Abingdonboy
ELITE MEMBER
- Joined
- Jun 4, 2010
- Messages
- 29,597
- Reaction score
- 46
- Country
- Location
NEW DELHI: The age-old practice of flinging the cap in the air by general cadets (GCs) after becoming commissioned officers (COs) during the passing out parade (POP) at the Indian Military Academy (IMA) is a thing of the past. The reason? The hologram on the cap while being tossed up touches the ground, which, according to the insiders, is an insult to the Army.
In deference to the cap's honour, the latest batch of 615 GCs, who passed out of the Academy in Dehradun on Saturday, didn't toss their caps in air—a tradition that has roots in the British era birth of the prestigious institution.
Army chief General Bikram Singh reviewed the colourful passing out parade of the cadets that culminates with them becoming COs.
This is a decision has been greeted with mixed reactions in the armed forces, but no one is pushing to bring back the old practice. "There is no effort from the Indian Army to initiate this practice again," said a source. More than 600 GCs pass out every six months from the IMA, and the passing out parade takes place on a second Saturday in June and December.
And, this Saturday was one such day when the parade took place, but when it was time for the GCs to rejoice on becoming COs (lieutenant), they all started doing push ups instead of hurling their caps in air
IMAâ??s cap-flinging tradition bites dust - Times Of India