Mumbai: Indian Army celebrates Infantry Day with solemnity & gaiety

By Rons Bantwal
Bellevision Media Network

Mumbai, 28 Oct 2015: The Indian Army celebrated 69th Infantry Day with traditional solemnity and gaiety all across the Maharashtra on Tuesday October 27.

 

On this occasion, Major General Anuj Mathur, officiating General Officer Commanding Maharashtra Gujarat and Goa Area (GOC MG&G Area) and other officers laid wreath, in remembrance and honor of all members of the Infantry fraternity, who made the supreme sacrifice for the honor and safety of the country. Today, celebrations in the Mumbai were marked by `Sainik Sammelans’ and ’Sainik Bhoj’ for all jawans with veterans in station and other serving officers. In his message to the men during Sainik Sammelan, GOC MG&G Area, who is also the senior-most Infantry officer in station, complimented all Infantrymen for their devotion to duty and indomitable spirit while working under trying and difficult conditions. He acknowledged their tremendous contribution in maintaining the sanctity of the nation’s borders and fighting terrorism especially in Jammu and Kashmir.

 

 

October 27 is celebrated as Infantry Day by the Indian Army as it was on this day (27 Oct 1947) that a Company of Infantry of The First Battalion of the Sikh Regiment was airlifted from Delhi to Srinagar, to defend Kashmir from the invading tribal who were being supported by the Pakistan Army. This action was ordered by the then Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru after Maharaja Hari Singh of Jammu and Kashmir signed the Instrument of Accession, acceding his kingdom, “Jammu and Kashmir” to independent India. Another significance of this day is that it was on this day in 1947 that India as an independent nation was first time engaged in operations against an aggressor.

 

On this occasion, it would be pertinent to recollect that Pakistan Army had launched ‘Operation Gulmarg’ in early October 1947 using tribal to annex Jammu and Kashmir. Hostilities began in early October 1947, when a tribal rebellion was instigated in Poonch in Southwest Kashmir. By 20th October the Pakistani Army entered the conflict in support of the tribal forces. On 22nd October, 1947, a Lashkar of five thousand tribal invaded the Kashmir Valley from Abbottabad. On 26th October 1947, Maharaja Hari Singh signed the Instrument of Accession thus making Jammu and Kashmir an integral part of India and the Indian Army was thereafter ordered to evict the invaders. The entire campaign was predominantly Infantry centric and its commencement on 27 October 1947 is therefore commemorated as ‘Infantry Day’.

 

Infantry is the largest fighting arm of the Indian Army, also popularly known as the ‘Queen of the Battle,’ it is the backbone of the Indian Army and its soldiers bear the main brunt in any battle. Physical fitness, aggression and discipline are the basic qualities required in these men. The Infantry units of Indian Army have been modernized, equipped and trained to make the Indian Army amongst the best in the world.

 

The Indian Army Corps of Infantry has been at the forefront in the entire spectrum of activities from maintaining constant vigil at the Line of Control to combating insurgency, to aiding our fellow citizens in distress while facing various forms of natural calamities and even in restoring peace, order and tranquility in foreign lands as part of United Nations Peace Keeping contingents. The challenges have been unprecedented and unique and each and every time, ‘The Infantry’ as the biggest fighting ensemble of the Indian Army has always risen to the occasion.