11 Gorkha Rifles Regimental Centre celebrates Raising Day

Lucknow, Jan 1 : The 11 Gorkha Rifles Regimental Centre (11 GRRC) celebrated its 71st Raising Day at the Lucknow Cantonment on Monday, an official spokesman said.

The celebration began with the hoisting of the regimental flag by Brigadier Pankaj Singh, Commandant, 11 Gorkha Rifles Regimental Centre, at the Quarter Guard on the centre's premises.

This was followed by wreath laying at the War Memorial. All officers, junior commissioned officers (JCOs) and other ranks of the centre attended the ceremony. The Last Post was sounded after the wreath laying, followed by two minutes' silence for the peace of the departed souls.

At the regimental temple, prayers were offered for the well-being of the regiment, personnel and their families, followed by Special Sainik Sammelan. Barakhana and Pagalgymkhana were also organised, in which all serving and retired Officers, JCOs, other ranks and their families, residing in Lucknow, participated.

The 11 Gorkha Rifles was raised after Independence on January 1, 1948, at Palampur in Kangra valley of Himachal Pradesh. For the last 70 years, the units and personnel of the regiment, no matter where the battle field, have lived up to the call of duty both in war and peace to ensure its motto of "Yatraham Vijaystatra" (We, the Metaphor for Victory), according to an official.

This regiment has an impressive tally of gallantry awards and decorations, which includes one Param Vir Chakra, the highest gallantry award, awarded to Captain Manoj Pandey (Posthumously) during the 1999 Kargil Operation, four Ashok Chakras, 14 Param Vishist Seva Medals, two Mahavir Chakras, three Kirti Chakras, two Uttam Yudh Seva Medals, 19 Ati Vishist Seva Medals, 14 Vir Chakras, 13 Shaurya Chakras, four Yudh Seva Medals, one Uttam Jeewan Raksha Padak, 89 Sena Medals, 31 Vishist Seva Medals and 31 Mentions-in-Dispatch.

The 11 Gorkha Regiment has also been awarded three "Battle Honours" and four "Theatre Honours", three "Chief of Army Staff Unit Citations" and eight "General Officer Commanding-in-Chief Unit Citations".