Guwahati: Celebrations for the Indian Army’s Headquarters 101 Area’s Diamond Jubilee began on Monday with a solemn ceremony led by Lt Gen RP Kalita, PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, SM, VSM, GOC-in-C Eastern command honouring martyrs at the Shillong War Memorial, Rhino Prerna Sthal.
All ranks of Headquarters 101 Area, including Maj Gen RK Jha, AVSM, the Officiating GOC 101 Area and the individuals who sacrificed the ultimate sacrifice for the country received heartfelt tributes as well.
Following the Chinese attack, on April 22, 1963, the 101 Communication Zone was established with the purpose of providing logistical assistance to all formations and units in the Northeast Region. Despite being a logistical formation, HQ 101 area has the distinction of having participated in actual combat actions. From 1966 to 1969, it actively participated in counterinsurgency operations in Mizoram.
HQ 101 area got the nickname “First in Dacca” for its participation in operations in the Sylhet and Mymensingh districts of the former East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) during the 1971 Indo-Pak conflict. On the morning of December 16, 1971, HQ 101 area was the first formation of the Indian Army to arrive in Dacca.
The 101 Area has developed over time to offer seamless logistic support to Indian Army formations in border areas throughout the whole North Eastern region in remote and difficult terrain. The group has made significant contributions to nation-building, infrastructure development, humanitarian help and outreach to isolated areas.
The GOC-in-C Eastern Command addressed all ranks of the 101 Area and thanked them for continuing the tradition of devoted service to the country while expressing his congratulations on the event. The celebrations included the issue of a commemorative cover and stamp to honour the formation’s 60 illustrious years of service to the nation.
Another high point of the occasion was the unveiling of the busts of Maj Gen Gurbaksh Singh Gill and Maj Gen Gandharv Nagra, who served as the GOC of 101 Area during the war in 1971 and contributed to the Indian Army’s overwhelming victory.
The organisation organised an adventurous bike rally on April 8, 2023 which was launched off by the governor of Meghalaya, Phagu Chauhan as part of its Diamond Jubilee celebrations.
Over the previous two weeks, the “Rhino Riders” traversed the hazardous and difficult terrain of Meghalaya, Assam, Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh.
It’s interesting to note that one woman is among the bike rally’s ten participants. Along its more than 2500km itinerary, the team engaged with civilians, former service members and Veer Naris, exhibiting the Indian Army’s strength and inspiring young minds, including school and college students as well as NCC cadets, to join the Indian Army.
The GOC-in-C Eastern Command flagged in the motorcycle rally on April 24, 2023 in Shillong.