Port Blair, Jan 16: Andaman and Nicobar Command (ANC) celebrated the 72nd Army Day today at Birchgunj Military Station, Port Blair. In order to commemorate the Army Day, the Army Component under the aegis of Andaman & Nicobar Command organised various events. During the celebrations, approx 300 service personnel & 80 families & children participated in the mini marathon, 500 saplings were planted as part of a tree plantation drive & approximately 4 km stretch of beach was cleaned. Other events included equipment & band display at Netaji Stadium, weapon display at Campbell Bay, blood donation camp & a wellness lecture at Birchgunj Military Station. The celebrations culminated with Lt Gen PS Rajeshwar, AVSM VSM ADC, Commander-in-Chief Andaman & Nicobar Command (CINCAN), addressing the troops during a Special Sainik Sammelan wherein he appreciated the excellent effort of the Army Component & motivated them to keep the Indian Army flag flying high.
Every year, Indian Army celebrates 15th January as ‘Army Day’ to commemorate the day when Gen (later Field Marshal) KM Cariappa took over the command of the Indian Army from General Sir FRR Bucher, the last British Commander-in-Chief in 1949 and became the first Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army post Independence.
Field Marshal KM Cariappa during his military career spanning three decades was the first Indian Military officer to attend the Staff College, Quetta, the first Indian to Command a Battalion & also one of the first two Indians selected to undergo training at the Imperial Defence College, Camberley, UK. He led the Indian forces on the western front during the India-Pakistan war of 1947 & also commanded the Indian Army’s Eastern & Western Commands before taking over as the Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army.