The Sabha forged a unique partnership with the armed forces. It is for the first time that a civil society engaged in furthering fine arts has joined hands with the armed forces to celebrate the Independence and Republic day each year for the welfare of the armed forces. The General Officer Commanding (Maharashtra, Gujarat and Goa) headquartered at Mumbai represents the Armed forces in the celebrations. The Independence Day is devoted to “Martyrs”. Families of the men in uniform who sacrificed their lives in the cause of the nation and hailing from this command area are honoured and given a solatium of Rs. 2,00,000/- each and mementos worth Rs. 50,000/-. The function is witnessed by men from the forces in this area alongwith their families. The army band plays on the occasion. The GoC presides over the function. On the 26th January each year, the Republic Day celebrations are devoted to the “Wounded Warrior”. Army men incapacitated to varying degrees of disability while defending the nation are honoured on the occasion.

Over the years, several martyrs families and disabled war veterans have been honoured.

The felicitation was accepted by :

The Theatre Group of the Sabha presented a thought provoking short skit “I Love My India”. Hymn Humanity, a charity band of the SIES Institutions was inaugurated with a maiden show on that day.

26.1.2018

The day coincided with the commencement of the centenary celebrations of President Emeritus of the Sabha, Dr. V. Subramanian On 29th September 2003, he shed his mortal coil and attained the lotus feet of the Almighty. Even though he is not in our midst in flesh and blood, his presence will always smoulder in our heart and reflect in our deeds to keep the torch he lit alive forever. A bust of Dr. Subramanian was unveiled in the ground floor foyer on 26th January 2004. The Talent Promotion Concerts have been renamed in his memory. In his honour, a memorial lecture is held each year on the 26th January, the date of his birth. The lectures are on subjects of philosophy, attitudes and values etc. The inaugural lecture was delivered by Dada J. P. Vaswani on 17.12.2005. Eleven Memorial lectures have been held till now. The Centenary celebrations of Dr. V. Subramanian commenced on 26th January 2018. The Paraplegic unit of the Indian Army at Khadki attended the function.

The following Army personnel suffering various degrees of disability due to war were felicitated on the occasion.

Lt. Gen. Vishwambhar Singh, AVSM, VSM, General Officer Commanding, (Maharashtra, Gujarat & Goa) and Colonel Commandant, The Madras Sappers presided over the function. A large contingent of Army men and their families witnessed the function. The Sabha donated a sum of Rs. 10,00,000/- to the paraplegic unit of the Indian Army. Ms. Abilasha Gautam’s rendering of ‘Aye Mere Watan Ke Logo’ moved the audience to tears. Ability Unlimited from New Delhi presented ‘Unstoppable’ by differently abled artistes.

The Centenary celebrations of Dr. V. Subramanian commenced on 26th January 2018. The Paraplegic unit of the Indian Army at Khadki attended the function.

The Sabha celebrated the 71st anniversary of the Independence of the country in association with the General Officer Commanding (Maharashtra, Gujarat and Goa) area of the Indian Army on the 15th August 2018. The celebrations were presided over by Brigadier Pradeep Kumar Hasija, M.D., D. M. (Cardiology), Brigadier MG & G Area, Mumbai. 71 students of the Sangeetha Vidyalaya rendered the full five stanzas of the National Anthem. The Sabha honoured six Veer Naaris of uniformed men from the Maratha Light Infantry and other regiments under this command area who laid down their lives for the cause of the nation during the previous year ended 31st March 2018. The families came mainly from Western Maharashtra. They were given a solatium of Rs. 2,00,000/- each alongwith mementos of daily use. The armed forces from this GoC area together with members of their family were present in large numbers to witness the independence day celebrations.

The evening function was dedicated again to the ‘Wounded Warrior’. Lt. Gen. S. K. Prashar, VSM, AVSM, General Officer Commanding (Maharashtra, Gujarat & Goa) Area presided. 10 ‘Wounded Warriors’ from Artificial Limb Centre, ALC Commandant, Pune were felicitated. The Artificial Limb Centre was established in 1944 to meet the prosthetic and orthotic requirements of disabled personnel of the armed forces. Today, it covers civilians as well. The Sabha donated a sum of Rs. 10,00,000/- to the ALC Commandant, Pune for developing its activities for the welfare of the armed forces.

The Sabha felicitated the following disabled army men from the Artificial Limb Centre (ALC), Pune.