Bengaluru: In a heartfelt tribute to India’s military heroes, SSB Sureshot Academy, in collaboration with The Aryavarth Express, hosted a grand Veterans Felicitation Ceremony “SHAURYA SAMMAN” to honour 25 distinguished veterans of the Indian Armed Forces. The event, held at the academy’s campus, celebrated the unwavering courage, commitment, and service of veterans from the Army, Navy, and Air Force.
The SHAURYA SAMMAN ceremony was marked by deep reverence and national pride, as each veteran was recognized for their valorous service and lifelong dedication to upholding the integrity and sovereignty of the nation. The audience, including aspiring defence candidates and NCC young cadets, greeted the honourees with standing ovations and patriotic fervour.
The event was presided over by former Deputy Chief of the Army Staff, Lieutenant General Ramesh Halgali (PVSM, AVSM, SM), who graced the occasion as the Chief Guest. A veteran known for his exemplary leadership and operational achievements, Lt Gen Halgali delivered an inspiring address, urging the youth to embrace discipline, service, and national duty.
Also present was Sri K.M. Srinivas Murthy, former President of the Federation of Karnataka Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FKCCI) and Chairman of a leading corporate group, as the Guest of Honour. He emphasized the importance of honouring military heroes beyond ceremonial platforms, advocating for sustained respect and civic engagement with veterans in everyday society.
Special Guest Mr Satish Goyal, a well-known social activist, also graced the ceremony. In his address, he praised the armed forces’ unmatched contribution to the nation and emphasized the importance of involving youth in acts of service, national pride, and community upliftment.
The ceremony honoured 25 veterans with “SHAURYA SAMMAN”, including officers and soldiers of remarkable service:
- Air Vice Marshal B K Murali (AVSM, VSM)
- Major General U Suresh (AVSM, YSM, VSM)
- Air Commodore R N Mierani
- Brigadier P M Ahluwalia
- Brigadier C K Ramesh
- Brigadier Mohammed Mustaq Hussain (SM)
- Colonel Darshan Singh
- Colonel S S Rajan
- Colonel Sree Kumar
- Colonel Madhu
- Captain Pankaj Sharma
- Colonel Bhanu
- Colonel Padmanabhan
- Colonel Suresh Babu
- Colonel C V Prashant Kumar
- Colonel Gangadharnan
- Colonel Dina Nath Gupta
- Lieutenant Colonel S Amal Raj
- Lieutenant Colonel E Arul Mani
- Major Namrata Dhasmana
- Captain Rajendra Singh
- Padma Shri Dr M P Ganesh – Veteran Olympian and Indian Hockey Legend
- Subedar Major Kumaraswamy
- Subedar Mohan Raj A
- Havildar Shravana
Each awardee was honoured with a memento and heartfelt appreciation for their selfless contribution to national service.
A key highlight of the ceremony was the participation of interns from SSB Sureshot Academy and cadets from the 9 Karnataka NCC Battalion, who brought youthful enthusiasm to the event. Their disciplined involvement underscored the academy’s core mission — to inspire and shape future officers of the Indian Armed Forces through structured training, mentorship, and military education.
The academy reaffirmed its commitment to nurturing leadership, instilling national values, and preserving the legacy of service and sacrifice through its flagship SSB training programmes.
As the nation prepares for the challenges of tomorrow, events like these not only honour the past but ignite a renewed spirit of patriotism and purpose among the youth of India.
