Auld Lang Syne and the Senior Division March Off at PMA

"Auld Lang Syne" is a famous Scottish song, usually sung and its tune played to bid farewell to the old year at the stroke of midnight on New Year's Eve. But is also usually played and sung at the goodbyes like graduations or even funerals, and as a farewell or ending to other occasions. Its eloquent verses are really heart moving and bring back the nostalgia of past associations and times spent together, specially under similar environment. 

Auld Lang Syne in English simply means "old long since" or, more idiomatically, "long long ago". In fact Auld Lang Syne is remembrance of the days gone by. or simply the old times. While this rather unusual Scottish word is popular in the civilians on gathering and reunions of old pals, it has since assumed a wider usage in the military and the military bands more often than not play it on farewell parties, or bid farewell to fallen friends and specially on military parades, when a contingent is departing after a spell of training or even leaving for combat.

Why I am sharing this song today, I will tell a little later in the post. But if you are not acquainted with this song, read the poetry below: 

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And auld lang syne!

Chorus.-For auld lang syne, my dear,
For auld lang syne.
We'll tak a cup o' kindness yet,
For auld lang syne.

And surely ye'll be your pint stowp!
And surely I'll be mine!
And we'll tak a cup o'kindness yet,
For auld lang syne.
For auld, &c.

We twa hae run about the braes,
And pou'd the gowans fine;
But we've wander'd mony a weary fit,
Sin' auld lang syne.
For auld, &c.

We twa hae paidl'd in the burn,
Frae morning sun till dine;
But seas between us braid hae roar'd
Sin' auld lang syne.
For auld, &c.

And there's a hand, my trusty fere!
And gie's a hand o' thine!
And we'll tak a right gude-willie waught,

For auld lang syne

Herein under is an emotionally charged video of acquaintance never to be forgotten with a tinge of nostalgia with the song Auld Lang Syne playing beautifully synchronized with the scenic expressions:

Coming to why am I sharing this video today. The associations of men in uniform are something that one can never forgot throughout one's life for comradeship is the company and friendship of others with common aims. Men train together and then leave to fight on diverse frontiers, sometimes never to see each other again as treacheries of battlefields consume many of them who departed amid laughter and hearty handshakes and embraces. And this song befittingly fits on military departures in every sphere.

Military academies around the world are one such places where boys in their teens join the rigours of the military life, completely different to the lives they have lived before. Here they undergo strict military training, whether it is raining or snowing, whether it is mud filled trenches or freezing cold winds piercing through one's body when standing on a sentry duty while all his comrades take a nap for an eventful day ahead. They still laugh and cherish the memory of each day that passes by.

And then a day comes when they finally prepare for their graduation ceremony, smartly dressed in the military tunics and marching into the drill squares. After the routine rituals, awards of medals and the coveted sword of honour, the passing out cadets from ranks in the middle of the drill square and slowly move out of the drill square on the tune of Auld Lang Syne beautifully played by the military brass band.

We too once marched on this tune, some forty three years ago, and the heart wrenching tune of Auld Lang Syne made me both sad and happy: sad for leaving such a prestigious institution which transformed us from raw college boys to military men and officers and for leaving the comrades to meet later on battlefield or in training camps, and happy for finally being successfully and proudly joining the armed forces of the country. The nostalgia of marching on Auld Lang Syne remains fresh for as long as a man in uniform lives or later as a veteran. This feeling can only be felt, cannot be explained.

Now herein under watch the passing out cadets of Pakistan Military Academy, marching out of the drill square on the beautiful tune of Auld Lang Syne. For decades the tune is being played during passing out parades held twice a year:

It was a similar day when I too was among my comrades slowly leaving the academy with a tinge of nostalgia that still remains afresh even till day. Some of my comrades have fallen in these forty years, and one's heart laments on their loss for we have once been together, laughing, enjoying and caring each other when undergoing training at the military academy.

I do not know who out of my course mates remains to be the last one alive, but I am very sure if he ever listens to Auld Lang Syne, he will have tears rolling down his cheeks for there will be no one to share the memories of the days we shared together.

To those listening to this and maybe feeling the void that I feel for those that I Love and lost I pray that every coming day brings to you only health, happiness, and Love.

Photos (self) | Resource Reference: Wikipedia 

This post was originally posted in my blog JahoJalal as Nostalgia of Marching Tune Auld Lang Syne

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First Term Introduction Night

The most entertaining feature of the first term, from the rag and tags outside , was the Introduction Night. A night really to be remembered when GCs with their still broken English, or shall we say Punglish (Punjabi + English) introduced them to the the rest of the audience. For our course, the introduction night was held in the B Mess near the Qasim and Salah ud Din company lines. 

Till we get more input from others, let me share a photo wherein GC GM is seen howling at me, acting like a senior. Perhaps this was a cue for him to bark around when he was promoted to the 2nd Term. He would then specially visit the 2nd Pakistan Battalion to "bullshit" the poor juniors. Please note the expression on GC GM's face (facing camera) as he @*&^%$###@ me (photo above). I wish there were present day mobiles in those days to record the videos of such events for later recounts.

Khalid -4 platoon's first group photo with platoon commander Captain Ghulam Nabi

More photos will be added if shared by others

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The Pakistan Military Academy

The two years' stint at PMA was a turning point in the life of those 241 youngsters who joined 55 PMA Long Course and left a life long memorable impression in the life of all of us. While only 179 (including the two Malaysian cadets) of the original 241 could make to the back stairs of the 1st Pakistan Battalion Mess from the drill square with 55th PMA Long Course, this section of the website would still have some of the faces that left PMA in first term or were relegated to 56 PMA Long Course. The span of six months of each term had its varying experience - from kicked-from-all-sides juniors to inters, uppers and finally the seniors has many interesting anecdotes and events to remember.

At the time of joining in of the 55th PMA Long Course, and till many years later, PMA was organized into two battalions: the First Pakistan Battalion (Quaid-e-Azam's Own) - the First Pakistan Battalion (Quaid-e-Azam’s Own)” drives its proud honour from the fact that Quaid-e-Azam was its Colonel-in-Chief - and the Second Pakistan Battalion. Each battalion had four companies (Khalid, Tariq, Qasim and Salahuddin in First Pakistan Battalion and Aurnagzeb, Ghaznavai, Babur and Tipu in Second Pakistan Battalion).

When we joined the Academy, Brigadier Zamir was the commandant of PMA, later replaced by Brigadier Ahmed Kamal Khan. First Pakistan Battalion was commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Riaz Aizad, later replaced by Lieutenant Colonel GM and the Second Pakistan Battalion was commanded Lieutenant Colonel Javed Majeed, later replaced by Lieutenant Colonel Durrani. The adjutant First Pakistan Battalion was Major Tanveer, later replaced by Major Zahid Umar. 

Some of the platoon commanders with 55th PMA Long course included Majors Shujah Ullah Khan Tarrar, Kamal Alam, Mazhar Hussain Ansari, Jammi, SAK Naqvi and Captains Ghulam Nabi, Tariq Tareen, Shaheen Shaukat and S P Shahid. Major Talat Umar who was the WTO also took over Tariq-1 in its days of severe turmoil and rescued it very artfully. Major Khalid Masood, who was also the company commander of Khalid Company, was the Term Commander of 55th PMA Long Course. 

It would be unfair to mention the name of SM Bashir of First Pakistan Battalion - a strong figure and great source of motivation - who received the course at the Abbottabad bus stand and treated the course like his own children. It was sad that he got posted out and was replaced by SM Bhatti, who remained an outsider for the course and later was key figure in relegation of GC Murad just days before our passing out parade.

Before 55th PMA Long Course, each company used to have four platoons, one each of juniors (first term), inters (send term), uppers (third term) and seniors (final term). This arrangement fostered a cohesive combination and fostered a true sense of belonging with the company. But for 55th PMA Long Course, a new experiment was in-waiting. Each course was amalgamated into two companies - Seniors in Ghazanavi and Aurangzeb, Inters in Babur and Tipu (since being even numbered courses these were part of Second Pakistan Battalion, and uppers in Qasim and Salahuddin and Juniors (us) in Khalid and Tariq companies of First Pakistan Battalion. This arrangement brought the wrath on us, specially from the inters who had to come from Second Pakistan Battalion across the PMA Road to bully and rag us.

Sine 55th PMA Long Course was an experimental course, everyone in PMA considered us to be a failure since we had not had the taste of true company system. But it was only time that vindicated their apprehensions - not only maximum of our officers attended C&SC and the NDC, we had maximum representation of DSs in C&SC and NDC besides making 13 two stars - an unbeaten record perhaps.

From now, the story unfolds of  one of the greatest courses of PMA - the 55th PMA Long Course.

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