The guard of Honour 1997
The guard of Honour 2002

Time moves on so fast. It seems only yesterday when we were doing a full dress rehearsal of Parents’ Day. The year was 1997 and I was making my debut in the role of Chief Guest. Originally, AVM Farooq Qari Air Officer Commanding Central Command was to grace the occasion, I was just filling out for him. I didn’t know that I’d have to play that role many more times. Thanks to O i/c Sports, Sqn Ldr Anwar Ali Chaudhry. I remember:

“ The car cruised towards the front elevation of MI Room to stop between two smartly turned out door orderlies. The one on my left moved briskly to open the rear door of the car. I stepped out and extended my arm to shake hands with the then Commandant, AVM (R) Raja Aftab Iqbal. I was anticipated well and guided towards two freshly inducted students. One of them stepped forward to greet me and present me with a bouquet. I thanked him and handed over the bouquet to the then College Adjutant Flt Lt Ameedullah. He was playing my ADC. The other boy greeted me in a similar fashion and pinned a badge on my coat. He looked a little nervous. I told him to relax and wear a smile. We then moved towards the faculty that had lined up on the passage leading towards the Parade Square. The introduction with the School faculty was led by the then Principal Group Captain M Iqbal Chaudhry. I shook hands with them while they had introduced themselves. At the end of the line, two reception orderlies were waiting to escort us to the dais. With the Commandant on my right I walked up to them. They come to attention and had saluted. Since I was in civies, I did not return their salute but adopted the same stance. Then, the orderlies turned around and marched elegantly towards the dais .The Commandant and I followed them. I stepped up onto the dais and stood there facing the contingent. The Commandant stood two steps behind, towards the guests. In those days it was an ordinary wooden dais and the Chief Guest used to face the DSG Guards’ Barrack. The cemented dais and enclosures are recent developments.

The College Head Boy Umer Chaudhry (1565-Fn) came marching up with a shining sword in his hand. He halted close to the dais and saluted. I received the salute in attention position. He then sought permission and invited me to inspect the Guard of Honour. Two orderlies, the Head Boy and I proceeded for the inspection. The Commandant stayed back at the dais. The inspection was carried out in slow march with the music. After the inspection the Head Boy erected the sword near his face to salute again and marched off to take position in front of the contingent. I followed the orderlies to the dais for the next sequence. The contingent turned right at the Head Boy’s command. The Head boy moved to the front of the contingent. The Flag Party moved and took position behind the Head Boy. The Head Boy marched to the front of the contingent. The stage had been set for the March Past. The contingent took off gracefully and as they reached close to the dais, the Head Boy lowered his sword for the salute. The Flag Party and the rest of the contingent followed him. I received their salute and remained there till the contingent had passed. After the March Past the Commandant and I stepped down to occupy the seats that had been reserved for us.”

The reason for giving all this elaborate description is to highlight the changes that time has brought in the guard of honor presented at School’s Annual Parent’s Day. While the overall sequence remains the same, some of the movements have been excluded from the Guard of Honour during past four years. On 20 February, 2002 Waheed Zafar (2008-S) became the last Head Boy to lead the Guard with a sword and a full-fledged Flag Party. The Guest of Honour on that occasion was Air Vice Marshal Abdul Razzaque Shaheed (795-S), Deputy Chief of the Air Staff (Training). Initially the Guard carried only the College Flag. Then the Champion House Flag was also added. On 08 February, 2003 Hassan M Malik (2146-M) led the Guard unarmed. However, the Flag Party remained part of the contingent. The Chief Guest, Air Marshal Sarfaraz Arshad Toor, AOC Air Defence Command was saluted bare handed. M Mohsin Javed (2188-Sf) led a similar guard during the Parents’ Day held on 18 February, 2004. The Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Kaleem Saadat (697-F) had reviewed the parade. Later certain suggestions were conveyed to the Principal regarding the presentation of Guard of Honour. Consequently, it was decided that henceforth there would be no Flag Party and the boys would not salute, as they did not wear caps. The changes were implemented on the Parents’ Day held recently on 26 February, 2005. It was only this year that the service personnel were requested to come in their working uniforms so as to inspire the young Sargodhians. Therefore, The Vice Chief of Army Staff, General Ahsan Saleem Hyat (447-S) who was the Chief Guest became the first Chief Guest after the revival to come in uniform. Also, all the orderlies wished him “Asalam o alaikum!” and the Guard of Honour marched past with eyes right only instead of doing what was the usual practice.

Other changes made prior to these were pretty drastic as well. For instance the whole sequence has literally been inverted. As mentioned earlier, previously the Chief Guest was received at the entrance of the M I Room; now the Chief Guest arrives directly on the Parade Square. The faculty led by Vice Principal lines up close to the parking area as well. More over when the Principal accompanies the Chief Guest to the dais both face the MI Room. The bouquet presentation and pining of badge were cancelled on the recently held Parents’ Day owing to some undisclosed procedural formalities. I hope the activity will resume. Even in its simplified form the Guard of Honour today carries a military touch in that it is still being inspected; in a truly public school tradition the entire school participates in the march past while the chief guest takes the salute from where he is seated. I wish the tradition to continue because it creates an espirit de corps among those who practice together. The rhythm of their marching feet carries the Sargodhians along their chosen path where they are destined to guard the aerial frontiers of their beloved homeland.

The guard of Honour 2004 The guard of Honour 2005

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