SHILLONG, April 4 - The Assam Rifles today felicitated 76-year-old former Assam Rifles Jawan Naren Chandra Das, the lone surviving jawan who escorted the Dalai Lama to India in 1959.
Das was felicitated by Director General of Assam Rifles, Lt Gen Shokin Chauhan in front of all the Commanders of Assam Rifles during the annual Commanders� Conference of the force at the headquarters here at Upper Shillong.
Lauding the immense service rendered by Das to the force during his service and also during the Dalai Lama�s safe passage to India, Lt Gen Chauhan said Assam Rifles would take inspiration from the services of veterans like Das. He also gave Das a cash award for his service and inquired if the veteran was receiving his pension on time. �The Assam Rifles is always committed towards welfare of its veterans and would continue to do so,� Lt Gen Chauhan said.
In this regard, the DG said the Assam Rifles recently opened the veterans� cell in which ex-servicemen can interact directly and can get their grievances resolved.
On his part, Das was nostalgic and recalled his days in the Assam Rifles and also recalled vividly his journey while escorting the Dalai Lama to India. �This is a warm home-coming for me,� a visibly emotional Das said during the felicitation programme.
Meanwhile, Lt Gen Chauhan urged everyone to carry out an honest and critical self appraisal for long term betterment of the Force during the meeting he chaired with the Commanders.
The Assam Rifles, he said, has always identified with the people of the Northeast and ensured their security and well being. He said the challenge now before the Commanders is to sustain this mutual respect.
