On the occasion of 69th Army day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi saluted the courage and invaluable service of the Army. All three service chiefs – Army chief General Bipin Rawat, chief of Naval Staff Admiral Sunil Lanba and Air chief Marshal BS Dhanoa – paid tributes at the Amar Jawan Jyoti here at India Gate on Sunday morning.
Army day is celebrated on 15th January every year. But how did we start Army Day celebrations in the first place?
Origins and History of Army Day:
Army Day is observed to commemorate the appointment of Lt Gen (later Field Marshal) KM Cariappa as the first Indian Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army on 15th January 1949 from General Sir Francis Butcher, the last British Commander-in-Chief of India.
Since then, on this day, homage and salute are paid to the courageous and brave Indian soldiers who have been sacrificed their lives for protecting the country.
The day has been marked to memorise the daring and bold Indian soldiers who lost their lives while protecting their nation.
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Celebrations During Army Day:
After paying homage, parades and military shows at all the Army Command headquarters and national capital takes place to indicate the new technologies and accomplishments in the Indian Army. Unit credentials, Bravery Awards and Sena Medals are also presented for gallantry on this occasion every year.
Conclusion:
Indian Army always leads from the front, be it in protecting the sovereignty of our nation or helping citizens during natural disasters.
On this day, serving soldiers take a pledge to this day to maintain their service and protect the nation from enemies whether they are foreign or domestic.
We remember with great pride all the sacrifices made by our Army. They put their lives at risk so that 125 crore Indians live peacefully.
