India celebrated its 68th Army Day. India’s Army Day 2016 was celebrated on January 15, 2016 which also the 68th Army Day of India. On this occassion, Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi, Army Chief Genral Dalbir Singh, Navy Chief Admiral Robin Dhowan and Air Force Chief Arup Raha paid homage to the martyrs at Amar Jawan Jyoti, India Gate, New Delhi. At the same time, soldiers who sacrificed their life for India in 2015 as well as soldiers who showed courage in the line of duty were awarded on January 15, 2016 (Army Day 2016).
Army Day in India is celebrated in the remembrance of Lieutenant General (later Field Marshal) Kodandera Madappa Cariappa who took over as the first Chief of Army Staff (CoAS) of Indian Army ( of Independent India) from General Sir Francis Butcher, the last Chief of Army Staff (CoAS) of British Indian Army, on January 15, 1949.
Kodandera Madappa Cariappa
Field Marshal Kodandera “Kipper” Madappa Cariappa was first Chief of Army Staff (CoAS) of Indian Army (of Independent India). He took the charge as Chief of Army Staff (CoAS) of Indian Army on January 15, 1949 from Chief of Army Staff (CoAS) of British Indian Army General Sir Francis Robert Roy Bucher. Kodandera Madappa Cariappa was succeeded by General Rajendrasinhji Jadeja as Chief of Army Staff (CoAS) of Indian Army. He was also the one who headed the Indian Army on the Western Front during Indo-Pakistan War of 1947.
Born on January 28, 1899 Kodandera Madappa Cariappa was a native of Sanivarsanthe, Coorg Province (now in Karnataka) during British rule in India. He was among the two Indian Army officers to hold the highest rank of Field Marshal in Indian until present (the other Indian Army Officer to become Field Marshal was Sam Manekshaw). He retired from Indian Army in 1953. After his retirement, he was served as the High Commissioner to Australia and High Commissioner to New Zealand.
On May 15, 1993, Field Marshal Cariappa passed away in Bangalore, India. He was honoured with Order of the British Empire (OBE).