Mrityunjay Bose, PUNE/MUMBAI, DH News Service Jun 17 2017, 19:01 IST
President Pranab Mukherjee at the Convocation Ceremony of the passing out Engineering Graduate Courses of College of Military Engineering in Pune. Deccan Herald photo
In the rapidly changing environment, one factor which has not changed is the faith reposed in the armed forces by the entire nation, President Pranab Mukherjee said on Saturday.
The statement of the President, who is the Supreme Commander of Armed Forces, assumes significance in the wake of recent criticism of armed forces by certain quarters in respect of the developments in the Kashmir valley including the incident when an army officer had tied a stone-pelter in a jeep to quell a mob and save his men.
Speaking at the Convocation Ceremony of the passing out Engineering Graduate Courses of College of Military Engineering in Pune, Mukherjee said: “As you all are aware, knowledge is the emerging currency of the world in the present century. You should make full use of technical knowledge acquired by you at this prestigious institution of excellence of military engineering. You can be successful in all your endeavours only by being professionally competent and by keeping abreast with the latest developments.”
The President further said the need of the hour is therefore to exploit the cutting-edge technologies which are best suited to meet the requirements. “As engineers in uniform, the graduating officers would face greater challenges in view of the increasing complexities in the infrastructural requirements of the defence forces, especially in inhospitable terrain and on our mountainous borders,” he said.
Recalling the yeomen service of the engineers, he said: “The Indian Army engineers have traditionally left their mark on prestigious national projects be it oil pipeline at Siachen, prestigious naval bases and airfields in the north and northeast or roads cutting through the Himalayan ranges. I am sure that each and every one of you will also follow the footsteps of your illustrious predecessors and shall live up to the high standards expected of you.”
In a splendid convocation ceremony at the Sarvatra Hall of the College of Military Engineering, Pune, five officers of Master of Technology, 35 officers of Engineer Officers Degree Engineering Course and 29 officers of Technical Entry Scheme Course were awarded degrees in Civil Engineering under the aegis of Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. Mukherjee graced the occasion as Chief Guest and presented the Scrolls and Awards to the officers. S C Vidyasagar Rao, Governor of Maharashtra, Lieutenant General DR Soni, VSM, Lieutenant General Suresh Sharma, AVSM, Dr M Jagadesh Kumar, Vice Chancellor, JNU were amongst other dignitaries attending the function.