The Indian Army Sailing Vessel Triveni (IASV Triveni), crewed by women officers from the Indian Armed Forces, has reached Perth, Australia, completing the first leg of its globe-circling expedition, Mission ‘Samudra Pradakshina’ — the first-ever tri-service all-women circumnavigation of the world.
The arrival marks a key milestone in a nine-month voyage that began at the Gateway of India, Mumbai, on September 11. Women officers from the Army, Navy and Air Force are sailing aboard the indigenously built IASV Triveni on an easterly route covering roughly 26,000 nautical miles.
The yacht is scheduled to depart for Lyttelton, New Zealand, on November 8, before proceeding to Port Stanley in the South Atlantic.
HC seeks Defence Ministry’s stand on transgender Navy officer’s dismissal by AFT
The Delhi High Court has sought the Defence Ministry’s stand on whether the Armed Forces Tribunal (AFT) can examine the constitutional validity of laws beyond the Armed Forces Tribunal Act, 2007, while hearing the plea of a transgender Navy officer who challenged her discharge from service after undergoing sex reassignment surgery.
A Full Bench comprising Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justices C Hari Shankar and Om Prakash Shukla said the issue carried wide implications for personnel across the Army, Navy and Air Force, and directed that the ministry’s position be placed before the court by its top officer.
“We clarify that since this matter may have an impact over the personnel of all the Armed Forces, we provide that the instructions in the matter shall be provided to learned counsel for the respondents by none other than the Secretary, Ministry of Defence, Government of India or any other high-ranked officer nominated by him for the said purpose,” the Bench said.
The matter will next be heard on November 28.
The case was referred to the Full Bench by a Division Bench to decide three key questions — whether the AFT can adjudicate on the vires of statutory provisions other than its parent Act, such as Section 9 of the Navy Act; whether the decision in Neelam Chahar empowers the Tribunal to rule on the validity of other legislations; and if such an interpretation extends to all tribunals not created under Articles 323A and 323B of the Constitution.
The reference arose from a petition filed by a former Indian Navy officer who began identifying as female during service and underwent sex reassignment surgery. She alleged that once the Navy learnt of her surgery, she was unlawfully confined to a psychiatric ward for five months and subjected to repeated medical examinations.
The Centre, however, maintained that she was removed on grounds of misconduct, alleging that she was found with “long hair, nail polish and trimmed eyebrows” and had undergone gender reassignment surgery without
IAF seeks 800 swarm drone systems for far-away targets
The Indian Air Force (IAF) has projected a requirement for 800 medium-range Swarm Unmanned Munition Systems (SUMS) to meet its operational need for remotely engaging hostile targets at ranges over 350 km.
Each system will comprise a swarm of at least 20 drones, capable of being launched in quick succession to loiter for a minimum of 30 minutes beyond 350 km and autonomously search, detect and identify both static and moving targets.
“Swarm drones are effective as they saturate enemy air defence systems, confuse enemy radars and provide IAF decision-makers the option to deploy in a couple of hours against hostile command and control targets,” states a request for proposal (RFP) issued by the Ministry of Defence on October 25.
The IAF has specified that the drones should be fixed-wing and powered by a hybrid jet-engine and battery pack, with the ability to carry at least 30 kg of ordnance, in addition to sensors, electronic countermeasures, communication gear and navigation aids.
They must be operable from sea level up to 16,000 feet, capable of launch and recovery from unprepared surfaces and ship decks, and functional in temperatures ranging from –20°C to 50°C.
Drones of varied types and capabilities have become central to modern warfare. Their use in both offensive and defensive roles was particularly underscored during Operation Sindoor in May this year.
Cariappa & Manekshaw : Field Marshals who defined courage
AFTER 1947, among India’s first six Army chiefs, two were, in the literal sense, sons of the soil: schooling and college in India, one, KM Cariappa, commissioned from the temporary Cadets Facility in Daly College, Indore, and the other, SFJ Manekshaw, from the inaugural session of IMA, Dehradun; both graduated from the Defence Services Staff College, Quetta; both were blooded and distinguished over battlefields during WW II, the first was thrice decorated for distinguished service — in Iraq, Persia and Burma — with a Mention-in-Despatches and an OBE, the second with MC for Valour in Burma and Padma Vibhushan and Padma Bhushan for Services in India.
Scheduled to be held from November 7 to 9 at Sukhna Lake
A wreath-laying ceremony to pay tributes to martyrs and a “Bravehearts” motorcycle rally were held here today as a precursor to the 9th edition of the Military Literature Festival (MLF) scheduled to be held from November 7 to 9 at Sukhna Lake here.
Floral tributes were paid at the Chandigarh War Memorial by Governor of Punjab Gulab Chand Kataria, followed by former Chief of the Army Staff Gen VP Malik, former Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa; Lt Gen TS Shergill, chairman of the MLF Association, and other veterans.
A ceremonial guard from the Punjab Police reversed arms as a mark of respect to the fallen soldiers while buglers sounded the Last Post. A large number of NCC cadets were also present.
The Governor flagged-off the motorcycle rally that passed through Chandigarh, Mohali and Panchkula to commemorate the services, sacrifices and achievements of the heroes of the 1965 Indo-Pak War, before culminating at Chandimandir.
Over 650 riders, including members of various bike clubs from the region and 16 veterans, participated in the rally. Amongst them were around 100 riders from three all-women groups, Mitran Di Motorcycle Mandali led by Shalini, One Biker Divas led by Harneet Kaur and The Motorcyclists (Women) led by Hardeep Singh.
Bhairav — 1st specialised commando battalion to take charge by Oct-end
The newly raised ‘Bhairav’ specialised commando battalion will be deployed along the border by the end of October.
Sources said five of these battalions would be deployed in critical areas in the Northern Command, including Ladakh, and Srinagar. The western sector and the eastern hilly regions facing China would also get a battalion each.
The army has set a target to raise an additional 20 such battalions in the next six months.
On October 24, the army released first pictures of the troops of the Bhairav battalion during their interaction with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh along the forward area in Rajasthan.
The Defence Minister had witnessed a dynamic “capability demonstration exercise”, showcasing integrated employment of the new organisation.
Each battalion would comprise 250 specialised commandos equipped with weapons and technology to bring down anything and strike deep inside the enemy territory.
These battalions would integrate fighting components and have weapons, equipment and vehicles used by infantry, artillery, Special Forces, Signals and Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS).
The tasking of each such unit would be done at the level of Corps Commander. Each Bhairav battalion would be standalone and not part of any infantry unit.
These units would be “lean, lethal and highly mobile” and would operate as a force between conventional infantry and the elite Para (Special Forces).
These batallions would be tasked to conduct rapid, high-impact tactical operations, especially along the border with China and Pakistan. Thus, freeing up the Special Forces for more strategic and high-risk missions.
Unlike traditional infantry battalions, troops have been drawn from several arms of the army, including infantry, artillery, air defence and Signals.
Creation of Bhairav battalions is part of a wider modernisation drive in the army, which also includes the formation of “Rudra” all-arms brigades and “Ashni” drone platoons for enhanced technological warfare capabilities.
Military Digest | Infantry Day: remembering Lt Col Dewan Ranjit Rai, Maha Vir Chakra, killed in battle in Kashmir
On the occasion of Infantry Day, marking the arrival of first Indian troops in Jammu and Kashmir in October 27, 1947, it is fitting that the memories of the commanding officer of the first battalion that landed at Srinagar, Lt Col Dewan Ranjit Rai of 1 Sikh, are refreshed and that the sacrifice he and his gallant troops made in the defence of the Srinagar airfield are never forgotten.
Surprisingly for an important figure in the realm of Indian military history, very little is known about Lt Col Dewan Ranjit Rai other than some basic, frittered information about his military career and personal life. No attempt has been made to research his life and put all the facts together in a cogent form, despite his being the first senior officer of newly Independent India to have died in battle and who received the first-ever Maha Vir Chakra, the nation’s second highest gallantry award.
Lt Colonel Rai was born on February 6, 1913, in Gujranwala in Punjab, now in Pakistan, and went to Bishop Cotton School in Shimla. General P N Thapar, his maternal uncle, was the chief of Army staff. He showed an inclination towards the Army, and when the Indian Military Academy was established in October 1932, he was among the first cadets who joined.
Among his course mates were S H F J Manekshaw, who rose to become the Army chief; and a field marshal, Kanhayya Lal Atal, who too received a Maha Vir Chakra in the 1947-48 war with Pakistan in Zojila while commanding a brigade and later died in an accident; and Nripendra Singh Bhagat, elder brother of Lt Gen Premendera Singh Bhagat, Victoria Cross in Second World War.
Commissioned in February 1935 with IC Number 12, he served a year with the King’s Shropshire Light Infantry, as was the norm for all Indian officers before they went on to serve in Indian regiments. He was allotted the 5th Battalion of the 11th Sikh Regiment a year later and served in various regimental appointments before being appointed as commanding officer of 1 Sikh in the rank of lieutenant colonel. He was earmarked to be posted as a military attache in Washington, US, before fate and events overtook the affairs, and he ended up in Srinagar fighting a battle.
Incidentally, it was not 1 Sikh that was the original choice of the Indian battalion to be dispatched to Srinagar. The first choice was a Gorkha battalion. However, Lord Mountbatten, the viceroy and later the first governor-general of India, decided that the question of the use of Gorkha troops, who were essentially Nepalese citizens, in a conflict without first clearing their use with the Nepalese authorities would not be proper, and hence the nearest available battalion was chosen.
Lt Gen SK Singh (retd), writes in his memoirs that the British commander of the Delhi and East Punjab Command, Lt Gen Dudley Russel, had been mightily impressed with Lt Col Dewan Ranjit Rai during a visit to his battalion, which was deployed in aid to civil authorities due to post-partition rioting around Gurgaon, and hence thought him to be the correct man to lead the first Indian troops in Kashmir.
Moved at short notice and arriving late in the evening of October 26/morning of October 27 at the Palam airfield, the operational order for Lt Col Rai read: “Your battalion less two companies will concentrate Palam airfield by 0400 hours on 27 October. One battery 13 Field Regiment in infantry role being placed under your command. Be prepared to fly on an operational mission ex-Palam morning 27 October. Remainder battalion will be flown 28 October.”
Further instructions were given to Lt Col Rai by then Major S K Sinha, including to secure Srinagar airport and the civil wireless station, drive Pakistani tribesmen away from Srinagar, and aid the local government in the maintenance of law and order in Srinagar.
Supreme self-confidence
Sinha mentions that Lt Col Rai was exceptionally calm as he went about issuing orders to his troops and showed no agitation. Radiating supreme self-confidence, he left the task of making a load table to his second in command and Major Sinha and proceeded to catch whatever little sleep he could before he and his troops departed to Srinagar by air.
Lt Col Rai carried out the operational orders to capture and secure the Srinagar airfield, but realising the fact that the enemy advance must be checked before more Indian troops arrived, he correctly decided to advance to Baramulla to stop the Pakistani raiders from getting any further. He was killed at Pattan, between Srinagar and Baramulla, by a mortar shell while directing battle and organising a fallback to a more secure position.
Very little is known about the personal life of this gallant soldier other than that he had a son and a daughter and that he was an exceptional dancer well acknowledged in Lahore and Shimla. On this Infantry Day, on October 27, let’s spare a thought about Lt Col Dewan Ranjit Rai, Maha Vir Chakra (Posthumous).
From hills to trenches: The Dogra who won Victoria Cross
FEARLESS TALES: Was awarded the highest gallantry decoration of the British Royal Forces for his exceptional bravery during World War-I
Lala Ram, a decorated soldier from Parol village in Bhoranj subdivision of Hamirpur district, was awarded the Victoria Cross, the highest gallantry decoration of the British Royal Forces, for his exceptional bravery during World War I. His courage under impossible odds was a testament to the indomitable spirit and unwavering loyalty of Indian soldiers who fought on foreign soil.
His heroic act at the Battle of Hanna in Mesopotamia (now Iraq) on January 21, 1916, not only earned him the prestigious medal but also inspired generations to remain steadfast in adversity and fearless in service to the nation.
Path to historic bravery
Born on April 20, 1876, into a martial Rajput family, Lala Ram was encouraged by his father, Dhinag Ram (popularly known as Ramditta), to pursue a life of discipline and courage. A keen footballer, he joined the Indian Army in 1901 at the age of 25, despite having little formal education. He was, however, proficient in Hindi, English and Urdu — a rarity for soldiers of that era.
Over a century ago, his gallantry during the fierce Mesopotamian campaign earned him the Victoria Cross for “most conspicuous bravery”, making him one of the most celebrated soldiers of his regiment.
A legacy remembered
Lala Ram was married to Gurdei, but the couple had no children. He passed away on March 23, 1927, due to polio. His widow, Gurdei, lived on and was cared for by his nephew, Captain Bhagat Ram, who also served in the Indian Army. The family’s legacy continues through Bhupinder Singh, Bhagat Ram’s son, who remains the custodian of Lala Ram’s memories.
Bhupinder Singh recalls that much of what the family knows about Lala Ram came from Gurdei’s own stories. “Till she was alive, the family used to receive invitations from the British government, but now there is hardly any communication,” he said.
He added that during the tenure of Dr YS Parmar, Himachal’s first Chief Minister, the village school was named Lala Memorial School and a link road leading to the village was also christened in his honour. “However,” Bhupinder laments, “not enough has been done to make people aware of such great warriors. Heroes like Lala Ram deserve chapters in school history books.”
The Battle of Hanna
The act that earned Lala Ram the Victoria Cross remains one of sheer heroism. Serving with the 41st Dogra Regiment (now 3rd Dogra), his unit was deployed in Mesopotamia to secure vital oil fields from Turkish forces.
On January 21, 1916, amid relentless shelling and freezing weather, Lala Ram repeatedly ventured into open fire to rescue wounded soldiers stranded just 100 yards from enemy trenches. He saved six men, including his Adjutant, Captain ELE Lindop, MC, who later succumbed to his wounds but recounted Lala’s unmatched bravery.
Praise from commanders
Sir George Younghusband, who commanded the 7th Division, noted in his memoir A Soldier’s Memories of Peace and War that “Lala was out all day and most of the night and earned his VC a dozen times.”
He added, “The Victoria Cross had only recently been granted to Indian soldiers and perhaps there is no worthier wearer of the badge of honour than Lance Naik Lala of the Dogras.”
Lala Ram was later commissioned as Jamadar in 1923 and retired from service in 1926, leaving behind an enduring tale of courage and devotion.
Honour yet to find its place
Jagjit Thakur, Lala Ram’s great-grandson, shared that repeated efforts have been made to include the stories of Victoria Cross (VC) and Gallantry Cross (GC) winners in school curricula, but such heroes are yet to receive their rightful space in textbooks.
“Children should grow up knowing about warriors like Lala Ram,” he said. “Their courage is part of our history and deserves to be remembered.”
Chief of Army Staff Flags Off Shauryaveer Marathon Honouring Indian Armed Forces’ Bravery
Over 10,000 participants, ranging from Army officers and soldiers to professional athletes, fitness enthusiasts, and members of the public, came together for the ‘Shauryaveer – Run for India’ event held here on Sunday. The run was organised by the Indian Army to commemorate the 79th Shaurya Diwas (previously known as Infantry Day) celebrations.
ver 10,000 participants, ranging from Army officers and soldiers to professional athletes, fitness enthusiasts, and members of the public, came together for the ‘Shauryaveer – Run for India’ event held here on Sunday. The run was organised by the Indian Army to commemorate the 79th Shaurya Diwas (previously known as Infantry Day) celebrations.
The run was flagged off by Chief of Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi. During his address, the Army Chief expressed gratitude to the participants for their enthusiastic response and participation. The event included several race categories: a 21 km competitive run for experienced runners aged 18 and above, a 10 km timed open run for participants over 10 years old, a 5 km People’s Run for individuals above 10, and a 3 km family-friendly run open to all participants aged 10 and above.
“I would like to thank all of you for coming here in such large numbers. This time for Shauryaveer, the marathon race we organised included distances of 21 km, 10 km, 5 km, and 3 km,” he said.
“The most important thing is the tremendous support we received from the people of India for the Indian Army; it has truly encouraged us. This time, out of the 8,000 people who participated in the run, two-thirds were civilians who supported the Army. In fact, we had to stop our personnel because the registrations were overflowing,” he added.
The Shauryaveer run was organised at 21 locations across the country.
Shaurya Diwas is commemorated every year on 27th October to pay tribute to the courage and unwavering spirit of the Indian Armed Forces. On this day in 1947, Indian Army infantry units were the first to reach Srinagar, successfully pushing back invaders and safeguarding Jammu and Kashmir from a Pakistani assault.
The Story of Kashmir War Martyr Lt. Col. Dewan Ranjit Rai, Maha Vir Chakra Awardee
