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Indian Army Day, celebrated on January 15th every year, is a tribute to the remarkable legacy and unwavering commitment of the Jawans of this country. Army Day marks the taking over of General (later Field Marshal) Kodandera Madappa Cariappa as the first Indian Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army.
Illustration by Team Geostrata
General Cariappa assumed command of the army from General Sir Roy Bucher, the last British Commander-in-Chief, on January 15, 1949.
The Indian Army was established on April 1, 1895, alongside the presidency armies of the East India Company, which were further merged in 1903. Post-independence, the Imperial Service Troops, maintained by princely states, were merged with the Indian Army.
Until India gained independence, the "Indian Army" operated under British command. The term "Army of India" referred to the collective Indian Army and the British Army in India. Playing a crucial role, the Indian Army upheld the dominance of the British Empire globally.
In addition to its primary role in internal security, the Army engaged in various theatres of conflict and British overseas expeditions including Jamaica, New Zealand, Sudan, South Africa, Mauritius, Egypt, North America, Burma, the Boxer Rebellion in China, Abyssinia, the Crimean War, the Third Anglo-Afghan War, and the two World Wars.
Upon the Partition of India and Indian independence in 1947, the Indian Army was divided between the newly created Union of India and the Dominion of Pakistan. Since then, the annals of the Indian Army are adorned with tales of valour and sacrifices in various wars and conflicts.
The Indo-Pak wars of 1947, 1965, and 1971, Operation Meghdoot in April 1984 to take control of the Siachen Glacier, and the Kargil War of 1999, during which the Indian Army thwarted infiltrators in the difficult terrains of Kashmir stand as defining moments.
The Indian Army has also conducted many Peacekeeping missions under the United Nations, such as in Congo, Somalia, and Sierra Leone which have highlighted the Indian Army's firm stance towards global peace. Furthermore, since the late 1980s the Indian Army has been consistently involved in countering insurgencies, notably in Jammu and Kashmir and the Northeast.
The Indian Army has always engaged in various disaster operations and stood still during times of crisis as well, such as during the Bhuj earthquake in 2001, the Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004, the Kashmir earthquake in 2005, Cyclone Fani in Odisha in 2019, during the period of COVID-19 in 2020, Uttarakhand flash floods in 2013, where Operation Surya Hope became one of the largest rescue missions, and many more.
The participation of the Indian Army during the period of crisis underscores their commitment and professionalism in addressing such diverse disaster scenarios.
The global landscape is evolving rapidly, and the nature of warfare now deviates from its traditional means, as it now involves the amalgamation of every possible means to meet the desired outcomes. In light of this, modernisation has become the need of the hour. To cope up with this, the Indian Armed Forces need to be at the forefront of these rapid developments.
In the next few years, the operationalization of the theatre commands will be witnessed. It's going to be the most ambitious defence reform in India's modern history, which will bring the tri-services under a single shed. Although the tri-services have coordinated together in the past as well, the implementation of theaterisation will enable better coordination with minimal resources among the Indian Forces.
The Indian Army has declared 2024 as the "Year of Technology Absorption'' in a step towards modernisation and operational efficiency.
This initiative signifies a transformative journey to integrate cutting-edge technologies as well as to cope up with the demands of modern-day warfare. Recently, the country has witnessed substantial progress in adapting to these demands, which gets highlighted with the induction of various UAVs, advancements in communication systems, cyber warfare capabilities, and artificial intelligence integration.
Moreover, projects like SAMBHAV further bolster the Indian Army's commitment to embracing technology as a catalyst for transformative change. The establishment of the Defence Cyber Agency and Command of Cyber Operations and Support Wings reflects their proactive stance against contemporary cyber threats.
The country's feat to become Aatmanirbhar (self-reliance) especially in the defence sector, is displayed through many initiatives and projects that are under development or in trials.
For instance, the development of the 'Zorawar' light tank, the 'DRDO-AD' anti-drone system, AK-203 Assault Rifle, Arjun Mark 1A main battle tank, Pinaka multi-barrel rocket launcher, Third-generation anti-tank guided missiles (ATGM), and many more.
Furthermore, in order to make the armed forces younger and more tech-savvy, the Indian Army underwent complete transformations with the launch of Agnipath scheme. This scheme was praised by many but was equally criticised as well.
As we celebrate the Indian Army Day, we acknowledge the unparalleled dedication of our armed forces. With a legacy steeped in valour and a commitment to embracing technological advancements, the Indian Army stands as the vanguard of our nation's security. Together, as a united and resilient force, we forge ahead into the future, safeguarding the ideals and sovereignty of our great nation, Bharat.
जय हिन्द, जय हिन्द की सेना।
BY AYUSH SHUKLA
TEAM GEOSTRATA