:hap2:Malayalam Superstar Mohanlal is now Lt.Colonel Mohanlal:hap2:
Malayalam superstar Mohanlal who portrayed a brave soldier in the war movies Keerthichakra (2006) and Kurukshetra (2008), will don the Army's Olive Green, this time for the real.He has officially joined the civilian's voluntary army force Territorial Army as a Lieutenant Colonel.
He was commissioned Today by the Army chief, Gen. Deepak Kapoor,who pinned The Ashoka Lion and star on Mohanlal's shoulders at a ceremony in Delhi today
Mohanlal will be part of the 122 Infantry Battalion (Territorial Army) of the Madras Regiment or Kannur Terriers.
In preparation to don the Olive Green, Lal had visited Kargil a couple of months ago to undergo training and to be fit to accept the honorary rank of Lt. Col.
After the commissioning, Mohanlal visited Union Defence Minister AK Antony at his office. "This is one of the most precious moments of my life, and I will do all I can for the good of the nation, in the true spirit of a soldier," said the superstar.
The 49-year-old actor had in October said that he was interested in joining the Territorial Army. Rules had to be amended to accommodate the national award winning actor as men above the age of 42 are not eligible to join the volunteer force.
The Territorial Army is a voluntary part-time civilian force that plays a key role in the defence of the country. It provides an opportunity to civilians to receive military training and also provides the country with a reserve force that can assist the regular army during operations, whenever required. However, it remains an honorary post.
Under the TA system, citizens from all walks of life can volunteer for `part-time military service' while pursuing their regular professions during peace-time.
In the event of national emergencies, they may be called upon to become `full-time' personnel to act in a supporting role to regular Army units deployed to meet the country's defence and internal security requirements. The Territorial Army has taken part in the 1971 India-Pakistan war besides serving in several areas over the last 60 years.At present, the TA has 42 infantry battalions.
After former cricket captain Kapil Dev, Mohanlal is the second big celebrity to join the Territorial Army.He has acted in hit movies like Kirti Chakra and Kurukshetra.Incidentally,Kurukshetra was based on the Kargil war in 1999 and the actor played the role of a commando after which in October Mohanlal had expressed his desire to join the army.
