History of Indian Army: Founder, Command Structure & Headquarters

World's second-largest Army, Indian Army, is a branch of the Indian Armed Forces specialising in functioning on land. This all-volunteer force has a regimental system divided into seven commands. It includes Northern Command, Southern Command, Eastern Command, Western Command, South-western Command, Central Command and Army Training Command.

The sole objective of our Indian Army is to protect India from any and every foreign aggression, ensuring our nation's safety. However, to know what led to its formation one has to learn about the history of the Indian Army.

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What is the History of the Indian Army?

The Indian Army’s history and formation is a long tale, described briefly below, with further subdivisions.

When Was the Indian Army Established?

The British founded the Indian Army on 1st April 1895. The origins of this Army lay in an amalgamation of three forces – Bombay, Bengal and Madras Armies. The British established these forces during the 18th century as the East India Company deployed soldiers to fight wars against local powers.

However, Bengal Army was the first to form a unit recruiting soldiers mostly from Awadh, now known as Uttar Pradesh.

Command Structure of the Indian Army during the British Raj

Soldiers in the East India Company were mostly infantrymen and were under the command of European officers. Between the years 1763 and 1805, there was a substantial increase in the number of troops in this Army.

Moreover, each Presidency had a Commanding Officer in charge. The Officer commanding the Bengal Army was the Commander-in-Chief.

British amalgamated and reorganised a command structure in 1895, such as:

A European officer that served the top designation.
Then came the European Subaltern Sergeant Majors, followed by subedars, zamindars and havildar-naiks, or recruiting agents.
These native soldiers, or sepoys in every battalion, were further categorised into ten companies, which had – one subedar, three zamindars, four naiks, seventy sepoys, two drummers, and one trumpeter.

Some Warfares Indian Army Fought During British Raj

Besides maintaining our nation's internal security, the army fought in many warfares, such as:

Anglo-Burmese Wars (1824 – 1826)
First and Second Anglo-Sikh Wars (1845 and 1848)
First, Second, and Third Anglo-Afghan Wars (1838 – 1842, 1878 – 1880 and 1919)
First and Second Opium Wars (1839 – 1842 and 1856 – 1860)
Boxer Rebellion in China and Abyssinia (1900 – 1901)

New Commands Formed by the British Empire

After the failure of the Revolt of 1857, the British Empire faced several challenges. Therefore, they considered army reorganisation. This would ensure the soldiers' loyal and active service to the British Empire.

In 1895, the British reorganised this Army with four regional commands, each under a Lieutenant General. These were as follows:

Punjab, commanding the Frontier Force
Bengal command
Madras with Burma
Bombay with Quetta, Sind, and an extension in Aden

From 1902 to 1903, Lord Kitchener eliminated military members of a council between the Commander In Chief and the Political Executive. Then, he created two commands, Northern and Southern Commands.

Furthermore, these infantrymen were subdivided into a field force and a group of internal security troops. This comprised nine divisions and eight cavalry brigades.

The departure of all senior British officers following independence allowed their replacement by Indian officers. The year 1971 war, an integral part of the history of the Indian Army, saw some advancement of the Indian Army with new weapons and infrastructure for modern wars.

The Expert Committee, looked after by the Chairman Lieutenant General K.V. Krishna Rao, served a report in 1976. Few recommendations out of these were implemented in the 1980s.

Who was the Founder of the Indian National Army?

Captain General Mohan Singh formed the Indian National Army in 1942. When finding who formed Indian National Army, it is also important to know the reason for its formation and its result:

Reason

After the outbreak of World War II, Japan seized South East Asia. During that time, almost 70000 soldiers were deployed in that region, and most were on the Malayan coast. However, Japan administered a lightning campaign resulting in the fall of the Malayan peninsula and Singapore (1942). It was then that Japan decided to form an auxiliary army to defeat the British.

Formation

The Indian National Army, also known as Azad Hind Fauj, was an Armed Force that Captain General Mohan Singh formed in 1942. He was an officer in the British Army. He formed this Army with the help of the Japanese, in Southeast Asia, during World War II.

The main purpose to form this Army was to secure India's Independence. The severe conditions of the prisoners of war camps and their resentment against the British Raj resulted in them joining the Indian National Army.

Result

This move received considerable support from the Imperial Japanese Army and the Indian population of Southeast Asia. However, several disagreements occurred between the Japanese Army Command and Mohan Singh regarding the Indian National Army's autonomy.

Where is the Headquarters of the Indian Army?

The headquarters of the Indian Army is in New Delhi, the capital of India. The President of India is the Supreme Commander of the Indian Armed Forces. However, actual control lies with the Chief of Army Staff (COAS). The Prime Minister of India heads it. The battalions are divided into 14 Corps and 40 Divisions.

The major responsibilities of the Indian Army include the following:

Maintaining unity and national security
Protecting India from internal and external threats
Carrying rescue operations during disasters and natural calamities

Ensuring peace and security within Indian borders

The Indian Army receives thorough training and is equipped for total warfare whenever that calls for it.

Why and When Indian Army Day is Celebrated?

We celebrate Indian Army Day on 15th January every year. It is to remember the day when Field Marshal Kodandera Madappa Cariappa was named the first Commander-in-Chief of independent India.

On this special day, Cariappa, who led the Indian Forces to victory in 1947, took control of the Indian Army from the last British Commander-in-Chief, General Sir FRR Bucher, in 1949. He propagated the slogan 'Jai Hindi', which means 'Victory of India'.

We observe this day to honour the selfless efforts of KM Cariappa and the Defence Forces in protecting India.

What is the Significance of Indian Army Day?

On this day, there are parades and other military shows held in Cariappa Parade ground, in the national capital of India, New Delhi and in all the headquarters. Some events happening on this day include:

Chiefs pay homage to the Indian Army and showcase the evolution of several weapons in the inventory of the Indian Army.
Soldiers and troops receive medals, trophies and awards for their bravery.
Parades happen on the Cariappa ground in Delhi Cantonment.

However, on 15th January 2023, India celebrated the 75th Indian Army Day in Bengaluru.

The achievements of soldiers listed in the history of the Indian Army are numerous. There are several instances and umpteen sacrifices when the Indian Army has delighted us with their warfare skills and strategies.

Being the first line of defence, they have protected India from major and minor foreign attacks. Thus, their secularity and professionalism remain unquestioned.

FAQs about History of Indian Army

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Who is the father of the Indian Army?

Stringer Lawrence is the father of the Indian Army. Early in 1748, he joined the East India Company and supervised Company forces in Madras. He carried the rank of Major and was an accomplished soldier. Stringer Lawrence served in the army for about twenty years, rising to captain while serving at the Battle of Gibraltar, Culloden, and Flanders.

What are some of the exhibits of the Indian National Army?

The memorials of the Indian National Army are located in Delhi's Salimgarh Fort, near Red Fort. Some exhibits include the riding coat and boots of Colonel Gurbaksh Singh Dhillon, an army uniform that Colonel Prem Sahgal used to wear, and photographs of Subhas Chandra Bose.

Furthermore, there is a separate gallery that has photographs from excavations carried out by the Archaeological Survey of India inside this fort in 1995.

What were the operations of the Indian National Army?

After Subhas Chandra Bose took control of the Indian National Army or Azad Hind Fauj, people looked to join his troop. This troop took part in Operation U-Go, a 1994 Japanese mission against British India.

Although these troops were successful during the initial days of this mission, they withdrew during the Battle of Kohima and Imphal (1944) due to the defeat of the Japanese Army at the hands of the British.