Indian Army Day is celebrated on January 15 every year. 15 January 2020 marks the 72nd Army Day.
"You have never lived until you have almost died, and for those who choose to fight, Life has a special flavor, the protected will never know.”
- Capt R Subramanium.
Read the above statement once again, carefully, and slowly. This is an epiphany when we realize how privileged we are to savor the “flavors of life” that we do each day. Often, we wallow in our daily battles that we seldom heed to the selfless soldiers who live and die for our motherland in a location known to none, to protect our privileged life.
A backdrop to the Indian Army:
The Indian Army was founded almost 124 years ago by the British on April 1, 1895. The Indian Army was established on 1st April, and as on 15 January 2020 we are celebrating the 72nd Army day. Confused?
Here is why January 15 every year is celebrated as Army Day-
Army Day is celebrated on January 15 every year in India, in recognition of Field Marshal Kodandera Madappa Cariappa's (then a Lieutenant General) taking over as the first Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army from General Sir Francis Butcher, the last British Commander-in-Chief of India, on 15 January 1949.
During the time of Independence (post-partition), there were riots all over the country with people migrating from India to Pakistan, and vice versa. To maintain equanimity in the country, the Indian Army had to intervene in many administrative problems. This day (January 15) signifies the transfer of power from the British to India, which is a momentous day in Indian history.
72nd Army Day Celebrations:
The Army Command headquarters in Delhi, as well as across the country, celebrate the occasion by organizing military parades and others to showcase strength. The main event is always the parade at Cariappa Parade Ground at Delhi, which will start when the Indian Army Chief- General Manoj Mukund Naravane takes the salute.
The Indian Army has 1.4 million active military personnel. When stacked against the world, India is not far behind the US, China, and Russia, being the 4th most powerful army.
Indian Army Day- January 15 every year; Indian Coast Guard Day- February 1 every year; Kargil Vijay Diwas- July 26 every year; Indian Airforce Day- October 8 every year; Indian Navy Day- December 4 every year; Armed Forces Flag Day- December 7 every year; Vijay Diwas- December 16 every year; these are some of the important dates in the Indian Defence Establishment. Let them just not be dated in a calendar year, but make us understand that we have to be grateful each day to people who give up their lives for our motherland- Bharatha!