Gen Z, Gen Alpha should address societal issues with national interest foremost, says MP

Gen Z and Gen Alpha should be involved in addressing societal issues, uphold constitutional and traditional values, and keep the national interest foremost in all their tasks, said Capt. Brijesh Chowta, MP for Dakshina Kannada, in Mangaluru on Sunday.Speaking at the War Memorial at Kadri Hills after unveiling a T-55 tank that took part in several armoured battles of the Indian Army, Capt.

Chowta said the tank was not just an armoured vehicle, but a symbol of the sacrifice of innumerable soldiers in Kargil and other battles with Pakistan. The soldiers laid down their lives for a better tomorrow. “Not a single soldier has shown his back but has faced the bullets and has not given an inch of our land to enemies,” he said, and asked the youth to read inspiring stories of Param Vir Chakra awardees.

Asking people to look at the war memorial with honour, he said one should visit it at least once every year. People should come forward to keep the war memorial clean. He said he would make efforts to get a MiG aircraft to the war memorial.

Col. (Retd.) Nitteguttu Sharath Bhandary said the Kargil war was among the armoured battles in which the Indian Armed Forces were involved with Pakistan.

There was young leadership in the defence units that engaged Pakistani forces in the Kargil war, and they pushed them away from all forward posts on July 26, 1999. “The T-55 tank is a sign of the resoluteness of the Indian armed forces,” Mr. Bhandary said.

Dakshina Kannada MP Capt. Brijesh Chowta, Mangaluru City South MLA D. Vedavyas Kamath, and serving and retired defence personnel pay tribute to fallen soldiers at the War Memorial during Vijay Diwas observance in Mangaluru on Sunday.

| Photo Credit: H.S. MANJUNATH Brig.

(Retd) I.N. Rai said that having participated in most operations between 1969 and 2003, he had personal knowledge of the difficulties that the forces face in fighting enemies in high-altitude regions.

Mangaluru City South MLA D. Vedavyas Kamath and MLC Capt. (Retd) Ganesh Karnik also spoke.

Serving and retired defence personnel, along with their family members, take a closer look at the T-55 battle tank displayed at the War Memorial in Mangaluru on Sunday. | Photo Credit: H.S.

MANJUNATH The Soviet-origin T-55 tank displayed at the War Memorial is among the tanks phased out by the Indian Army in May 2011. Apart from the 1971 war, the tank was used in several armoured battles with Pakistan, including the Battle of Garibpur, the Battle of Ninakot and the Battle of Basantpur. It was for its use in the Battle of Basantpur that Tank Commander Arun Khetarpal was awarded the Param Vir Chakra, said the write-up placed next to the tank.

Retired defence personnel thanked Capt. Brijesh Chowta for installing the T-55 tank in Mangaluru. Published - July 26, 2026 07:28 pm IST Read Comments Copy link Email Facebook Twitter Telegram LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit READ LATER SEE ALL Remove