For the first time since 1949, the 75th Army Day will be a first-of-its-kind event taking place outside Delhi. In an interaction with reporters here, Brigadier Lalit Sharma, SC, SM, Station Commander of Pangode Military Station, said, “This time, the Army Day parade will be held in Bengaluru under the aegis of the Southern Army Command.”
On the occasion of Army Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday lauded the Indian Army, saying the soldiers have always kept our nation safe and are widely admired for their service during times of crisis.
"On Army Day, I convey my best wishes to all army personnel, veterans and their families. Every Indian is proud of our Army and will always be grateful to our soldiers," Prime Minister Modi said in a tweet.
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"They have always kept our nation safe and are widely admired for their service during times of crisis," he said.
President Droupadi Murmu on Sunday extended greetings on Army Day, and said soldiers have always pushed the frontiers of valour besides acting as saviours in times of calamities.
"I salute all brave soldiers of Indian Army and their families on this occasion," she said.
Army Day is observed on January 15 to mark Field Marshall K M Cariappa taking over as the first Indian Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army, replacing his British predecessor in 1949.
"On Army Day, let us recall countless stories of Indian Army soldiers’ sacrifices! They have always pushed the frontiers of valour and courage, and also acted as saviours in times of calamities. I salute all brave soldiers of Indian Army and their families on this occasion," Murmu tweeted.
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Why Army Day is celebrated?
Army Day is observed on January 15 to mark Field Marshal K M Cariappa taking over as the first Indian Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army, replacing his British predecessor in 1949.
Originally, the Indian army was formed under British rule on April 1, 1895, and was called as British Indian Army. With India's independence in 1947, it was only on January 15, 1949, that the country got its first Indian chief.
Lt Gen K M Carriappa took over as commander-in-chief of the Indian Army in 1949 from General Francis Butcher, the last British commanderinchief of India.
This transfer of power from the British to India signifies an important moment in Indian history and is celebrated as Army Day. This day also honours the soldiers who have sacrificed their lives for the country.
Army Day celebration 2023
Army Day celebrations from this year have been moved out of the national capital and would be held at the various field commands in the country to facilitate deeper connection with civil society, said the Station Commander of the Southern Command on Thursday.
“He (Cariappa) is one of the only two Army officers to have held the five-star rank of Field Marshal. The other was Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw,” said Sharma.
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As a prelude to the Army Day, the Pangode Military Station on Thursday put on display the latest sophisticated weapons in use by the armed forces and also highlighted the welfare activities it was carrying out in Kerala The Brigadier briefed the reporters on the various features of the sophisticated weapons and camouflage gear which were on display. A music performance by a military band was also arranged.
He said the Army Day marks a day to salute soldiers who laid down their lives to protect the country and its citizens.
He emphasised that the media, known as the fourth pillar of democracy, plays a crucial part in nation-building and also has a strong connection with the armed forces.
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“Media plays an impactful role in the minds of the people and influences them to change their thought process. In today’s world, the media is as equally important as is the armed forces during any war or conflict,” he said.
He gave details of the various welfare measures like Operation Malabar Sahyog, and relief operations that have been undertaken by the Southern Army Command.
(with PTI inputs)
