/local-samosal/media/media_files/2025/01/14/ORfZncVFcBlbHpEWY299.jpg)
Every year, Indian Army Day is celebrated on the 15th of January to honour the work of the army forces in keeping the nation safe. But this day was not chosen randomly; it holds great significance. In fact, it was a historic day for the Indian Armed Forces as 15th January 1949 was the day when the first Indian Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army was appointed.
Who was the first Indian Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army?
This Commander-in-Chief was none other than Filed Marshal Kodandera M. Cariappa. Cariappa was born on 28 January 1899 into a farmer’s family in the Kodava clan in then Coorg province’s Shanivarsanthe. ‘Chimma’ (nickname of Cariappa) graduated from Central High School in Madikeri in 1917 and then completed his studies at Presidency College in Chennai. When he was in college, he learned about the Indian Army. During that time, the Britishers ruling India used to recruit and train Indian soldiers to be in the Army. This caught Kodandera’s attention, and he decided to join the army. He applied for the position of a soldier and was selected to be admitted to the Daly Cadet College in Indore out of 70 applicants. Cariappa was exceptional in his training and graduated with the seventh rank in his class.
Cariappa’s Many Firsts
Soon after his graduation he joined the army and had a distinguished career of almost 30 years. In this career, he had many firsts on his name as a soldier. Post World War I when he joined the British Indian Army, he became the temporary first lieutenant in the 2/88 Carnatic Infantry in Bombay (now Mumbai). He was the first Indian officer to attend the staff College in Quetta (currently in Pakistan). Following this, he got a big opportunity where he commanded the 1/7 Rajputs, which made him the first Indian to lead a battalion. In 1942, he also became the first Indian officer to be given command of a unit.
After many operations, he was promoted to lieutenant in 1923, captain in 1927, major in 1938, lieutenant colonel by 1942, and then brigadier in 1946. Under the British, he served in various posts, including the Middle East (1941–42) and Burma (now Myanmar; 1943–44). During the partition of the Indian subcontinent in 1947, just prior to independence, Cariappa oversaw the difficult task of dividing the Indian military establishment between Pakistan and India.
Historic Day for the Indian Army
After India’s independence, the soldier was appointed deputy chief of general staff with the rank of major general. In November 1947, he was promoted to lieutenant general and became commander of the Eastern Army. A year later, he was named the army commander of the Delhi and East Punjab Command (now the Western Command).
On 15 January 1949, Cariappa was named the first Indian commander in chief of the Indian army, replacing the British commanding general, Sir Roy Bucher. This was a historic day for India, and to remember this accomplishment for the Indian Army and General Cariappa, 15th January is celebrated as Indian Army Day.