PUNE: The National Defence Academy (NDA), Khadakwasla, has honoured one of its earliest passouts, Rear Admiral Santosh Kumar Gupta (Retd), a 1971 Indo-Pak war veteran, by naming an ante room attached to the cadet mess after him.
The new facility is meant for hosting VVIPs and guests visiting the tri-services defence training academy. Gupta, who had joined the NDA in 1953, told TOI, “It was a pleasant surprise for me when I got to know from the NDA about the naming of this facility after me. It is an emotional and proud moment for me today.”
The war veteran inaugurated the facility on Tuesday in the presence of NDA commandant Air Marshal Sanjeev Kapoor and other senior officials.
Gupta is a recipient of Mahavir Chakra, the second-highest military decoration in India, for his contributions to the Indo-Pak war in 1971. He was the Commanding Officer (CO) of a naval air squadron operating from INS Vikrant during the war. He is also a recipient of the Nao Sena Medal (Retd).
The NDA has been following a tradition, for the past several years, of naming its heritage buildings and facilities after its veterans and war heroes who displayed exemplary courage and dedication to duty in the face of the enemy in various operations. One such gallant hero is Admiral Gupta, who is also a recipient of the Nao Sena Medal (Retd), said the NDA officials.
