Nauni Varsity VC gets NCC honorary Colonel rank

In a notable recognition of academic leadership combined with a commitment to national service, the National Cadet Corps (NCC) has bestowed the honorary rank of Colonel upon Professor Rajeshwar Singh Chandel, Vice-Chancellor of Dr YS Parmar University of Forestry and Horticulture, Nauni. He is among the distinguished company of 19 Vice-Chancellors nationwide, who have been  bestowed with this honour. Prof. Chandel will now hold the title of Colonel ‘Commandant’ of the university’s NCC Wing.

This initiative aims to infuse the NCC’s ethos of discipline and patriotism into university campuses by appointing Vice-Chancellors as Colonel Commandants during their tenure. By nurturing a spirit of national duty among students, the programme seeks to strengthen their inclination towards military service.

Expressing gratitude, Prof. Chandel, himself a former NCC cadet and holder of the NCC B certificate, emphasized the university’s commitment to starting NCC units within its constituent colleges at Neri and Thunag. Currently, the main campus hosts two NCC units with a capacity of 102 and 60 cadets. Under Prof. Chandel’s leadership, NCC activities within the university have flourished, with regular camps attracting participation from cadets from different educational institutions.

Highlighting the diverse career opportunities beyond agriculture and forestry, Prof. Chandel underscored the role of NCC training in developing students’ mindset for service in the armed forces. He said that the university has a proud history of alumni serving in the armed forces and even rising to the ranks of Brigadiers and Colonels. The university aims to facilitate mentorship opportunities between former military personnel and aspiring cadets.

The announcement of Prof. Chandel’s honorary Colonel rank has been appreciated by the university staff and students.