In its true pioneering traditions, the elite crack mountain Force, conducted a gala 'Namkaran Parade' of 17 Malinois pups born to Counter Insurgency Grid Hero father Gala and Anti-Naxal Hero sisters Olga and Olyshea at the National Training Centre for Dogs ( NTCD) at Bhanu in Panchkula today.
The Veterinary Cadre Chief of ITBP, DIG Sudhakar Natarajan presided over the function. This is for the first time that ITBP is making this unique tradition known to the general public, when pups are given names and commissioned to undergo training and serve the nation, in an hitherto unseen tradition.
On a sunny winter morning, at 1130 hrs sharp, the cute little pups lined up on the beautifully decorated parade ground, which was a sight to behold. Anticipation was in the air. The Malinois pups stood proudly as if they were fully aware that this was a big day for them. This was the day when they will be promoted from being mere pups to being full fledged trainee PSK ( Police Service K9) , and have actual names instead of a number tag. Today these pups would be formally inducted into the Force as trainee PSKs.
As DIG Sudhakar Natarajan ascended the saluting dais a General Salute was given and the each of the handler lifted the 3 month old pups in their arms. As each pup, cradled in their handlers arms reached the DIG, they were made to wear a special collar with their names on it and were formally commissioned into ITBP by the touch of a silver ceremonial sword on each of the pup’s right shoulder. The eyes of the pups sparkled, as they sensed that this was big day in their honour. Some of the pups started squealing with delight as the DIG put the collars around their necks and lightly kissed the cold silver of the ceremonial sword on their right shoulder.
Galwan, Sasoma , Ane-la, Chip-chap, Saser, Srijap, Charding, Rezang, Daulat, Sultan-chusku, Imis, Yula , Chung-thung Mukhpri , Depsang etc are some of the names that are mentioned by strategic experts when they deliberate on the face-off of Indian troops with China. Now these newly inducted ITBP pups will be proudly called by these names.
DIG Sudhakar Natarajan, ITBP Veterinary Chief said , “ There are three pivotal fundamental reasons for naming our pups with names of strategic locations. One is we are doing away with the practice of giving our K9 buddies westernised names. Secondly, our troops deployed in bone numbing blood freezing high altitude borders would feel a sense of pride when they call out the names enmeshed deeply into our Force’s ethos and glory, instead of calling out to an Elizabeth or a Julius Cesar or Hamlet. Thirdly , these names are a crisp salute to all our troops deployed on our 3488 km excruciatingly tough borders, keeping the nation safe by giving their today for our average citizen’s tomorrow. Imagine the bubbling pride when an ITBP soldier who has served in Ladakh says to his K9, “Galwan beta, Sabash!!”
For the first time Central Armed Forces history, ITBP is now the first Force junk anglicised western names for cute little warrior pups of its world famous K9 wing, that was the only one to be selected by US Marines to be dovetailed for securing POTUS during visit to India half a decade ago, and go for desi names as a salute to all the troops guarding India’s borders. This batch has got catchy names from the Ladakh sector. The next batch of pups will be named after all the strategic locations in the Arunachal border, so on and so forth till ITBP covers the entire 3488 km long border from Karakoram to Jechap La guarded by this elite mountain crack outfit.
By naming these little K9 soldiers with 100 % desi names , that too from the areas guarded by the Force, it is for the first time since independence from the British, that the K9 wing of the country will acknowledge its own legacy and ethos.The ceremony ended with the “First Bara Khana” for the pups consisting of delicious bone broth soup , tempered with powdered nutritious dog kibbles and garnished with puppy milk formula powder.
This is for the first time ITBP PRO Vivek Pandey is releasing the never before seen photos of this unique Pup Namkaran Ceremony. ITBP K9 wing lives by the motto “ Mera Dog , Meri Jaan, Paltan ki Shaan, Desh Kare samman “
/newsnation-english/media/agency_attachments/2024-07-23t155806234z-logo-webp.webp){kind=logo}
Follow Us/newsnation-english/media/post_attachments/images/2020/12/30/38-135.jpg)