Army day 2021: Back in 1949, on January 15, LT gen KM Carriappa became the first Indian to be appointed as the commander in chief of the Indian army and took over from General Francis Butcher, the last British commander of chief of India.
Celebrating teh day of Indian army taking over control, make as the celebration of Amry day since then. The day other than being celebrated for LT Gen Carriappa taking over is also celebrated as the day when government thanks and celebrates the valour and confidence of many army personnel who give their lives on the borders fighting for the safety of the Indian citizens.
Who was Lt Gen KM Cariappa?
The first officer of the Indian army who held five-star rank, he had also led the troops in world war 2 and the first Indo Pakistan war of 1947. He received military training during the wold war 1 in 1914-1918. He was one of the. Few individuals who were chosen for military training and after training indie joined the British Indian Army after the end of world war 1.
Other than that, before becoming the commander of chief india, KM Cariappa served as the commander of Eastern and Western Commands. He has also been honoured with the ‘Order of the Chief Commander of the Legion of Merit’ – the one of a kind, the first-ever award given to an Indian General, by President Harry Truman
In 1983, he was given the title of Field Marshal (five stars). In the whole lifetime, only two people have moved up in ranks to that extent of receiving 5 stars, one was KM Cariappa, and the second was Field Marshall Sam Manekshaw in 1973.
