Oune Salutes the brave-hearted foot soldiers

Serving, retired army officers pay tribute to the heroes of infantry
It is on 27 October, 1947 that for the first time after India’s Independence, the Infantry men went into a battle with Pakistan. The Sikh and Kumaon regiments of the Indian Army landed in Srinagar to protect the valley from invasion. The day is observed in commemoration of the first infantry soldier, who had fallen in the battle. We have a ceremony at the War Memorial, next to the Sub-Area headquarters in Pune.

Serving and retired army officers pay tributes to the heroes of the infantry, laying wreaths at the war memorial. A Raising Day is the birth day of an army unit or regiment, whereas Infantry Day is to remember the members of the armed forces who died in the battle.

The usual practice of spending some time at war memorial in remembrance of comrades is observed only by army people. I would say it must be observed by everyone all over the country.         

Lt Gen (Retd) RK Nanavatti of 8th
Gorkha Rifles

Infantry Day should not only be observed by Army but also citizens
Infantry Day is observed because on this day, our soldiers landed in Kashmir and saved Srinagar airport, otherwise Kashmir would have been lost. The irony is that we got our Independence through peaceful means, but just two months after Independence, we had to use force and violence to safeguard our sovereignty.  Subsequently our infantry, which is our foot soldiers, lost many lives.

Our foot soldiers have been active throughout the wars that followed. In 1954, during the Nagaland insurgency, Indian troops had to fight the Naga rebels. During the 1962 China War, it was the foot soldiers that battled the enemy braving the harsh weather. The Infantry was armed only with .303 Le Enfield rifles and not automatic rifles.

Close to 2,000 infantry soldiers lost their fingers and hands due to the extreme cold weather. The infantry soldiers have been on the forefront and always played a major role in all the battles, including facing the brunt of insurgency and militancy in Kashmir. Therefore, Infantry Day should not only be observed by Indian Army but also citizens should acknowledge the sacrifice given by these soldiers for India’s sovereignty.
Col (Dr) Anil Athale, (Gorkha Regiment) and Former Head of War History Division, Ministry of Defence

Soldiers pay tribute to their brothers who laid down their lives
We soldiers observe every day in remembrance of our brothers who sacrificed their lives for the nation and it is not only limited to the Infantry Day. However, on Infantry Day, soldiers remember the brave ones who laid down their lives to defend the honour of the country. I have always insisted that every citizen of India must observe this day in remembrance of soldiers who sacrificed their lives. In Punjab and Haryana, everyone observes Infantry Day and pay tribute to the families of the lost soldiers. I feel in Maharashtra too, citizens must pay respect to the soldiers who have lost their lives in wars.    

Col (Retd) Sadanand Salunke, Vir Chakra (Maratha light infantry Regiment)

‘The infantryman stood silent with victory at his feet’
It was the year 1947. The then princely state of Jammu and Kashmir was under attack by the tribal raiders supported by troops of the newly formed Pakistani army. On October 26 Maharaja Hari Singh, the ruler of the state, had signed the instrument of accession and appealed to the Indian government for help and the saga of the struggle in the J&K began. It was on the morning of October 27, 1947, troops of the First Sikh infantry battalion landed at the Srinagar airfield for liberation of Kashmir. Since then, to commemorate that landmark event, each year October 27 is observed by infantry regiments of the Indian Army as the ‘Infantry Day’.

The infantry component of the army has always been in the forefront during external aggression or while combating the internal fissiparous tendencies. It is the ‘sword arm’ of our army. Our troops have to fight the enemy in varied climatic and topographic conditions; from the deserts of the Thar & Rann of Kutch to the snow bound Himalayan peaks to the jungles of the NorthEast to the sea shores of the Andaman- Nicobar. In all these places it is the infantry, supported by the other fighting arms and the logistic services, which is always in the forefront.
The infantry arm accounts for 60% of the strength of the Indian Army. Majority of our infantrymen belong to the rural background. Even though comparatively less educated, they are quick to learn the ‘art of war’.

Mere advancement in technology and computerisation do not instill courage, tenacity and bravery in any soldier. These qualities are instilled in an infantryman during his basic training itself.
I end my tribute to the infantry with a quote from the great Field Marshal Wavell. He says: 

“When it was the victory, the cavalier claimed it outright, the gunner boasted of his calibre but the infantryman stood silent with victory at his feet.”

Lt Col (Retd) BC Joglekar