Army celebrates 68th Infantry Day; Special functions held in Udhampur, Srinagar

Srinagar: Army on Tuesday celebrated 68th Infantry Day at its Northern Command headquarters in garrison town of Udhampur and elsewhere in Jammu and Kashmir. The day is observed every year on October 27, coinciding with the arrival of first batch of Indian troops in Srinagar on this day in 1947.

The General Officer Commanding in Chief (GOC-in-C) of the Northern Command, Lt. Gen. D. S. Hooda, laid wreath on the ‘Dhruva Shahid Smarak’ in 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 and beyond, defence spokesman Colonel S. D. Goswami said.

Lt Gen DS Hooda, GOC-in-C Northern Command, laying wreath at "Dhruva Shahid Smarak" in Udhampur (Photo courtesy : Army's Northern Command)

The Infantry, the largest component and the premier fighting arm of the Indian Army, also known as the ‘Queen of the Battle’, is one of the most battle hardened and combat rich forces in the world. “The gallant foot-soldiers have kept alive the rich traditions of valour and sacrifice inherited by them over the generations,” a statement issued by the Northern Command headquarters said. It added, “Full with the glorious history of warfare over a couple of centuries, the infantry proudly continues to play a vital role in managing the security environment of the country.”

Mr. Goswami, added, “The day was celebrated with traditional solemnity and gaiety all across the Northern Command today (Tuesday).” He added that similar memorial services were held in Srinagar.

“October 27 is celebrated as Infantry Day by the Indian Army as it was on this day in 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. 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,” the Army spokesperson asserted.

Army recalled that Pakistan Army had launched ‘Operation Gulmarg’ in early October 1947 using Tribals to annex Jammu and Kashmir. The statement also said, “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 at the Northern Command were marked by laying of wreath at war memorials, Sainik Sammelans and Sainik Bhojs. In his message to the Infantry, Lt. Gen. Hooda, himself the 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 also acknowledged their “tremendous contribution in maintaining the sanctity of the nation’s borders and fighting terrorism in J&K.”

In Srinagar, the 68th Infantry Day was celebrated with traditional solemnity. Rich tributes were paid to the martyrs on this occasion by Chinar Corps at Badami Bagh Cantonment here, defence spokesperson Lt. Col. N.N. Joshi said.

A statement issued by Army here made a special mention of the delay “imposed on the Pakistani marauders by the J&K State Forces led by Brig Rajinder Singh, whose martyrdom day is celebrated on October 26, proved crucial as it gave time to the Army to organise its defences and prevent the invaders from taking over Srinagar.”

It added, “In subsequent actions the Pakistan invaders were repulsed from Kashmir thus thwarting Pakistan nefarious designs and since the entire campaign was predominantly Infantry centric, its commencement on 27 Oct 1947 is commemorated as the ‘Infantry Day’.”