President's Bodyguard (India)

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President's Bodyguard
Active1773 – present
CountryFlag of India.svg Republic of India
Allegiance India
BranchFlag of Indian Army.svg  Indian Army
Type Household cavalry
RoleCeremonial during peace; Armoured reconnaissance & parachute pathfinders during war.
Size222 (4 officers, 20 JCOs & 198 soldiers) [1]
Part of 50th Parachute Brigade
Motto(s)Bharat Mata Ki Jai
(Victory to Mother India) [1]
March Sare Jahan se Accha [1]
Equipment BTR-80
Commanders
Colonel of the regiment Colonel Amit Berwal [2]
Ceremonial chief President of India
Insignia
Identification
symbol
PBG

The President's Bodyguard (PBG) is an elite household cavalry regiment of the Indian Army. It is the senior-most regiment in the order of precedence of the units of the Indian Army. The primary role of the President's Bodyguard is to escort and protect the President of India. The regiment is based in the Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi, India. It is equipped as a mounted unit, with horses for ceremonies at the presidential palace and BTR-80 vehicles for use in combat.

Contents

The personnel of the regiment are also trained as paratroopers and nominally are expected to lead in airborne assaults as pathfinders. The regiment was previously the Governor General's Bodyguard of the British Raj.

History

President's bodyguard's on their routine exercise

The President's Bodyguard was previously the Governor General's Bodyguard of the Presidency armies and the British Indian Army. The Governor-General's Bodyguard was raised in September 1773 by Governor-General Warren Hastings from a handpicked 50 troopers of the Moghal Horse, itself raised in 1760 by local sirdars. In the same year, Maharaja Chait Singh of Benares provided another 50 troopers, raising the strength of the unit to 100. The first commander of the unit was Captain Sweeny Toone, an officer of the East India Company, who had Lieutenant Samuel Black as his subaltern.

External videos
Nuvola apps kaboodle.svg The President's Bodyguard , a 2018 documentary film by National Geographic [3]

During the Partition of India, British Indian Army was divided 2:1 between the Dominions of India and Pakistan. Muslim personnel of the regiment were transferred to the Pakistan Army to form the Governor General's Bodyguard in Pakistan. The rest of the regiment, comprising the Sikhs, Jats and Rajputs remained with the Indian Army. The Viceroy's gold-plated buggy was coveted by both India and Pakistan. Its fate was decided by a coin toss between Colonel Thakur Govind Singh (India) and Sahabzada Yaqub Khan (Pakistan) and India won the buggy. [4]

The regiment would be renamed the President's Bodyguard when India became a republic on 26 January 1950.

Names

The name of the regiment has changed throughout its history:

YearName
1773Governor's Troop of Moghuls
1784Governor-General's Bodyguard
1859Viceroy's Body Guard
194444th Divisional Reconnaissance Squadron
1946Governor-General's Bodyguard
1950President's Bodyguard

Strength and ethnic composition

The President's Bodyguard is open to only Jats, Rajputs and Jat Sikh castes which are taken in equal numbers 33.3 percent from the states of Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan. [5] [1] The basic height requirement for enlistment is 1.84 metres (6 ft 0 in). [1] The regiment also has an operational role and has small unit on rotation to high altitude area, such as, Siachin, East Ladakh and Sikkim. The NCOs, JCOs and Officers of the regiment are trained tank-man, paratroopers, and horse-riders. There are 100 horses in the regiment.

Battle honours

The President's Bodyguard has inherited the following battle honours: [6]

all of which, except for "Java", are considered to be repugnant and cannot be carried on regimental colours.

Operational history

The President's Bodyguard has seen action in all of independent India's major wars. It rendered yeoman service in the capital and helped reinstate confidence in the general public in the aftermath of the Partition of India.

After independence, Humber and Daimler armoured cars formed the mounts of the regiment and were deployed in the defense of Chushul at heights above 14,000 ft during the 1962 Sino-Indian War. [7] [8]

The regiment participated in Operation Ablaze in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965. The regiment served in Siachen glacier, where it has been serving till date with a section (6-20 troops) led by a JCO. A detachment of the regiment was a part of the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) to Sri Lanka during 1988–89, and Indian contingents to the UN Peace Keeping Forces in Somalia, Angola and Sierra Leone.

Standards, guidons & banners

Each successive viceroy presented a banner to the Bodyguard upon assuming office; the banners of previous viceroys being kept in the custody of the regiment. The practice continues in effect until the present day with each President of India presenting a silver trumpet to the regiment - although the coat-of-arms of the Viceroy is replaced by the monogram of the President.

Stamp of India - 1973 - Colnect 372309 - Bicentenary President's Body Guard.jpeg
Stamp of India - 1998 - Colnect 161887 - 225th anniv of the President s Bodyguard cavalry regiment.jpeg
India Post stamps dedicated to President's Bodyguard

The first trumpet with banner of the President was presented by Rajendra Prasad on 14 May 1957. It had a maroon background with the emblem and crest in gold thread. The design incorporated the initials of Rajendra Prasad in Devanagri script in the centre and four emblems in gold in all four corners of the banner, from the Presidential Standard of India. Prasad's personal standard was presented to the regiment on 18 January 1958 by the President himself. In November 1958, President Prasad presented a new Regimental Standard to the regiment, the previous Regimental Standard having been laid up after India became a republic. The old regimental standard rests in the Regiment Officer's mess.

The second president of India, Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan presented his banner to the regiment on 21 October 1962. His banner, with a grey background with emblem and crest in gold thread, incorporated his initials in Devanagari script in the center and four emblems in gold in the four corners, from the presidential standard. The new President's Standard of the Body Guard and the Regimental Standard were awarded by President Radhakrishnan on 11 November 1963. The Regimental Standard is dark blue in colour with the regimental crest in the centre surrounded by lotus flowers and Ashoka leaves. Five scrolls on either side of the crest record the regiment's Battle Honours and the standard bears the motto "Bharat Mata ki Jai".

Present status

President's bodyguard guard President of India visiting Parliament House The President of India, Smt.Droupadi Murmu arrives at Parliament House, in New Delhi on January 31, 2024.jpg
President's bodyguard guard President of India visiting Parliament House

In 2003, the President's Bodyguard had an establishment of 7 officers, 15 JCOs, and 140 enlisted men, for a total strength of 180. Throughout its history, the Bodyguard has varied in size from 50 men, when first raised, to 1929 men in 1845. However, it was usually around squadron size, or about 130 men.

By tradition, the commanding officer has always been a brigadier or colonel. Recruitment to the regiment in India is now 1/3 each from Sikh Jats, Hindu Jats, and Rajputs, with officers and administrative staff from all over India. [9] [10] [5] Its current commanding officer is Colonel Anoop Tiwari and the second-in-command is Lieutenant Colonel Ramakant Yadav. [11]

Commandants [12]

S.NoRank and NameParent RegimentFromTo
1Captain Sweny Toone177327 Jan 1777
2Major H. Briscoe27 Jan 17776 Apr 1778
3Captain W. Palmer3 Native Infantry6 Apr 177830 Apr 1782
4Lieutenant T. Polhill1 Native Infantry30 Apr 17824 Jul 1782
5Lieutenant S. Turner12 Native Infantry4 Jul 178218 Mar 1799
6Captain C. Fraser7 Bengal Native Cavalry18 Mar 179915 Apr 1800
7Captain H.C. MontgomeryMadras Establishment15 Apr 18001 Sep 1802
8Major F.A. DaniellMadras Establishment1 Sep 1802Feb 1806
9Captain G.H. Gall8 Bengal Native CavalryFeb 180621 Jun 1818
10Captain W.H. Rainey4 Bengal Light Cavalry21 Jun 181814 Oct 1820
11Captain R.H. Sneyd1 Bengal Cavalry14 Oct 18203 Mar 1827
12Major E.J. Honywood7 Light Cavalry3 Mar 18273 Apr 1834
13Captain C.D. Dawkins2 Light Cavalry3 Apr 183418 Dec 1845
14Captain T. Quin4 Light Cavalry18 Dec 184525 Jun 1846
15Lieutenant E.G. Crossman45 Native Infantry25 Jun 184616 Jan 1847
16 Major W. Mayne 37 Native Infantry16 Jan 184711 Apr 1851
17Major W.A.A. Thomson9 Light Cavalry / 4 Bengal European Cavalry12 Apr 18514 Mar 1862
18Colonel G. Delane6 Light Cavalry4 Mar 186213 Nov 1874
19Major H.P. Peacock3rd European Light Cavalry13 Nov 18749 Jan 1878
20Major G.C. Jackson2nd Bengal European Cavalry9 Jan 187813 Dec 1883
21Captain C.W. Muir6 Bengal Cavalry13 Dec 18836 Jan 1889
22Captain R.C. Onslow10 Bengal Lancers7 Jan 18897 Jan 1894
23Major J.G. Turner4 Cavalry7 Jan 189421 Jul 1898
24Major R.E. Grimston6 King Edward’s Own Cavalry21 Jul 18982 Mar 1904
25Captain H.N. Holden5 Cavalry2 Mar 19042 Mar 1909
26Lieutenant V.A.S. Keighley18 PWO Tiwana Lancers2 Mar 19091 Apr 1915
27Captain W.A.S. de Gale22 Cavalry1 Apr 191516 Jun 1917
28Captain A. Brooke18 PWO Tiwana Lancers16 Jun 19175 May 1922
29 Major E.G. Atkinson 15 Lancers5 May 192213 Sep 1927
30Major M.D. Vigors, DSO, MCHodson’s Horse13 Sep 192729 May 1931
31Captain W.R.B. Peel19 Lancers29 May 19314 Oct 1936
32Major H.I. Mostyn-Owen19 Lancers4 Oct 193620 Oct 1943
33Major J.R.L. TweedIAC20 Oct 194318 Dec 1945
34Major P. Massey, MCBaluch Regiment18 Dec 194531 Dec 1947
35 Major Thakur Govind Singh 61 Cavalry31 Dec 194724 Sep 1950
36Major S.K. Bharat Singh2 Lancers25 Sep 195027 Apr 1954
37Major S.G. Srinivasan1 Horse28 Apr 195414 Jul 1957
38Major Mohammad Mirza61 Cavalry1 Aug 195715 Nov 1962
39Major S.K. Pudumjee1 Horse16 Nov 196211 Oct 1966
40Major Surat Singh1 Horse12 Oct 19667 Sep 1971
41Major P.K. Mehra61 Cavalry8 Sep 197124 Apr 1975
42 Major V.P. Singh 61 Cavalry25 Apr 197522 Sep 1980
43 Colonel H.S. Sodhi, VSM 61 Cavalry23 Sep 198030 Sep 1987
44Colonel M.S. Sandhu82 Armoured Regiment14 Apr 19888 Jan 1991
45Colonel Aditya Singh9 Horse9 Jan 199121 Jun 1994
46Colonel D.C. Katoch76 Armoured Regiment22 Jun 199428 Oct 1995
47Colonel K.M.S. Shergill17 Horse29 Oct 19954 Oct 1999
48Colonel G.S. Malhi5 Armoured Regiment5 Oct 199919 Jul 2002
49 Colonel Bhawani Singh 61 Cavalry20 Jul 200230 Aug 2005
50Colonel A.A. Mahmood, VSM16 Cavalry31 Aug 200520 Nov 2008
51Colonel A. Bhanot89 Armoured Regiment21 Nov 200823 Jun 2011
52Colonel T.S. Mundi46 Armoured Regiment24 Jun 201123 Mar 2015
53Colonel Dhiraj Chengappa1 Horse24 Mar 2015

Adjutants [12]

S.NoRank and NameParent RegimentFromTo
1Lieutenant W. Mercer2 Bengal Native Cavalry17841796
2Captain H.C. MontgomeryMadras Establishment17991800
3Lieutenant F.A. Daniell4 Madras Native Cavalry15 Apr 18001 Sep 1802
4Lieutenant G.H. Gall8 Bengal Native Cavalry1 Sep 180213 Mar 1806
5Lieutenant W.G.A. Fielding7 Bengal Native Cavalry13 Mar 180615 Feb 1812
6Lieutenant C.S. Waring7 Bengal Native Cavalry15 Feb 18121813
7Cornet G.J. Shadwell2 Bengal Native Cavalry14 May 181327 Jan 1821
8Lieutenant H.L. Worrall1 Bengal Light Cavalry27 Jan 18211 Sep 1825
9Lieutenant J.D. Dyke4 Bengal Light Cavalry6 May 18259 Sep 1825
10Lieutenant C.D. Dawkins2 Light Cavalry9 Sep 18253 Mar 1827
11Lieutenant W. Wingfield10 Bengal Light Cavalry23 Mar 182715 Nov 1831
12Lieutenant J. Hamilton9 Bengal Light Cavalry15 Nov 18313 Apr 1834
13Lieutenant J.A.D. Fergusson6 Light Cavalry17 Jun 183420 Dec 1842
14Lieutenant W. Mayne37 Native Infantry / Bengal Irregular Cavalry20 Dec 184210 Feb 1844
15Lieutenant N.B. Chamberlain16 Native Infantry10 Feb 184413 Mar 1845
16Lieutenant W. Fisher10 Light Cavalry13 Mar 184518 Dec 1845
17Lieutenant T.T. Tucker8 Bengal Light Cavalry7 Jan 18465 Mar 1846
18Lieutenant G.D. Pakenham4 Bengal Light Cavalry5 Mar 184612 Apr 1851
19Lieutenant H.A.I. Ellis1 Bengal Light Cavalry12 Apr 18514 Jun 1852
20Lieutenant H. Durrant5 Light Cavalry4 Jun 185211 Apr 1853
21Lieutenant H.P. Peacock3 Bengal European Cavalry6 Oct 18593 Mar 1862
22Lieutenant H.B. Lockwood4 European Light Cavalry11 Mar 186212 Feb 1863
23Lieutenant T.F.C. Rochfort4 Bengal European Cavalry12 Feb 186320 Dec 1864
24Lieutenant W.A. Lawrence21 Hussars20 Dec 18642 Mar 1869
25Lieutenant T. Deane21 Hussars20 Jan 18682 Mar 1869
26Captain C.W. Muir6 Bengal Cavalry19 Jan 187718 Oct 1878
27Lieutenant D.A.W. Thuillier17 Bengal Cavalry22 Oct 187813 Jun 1881
28Lieutenant R.C. Onslow10 Bengal Lancers24 Jun 18819 Apr 1886
29Lieutenant J.G. Turner4 Cavalry9 Apr 188626 Mar 1891
30Lieutenant R.E. Grimston6 King Edward’s Own Cavalry9 Apr 189124 May 1893
31 Lieutenant W.R. Birdwood 11 Bengal Lancers24 May 189321 Nov 1898
32Captain I.G. White16 Bengal Cavalry21 Nov 189826 Mar 1900
33Lieutenant G.N. HoodCentral India Horse26 Mar 19001 Oct 1900
34Captain H.N. Holden5 Cavalry26 Oct 19001 Mar 1904
35Captain V.A.S. Keighley18 PWO Tiwana Lancers28 Apr 19042 Mar 1909
36Captain V.C.P. Hodson10 Hodson’s Horse2 Mar 190915 Apr 1913
37Captain I.R.V. Shirston11 King Edward’s Own Lancers16 Apr 191317 Apr 1917
38Captain E.V.F. Seymour9 Hodson’s Horse9 Sep 19183 Jan 1919
39Captain G.B. Harvey5 Cavalry11 Mar 19191922
40Captain R.T. Lawrence, MC4 Hodson’s Horse19221925
41Captain A.I.B. Anderson15 Lancers19251927
42Captain H.I. Mostyn Owen19 Lancers19277 Jan 1928
43Captain J.W. Davidson, MCProbyn’s Horse7 Jan 192814 Oct 1930
44Captain W.R.B. Peel19 Lancers14 Oct 19305 Jun 1931
45Captain T.G. AthertonRoyal Deccan Horse5 Jun 19315 Jun 1935
46Captain C.R. Budgen3 Cavalry5 Jun 19356 Mar 1939
47Captain R.G. Hammer21 Prince Albert Victor’s Own Cavalry25 Feb 19435 Jan 1946
48Lieutenant P.A.O. Marriot21 Prince Albert Victor’s Own Cavalry25 Feb 19435 Jan 1946
49Captain H.C. Badhwar, MBE3 Cavalry23 Feb 194631 Oct 1946
50 Captain S. Mohammad Yakub Khan 18 Cavalry13 Nov 194617 Nov 1947
51Captain K.G.S. BediSkinner’s Horse17 Nov 194718 Aug 1948
52Captain S.K. Bharat Singh2 Lancers1 Nov 194824 Sep 1950
53Captain S.G. Srinivasan1 Horse4 Jan 195127 May 1954
54 Captain M.K. Bhawani Singh 3 Cavalry3 May 195421 Nov 1962
55Captain H.S. Sodhi61 Cavalry22 Nov 196222 May 1966
56Captain R.K.S. Kalaan61 Cavalry23 May 196622 Dec 1969
57Captain T.S. Shergill9 Horse23 Jun 196916 Dec 1971
58Captain Bijendra Singh14 Horse18 Feb 197224 May 1975
59Captain Aditya Singh9 Horse25 May 197525 Jun 1978
60Captain Hardeep Singh17 Horse1 Jul 19785 Dec 1982
61Captain P.S. Bedi83 Armoured Regiment6 Dec 198226 Mar 1987
62Major Rakesh Passi12 Armoured Regiment27 Mar 19871 Apr 1990
63Major Y.K. Singh61 Cavalry2 Apr 199013 Aug 1992
64Major A.A. Mahmood16 Cavalry14 Aug 19925 Jun 1995
65 Major Bhawani Singh 61 Cavalry6 Jun 199523 Aug 1998
66Major S.S. Rathore61 Cavalry24 Aug 19985 Sep 2001
67Major Bhanu Pratap Singh51 Armoured Regiment6 Sep 20013 Mar 2004
68Lieutenant Colonel Sanjay Bhatia49 Armoured Regiment4 Mar 200418 Feb 2008
69Lieutenant Colonel Ravinder Narwal, SM46 Armoured Regiment19 Feb 200826 Jun 2010
70Lieutenant Colonel Mahendra Singh2 Lancers27 Jun 201029 May 2012
71Lieutenant Colonel Amit Bhardwaj52 Armoured Regiment30 May 2012

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Nath, Ashok (2009). Izzat: historical records and iconography of Indian cavalry regiments, 1750-2007. Centre for Armed Forces Historical Research, United Service Institution of India. pp. 542–543. ISBN   978-81-902097-7-9.
  2. "President Droupadi Murmu presented President's Standard of Bodyguard and Regimental Standard to President's Bodyguard at its Sestercentennial celebrations held at Rashtrapati Bhavan. The President expressed confidence that PBG will maintain the best traditions of Indian Army with…". President of India. 2023.
  3. Roy, Robin (15 August 2018), The President's Bodyguard (Documentary), Amitabh Bachchan, India Noida, NGC Network, National Geographic, retrieved 12 December 2023
  4. "Droupadi Murmu gives traditional buggy a miss during swearing-in ceremony: A look back at its glorious history". Firstpost. India. 22 June 2022. Retrieved 5 June 2023.
  5. 1 2 "Only three castes may apply to join the President's Bodyguard, but army still alleges there's no caste bias". Firstpost. Retrieved 3 July 2021.
  6. Singh, Sarbans (1993). Battle Honours of the Indian Army 1757 - 1971. New Delhi: Vision Books. ISBN   978-81-7094-115-6.
  7. "The President's Bodyguard". The President of India. The President's Secretariat, Government of India. 2012. Archived from the original on 25 March 2014. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
  8. Bhat, Anil (2011). "A Tryst with India's History". Salute magazine. Archived from the original on 23 June 2014. Retrieved 29 March 2014.
  9. Wilkinson, Steven I. (2015). Army and Nation: The Military and Indian Democracy since Independence. Harvard University Press. ISBN   9780674967007 . Retrieved 19 October 2021.
  10. Gautam, PK (2016). Indigenous Historical Knowledge: Kautilya and His Vocabulary, Volume III. IDSA/Pentagon Press. p. 153. ISBN   978-81-8274-909-2.
  11. "President Kovind arrives at Rajpath, receives 21 Gun Salute on 73rd Republic Day". ANI News. Retrieved 23 April 2023.
  12. 1 2 Rana Chhina (editor); Dinesh Khanna (photographer) (2015). Right of the Line : The President's Bodyguard. Public Resource. Publications Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Govt. of India. ISBN   978-81-230-2003-7.{{cite book}}: |last= has generic name (help)