THE FIRST ever arms exhibition — Know Your Army — in the city enthralled Kanpurites who got the rare opportunity to have a close look at the paraphernalia of the infantry and state of the art communnication system of the Army.
If machines tempted the crowd, no less exhilarating was the skill of the men. The two-and-a-half hour function got off to a glittering start with band display by soldiers of the 62 Infantry Brigade. The seven silvery tunes played by the band captivated everyone at the packed Cavalry Ground.
Guest on the occasion was General Officer Commanding of the 62 Infantry Brigade, which is famously known as ‘Red Eagle Division’, Major General M S Buttar. The display of ancient fighting art from Korea— Taekwondo — by soldiers of f the 8 Sikhs reflected the perfection they had achieved. Amidst thunderous applause, they broke bricks and wooden planks with a single blow.
In the show of Unarmed Combat, members of the 8 Sikhs presented several techniques of overpowering and thwarting enemy attacks. The age-old Sikh art of self-defence ‘Gatka’ with 18 different weapons, of which the most common is a ‘Lathi’, was also displayed.
Infantry, the ‘Queen of Battle’ as it is referred in the Army, also gave a splendid demonstration of attack on the enemy. Soldiers of the Sikh, Garhwal and Kumaon regiments took part in the demonstration. As the soldiers approached the enemy deployed on the ground in the form of dummies smoke candles were burnt in order to create a real war like situation. The splendid demonstration ended with the bayonet attack on enemy soldiers.
{{/usCountry}}Infantry, the ‘Queen of Battle’ as it is referred in the Army, also gave a splendid demonstration of attack on the enemy. Soldiers of the Sikh, Garhwal and Kumaon regiments took part in the demonstration. As the soldiers approached the enemy deployed on the ground in the form of dummies smoke candles were burnt in order to create a real war like situation. The splendid demonstration ended with the bayonet attack on enemy soldiers.
{{/usCountry}}The most captivating of all performances was a Dog Show. Remont Veterinary Core (RVC), Meerut is the only dog regiment of the country comprising of about 545 dogs. Seven dogs of the regiment mesmerized the audience by performing several tasks including high jumps, obstacle crossing, jumping through fire ring and crossing a Burma Bridge. All the seven dogs danced to the tune of their handlers.
The last event of the day was Sky Diving, displayed by members of the 50 Independent Paratrooper Brigade, Agra. Many skipped their heartbeats as para-troopers took a plunge from a height of 6000 ft and performed several skills up in the sky before a perfect landing. The aeromodelling show presented by the cadets of 3UP Air Squadron NCC was watched by the audience with rapt attention. The flying model flown by the cadet was made of a very lightwood known as ‘Balsa’. The cadet displayed various acrobatic manoeuvers of aeromodelling.