Infantry Day is annually observed across India on 27th October by Indian Army to commemorate the contributions of the Infantry, the largest fighting arm of the Indian Army.
- 27th October 2023 marks the observance of the 77th Infantry Day.
Why 27th October?
On 27th October, 1947, the first military event of independent India took place in the Kashmir Valley against Pakistani invaders.
Background:
i.On October 26, 1947, the ruler of (then Princely state) Jammu and Kashmir(J&K), Maharaja Hari Singh, signed the Instrument of Accession(IOA) agreeing to join India.
ii.Pakistani soldiers, disguised as volunteers from the tribal areas of North West Frontier Province (NWFP), entered J&K.
- They aimed to forcibly occupy J&K and integrate it with Pakistan.
iii.On 27th October 1947, the infantry of the Indian army, led by the 1st battalion of the Sikh Regiment commanded by Lieutenant (Lt) colonel (Col) Dewan Ranjit Rai entered the Srinagar airfield in J&K to halt the invasion by the Pakistani raiders.
iv.Lt Col Rai was killed in action, on the outskirts of Baramulla(Kashmir). He was honoured with the Maha Vir Chakra (MVC) posthumously for his gallant action and exceptional valour.
About Infantry:
i.The Infantry (popularly known as the ‘Queen of the Battle’) is one among the four major combat arms of the Indian Army. The other three are
- Armoured Corps
- Mechanised Infantry
- Artillery
ii.It is made up of foot soldiers who use small arms, such as assault rifles, grenades and machine guns, to fight.
iii.They defend the nation along the Line of Control (LoC), Line of Actual Control (LAC) and the International Border..
About Indian Army:
Chief of the Army Staff – General Manoj Pande
Headquarters – New Delhi, Delhi
Established – 1895
