Cycle rallies were conducted by all 27 Regiments of Infantry to celebrate the 72nd Infantry Day. All teams started from their respective Regimental Centres to New Delhi wherein they were Flagged-In at India Gate on 27 Oct 2018 by Lt. Gen. Bipin Singh Rawat, Chief of the Army Staff.
According a press release the cycle rally from respective Regimental Centres, covered a distance of 2000 Kilometers. Collectively, 27 Regiments covered more than 50,000 km to mark the occasion. During their sojourn enroute, the Infantry soldiers interacted with the Army veterans and motivated the country’s youth towards nation building.
To commemorate the selfless dedication to duty by Indian Army’s gallant Infantrymen, a wreath laying ceremony was organised at ‘Amar Jawan Jyoti’. General Bipin Rawat, Chief of the Army Staff, along with senior officers, laid wreaths in a solemn ceremony. Sepoy Boota Singh, a recipient of Vir Chakra in 1971 War represented the veterans.
Infantry Day :
Infantry division of Indian Army celebrates 27 October each year as Infantry Day to commemorate the first Infantry action post independence. In response to the threat posed to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of India, on this day in 1947, the leading elements of the Indian Army from 1st Battalion of the SIKH Regiment air landed at Srinagar and gallantly fought the raiders aided by Pakistan Army. This bold action by the Indian Army and indomitable courage displayed by the Infantrymen reversed the tide of events and thwarted the adversary’s nefarious designs.
As part of Infantry Day celebrations, Field Marshal SHFJ Manekshaw Memorial Lecture was also organised at Manekshaw Centre, Delhi Cantonment.
