India marked its 73rd Republic Day with much fanfare. Like each year, this year too the parade showcased India’s military might, cultural diversity and presented programmes that mark the celebration of the 75th year of Independence. But the highlight of this year’s ceremony was a melancholic send-off to star stallion, Virat.
At the end of the celebrations, the President, Prime Minister and Defence Minister solemnly greeted the Hanoverian horse and praised it for its remarkable services to the nation. The affectionate farewell was so heart-warming that it made resisting a smile difficult for people who viewed it up close.
Virat served as the President’s Bodyguard Commandant’s mount for 18 years. The Hanoverian steed joined the pre-eminent Presidential Bodyguard as a three-year-old in 2003. The 200-strong, 61st Cavalry unit has had a long tradition of being assigned to India’s most prominent VIPs, from British viceroys to modern heads of state. The regiment has been considered as being one of the most prestigious in the Indian Army. It handpicks its cavalry horses from among thousands of first-grade horses. These horses are bred by Remount Veterinary Corps and looked after by 44 Military Veterinary hospitals. Each year on Republic Day, the unit escorts the President to the stage and gives the order for the national anthem to begin.
Virat has had an outstanding record and holds the rare distinction of escorting numerous Presidents of India with elegance in ceremonial parades.
Like any distinctive horse, Virat has been known to exhibit a sophisticated, polished personality. During the ceremony, an officer was quoted as saying that despite Virat’s old age, the horse performed exceptionally well at the parade and at Beating the Retreat. The President had also complimented the horse on a number of occasions previously for its stellar performance during mounted ceremonial events as well as equestrian events. The horse has now 13 Republic Day appearances under its belt as it prepares to bid adieu to the cavalry unit. Before the Presidential Bodyguard (PBG) announced Virat’s retirement on 26th January, it was recognized for its illustrious service and was awarded the Chief of the Army Staff Commendation on the eve of Army Day on Jan 15. With that Virat has become the first horse to receive such a commendation for its “exceptional service and abilities”. The iconic horse will be remembered for its service for decades.
THE 61st CAVALRY
The 61st Cavalry, which Virat was part of, is amongst the world’s last remaining horse-mounted regiments. The regiment traces back its roots to the Independence era. It was formed in 1947, under the aegis of the then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. Nehru was a firm believer in fostering national pride among his countrymen and felt the cavalry’s participation in annual ceremonials would help in this regard.
While the Cavalry unit and its predecessors had been involved in combat missions around the world, in1971, it was shifted to New Delhi and was assigned the task of guarding the presidential residence, the internal defence of Lutyen’s Delhi and undertaking dismounted ceremonials. Subsequently, they also had the honour of presenting the first guard of honour to Sheikh Mujibur Rehman on his release from a Pakistani prison in January 1972, a task they undertook with remarkable poise.
The regiment has been most recognisable for its role in the promotion of Polo and Equestrian sports in the country. The unit has dominated the Indian equestrian scene since its inception, going on to win all major tournaments in the country. It has also produced some of the best Polo players in the country. Members of the regiment have won 12 Arjuna Awards—India’s highest award for outstanding sportsmen—five times for polo and seven times for equestrian events.
Owing to their strong tradition in this area, the regiment has been entrusted with the task of providing instruction in equestrian to cadets from the National Defence Academy, Indian Military Academy, Officers Training Academy, and the Armoured Corps Centre and School. This is because the armed forces have always viewed involvement in equestrian activities as an effective training resource for developing officer-like qualities. The 61st Cavalry has maintained the gold standard in ceremonial processions. The hard work they put into rigorous training has paid off in terms of enhancement of the quality of their work. They have been a source of pride for the Indian Army and will continue to inspire generations of Indians to come.
