Soldiering on

Despite the increased security measures,around 6,000 persons attended the passing-out parade ceremony at the National Defence Academy,Khadakwasla. They witnessed a spectacular parade as well as a series of ‘fly-pasts’ by the NDA trainee aircraft,including the Super Dimona,IAF’s Jaguar and Su-30 Mki formations. Finally,the Indian Navy’s ‘Sagar Pawan’ put up an impressive 10-minute aerobatic display. A total of 261 cadets of the 117th course passed out of the Academy on Sunday after completing a three year long rigorous training. Army Chief General Deepak Kapoor,who passed out of NDA himself around 40 years ago,reviewed the parade. Kapoor called the NDA “a model for other countries to establish a similar kind of tri-service training for cadets.” Photojournalist Pavan Khengre captures the mood.