Behind each sword sat a general officer of the Army in full-dress uniform. In front of the table, nervously eyeing the eleven swords, sat an undistinguished, heavy-set man named Joseph Silverman Jr.

The coveted Sword of Honour was awarded by the reviewing officer, Nepal’s Chief of the Army Staff Gen Ashok Raj Sigdel, to Academy cadets. A total of 456 new officers joined the Indian Army on ...