Digital Desk, Patna. The Bihar Regiment of the Indian Army is not just a military unit, but a living example of bravery, discipline and patriotism. The roots of this regiment are linked to the British Indian Army.
Since the times of slavery, the soldiers of this regiment have been showing their bravery on the battlefield. In such a situation, today in this article we will know about the history of Bihar Regiment, when and how this regiment was started.
In the initial period this military unit was not known as 'Bihar Regiment'. It was formed in 1941 as part of the British Indian Army, when the 11th (Territorial) Battalion, 19th Hyderabad Regiment was regularized and new battalions were raised.
leadership of the first battalion
Bihar Regiment The 1st battalion of Bihar Regiment was led by Lieutenant Colonel J. R. H. Tweed did it. He was the first commanding officer of the 1st Battalion of the Bihar Regiment of the Indian Army. It was during this period that the regiment established its own distinct identity and reputation.
Formal formation of Bihar Regiment
The Bihar Regiment was formally formed on 1 November 1945 at Agra under the command of Lieutenant Colonel R.C. Mueller, its center was established in Danapur. Danapur Cantonment was established in the year 1765. It is considered to be the second oldest cantonment in India. It is noteworthy that the oldest cantonment of the country is Barrackpore Cantonment of West Bengal.
Akhaura's historic victory in the 1971 war
In the Indo-Pak war of 1971, the 10th battalion of the Bihar Regiment was assigned the extremely difficult mission of capturing Akhaura in East Pakistan. In a swift and decisive attack the regiment established control of Akhaura. This victory proved to be strategically important and paved the way for the advance of the Indian Army towards Dhaka. For this courageous action the regiment was awarded the 'Akhaura' Theater Honour.
Showed his Jauhar in Kargil
In the 1999 Kargil war, the enemy was occupying the high hills of Batalik sector. The Bihar Regiment once again took control of important positions like Jubar Hill and Point 4268 in difficult conditions. During this time, Major Mariyappan Saravanan made the supreme sacrifice while leading on the front. The regiment was awarded the Chief of Army Staff Unit Citation for its gallantry.
Bravery shown again in Galwan 2020
On 15 June 2020, Bihar Regiment once again created history in Galwan Valley. Colonel B. Under the leadership of Santosh Babu, the regiment faced the Chinese soldiers bravely. In the fierce melee, 12 soldiers of the regiment including Colonel Babu were martyred, while a total of 20 Indian soldiers made the supreme sacrifice. However, the enemy was not allowed to advance even an inch into the Indian border.
Why is Bihar Regiment special?
The Bihar Regiment primarily represents the heroic tradition of Bihar, Jharkhand and Odisha region, although any citizen of the country can join through the General Recruitment of the Indian Army. Major battle honors of the regiment include Haka, Gangav, Akhaura and Batalik, while theater honors include Burma, East Pakistan 1971 and Kargil.
War cry, symbol and ideal
The war cry of the regiment is 'Bajrang Bali ki Jai' and 'Birsa Munda ki Jai'. Its flag sentence is 'Karma Hi Dharma'. The insignia of the regiment is the three lions of the Ashoka Pillar, which was chosen by Captain M. Habibullah Khan Khattak in 1941. These lions are considered symbols of strength, courage and confidence.