OTA Gaya is one of the premier military training institutes where young cadets are trained to become military leaders. For better organization, these cadets are divided into different battalions and companies in OTA Gaya. While most of us have heard about the champion companies at OTA Chennai, today we tell you about those in the Officers Training Academy at Gaya, Bihar.
OTA Gaya
The Officers Training Academy or OTA Gaya is a military training academy situated at Paharpur, Gaya (also known as Bodhgaya) in Bihar. Young men and women who aspire to become commissioned officers in the Indian Army are trained here after they clear the SSB interview.
Established in 2011, the academy only caters to the technical graduates who appear for the SSC Tech entry. Its motto is, “Shaurya, Gyan, Sankalp”, which means, “Valour, Wisdom, Resolve” in English. The academy spans over 800 acres of land and encompasses several facilities that facilitate an officer cadet’s stay.
Battalions and Companies in OTA Gaya
OTA Gaya has two battalions, namely the Batra Battalion and the Khetarpal Battalion. Each of these has four companies, which get their names from some of the most historic battles fought by India. Let us look into each of the battalions and companies in OTA Gaya now.
Batra Battalion
The first battalion is the Batra Battalion, which has been named after Captain Vikram Batra, PVC, who made the supreme sacrifice in the 1999 Kargil War. This battalion has four companies in OTA Gaya.
I. Rezang La
The Rezang La company is one of the companies in OTA Gaya. It is named after the historic Battle of Rezang La, which was fought during the between the Chinese PLA and Indian Army in 1962. The 13 Kumaon Regiment, led by Major Shaitan Singh, PVC, fought bravely against the enemy despite being heavily outnumbered. While India lost the battle, its soldiers proved their mettle through their unwavering spirit and valour.
- Nickname: Rhinos
II. Tithwal
This is another one of the companies in OTA Gaya which gets its name from the Battle of Tithwal, which is a small village in Kupwara, Jammu and Kashmir. The battle was a part of the Indo-Pak War (1947-48) and involved the 1 Madras Regiment and 1 Sikh Regiment. It was this battle which gave India a brave Param Vir Chakra awardee, Lance Naik Karam Singh, PVC as well.
- Nickname: Tigers
III. Hajipir
Hajipir is the third of the eight companies in OTA Gaya. It gets its name from the Battle of Haji Pir Pass in 1965. The pass is located in the Pir Panjal range, and the Indian Army’s 19 Infantry Division led a pincer attack against the enemy, devastating it to the core, and occupying the pass. However, Haji Pir was returned to Pakistan later.
- Nickname: Hawks
IV. Longewala
The 1971 Battle of Longewala is a battle that almost everyone remembers and this is where the Longewala company gets its name from. It was fought by 23 Punjab Regiment under Major Kuldip Singh Chandpuri, MVC, VSM, who put up a brave front against over 2000 Pakistani soldiers and 40-45 tanks.
- Nickname: Lions
Khetarpal Battalion
Next is the Khetarpal Battalion, which has been named after the brave 21-year-old Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal, PVC, who laid down his life in the Battle of Basantar during the 1971 Indo-Pakistan War. This too, has four companies in OTA Gaya.
I. Gurez
Next is the Gurez company, which gets its name from the Battle of Gurais, also known as Operation Eraze, in the Gurez Valley of Jammu and Kashmir during the 1947-48 Indo-Pak War. The Grenadiers and Gorkha Rifles played a crucial role at this juncture and stopped the advances of the Pakistan-backed militia and Gilgit Scouts.
- Nickname: Gladiators
II. Dograi
This is the next one in the list of companies in OTA Gaya and has been named after the Battle of Dograi (1965). This battle occupies a special place in India’s military history as 3 Jat Regiment, led by Lt Colonel Desmond Hayde, MVC, led the charge into Pakistani territory, and captured Dograi, which was just 13 kilometres from Lahore.
- Nickname: Daggers
III. Kalidhar
Now we talk about the Kalidhar company, which is the seventh of the eight companies in OTA Chennai. It derives its name from the 1965 Battle of Kalidhar, fought in Jammu and Kashmir. The 6 Sikh Light Infantry and 1 Madras Regiment recaptured strategic heights like Malla and Twin Pimples against the enemy during this conflict bravely.
- Nickname: Knights
IV. Basantar
Lastly we have the Basantar company, named after the Battle of Basantar in which Second Lt Arun Khetarpal, PVC, was martyred. This battle was not the usual hand-to-hand combat but included tanks in the Shakargarh sector. Despite being injured, Second Lt Khetarpal did not abandon his tank and attacked Pakistani tanks with precision before making the supreme sacrifice.
- Nickname: Bisons
Final Thoughts
This was the complete list of companies in OTA Gaya. Despite having different names and commemorating different battles, each of the companies uplifts the motto of Officers Training Academy, Gaya and instills the very same ethics in cadets which it propounds.
