Panchkula, September 15
Western Command of the Indian Army celebrated its 78th Raising Day on September 15.
To commemorate the Raising Day, Lt Gen Manoj Kumar Katiyar, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Command, and former Army Commanders, paid tribute to the brave soldiers of the Command, who made the supreme sacrifice by laying a wreath at the Veer Smriti War Memorial, Chandimandir, said an official statement from the Indian Army.
On the occasion, Lt Gen Katiyar, GOC-in-C Western Command, while conveying his greetings to all ranks and families of Western Command, stressed the need to uphold the virtues of Naam, Namak, and Nishan and said that Western Command remains unwavering in its resolve to safeguard the Western Front and achieve a decisive victory in any future conflict.
He further added that as a responsible organisation and citizen, the Command is also actively involved in realising the dream of Sashakt Bharat with its contributions to nation-building.
The selfless acts of fallen soldiers are testimony to the fact that the Indian Army and Western Command have been a steadfast pillar in defending national sovereignty and contributing to national well-being.
The Command was raised on 15 September 1947 in the crucible of adversity and forged on the anvil of one of the most momentous and heartrending transmigrations of human population in the two new nations of India and Pakistan. The Headquarters of Delhi and East Punjab Command was raised at Delhi and was made responsible for the defence of Delhi and East Punjab areas.
Given the situation during partition, it was decided to have a mobile HQ on a train, which is well preserved and is now standing at a museum in Chandimandir. The Command got renamed as Western Command on 20 January 1948 and was directly responsible for controlling the operations in Jammu & Kashmir. Before raising of Northern Command, Western Command Besides Western borders was responsible for the entire Northern Borders of Jammu & Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh.
Western Command has stopped all aggressions into Indian Territory and ensured decisive victories for India. It is for this reason that it is known as 'The Guardian of the Heartland of India' and carries its motto of 'Ever Westwards' with pride. In the course of its journey, full of valour and ultimate sacrifices, the braves of the Command have earned 11 Param Vir Chakras, 01 Ashok Chakra and 143 Maha Vir Chakras.
As the Command looks back at its rich history, it is also looking at the future. Modernisation efforts are underway to ensure that the force remains well-equipped to face the current and emerging challenges. The focus is on leveraging new technologies, enhancing training standards, and achieving synergy with other arms and services.
On the momentous occasion of Command Raising Day, eleven previous army commanders came together and shared their wisdom and exchange ideas with the present hierarchy. All of them shared their perspective, and the cerebral moments generated suggestions and recommendations for capability development and the path forward.
During interaction with soldiers and staff, the previous Army Commanders cemented their old bonds and shared pearls of wisdom with anecdotes from the past.