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Indian Army Likey To Amend Traditions To Escape "Colonial Practices"

Earlier, PM Modi said all three services should get rid of obsolete systems and procedures that are no longer useful or relevant

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The Indian army is attempting to move on from its colonial past in terms of its uniform, ceremonies and names of regiments and structures. 

The army's adjutant general will discuss current traditions, outdated conventions, rules and policies in an internal meeting. However, several veterans are not happy with this move.  

According to the army, the agenda paper did not guarantee that all recommendations would be implemented. Before any adjustments are made, the issue will be thoroughly discussed.

"It's time to move away from antiquated and ineffective approaches," the agenda notice for the review meeting states. The evaluation of army uniforms and accessories is now under consideration, but it was unclear whether the lanyard—the cord worn around the shoulder—would remain or not.

The agenda note also includes a list of "Names of Units." The British named infantry regiments like Sikh, Gorkha, Jat, Punjab, Dogra, Rajput, and Assam.

The indigenisation of military theories, practices, and traditions was a focus of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's speech at the combined commanders' conference last year. 

The three services were urged by him to "get rid of obsolete systems and procedures that are no longer useful or relevant."

The names of buildings, roads, and parks that bear the names of British generals such as Sir Claude Auchinleck and Herbert Kitchener are also on the list that needs to be reviewed, as do units, establishments, and institutes from earlier colonial periods.

There is a proposal that the regimental festivities and reunions should only be held for Army members. The affiliation of Army units with foreign armies, especially those that participated in the two World Wars, would be evaluated.

The pre-Independence theatre honours or combat honours bestowed by the British to halt Indian state dissent will also be discussed at the meeting. In recognition of the Anglo-Sikh, Anglo-Maratha and Anglo-Gorkha conflicts, certain Indian army regiments carry combat honours.

The "affiliation with the Commonwealth War Graves Commission," the award of an honorary commission, ceremonies such as beating the retreat, and having a "Colonel" serve as the head of the regiment will also be discussed during the conference.


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