TODAY is the Army Day. I have been getting its flavour for the last few days as my office is at the entrance of the Army parade ground in Delhi Cantonment, where a grand parade will be held to commemorate this occasion.
Sitting in my office, the sounds of the men rehearsing, the bands playing martial music and the words of command of the contingent commanders, all reach me, some faintly but always in unison. It is bound to be an excellent parade.
The parade will, perhaps, be no different from the earlier ones, except in some additions and some deletions, but in essence retaining its essential character. What will be different, however, will be the dramatis personae, from the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), who will take the salute, to the buglers who will herald his arrival, by sounding the fanfare.
The mix of marching contingents selected for this year will change, to even out the different regiments and corps, but all will be impeccably turned out. They, along with mounted contingents and selected pieces of equipment, will showcase the pride and élan of the army.
So, what will be different about the parade this year? For starters, a new COAS will take the salute and he would also be the first Chief from the Maratha Light Infantry regiment to do so. Secondly and sadly, I will miss the parade.
A couple of years back, as the Western Army Commander; I had the honour of taking the salute at the full dress rehearsal, which continues to be the prerogative of C-in-C Western Command. At that time, I happened to be the first from the Maratha Light Infantry to do so!
It is well known that January 15 was designated as the Army Day, as it was on this day that the first Indian General (later Field Marshal) K M Cariappa had assumed the coveted command of the Indian Army. However, the importance of the day and indeed the parade, go beyond just this historical fact.
The real significance of Army Day is that on this day the officers, JCOs and the rank and file of the Army are honoured. The Chief, in his address, thanks them for their steadfastness, sacrifices, courage and loyalty. He also honours brave individuals, as well as units, which have excelled, by presenting gallantry and distinguished service awards and unit citations for collective achievements of units. I am hoping that this year units which have excelled in providing succor to our countrymen during disasters and calamities, like the tsunami and the massive earthquake in J&K, are also honoured.
The parade in the morning is the formal and ceremonial part of the Army Day. It is followed by a semi formal ‘At Home’ by the COAS, at his official residence, where political as well as civil and military leaders get a chance to mingle with the awardees of the morning.
It is always a memorable occasion, where one meets a very wide spectrum of people, from the President and the Prime Minister, to leaders of many political parties, to a selection of serving and retired military officers and, of course, the decorates of the morning, proudly displaying their well-earned medals and honours. This is perhaps one occasion when the political leaders take a back seat as the day belongs to the awardees.
