Infantry Day 2022: History & Significance, Quotes, Why Is It Celebrated?

Infantry Day is observed every year on 27 October to commemorate the landing of the first Indian infantry soldiers led by 1st battalion of the Sikh Regiment in Jammu and Kashmir who lost their lives fighting against Pakistani invaders.  Defence Minister Rajnath Singh greeted and extended warm wishes to the valiant Infantrymen on the occasion. This year, a team from the Madras Regimental Center (MRC) among four will take part in a special bike rally which will cover almost 3,100 km in nine days and will reach New Delhi at the National War Memorial to observe the 75th anniversary of Infantry Day.

The team, which is led by Major James Joseph will be passing through Shivamogga, Belgaum, Pune, Nashik, Mhow, Chittorgarh and Jaipur on the way to New Delhi. According to MRC, the team is going to interact with ESM, NCC cadets, Veer Naris, students and local citizens on the way for paying tribute to the fallen soldiers and raising awareness about the Indian Army among Indian citizens.

Infantry Day 2022 : History and Significance

The Pakistani invaders disguised as tribals and volunteers from the tribal areas of North West Frontier Province (NWFP) were moving towards Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir. Their motive was to forcibly occupy the state and merge it with Pakistan. It was almost impossible to deploy the troops through a link road and the valley was at risk of going into the hands of Pakistanis.

Accordingly, an emergency meeting was held on the night of 26 October where then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru took the decision of sending troops to Srinagar. It was 27 October 1947 when a part of the troops were airlifted with the help of two Indian Air Force aircraft and the remaining ones got lifted by private airline flights. Soon, the first Battalion of the Sikh Regiment commanded by Lt. Col. Dewan Ranjit Rai reached the Srinagar airbase to fight against Pakistani invaders and then he rushed to Baramulla to resist the Pakistani invaders in their tracks where he showed extraordinary courage and determination which is still remembered. He was able to hold them back and at this time, more reinforcements were sent to Srinagar to tackle the enemies. Since then, Infantry Day is celebrated each year to pay tribute to the thousands of infantry soldiers who laid their lives in the line of duty and saved the Indian territory.

Infantry Day 2022 Quotes

1. “The surest way to become a pacifist is to join the infantry.” ~ Bill Mauldin

2. “I think of myself as Special Forces, clearing the path for the infantry.” ~ Geraldo Rivera

3. “What counts is not necessarily the size of the dog in the fight – it’s the size of the fight in the dog.” ~ Dwight D. Eisenhower

4. “The army consists of the first infantry division and eight million replacements.” ~ Sebastian Junger

5. “Infantry, Artillery, Aviation – all that we have – are yours to dispose of as you will. . . . I have come to say to you that the American people would be proud to be engaged in the greatest battle in history.” ~ John J. Pershing

6. “I am in the infantry for 17 weeks and after that, I don’t know where I am going.” ~ Eddie Slovik

7. “The army consists of the first infantry division and eight million replacements.” ~ Sebastian Junger

9. “Never think that war, no matter how necessary, nor how justified, is not a crime.”~ Ernest Hemingway

10. “All front-line combat jobs in the infantry, special operations units and elsewhere are now open to women.” ~ Renee Montagne