Droupadi Murmu, the President of India and Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces awarded the President’s Colour to Armed Forces Medical College, Pune on 01 December 2023 at a spectacular ceremony organized at the Capt Devashish Sharma Kirti Chakra Parade ground at AFMC.
The event was graced by Ramesh Bais, the Governor of Maharashtra. General Anil Chauhan, PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, SM, VSM, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Lieutenant General Ajai Kumar Singh, AVSM, YSM, SM, VSM, the General Officer-Commanding-in-Chief (GOC-in-C) Southern Command and other civil and military dignitaries also attended the event.
Lieutenant General Daljit Singh, AVSM, VSM, PHS, Director General Armed Forces Medical Services (DGAFMS) & Senior Colonel Commandant, Army Medical Corps and other senior dignitaries of the Armed Forces Medical Services also graced the occasion. Veteran officers including the Ex Directors & Commandants and Ex Deans and Deputy Commandants also attended the ceremony.
The magnificent ceremonial parade was commanded by Brigadier J Muthukrishnan, SM, VSM, Prof & HoD, Dept. of Internal Medicine, AFMC with Colonel Jafar Hussain, Associate Prof, Dept. of Surgery, AFMC as the Second in Command and Lieutenant Colonel Amit Ajay Pawar, Associate Prof, Dept. of Immunohaematology & Blood Transfusion, AFMC as the Parade Adjutant. ‘Nishan Adhikari’ Major Paramjit Malik, Clinical Tutor, Department of General Surgery, AFMC received the President’s Colour on behalf of the Director & Commandant, AFMC.
Of the four contingents in the ceremonial parade, two were of the Army, which were commanded by Major Sanjana Sharma from Dept. of Psychiatry and Major Varsha Chauhan from Dept. of Ophthalmology. The other two contingents were of the Navy commanded by Surgeon Lieutenant Commander Pooja Nair from Dept. of Community Medicine and of the Airforce, commanded by Squadron Leader Shipra Sharma from Dept. of Obstetrics and Gynecology, AFMC. The lady medical officers commanding the respective parade contingents of Armed Forces Medical Services personnel from the Army, Navy and Air Force was the quintessential representation of women empowerment in the Armed Forces Medical Services.
The contingents marched to the tunes of ‘Vijay Bharat’, Kadam Kadam Badayeja’, Sare Jahan Se Aacha’ played by the marching military band of the Mahar Regiment, headed by band master Subedar Major Digar Singh. The band has the distinction of being part of the Republic Day celebrations every consecutive year and prominent national and international events. It has been conferred with 4 Chief of Army Staff commendation cards, 2 Vice Chief of Army Staff commendation cards and 4 GOC-in-C commendation cards.
Addressing the parade, the President expressed her pleasure that the award of President’s Colour coincides with the AFMC’s Platinum Jubilee. She reiterated that AFMC since its inception in 1948, has evolved as an epitome of professional training.
“Graduates of the institute, rising above the call of duty, have distinguished themselves through their gallantry, indomitable courage and supreme sacrifice, making them worthy of the Kirti Chakra, Vir Chakra, Sena and Nao Sena medals. Alumni of AFMC have also been awarded Padma Bhushan, Padma Shri and Arjuna award in recognition of their exemplary service to humanity. I congratulate the alumni, and personnel, who have served or trained in the institute and acknowledge their hard work and dedication” the President said.
Acknowledging the exemplary services offered by the brave men and women of Armed Forces Medical Services and AFMC to the country during the deadly COVID 19 Pandemic, the President said, “Our nation shall never forget your selfless service, your contagious energy and the indomitable spirit that triumphed in the end”.
Complimenting their contribution to the Nation’s soft power and being the ‘First Responder’ to any call of duty within and beyond the borders of our nation, she expressed her faith that the Armed Forces Medical Services will continue their relentless pursuit of excellence in all future endeavors.
As a testament to the legacy built upon the glorious 75 years of AFMC dedicated in the service to the nation, the President in presence of all the dignitaries released a commemorative Platinum Jubilee Coin. The President also released a Special Cover and Stamp as a tribute to all those who have graduated from the hallowed portals of this premier institution, thus honouring the revered past and heralding a bright future for AFMC and the Armed Forces Medical Services.
The event also witnessed the President e-inaugurating ‘Prajna’ the Armed Forces Center for Computational Medicine, paving the way for an era of Armed Forces Medical Services embracing Artificial Intelligence for medical research, putting AFMC in league with other notable global centers of excellence.
AFMS Tele-Manas Cell, a 24 x 7 Mental health helpline for Armed forces personnel, an initiative of DGAFMS, was inaugurated by Chief of Defence Staff, General Anil Chauhan PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, SM, VSM. This center will help in addressing the mental health issues of Armed Forces Personnel by trained psychological counsellors, who will be available 24×7.
A spectacular fly past was conducted by Chetak Aircraft of the Indian Air Force in tribute to the President during the ceremony. The Indian Air Force Akash-Ganga skydiving team also carried out a jump display during the parade as a salute to the President. A total of 10 paratroopers executed the jump.
The grand event was organized under the command of Lieutenant General Narendra Kotwal, SM, VSM, Director & Commandant and Major General D Vivekanand, Dean & Deputy Commandant, AFMC.
