Army Day run at 3 EME Centre, tribute to martyrs

Bhopal: The Army’s 3 EME Centre — located in the salubrious surroundings of Bairagarh — is commemorating the 75th anniversary of Army Day with a mini-marathon, dedicated to the valiant soldiers who made the supreme sacrifice to protect the honour of the country.
Army Day is commemorated on January 15 every year since it was on this day in 1949 that Field Marshal Kodandera M Cariappa took over as the first commander-in-chief of the Indian Army from General Francis Roy Bucher, the last British commander-in-chief of India.The Indian Army’s motto of “Service before Self” and its mission to protect the country from external attacks and internal threats has been aptly carried forward by 3 EME Centre. Over the last 60 years, since its inception, 3 EME Centre has been synonymous with the city of Bhopal.
The journey of the centre, through these years, has been closely linked to the city where both have grown multifold, complementing each other. The 3 EME centre has trained over 75,000 soldiers, who have proved their mettle in all fields — be it military operations, human aid, disaster relief or in sports. People of Bhopal are witness to the fact that whenever the situation has demanded, 3 EME Centre has come to the forefront for them. When tragedy struck on the night of December 2, 1984, at Union Carbide, rescue teams from 3 EME Centre, led by the then commandant, Brigadier (later Maj Gen) MNK Nair, were the first respondents to evacuate residents around the factory. Soldiers from the 3 EME Centre were the first saviours during the Bhopal Gas Tragedy.
The centre continues to stand with the people of Bhopal, saving many lives in fire accidents at Rail Coach Factory (April 22, 2017), Bairagarh Cloth Market (17 Dec 2017) and New Textile Mill (February 22, 2018). Quick Reaction Teams from the training centre assisted the local administration during the train accident at Harda in August 2015. Year on year, flood relief columns from this Centre have extended relief and rescue to local residents of Bhopal and its neighbouring districts during floods.
A sizable percentage of ex-Servicemen from EME have settled down in and around Bhopal after retirement, making it their home. Through them, the centre has blended into the vibe of the city. Recently, to celebrate 60 years of its raising, the Centre organised a series of events to honour its serving and retired officers and jawans.
The centre has also maintained a tradition of excellence in sports. Sportspersons from here have made the country proud at the international level. Subedar Sunil Kumar won the Mr India title (bodybuilding) in 2006, Subedar Srinivasa Rao won bronze in weightlifting in the 2010 Commonwealth Games, and Subedar Major SK Rana was awarded the prestigious Arjuna Award in 2014. The Army Day Run on January 14, 2023, aptly epitomizes this glorious tradition.