It was a historic moment for the Indian Army at Saugor Military Station on Friday, when General Dalbir Singh, Chief of Army Staff, on behalf of the President of India, Pranab Mukherjee, presented the ‘President’s Colours’ to 20 Mahar and 21 Mahar Battalions of the Mahar Regiment on the occasion of Platinum Jubilee of the Regiment. This rare honour has been bestowed upon these two young battalions of the Regiment in due recognition of their dedicated and meritorious service rendered to the nation since raising. To commemorate this historic event, the Chief of the Army Staff released a First Day Cover. The Chief of Army Staff also released a book on late General K V Krishna Rao, PVSM and comic book on Major R Parameswaran, Param Vir Chakra. The Colour Presentation Parade was held at the Anusuya Prasad Parade Ground named after the youngest Mahavir Chakra recipient of the Indian Army, who with only 10 days of service laid down his life in the battle of Shamsher Nagar during 1971 Indo-Pak war. The contingents of ‘Veer Mahars’ marched impeccably with zeal, and pride (with the band playing martial tunes) and left the audience mesmerized.
The parade was commanded by Brig EV Reddy, Commandant Mahar Regiment Centre. Mahar Regiment raised on 01 October 1941, is the only ‘All India All Class’ (AIAC) Infantry regiment of the Indian Army. The Regiment also holds the distinction of being the only Machine Gun Regiment of the Indian Army for 16 years.
The Regiment has 09 Battle Honours, 12 Theatre Honours, 08 COAS Unit Citations, 19 GOC-in-C Unit Appreciations and scores of gallantry awards to its credit. The prophetic words of late President VV Giri in his address to Mahari troops on 03 Feb 70 during the first colour presentation parade to any Regiment post-Independence ‘In war and peace, your record is second to none’ have been proved true today, bearing testimony to the stature of the Regiment.