INDIAN ARMY COMPLETES 69 GLORIOUS YEARS

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Pune – The Army Day is celebrated every year on 15 January to mark the taking over of the Indian Army by the first Indian Commander-in- Chief, Lieutenant General (Later Field
Marshal) K M Cariappa, OBE, on the 15 January 1948. He took over the reins of the Indian
Army from Lieutenant General Sir Francis Butcher, KBE, CB, MC, the last British
Commander-in- Chief. The day is marked by ceremonial events all over India. To
commemorate this momentous occasion the Southern Command organised a wreath laying
ceremony at National War Memorial at Pune to pay homage to those who made supreme
sacrifice while safeguarding the sovereignty of the nation. The event was graced by
Lieutenant General DR Soni, Vishist Seva Medal, Aide-De- Camp, General Officer
Commanding-in- Chief, Southern Command.

The Southern Command was formally raised on 01 Apr 1895. Its Headquarter has
remained in Pune ever since.The Southern Command which is responsible for guarding the
Western and Southern borders, has taken part in all major military operations since
independence. The command has also provided succor to the citizens in times of natural
calamities and other disasters.

The Command was largely responsible for Junagarh and Hyderabad signing the
Instruments of Accession to India. The process of nation building also saw the Southern
Command playing a stellar role in the liberation of Goa from the Portuguese in 1961. The
Command played a important part in the 1965 war with Pakistan. The Southern Command
gave an outstanding account of itself in 1971 Indo-Pak war. The legendary battle of
Laungewala was fought in the Jaisalmer sector under the Command. The offensive
launched by the Southern Command in Khokrapar and Gadra City in West Pakistan was
instrumental in capturing nearly 9000 square kilometers of Pakistani territory in the Barmer
Sector which was the largest area captured in the Western Theatre while the major part of
the war was fought in the Eastern Theatre.

The Command has provided relief to the citizens on a number of occasions when
nature’s fury or man-made disasters have struck the citizens in the Southern part of the
country. Be it the Bombay Dock Worker’s Strike in 1947, the Koyna earthquake of 11 Sep
1960, the Khadakswala Dam burst of 1961, earthquake in Latur in 1993 or Bhuj on 26 Jun
2001, the Tsunami disaster of Dec 2004, the 26/11 attacks on the economic capital of India,
Mumbai or floods which have ravaged various parts of India every year, the Southern
Command has always been there to help those who were affected. Infallible and
indefatigable soldiers of Southern Command have always put their lives at risk to save the
helpless victims. In 2017 itself, the soldiers of Southern Command were called out to
provide rescue and relief when floods devastated Gujarat and Rajasthan in July-August
2017. Post the Elphinstone Railway Station stampede, the Sappers of Southern Command
have been given the onerous responsibility of constructing three Foot Over Bridges (FOBs)
at Elphinstone Road, Currey Road and Ambivilli Railway stations in Mumbai.

The Southern Command also has the proud privilege of being home to some of the
best training establishments of the Indian Army like the National Defence Academy at
Pune, School of Artillery at Deolali, Officers Training Academy at Chennai, Armoured Corps
Centre and School at Ahmednagar, College of Military Engineering at Pune etc. In all,
there are 23 major training institutions located in the Southern Command. A large number
of international and national level sportspersons have been trained in Army Sports
Institute(ASI) and Army Rowing Node (ARN)located at Pune.

The Command has also initiated a number of welfare measures to take care of the
veterans and veer naries residing in its area of responsibility. The formation remains
steadfast in furthering the cause of the Indian Army to take care of all personnel associated
with it, both serving and retired and their families.

As the Army celebrates the 70 th Army Day on 15 Jan 2018, the brave officers and
soldiers of the Southern Command resolve to uphold the greatest traditions of the Indian
Army and serve the Nation and its people without any consideration to their personal safety
or comfort.