Indian Army Day is annually observed across India on January 15th to commemorate the day on which Field Marshal Kodandera M Cariappa (KM Cariappa) took charge as the first Indian Commander in Chief (C-in-C) of the Indian Army.
- 15th January 2022 marks the observance of the 74th Indian Army Day.
Note:
The Indian Army’s theme for the year 2022 is “In Stride with the Future.”
Background:
i.Following India’s Independence in 1947, on 16th January 1949, India got the first-ever Indian chief.
ii.In 1949, Lt Gen KM Cariappa succeeded General Francis Butcher, the last British commander-in-chief of the Indian Army, as commander-in-chief of the Indian Armed Forces.
iii.The day on which the British handed over the authority to India is observed as Indian Army Day.
About KM Cariappa:
i.KM Cariappa, fondly known as ‘Kipper’, was born on 28th January 1900, Mercara state, now Karnataka.
ii.He had led his troops in World War II(WW2) and the first Indo-Pak war of 1947.
iii.He is one of only two Indian Army officers to hold the five-star rank of Field Marshal, the other being Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw.
iv.He retired from the Indian army on 14th January 1953, the day is celebrated as Armed Forces Veterans Day in India.
v.After his retirement, he served as the Indian high commissioner to Australia and New Zealand until 1956.
vi.He also founded the Indian Ex-Servicemen’s League (IESL) in 1964.
vii.He also played a major role in setting up the Directorate of Resettlement (now Directorate General Resettlement).
Honours:
i.He was honoured with the prestigious Order of the British Empire (OBE) for his role in Burma against the Japanese force during WW2.
ii.He also received the ‘Order of the Chief Commander of the Legion of Merit’ – the first-ever award of its kind given to an Indian General, by President Harry Truman (33rd President of United States, (US)).
Events:
i.The chiefs of the tri-services, General Naravane (Army), Air Chief Marshal V R Chaudhari (Air Force), and Admiral R Hari Kumar (Navy), paid homage at the National War Memorial, New Delhi.
ii.Chief of the Army Staff(COAS) General Manoj Mukund Naravane reviewed the Army Day Parade at the Cariappa Parade Ground, Delhi Cantonment. He also awarded 15 Sena Medals (including five posthumously) for individual acts of gallantry and 23 COAS Unit Citations to units for their commendable performance.
iii.On the occasion of the Army day, the Indian army unveiled its new combat uniform for the first time in Public.
- The commandos of the Parachute regiment clothed in the new uniform marched at the parade ground in Delhi Cantt on Army Day.
- The new uniform featuring the digital camouflage pattern, was created in association with the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT).
Highlights:
i.A song titled ‘Maati’, sung by singer Hariharan, dedicated to the Army and the Nation was released during the event.
ii.The Indian Army unveiled the world’s largest Khadi national flag of size 225 feet by 150 feet, ashoka Chakra of diameter 30 Feet, at Jaisalmer Military Station, Rajasthan. The flag made up of 100% Khadi material, was created by Khadi and Village Industries Commission(KVIC).
- This marks the 5th public display of the flag since it was unveiled in Leh on 2021 Gandhi Jayanti (October 2).
- The Flag will be displayed at Longewala which was the center stage of the historic 1971 India Pakistan battle.
iii.On the occassion of the Army Day 2022, Army chief Manoj Mukund Naravane released the United Nations(UN) Journal of the Indian Army titled “Blue Helmet Odyssey”.
- The journal defines the UN Footprints of the Indian army and its commitment towards UN Peacekeeping.
