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January 15 marks a special day for India as it celebrates Indian Army Day. This day is dedicated to honoring the brave men and women who serve in the Indian Armed Forces, protecting their country and its citizens. The first Indian Army Day was celebrated in 1949, commemorating the day when Field Marshal K.M. Cariappa took over as the first Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army from British General Sir Francis Butcher. Today, we celebrate this day with pride and gratitude for all that our soldiers do for us. Let's take a moment to appreciate their sacrifices and show our support for their service on this important day.
<div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1947</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>India Gains Independence</div><div class='timeline-text'>India gains independence from British rule on August 15, 1947, leading to the need for an independent military.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1948</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>First Indian Army Chief</div><div class='timeline-text'>General Kodandera Madappa Cariappa was made the First Indian Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army taking over from General Sir Francis Butcher, the last British Commander-in-Chief of India, on 15 January 1948.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1949</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>First Army Day</div><div class='timeline-text'>India celebrates its first Army Day on January 15, 1949, marking the day General Cariappa took over as the first Indian Army Chief.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1962</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Indo-China War</div><div class='timeline-text'>The Indian Army faces its first major conflict since independence during the Indo-China war in 1962, testing its strength and resilience.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1971</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Victory in Indo-Pakistan War</div><div class='timeline-text'>The Indian Army plays a crucial role in the decisive victory against Pakistan in the 1971 war, leading to the creation of Bangladesh.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1999</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Kargil War</div><div class='timeline-text'>The Indian Army overcomes major challenges to reclaim lost territory during the Kargil war, reaffirming its strength and commitment to the country's security.</div></div></div>
<div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>1</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Attend a parade</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Join in the festivities by attending a parade in your city or town to honor and celebrate the Indian Army. You can cheer on the troops and show your support and gratitude for their service.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>2</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Thank a soldier</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Take the time to personally thank a member of the Indian Army for their bravery and sacrifice. You can write a letter, send an email, or even just say a simple thank you when you see them in public.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>3</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Donate to a veteran's organization</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Show your support for the Indian Army by donating to a veteran's organization that provides assistance and resources to soldiers and their families. Your donation can make a meaningful impact on those who serve our country.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>4</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Host a patriotic movie night</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Gather some friends and family and watch a movie that honors the Indian Army. This can be a great opportunity to learn more about the sacrifices and bravery of our soldiers while spending quality time with loved ones.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>5</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Send care packages to soldiers</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Put together care packages filled with snacks, toiletries, and other items that soldiers may need or enjoy while serving. You can send these packages to deployed soldiers or donate them to a local veteran's organization.</p></div></div>
<div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>A</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>Honoring the brave soldiers who protect our country</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>Indian Army Day is a day to celebrate and honor the valiant soldiers of the Indian Army who risk their lives every day to protect our nation. It is a reminder of their incredible sacrifices and dedication towards national security.</p></div></div><div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>B</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>Commemorating important historical events</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>Indian Army Day marks the anniversary of India's first Army Chief taking charge of the Indian Army back in 1949. It also celebrates the day when India became a Republic in 1950, further highlighting the significance of this day in Indian history.</p></div></div><div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>C</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>Inspiring patriotism and pride in our armed forces</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>Indian Army Day is a time for all Indians to come together and express their gratitude towards the army for their selfless service. It also serves as a reminder of our responsibility to support and stand by our troops, fostering a sense of national pride and unity.</p></div></div>
<div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>1</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>Indian Army is the world's largest standing volunteer army</h3><p class='facts-content'>With over 1.4 million active troops, the Indian Army is not only one of the world's largest military force, but also the largest volunteer army worldwide that relies entirely on voluntary service.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>2</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>Indian Army holds the record of accepting the largest military surrender since World War II</h3><p class='facts-content'>In 1971, during the Indo-Pak war, over 93,000 Pakistani soldiers surrendered to the Indian Army, marking the largest surrender of troops after WWII.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>3</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>Indian Army controls the Highest Battlefield in the world</h3><p class='facts-content'>The Siachen Glacier, located in the eastern Karakoram range in the Himalayas at approximately 5,753 meters (18,875 feet), is controlled by India and is known to be the highest battlefield in the world.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>4</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>The first all-women UN peacekeeping force was from India</h3><p class='facts-content'>India was first to deploy a fully formed Female Formed Police Unit under the UN for peacekeeping operations in Liberia in 2007.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>5</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>Indian Army Built a bridge in record time</h3><p class='facts-content'>In 2010, following a bridge collapse at the Commonwealth Games, the Indian Army built a bridge in just four days, showcasing their outstanding efforts and capabilities.</p></div></div>
Indian Army Day is celebrated on January 15 every year. In 2024 Indian Army Day will occur on a Monday.
2023
Jan 15
Sunday
2024
Jan 15
Monday
2025
Jan 15
Wednesday
2026
Jan 15
Thursday
2027
Jan 15
Friday
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