Ravinder Saini,Tribune News Service,Bishaan (Jhajjar), December 26

Army Chief General Dalbir Singh Suhag was accorded a rousing reception by residents of his native village when he along with his wife Namita and children arrived here today first time after taking over the reins of the Indian Army last year.Enthused villagers not only presented him bouquets, but also distributed sweets to celebrate the moment. A function was organised in the village school to make his visit memorable.Earlier, the villagers welcomed the Army Chief by presenting him the traditional turban. Later, Gen Suhag inaugurated a newly constructed hall for indoor games at Government Senior Secondary School here and took blessings of his parents — Ramphal Suhag and Mishri Devi.Speaking on the occasion, Suhag exhorted the villagers to motivate their daughters to join the Indian Army to give a boost to women empowerment, besides providing them opportunity to serve the nation.“I will wait for the first daughter of Bishaan village, who will join the Army. It is my heartiest desire that like sons, people of this village give their daughters a chance to become Army officer,” the Army Chief said, adding that society could not progress without empowering the women.Encouraging schoolchildren to work hard for achieving their goal, Gen Suhag said he had attained the top level of the Indian Army after studying under trees of this school.The students should realise their dreams with strong willpower to make their future bright. “I wish not one but 100 Army Chiefs should come out from Bishaan village to make the village and the state proud,” he maintained.Recalling his childhood days spent in the village, Gen Suhag said he had worked in the fields and played games such as “Gilli-danda” and kabaddi along with his friends. “I used to irrigate fields and helped in harvesting and preparing feed for cattle,” he added.