The two-day Military Art and Photography Exhibition came to an end on Sunday with war veterans and ex-servicemen expressing the hope that it would pave the way for a new wave of interest among youth in the defence services.The exhibition, organised as part of the build-up activities to India’s first Military Literature Festival, will play an important role in motivating youth to join the defence services, said Lt General (retd) TS Shergill, Senior Advisor to Chief Minister, Punjab. “We have inherited a glorious legacy of military valour and dedication to duty,” Lt.Gen. T.S. Shergill said, adding that “this rich heritage is our treasure and a constant source of inspiration for the youth.”Expressing concern at the recent trend of low participation of Punjabi youth in the defence forces, Lt.Gen. Shergill said this event was a part of the programmes being organised under the MLF to encourage and motivate youth to adopt the Uniform. He would like to have 25% to 30% of Punjabi youth donning the Army Uniform, he said.
Shergill recalled the contribution of Major General Rajinder Singh ‘Sparrow’, whose picture is among the photographs on display, not just to the Indian Army but to his own decision to become a part of the glorious institution.Shergill lauded the organizing team of the Western Command of the Indian Army for coming up with an amazing collection at such a short notice.
The exhibition, which started yesterday, vividly captures and brings alive the evolution of the Indian Army through the major operations in which it has participated since World War I. A total of 200 exhibits, including pictures, artefacts, medals, army ammunition of Sikh era, personal belongings of officers and captured flags of Pakistan Army during 1971 operations were on display.The Exhibition encapsulates the history of battles fought by Sikhs before the British Era in the Sikh Military Heritage Section, while tracing the journey of battles fought during the British Era and after independence. The Exhibition has been carefully designed to showcase the various landmarks achieved by the Indian soldiers around the world in historical sequence for the discerning visitors from various walks of life. The Sikh Military Heritage has been depicted in the exhibition courtesy Punjab Digital Library.A special wall has been dedicated to the Saragarhi Battle Warriors, exemplifying the grit and determination of brave Sikh warriors who attained martyrdom living up to the Army motto of ‘Last Man Last Round.’ A handful of courageous Sikh soldiers defeated more than 10,000 Afghan Kabilais in this war.