Maratha Light Infantry to Celebrate 250 Years

The Maratha Light Infantry, one of the oldest regiments of the Army and the recipient of 56 battle honours, has entered its 250th year. 

A host of events have been planned to celebrate its legacy. Colonel of the Maratha Light Infantry Lt Gen PJS Pannu told newsmen on Saturday that the celebrations will open with a function on Sunday at the Manekshaw Centre where a coffee-table book on the infantry, 'Victory and Valour', will be released.

He said, the Maratha Light Infantry was the first infantry to be designated as a light infantry during the British Raj, for being swift-footed. The regiment draws inspiration from the legacy of Maratha warriors, who were adept in guerrilla warfare.

The legacy of the Maratha Light Infantry is illustrious and includes two Victoria Crosses won during the Second World War.

February 4 has a historical significance for the regiment, as on this day in 1670 Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj had conquered Fort Kondana which is famously known as Sinhgad.

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Has Pakistan Come to Senses?

Pakistan seems to have come to senses after steadfast and resolute stand taken by India. The Indian forces have given a resolute and befitting reply to Pakistani soldiers who know the language of bullet. It is good that our forces have started speaking the only language that the Pakis know.

Such is the insecurity in Pakistani camp that their Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) called on his Indian counterpart and expressed concern for the Indian retaliation.
“DGMO level talks on behest of Pakistan’s DGMO was held on 17 Jul 2017. During the talks the Pak DGMO raised the issues of targeting of Pak Army troops which resulted in the death of four Pakistani soldiers and one civilian in Athmuqam Sector of Pakistan occupied Kashmir opposite Indian Keren Sector, Kupwara District,” says the press statement by Col Aman Anand,PRO (Army).
The statement says, “Indian DGMO in response highlighted that all ceasefire violations were initiated by Pakistan Army and the Indian Army only responded appropriately to them. Apart from these, firing by Indian troops was initiated against armed intruders when attempting to infiltrate from close proximity of Pak posts along the Line of Control (LC).

“DGMO also put across emphatically that the trend of infiltration along the LC continued with active support of Pak forward posts impacting peace and tranquillity along the LC and also the internal security situation. This was evident from continued attempts of sniping and targeting of our troops undertaken through cross border actions duly supported by Pakistani Army troops,” it said.

DGMO made it implicit that Indian Army reserved the right to retaliate appropriately to any incident of violation of ceasefire but is sincere in its effort of maintaining peace and tranquillity along the LC provided there was reciprocity

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We want to fight next war with technology on our side : Gen. Bipin Rawat

‘We want to fight next war with technology on our side and not like the past’ said General Bipin Rawat, the Chief of Army Staff. Gen. Rawat sought efforts towards the most important need to bring in transparency of the battlefield to allow better decision making. Pointing out the drawbacks in trial equipment, he asked the industry and academia to focus on the fact that Indian Army will fight its wars in varied terrain and weather conditions seeking them to come up with robust, rugged, miniaturised yet technologically compatible solutions. He further nudged them to come up with a ‘Society for Defence Manufacture’ as the next step.

Gen. Rawat chaired a combined session of ‘the user and the provider’ attended by renowned industrialists, academicians as well as the decision making hierarchy of the Army and released the ‘Compendium of Problem Statements Vol II’, which has been prepared by Army Design Bureau (ADB) after detailed interaction with all stake holders including soldiers deployed in field.

The first volume, with 50 problem statements released on 5th December 2016, was received with tremendous amount of enthusiasm, 28 new problem statements have now been added which will enable industry and academia to understand the ‘Felt Needs’ and come up with indigenous solutions incorporating the latest technology trends for India’s military power.

Giving feedback on the first vol, industrialists and academicians expressed keenness to step up R&D for solutions to Army’s problems and deeply appreciated Army’s efforts calling the raising of ADB as a path breaking step. Mr RS Bhatia pointed that India is probably the only great nation where Industrial might of the country is not yet reflected in its Defence Forces.

General Rawat took the opportunity to challenge the industry and academia by asking them to align the solutions to the stated problems. Industry leaders and the academicians who seemed greatly ‘fired up’ committed to work towards ensuring that ‘Indian Army Will Win India’s Wars with Indian Solutions’.

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