Solitary table to remember OTA’s fallen comrades

This is a table for fallen comrades, a gesture to remember the soldiers who made the supreme sacrifice for their country.

An official from OTA said that the table was set up in 2015 by former Commandant of the academy, Lieutenant General Bobby Mathews in the cadets’ mess. “The mess is where the cadets bond with their course mates, which is a sacred period. It is here that they learn how to behave with their seniors as well, learn skills, which stay with them throughout their career. The idea of the table was to inspire the cadets, while also remembering those soldiers, who have sacrificed their lives for the nation,” added the official. 

Each of the elements on the table are imbued with significance. A plaque on the table explained, “The National flag represents our faith and everlasting allegiance to our motherland, even at the cost of our lives. The round table – our never-ending gratitude and faith. The white napkin for the purity of soul and pristine selflessness of our departed comrades. The red rose and ribbon depicts the blood shed for our great nation. The lemon slice for the bitter suffering of those who yearn for you. Salt symbolises the tears of those who silently grieve. Inverted glass and plate – that you cannot partake this meal. Candle depicts the light of hope of reunion some day in a happier land… An empty chair depicts your absence.” The table for fallen comrades was first introduced at the National Defence Academy (NDA) in Pune. Brigadier Krishna Sampath (Retd), an alumnus of the OTA, who passed out of the academy winning top honours in his batch in 1974, said that this was a fine gesture. 

“The table inspires and pays homage to fallen soldiers. This gesture gives a tremendous amount of feeling of camaraderie because the army is like a family. And this is a means to show that we remember the departed souls. The table is a sort of a memorial. Next week, a new batch of cadets will enter the academy. On the tour of the campus, the seniors will show them the table, explaining its significance. At that moment, they will feel a sense of pride – that the institution remembers their fallen comrade,” concluded the office bearer of Officers Training Academy Alumni Association.