Patna: The four-day 31st biennial conference and 15th reunion of the Bihar Regiment concluded at the Bihar Regiment Centre (BRC) at Danapur cantonment on Monday, bringing together hundreds of serving and retired army officers and personnel from various battalions of the regiment. The gathering celebrated the regiment’s glorious legacy, valour, sacrifice and enduring spirit of camaraderie under the inspiring refrain ‘Once a Bihari, always a Bihari’.The reunion provided a platform for senior officers, veterans and serving personnel to reflect on the regiment’s distinguished military history, recall the sacrifices made by its soldiers during wartime and peacetime, and deliberate on ways to preserve its rich traditions for future generations. The gathering also reinforced the bond between serving personnel and veterans, highlighting the shared values of courage, discipline, dedication and patriotism.According to BRC commandant Brig Rakesh Kumar Bora, the gathering paid tribute to the soldiers who laid down their lives in the line of duty, acknowledging their courage and commitment to safeguarding the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. The felicitation of Veer Naris (war widows) emerged as one of the most emotional moments of the reunion. The officers and audience stood in respect as the widows of fallen soldiers were honoured for their courage, dignity and sacrifice, he said, adding a book based on the warriors of the Bihar Regiment and war widows was also released during the programme.In addition, the formal handover of the baton of the Colonel of the Bihar Regiment from Maj Gen Jai Singh Bainsla to Lt Gen Akaash Johar was another significant moment of the concluding ceremony. The transition drew the attention of officers and jawans present, symbolising the continuity of leadership and the responsibility of carrying forward the regiment’s proud traditions, a BRC official said, adding Colonel of Bihar Regiment first lady Prachi Joshi Johar held a direct interaction with the wives of commanding officers to focus on unity within the Regiment family and extend mutual support to each one.Throughout the four-day programme, serving and retired personnel came together to renew old associations, exchange experiences and celebrate their common identity. For veterans, the reunion offered an opportunity to reconnect with former colleagues and revisit memories of their service, while serving officers and soldiers drew inspiration from the experiences and achievements of earlier generations, a Col-rank BRC official said.
