The Indian Army celebrated its 69th Army Day on January 15, 2017. The day is celebrated every year on January 15 to respect the Lieutenant General of India, K. M. Cariappa (Kodandera Madappa Cariappa) who was the first Indian Army’s Commander-in-Chief.
- General Bipin Rawat, Chief of the Army Staff reviewed the Army Day Parade at the Cariappa Parade Ground, Delhi Cantonment. He also awarded fifteen Sena Medals (including five posthumously) for individual acts of Gallantry and fourteen COAS Unit Citations for commendable performance of their respective units.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 15th saluted the courage and invaluable service of the soldiers and officers. Large number of serving, veteran and civil dignitaries paid homage to martyrs at the Vijay Smarak
History of Army Day
The Army Day is celebrated every year at all the Army Command headquarters and national capital by organizing army parades including many other military shows.
- The day is celebrated to commemorate the day when General (later Field Marshal) K.M
Carriappa took over the command of Army from General Sir F.R.R Bucher, the last British Commander-in-Chief in 1949 and became the first Commander-in-Chief of Indian Army post Independence. - The day is also marked to pay homage and salute to the courageous and brave Indian soldiers who have been sacrificing their lives for protecting the country.
- This day inspires the troops to continue to enrich the glorious traditions of the Indian Army with their dedication and sacrifice. To mark the day, Army Parade will be organised at the Delhi Cantt.
Carriappa took over the command of Army from General Sir F.R.R Bucher, the last British Commander-in-Chief in 1949 and became the first Commander-in-Chief of Indian Army post Independence.Army Day Celebrations
The Army Day begins with paying tribute to the sacrificed Indian army soldiers at the “Amar Jawan Jyoti” at India Gate in New Delhi.
- After paying homage, an excellent parade including military shows takes place to indicate the new technologies and accomplishments in the Indian Army.
- Besides, Bravery awards including Unit credentials and Sena Medals are distributed.
Miracle Man Hanamanthappa Awarded Sena Medal
Lance Naik Hanamanthappa Koppad, the Siachen braveheart, who survived miraculously for six days under huge ice-and-snow debris after an avalanche hit his post before losing his life due to multiple organ failure, was awarded the Sena Medal in New Delhi on the occasion of the Army Day.
- The great soldier’s wife Mahadevi Ashok Bilebal received the medal from Army Chief Gen Bipin Rawat at Army Day parade in New Delhi.
About Lance Naik Hanamanthappa Koppad
Lance Naik was a resident of village Betadur in Dharwad district of Karnataka.He had served for 10 years in difficult and challenging areas out of his 13 years of service. He had also served in the north-east in 2010-2012 where he participated in operations against NDFB and ULFA.
- The Madras regiment soldier was pulled out alive from under 30 ft of ice-and-snow debris where he lay buried for six days on the unforgiving Siachen glacier.
- Named as the ‘miracle man’, the soldier had managed to stay alive for six days in minus 45 degrees Celsius temperature, buried under ice and snow after an avalanche struck his post on February 3, 2016.
- 10 Army personnel, including Koppad, were were buried alive on February 3 in an avalanche in Siachen which is the world’s highest battlefield.
- However, in a miraculously, Koppad was found alive buried under snow in critical condition after six days of rescue efforts.
- Then Lance Naik was flown to Delhi’s Army Referral and Research Hospital for treatment where he died on February 11 due to multiple organ failure, after battling for life for nine days.