Excelsior Correspondent
UDHAMPUR, Oct 27: The Indian Army celebrated 65th Infantry Day with traditional solemnity and gaiety all across the Northern Command today.
On this occasion, Lt Gen HJS Sachdev, the Chief of Staff of Northern Command, laid wreath on the “Dhruva Shahid Smarak”, Udhampur, in remembrance and honour of all those members of the Infantry fraternity, who made the supreme sacrifice for the honour and safety of the country in Jammu and Kashmir. Similar memorial service were held all over J&K.
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 liberate Kashmir from the invading tribals supported by the Pakistan Army. This action was ordered by the then Prime Minister Pt Jawahar Lal 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.
Infantry, It 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.
On this occasion, it would be pertinent to recollect that Pakistan Army had launched ‘Operation Gulmarg’ in early October 1947 using tribals 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 tribals 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 commemorated as ‘Infantry Day’.
The celebrations today in the Northern Command were marked by laying of wreath at war memorials, `Sainik Sammelans’ and `Sainik Bhoj’. In his message to the Infantry, Lt Gen DS Hooda, the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (Army Commander) Northern Command and senior-most Infantry officer in the region, 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 in J&K.
Meanwhile, Infantry Day was celebrated in a most traditional and solemn manner at Jammu and Nagrota Garrison. Maj Gen Dushyant Singh laid the wreath at the newly renovated Tiger War Memorial in Satwari and Brigadier NK Airy the senior most Infantry Officer in the absence of GOC, White Knight Corps, Lt Gen KH Singh laid the wreath on his behalf at the `Ashwamedh Shaurya Sthal’ at Nagrota. On this day, sixty seven years ago, in response to the first threat to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of our Nation, the first and finest elements of the Indian Infantry landed in Srinagar and resolutely defended Jammu and Kashmir from falling into Pakistan hands.
This epic battle continues to motivate thousands of officers and men in the olive green to brave all the odds of soldiering. 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.
The highlight of the function was the solemn wreath laying marked by reversal of arms and sounding of bugles at the Ashwamedh Shaurya Sthal and Tiger War Memorial. veterans, serving officers and men paid homage to all the brave soldiers who made the supreme sacrifice in the line of duty.
On the occassion of Infantry Day, a wreath laying and an interaction with the local populace was organised by the RR unit at Baramulla. Wreaths were laid at the Sikh war memorial by Maj Gen Anil Chauhan, GOC 19 Infantry Division, Farooq Ahmed Lone, DC Baramulla and Gh Hassan Bhat, DIG North Kashmir besides other civil & military dignitaries. Subsequently, an interaction was also conducted by the Army with the locals where GOC met people cross all sections of society.
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