31 MARCH 2025

1.       The day 31st March 2025 saw two very important and significant events taking place in the premises of Bhonsala Military School and Bhonsala Sainik School, Nagpur. The first event was the unveiling of the bust of Dr Balkrishna Shivrampant Moonje, our Founder Father, and the second being the inauguration of the newly constructed state-of-the-art fully Air-conditioned ‘General Bipin Rawat Auditorium’.

Unveiling of the Bust of Dr B. S. Moonje

2.       The bust of great revolutionary and visionary Dr Balkrishna Shivrampant Moonje was unveiled on March 31, 2025 at the hands of Shri Devendra Fadnavis, Hon'ble Chief Minister of Maharashtra, in the school premises near the Lord Rama Temple, who was the ‘Chief Guest’. Also present on the occasion were, General Manoj Pande, PVSM, AVSM, VSM, former Chief of Army Staff as the ‘Guest of Honour’ and Air Marshal Shirish Deo, PVSM, AVSM, VM, VSM, former Vice Chief of Air Staff as the ‘Special Invitee’. The members of the Central Hindu Military Education Society from both Noshik and Nagpur Divisions, the School Management and few invitees were present for the unveiling ceremony. After unveiling the bust, Shri Devendra Fadnavis, Hon'ble Chief Minister of Maharashtra and other dignitaries offered floral tributes to Dr BS Moonje.  

3.       Dr BS Moonje was a prominent revolutionary and a strong advocate for the militarization of education in India, inspiring generations with his vision for a robust and self-reliant nation. He was an influential figure in Indian history, particularly known for his contributions to the freedom struggle, education and military training. He was a prominent figure in the Indian independence movement and is often recognized for his efforts to mobilize youth and promote nationalism. Dr Moonje was a strong proponent of the idea that military training should be an integral part of education. He advocated Indianisation of the Armed Forces, then under British Rule. He believed that it would instill discipline, courage and a sense of responsibility among students. This philosophy led to the establishment of Military Schools and Cadet Training Institutions. His emphasis on character-building and military training remains relevant in discussions about education today.

4.       The unveiling of his bust is a tribute to his legacy, reminding us of his unwavering dedication to the nation. It stands as a symbol of discipline, courage and national pride, the qualities every young Ramdandee here must imbibe.

Inauguration of General Bipin Rawat Auditorium

5.       A momentous occasion unfolded again on 31st March 2025 when                       Shri Devendra Fadnavis. Hon’ble Chief Minister of Maharashtra inaugurated the state-of-the-art fully Air-conditioned ‘General Bipin Rawat Auditorium’. Also present on the occasion were, General Manoj Pande, PVSM, AVSM, VSM, former Chief of Army Staff as the ‘Guest of Honour’ and Air Marshal Shirish Deo, PVSM, AVSM, VM, VSM, former Vice Chief of Air Staff as the ‘Special Invitee’ alongwith Mr Suryaratan Daga, Chairman, CHMES Nagpur Division; Mr Shailesh Joglekar, Chairman, Bhonsala Military School; Mr Kumar Kale, Member, Governing Body, CHMES; Architect Dilip Chawhan, Member, Governing Body, CHMES; Mr Vivek Ranade, Vice-Chairman, CHMES, Nagpur; Mr Hemant Deshpande, General Secretary, CHMES, Nashik;          Mr Sanjay Joshi, Treasurer, CHMES, Nagpur; Mr Rahul Dixit, Secretary, CHMES, Nagpur, Col Amarendra Hardas, Commandant and host of other invitees.

6.       The inauguration ceremony started off with unveiling the special plaque by    Shri Devendra Fadnavis. Hon’ble Chief Minister of Maharashtra and the lighting of the traditional lamp by the dignitaries. It was followed by screening of a shorts film on Bhonsala Military School, tracing its legacy since inception.

7.       Thereafter, a formal welcome was extended to Shri Devendra Fadnavis. Hon’ble Chief Minister of Maharashtra; General Manoj Pande, PVSM, AVSM, VSM, former Chief of Army Staff as the ‘Guest of Honour’ and Air Marshal Shirish Deo, PVSM, AVSM, VM, VSM, former Vice Chief of Air Staff as the ‘Special Invitee’.

8.       In the commemorative speech, Shri Shailesh Joglekar, Chairman, Bhonsala Military School, stated that the unveiling the bust of founder father Dr Balkrishna Shivrampant Moonje will be a guiding force to the Management, Staff and the Ramdandees to show the correct path in the present and in the future. He further said that the inauguration of ‘General Bipin Rawat Auditorium’ will help imbibe the discipline, valour and principles of General Bipin Rawat. He recalled when Gen Bipin Rawat was the Chief Guest at the Annual Day Program of Bhonsala Military School, Nagpur in January 2019. It was a very proud and nostalgic moment for the school.

9.       Shri Pradip Shinde, a renowned sculptor, who sculpted Lord Rama’s statue in the School Ram Mandir and the bust of Dr Balkrishna Shivrampant Moonje was felicitated by the hands of Shri Devendra Fadnavis. Hon’ble Chief Minister of Maharashtra.

10.     Speaking on the occasion, Air Marshal Shirish Deo, Former Vice Chief of Air Staff and the Special Invitee for the function said, “Bhonsala Military School is progressing on the lines of National Defence Academy (NDA), which instils military ethos from a very young age”. He said that the administration is paying special attention to the quality of education for their students, which is equivalent to the Sainik Schools of the country. He paid glowing tributes to Gen Bipin Rawat recalling few incidents from the past when both of them were serving in the same theatre of operations. He highlighted the astute leadership and strategic forethought of Gen Rawat.

11.     While speaking on the occasion, General Manoj Pande, former Army Chief, and Guest of Honour for the evening, eulogized General Bipin Rawat. He said “General Rawat has done extraordinary work for the country and armed forces. As the first Chief of Defence Staff, his visionary leadership made the armed forces a modern Military, which gained the respect worldwide”.

12.     In his speech, Shri Devendra Fadnavis, the Chief Minister of Maharashtra, and the Chief Guest for the evening, praised Bhonsala Military School for developing courageous officers who are currently serving the nation in various apacities. He remarked, “This school produces numerous soldiers who exemplify discipline.” He further added, “The purpose of establishing the school was to instil military values in society and promote patriotism amongst the youth.” While ennobling General Bipin Rawat, he mentioned, “The auditorium named after General Bipin Rawat will inspire students to emulate him, as he made the ultimate sacrifice for our country.” He also noted, “With the guidance of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, our nation is progressing towards ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat,’ leading us to not only manufacture advanced weapons for our own use but even to export to other nations.”

13.     Mr. Rahul Dixit, Secretary of CHMES Nagpur, proposed the ‘Vote of Thanks’. He wxpressed his gratitude to all the dignitaries and other guests for sparing their valuable time to attend the function in large numbers.

14.     Ms Harshala Rajgire, who conducted the proceedings of the evening as the ‘Master of Ceremony’ highlighted that the inauguration of the auditorium, named after Gen Bipin Rawat, is an attempt to pay homage to a leader who embodied the very ideals that Dr Moonje envisioned for India’s Defence Forces. Gen Bipin Rawat, as India’s first Chief of Defence staff was a stalwart of military modernisation and strategic preparedness, a warrior whose life was not just lived but led, inspiring generations with his fearless spirit and relentless devotion to the motherland. She further mentioned that the auditorium, named after Gen Bipin Rawat, will serve as a centre for learning, discussions and strategic thinking. It will echo with the voices of young RAMDANDEES and future leaders who will walk in his footsteps, carrying forward his legacy of discipline, duty and patriotism.

15.     The lively evening concluded with ‘National Anthem’ followed by interaction with guests over light refreshments.