Not long ago I wrote a blog about watching YouTube recordings of the Chilean armed forces mounting parades to celebrate special occasions. As a result, YouTube’s algorithm pointed me towards parades of the Indian armed forces … and I’ve been enjoying watching them.
During their service in the British Army, both my father and father-in-law served alongside units of what was then termed the British Indian Army and held its members - especially the Sikhs and Gurkhas - in high regard as fighting soldiers. Because of this I have always had a more than a passing interest in India’s armed forces.
The Indian Army may have begun its life looking very like a clone of the British Army, but since Independence in 1947 it has developed its own traditions and style, and this is very obvious when one watches it and the other branches of the Indian armed forces on parade.
One interesting aspect of this is the use of a song written before Independence as the army’s quick march. 'Kadam Kadam Badhaye Ja' was written by Vanshidhar Shukla and composed by Ram Singh Thakuri in 1942 to be the Indian National Army's (INA’s) quick march. Because the INA was fighting against the British and alongside the Japanese, the song was banned but this ban was lifted after Independence and became the newIndian Army's quick march.
The lyrics (in Romanised Hindustani) are:
Kadam kadam baṛhāye jā
khushī ke gīt gāye jā
ye zindagī hai qaum kī
tū qaum pe lutāye jā
Tū sher-e-hind āge baṛh
marne se tū kabhī na dar
uṛā ke dushmanon kā sar
josh-e-watan baṛhāye jā
Kadam kadam baṛhāye jā
khushī ke gīt gāye jā
ye zindagī hai qaum kī
tū qaum pe lutāye jā
Himmat terī baṛhtī rahe
khudā terī suntā rahe
jo sāmne tere khaṛe
tū khāq men milāye jā
Kadam kadam baṛhāye jā
khushī ke gīt gāye jā
ye zindagī hai qaum kī
tū qaum pe lutāye jā
Chalo dillī pukār ke
qaumī-nishān sambhāl ke
Lāl qile pe gāṛ ke
lahrāye jā lahrāye jā
Kadam kadam baṛhāye jā
khushī ke gīt gāye jā
ye zindagī hai qaum kī
tū qaum pe lutāye jā
In English they are:
Keep stepping, stepping forward,
keep singing songs of happiness!
Your life belongs to the people,
spend it in their servitude!
Move forward, you, the lion of India,
don't ever be afraid of death.
By blowing off the enemy's head,
raise the spirits of your nation!
Keep stepping, stepping forward,
keep singing songs of happiness!
Your life belongs to the people,
spend it in their servitude!
May your courage be ever increasing,
may God keep listening to you.
Whoever stands in your way,
may they turn into ash!
Keep stepping, stepping forward,
keep singing songs of happiness!
Your life belongs to the people,
spend it in their servitude!
Shout "to Delhi",
holding the banner of your people,
plant it on the Red Fort,
let it fly, let it fly!
Keep stepping, stepping forward,
keep singing songs of happiness!
Your life belongs to the people,
spend it in their servitude!
The following photographs show the range of parade uniforms worn by a variety of units of the Indian armed forces:
Bob -
ReplyDeleteThose guys and gals will shake the world, yet!
Cheers,
Ion
Archduke Piccolo (Ion),
DeleteThey are certainly a great power that far too many modern ‘commentators’ seem to ignore. They have the largest fully professional army in the world and a navy that - unlike the Chinese - has been operating aircraft carriers for more that fifty years. A force to be reckoned with!
All the best,
Bob
An impressive array of dress uniforms for sure there Bob:)!
ReplyDeleteSteve J.,
DeleteIt’s interesting to see the mixture of traditional British-style and unique Indian elements in the uniforms.
All the best,
Bob
Congratulations Bob!
ReplyDeleteNickN,
DeleteCheers!
All the best,
Bob