” President Pranab Mukherjee called upon the young men and women, particularly those in the defence forces, to take up the challenge of navigating through troubled waters and serve the motherland “tirelessly and selflessly at the peril of their lives.”
Though time and again India fell back upon her armed forces in tackling internal crisis — both man-made and natural, all the challenges demanded a capable and responsive armed forces to ensure stability and peace, so vital for our country on its path of peace and prosperity for all its citizens, he pointed out.
“The 21st century ushered in its own set of challenges witnessing chaos and strife of a very virulent nature encompassing asymmetric warfare involving both state and non state actors. More than ever before India requires young men and women to take up the challenge of navigation through troubled waters and work tirelessly and selflessly even at the peril of their lives in the service of our Mother land,” he said while reviewing the passing out parade at the Officers Training Academy (OTA) here on Saturday.
In its 53 years of glorious history of grooming officers for the Indian army besides many from other countries, the OTA on Saturday witnessed for the third occasion the president reviewing the parade in the presence of Governor Chennamaneni Vidyasagar Rao and a host of dignitaries.
Mr Pranab who is also the supreme commander of the Armed Forces, said the parade held in the beautiful surroundings of the OTA heralded a new dawn in their lives as commissioned officers of the Indian Army.
The Indian Army, Mr Pranab said, represented the instrument of last resort. “Always remember that the acme of a great and powerful Army does not lie in the power it can unleash but the manner and dexterity with which it does so. Your leadership abilities will be tested under fire literally. When you are battling odds that seem insurmountable remember there are a billion hopes pinned on your young and brave shoulders,” he said.
India’s security challenges went much beyond conventional borders and conventional threats in the international arena including; a sizeable diaspora to protect in unstable regions in the world, energy security issues and protection of maritime sea lanes.
“Your leadership abilities will be tested under fire literally. When you are battling odds that seem insurmountable remember there are a billion hopes pinned on your young and brave shoulders,” the President advised.
