Indian Army Day 2024: In service of the nation
Indian Army is celebrated on 15 January every year to recognize the recognition of Kodandera M.Cariappa, when he took over as the first commander-in-chief of the Indian Army from General Francis Bucher on 15 January 1949. The theme of this year is “In service of the nation”.
The credo of the Indian army says, “The safety, honor, and welfare of your country come first, always and every time. The honor, welfare, and comfort of the men you command come next." These are the essential pointers that the foundation of our Indian army serves on. They stand as prime examples of courage, discipline, and sacrifice. The Indian Army holds fourth rank out of 145 countries on the “Global Firepower Index” which indicates India as the fourth strongest force in the world following the US, Russia, and China.
History of the Indian Army
The foundation of the organized military has its roots in ancient times when emperor Chandragupta Maurya formed an organized military force. Since then, the establishment of the military forces took place, however, it only gained stability during the Gupta period. Later in the sultanate period military forces were centralized.
By the time the colonial period began, it was the efforts of European colonizers that military units were formed. British East India Company then employed private armies which laid the foundations of the Indian army, which later was known as the British Indian Army and eventually became the “National Army”.
There were several turning points in the history of the Indian Army, the major one was in 1857 during the sepoy mutiny. But even then, the army continued to play its part with honesty and for the welfare of Indians.
The Indian Army played a major role during both World War 1 and World War 2 and in every other major war, where the Indian Army could serve India and protect it. Examples are the partition of India, the India-China War, wars between India and Pakistan, various other peacekeeping missions, and till today, protecting the borders of India from all its land, maritime, and airspace boundaries.
Indian Army theme 2024: In service of the nation
The theme for this year's Indian Army Parade is “In Service of the Nation” which is synonymous with the essence of the Indian army’s motto in general. This year the 76th Indian Army Day will be celebrated in Lucknow. The decision to celebrate the day in Lucknow is to broaden the event's reach to other states of India, than its usual chosen Delhi. A Shaurya sandhya will take place as a part of the event as a cultural evening and various other activities to showcase the strength, valor, and commitment of the Indian Army.
What is the significance of Indian Army Day?
The celebration of Indian Army Day holds great significance as it commemorates the establishment of the Indian Army. This day marks the day when General K. Cariappa took over as the first Indian commander-in-chief of the Indian Army from General Sir Francis Butcher in 1949. This was a major step towards Indianisation of the Indian Army. This alone is enough to show the world that India is now confident enough to protect its boundaries from any foreign nations' attack. The day also celebrated national integration as army personnel from various backgrounds came to the ceremony and formed a common military to lead as one. This was the day when colonial era military rule ended and a new sovereign India took control of its nation completely.
Role of the Indian Army in National Security
The guardians of our nation, the Indian army not only fights wars and protects us but also plays a pivotal role in stabilizing peace on a day-to-day basis. Their role during natural disasters is unparalleled, they take search, rescue, and relief operations. Their immediate actions during natural calamities have always been our pride. Now and then, we hear news about intruders trying to enter India illegally. Therefore, there is a need for constant vigilance on our water and land boundaries. Apart from the two wars with Pakistan, even now, we have land boundary issues with Pakistan. We have a similar issue with China as well.
India also faces militancy in our land in Kashmir and Northeast India. The difference in ideologies in matters of policies, land distribution, and other issues brings major disturbances in these areas and our army stays active in these areas. Our army is 24*7 protecting us on the borders and maintaining peace and stability in the country.