Army Chief Gen J J Singh may have visited the Indian Military Academy (IMA) here umpteen times in the past. But this time, when he visited his alma mater just before his retirement on Sept 30, it was for the first time that IMA was holding a farewell function for the Army chief, a new tradition introduced in its platinum jubilee year.
“We will be giving farewell to all the Army chiefs on their retirements in future,” said Col A K Chauhan, the spokesman of IMA which was set up in 1932.
And at the fag end of his career, when the General visited IMA during his two day stay here, the nostalgia and the bonhomie filled the atmosphere. Even the morning drizzle could not dampen the spirit. The functions were held in time despite rains. In the morning, Gen Singh was given a guard of honour by the cadets in front of the Chetwode building of IMA.
 Inside the Khetrapalauditorium, Gen Singh addressed the IMA cadets and asked them to serve the nation with all their dedication and courage.
Accompanied by his wife Anupama, he also inaugurated an exhibition of rare photographs on Tuesday.
 evening.
 which include the historic surrender of Pakistani Gen Niazi at Dhaka. As the General came across his own photo of the Passing Out Parade, he kept looking at it for quite sometime.
Gen Singh also asked IMA Commandant Lt Gen P K Rampal to send some of the rare photographs to army headquarters in New Delhi where they can be displayed at the museum.
Later he participated in a musical function in which famous Sufi singers Wadali brothers rendered some of the lively songs with Gen Singh clapping repeatedly.