President's Bodyguard (India)

This article is about an Indian military unit. For the Pakistani military unit with the same name, see President's Bodyguard (Pakistan).

President's Bodyguard
Active1773 – present
Country Republic of India
AllegianceIndia
Branch Indian Army
TypeHousehold cavalry
RoleCeremonial during peace; Armoured reconnaissance & parachute pathfinders during war.
Size222 (4 officers, 20 JCOs & 198 soldiers)[1]
Part of50th Parachute Brigade
MottosBharat Mata Ki Jai
(Victory to Mother India)[1]
MarchSare Jahan se Accha[1]
EquipmentBTR-80
Commanders
Colonel of the regimentColonel Amit Berwal[2]
Ceremonial chiefPresident 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.

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

Main article: Governor General's Bodyguard
See also: President's Bodyguard (Pakistan)
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
video icon 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]

On January 27, 1950, the regiment was renamed the President’s Bodyguard. [5]

Names

The name of the regiment has changed throughout its history:

Year Name
1773 Governor's Troop of Moghuls
1784 Governor-General's Bodyguard
1859 Viceroy's Body Guard
1944 44th Divisional Reconnaissance Squadron
1946 Governor-General's Bodyguard
1950 President'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.[6][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:[7]

  • Java
  • Ava
  • Maharajpoor
  • Moodkee
  • Ferozeshah
  • Aliwal
  • Sobraon

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.[8][9]

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.

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

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 1,929 men in 1845. However, since 1950, it has 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.[10][11][6] Its current commanding officer is Colonel Amit Berwal and the second-in-command is Lieutenant Colonel Angad Singh Thind.

  • Guard-changing ceremony outside the Rashtrapati Bhavan (President's House)
    Guard-changing ceremony outside the Rashtrapati Bhavan (President's House)
  • President's Bodyguard in summer ceremonial uniforms during changing of the guard
    President's Bodyguard in summer ceremonial uniforms during changing of the guard
  • President's Bodyguard coming out of the Rashtrapati Bhavan in their winter ceremonial dress
    President's Bodyguard coming out of the Rashtrapati Bhavan in their winter ceremonial dress
  • Colonel T. S. Mundi, then commandant of the regiment, during full-dress rehearsal on 23 January 2013
    Colonel T. S. Mundi, then commandant of the regiment, during full-dress rehearsal on 23 January 2013
  • Major Amit Bhardwaj moving towards forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan during full dress rehearsal on 23 January 2013
    Major Amit Bhardwaj moving towards forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan during full dress rehearsal on 23 January 2013
  • Lt. Col. Mahender Singh (former second-in-command of the regiment) in summer ceremonial uniform
    Lt. Col. Mahender Singh (former second-in-command of the regiment) in summer ceremonial uniform

Commandants

S.No[12] Rank and Name Parent Regiment From To
1 Captain Sweny Toone – 1773 27 Jan 1777
2 Major H. Briscoe – 27 Jan 1777 6 Apr 1778
3 Captain W. Palmer 3 Native Infantry 6 Apr 1778 30 Apr 1782
4 Lieutenant T. Polhill 1 Native Infantry 30 Apr 1782 4 Jul 1782
5 Lieutenant S. Turner 12 Native Infantry 4 Jul 1782 18 Mar 1799
6 Captain C. Fraser 7 Bengal Native Cavalry 18 Mar 1799 15 Apr 1800
7 Captain H.C. Montgomery Madras Establishment 15 Apr 1800 1 Sep 1802
8 Major F.A. Daniell Madras Establishment 1 Sep 1802 Feb 1806
9 Captain G.H. Gall 8 Bengal Native Cavalry Feb 1806 21 Jun 1818
10 Captain W.H. Rainey 4 Bengal Light Cavalry 21 Jun 1818 14 Oct 1820
11 Captain R.H. Sneyd 1 Bengal Cavalry 14 Oct 1820 3 Mar 1827
12 Major E.J. Honywood 7 Light Cavalry 3 Mar 1827 3 Apr 1834
13 Captain C.D. Dawkins 2 Light Cavalry 3 Apr 1834 18 Dec 1845
14 Captain T. Quin 4 Light Cavalry 18 Dec 1845 25 Jun 1846
15 Lieutenant E.G. Crossman 45 Native Infantry 25 Jun 1846 16 Jan 1847
16 Major W. Mayne 37 Native Infantry 16 Jan 1847 11 Apr 1851
17 Major W.A.A. Thomson 9 Light Cavalry / 4 Bengal European Cavalry 12 Apr 1851 4 Mar 1862
18 Colonel G. Delane 6 Light Cavalry 4 Mar 1862 13 Nov 1874
19 Major H.P. Peacock 3rd European Light Cavalry 13 Nov 1874 9 Jan 1878
20 Major G.C. Jackson 2nd Bengal European Cavalry 9 Jan 1878 13 Dec 1883
21 Captain C.W. Muir 6 Bengal Cavalry 13 Dec 1883 6 Jan 1889
22 Captain R.C. Onslow 10 Bengal Lancers 7 Jan 1889 7 Jan 1894
23 Major J.G. Turner 4 Cavalry 7 Jan 1894 21 Jul 1898
24 Major R.E. Grimston 6 King Edward’s Own Cavalry 21 Jul 1898 2 Mar 1904
25 Captain H.N. Holden 5 Cavalry 2 Mar 1904 2 Mar 1909
26 Lieutenant V.A.S. Keighley 18 PWO Tiwana Lancers 2 Mar 1909 1 Apr 1915
27 Captain W.A.S. de Gale 22 Cavalry 1 Apr 1915 16 Jun 1917
28 Captain A. Brooke 18 PWO Tiwana Lancers 16 Jun 1917 5 May 1922
29 Major E.G. Atkinson 15 Lancers 5 May 1922 13 Sep 1927
30 Major M.D. Vigors, DSO, MC Hodson’s Horse 13 Sep 1927 29 May 1931
31 Captain W.R.B. Peel 19 Lancers 29 May 1931 4 Oct 1936
32 Major H.I. Mostyn-Owen 19 Lancers 4 Oct 1936 20 Oct 1943
33 Major J.R.L. Tweed IAC 20 Oct 1943 18 Dec 1945
34 Major P. Massey, MC Baluch Regiment 18 Dec 1945 31 Dec 1947
35 Major Thakur Govind Singh 61 Cavalry 31 Dec 1947 24 Sep 1950
36 Major S.K. Bharat Singh 2 Lancers 25 Sep 1950 27 Apr 1954
37 Major S.G. Srinivasan 1 Horse 28 Apr 1954 14 Jul 1957
38 Major Mohammad Mirza 61 Cavalry 1 Aug 1957 15 Nov 1962
39 Major S.K. Pudumjee 1 Horse 16 Nov 1962 11 Oct 1966
40 Major Surat Singh 1 Horse 12 Oct 1966 7 Sep 1971
41 Major P.K. Mehra 61 Cavalry 8 Sep 1971 24 Apr 1975
42 Major V.P. Singh 61 Cavalry 25 Apr 1975 22 Sep 1980
43 Colonel H.S. Sodhi, VSM 61 Cavalry 23 Sep 1980 30 Sep 1987
44 Colonel M.S. Sandhu 82 Armoured Regiment 14 Apr 1988 8 Jan 1991
45 Colonel Aditya Singh 9 Horse 9 Jan 1991 21 Jun 1994
46 Colonel D.C. Katoch 76 Armoured Regiment 22 Jun 1994 28 Oct 1995
47 Colonel K.M.S. Shergill 17 Horse 29 Oct 1995 4 Oct 1999
48 Colonel G.S. Malhi 5 Armoured Regiment 5 Oct 1999 19 Jul 2002
49 Colonel Bhawani Singh 61 Cavalry 20 Jul 2002 30 Aug 2005
50 Colonel A.A. Mahmood, VSM 16 Cavalry 31 Aug 2005 20 Nov 2008
51 Colonel A. Bhanot 89 Armoured Regiment 21 Nov 2008 23 Jun 2011
52 Colonel T.S. Mundi 46 Armoured Regiment 24 Jun 2011 23 Mar 2015
53 Colonel Dhiraj Chengappa 1 Horse 24 Mar 2015 –

Adjutants

S.No[12] Rank and Name Parent Regiment From To
1 Lieutenant W. Mercer 2 Bengal Native Cavalry 1784 1796
2 Captain H.C. Montgomery Madras Establishment 1799 1800
3 Lieutenant F.A. Daniell 4 Madras Native Cavalry 15 Apr 1800 1 Sep 1802
4 Lieutenant G.H. Gall 8 Bengal Native Cavalry 1 Sep 1802 13 Mar 1806
5 Lieutenant W.G.A. Fielding 7 Bengal Native Cavalry 13 Mar 1806 15 Feb 1812
6 Lieutenant C.S. Waring 7 Bengal Native Cavalry 15 Feb 1812 1813
7 Cornet G.J. Shadwell 2 Bengal Native Cavalry 14 May 1813 27 Jan 1821
8 Lieutenant H.L. Worrall 1 Bengal Light Cavalry 27 Jan 1821 1 Sep 1825
9 Lieutenant J.D. Dyke 4 Bengal Light Cavalry 6 May 1825 9 Sep 1825
10 Lieutenant C.D. Dawkins 2 Light Cavalry 9 Sep 1825 3 Mar 1827
11 Lieutenant W. Wingfield 10 Bengal Light Cavalry 23 Mar 1827 15 Nov 1831
12 Lieutenant J. Hamilton 9 Bengal Light Cavalry 15 Nov 1831 3 Apr 1834
13 Lieutenant J.A.D. Fergusson 6 Light Cavalry 17 Jun 1834 20 Dec 1842
14 Lieutenant W. Mayne 37 Native Infantry / Bengal Irregular Cavalry 20 Dec 1842 10 Feb 1844
15 Lieutenant N.B. Chamberlain 16 Native Infantry 10 Feb 1844 13 Mar 1845
16 Lieutenant W. Fisher 10 Light Cavalry 13 Mar 1845 18 Dec 1845
17 Lieutenant T.T. Tucker 8 Bengal Light Cavalry 7 Jan 1846 5 Mar 1846
18 Lieutenant G.D. Pakenham 4 Bengal Light Cavalry 5 Mar 1846 12 Apr 1851
19 Lieutenant H.A.I. Ellis 1 Bengal Light Cavalry 12 Apr 1851 4 Jun 1852
20 Lieutenant H. Durrant 5 Light Cavalry 4 Jun 1852 11 Apr 1853
21 Lieutenant H.P. Peacock 3 Bengal European Cavalry 6 Oct 1859 3 Mar 1862
22 Lieutenant H.B. Lockwood 4 European Light Cavalry 11 Mar 1862 12 Feb 1863
23 Lieutenant T.F.C. Rochfort 4 Bengal European Cavalry 12 Feb 1863 20 Dec 1864
24 Lieutenant W.A. Lawrence 21 Hussars 20 Dec 1864 2 Mar 1869
25 Lieutenant T. Deane 21 Hussars 20 Jan 1868 2 Mar 1869
26 Captain C.W. Muir 6 Bengal Cavalry 19 Jan 1877 18 Oct 1878
27 Lieutenant D.A.W. Thuillier 17 Bengal Cavalry 22 Oct 1878 13 Jun 1881
28 Lieutenant R.C. Onslow 10 Bengal Lancers 24 Jun 1881 9 Apr 1886
29 Lieutenant J.G. Turner 4 Cavalry 9 Apr 1886 26 Mar 1891
30 Lieutenant R.E. Grimston 6 King Edward’s Own Cavalry 9 Apr 1891 24 May 1893
31 Lieutenant W.R. Birdwood 11 Bengal Lancers 24 May 1893 21 Nov 1898
32 Captain I.G. White 16 Bengal Cavalry 21 Nov 1898 26 Mar 1900
33 Lieutenant G.N. Hood Central India Horse 26 Mar 1900 1 Oct 1900
34 Captain H.N. Holden 5 Cavalry 26 Oct 1900 1 Mar 1904
35 Captain V.A.S. Keighley 18 PWO Tiwana Lancers 28 Apr 1904 2 Mar 1909
36 Captain V.C.P. Hodson 10 Hodson’s Horse 2 Mar 1909 15 Apr 1913
37 Captain I.R.V. Shirston 11 King Edward’s Own Lancers 16 Apr 1913 17 Apr 1917
38 Captain E.V.F. Seymour 9 Hodson’s Horse 9 Sep 1918 3 Jan 1919
39 Captain G.B. Harvey 5 Cavalry 11 Mar 1919 1922
40 Captain R.T. Lawrence, MC 4 Hodson’s Horse 1922 1925
41 Captain A.I.B. Anderson 15 Lancers 1925 1927
42 Captain H.I. Mostyn Owen 19 Lancers 1927 7 Jan 1928
43 Captain J.W. Davidson, MC Probyn’s Horse 7 Jan 1928 14 Oct 1930
44 Captain W.R.B. Peel 19 Lancers 14 Oct 1930 5 Jun 1931
45 Captain T.G. Atherton Royal Deccan Horse 5 Jun 1931 5 Jun 1935
46 Captain C.R. Budgen 3 Cavalry 5 Jun 1935 6 Mar 1939
47 Captain R.G. Hammer 21 Prince Albert Victor’s Own Cavalry 25 Feb 1943 5 Jan 1946
48 Lieutenant P.A.O. Marriot 21 Prince Albert Victor’s Own Cavalry 25 Feb 1943 5 Jan 1946
49 Captain H.C. Badhwar, MBE 3 Cavalry 23 Feb 1946 31 Oct 1946
50 Captain S. Mohammad Yakub Khan 18 Cavalry 13 Nov 1946 17 Nov 1947
51 Captain K.G.S. Bedi Skinner’s Horse 17 Nov 1947 18 Aug 1948
52 Captain S.K. Bharat Singh 2 Lancers 1 Nov 1948 24 Sep 1950
53 Captain S.G. Srinivasan 1 Horse 4 Jan 1951 27 May 1954
54 Captain M.K. Bhawani Singh 3 Cavalry 3 May 1954 21 Nov 1962
55 Captain H.S. Sodhi 61 Cavalry 22 Nov 1962 22 May 1966
56 Captain R.K.S. Kalaan 61 Cavalry 23 May 1966 22 Dec 1969
57 Captain T.S. Shergill 9 Horse 23 Jun 1969 16 Dec 1971
58 Captain Bijendra Singh 14 Horse 18 Feb 1972 24 May 1975
59 Captain Aditya Singh 9 Horse 25 May 1975 25 Jun 1978
60 Captain Hardeep Singh 17 Horse 1 Jul 1978 5 Dec 1982
61 Captain P.S. Bedi 83 Armoured Regiment 6 Dec 1982 26 Mar 1987
62 Major Rakesh Passi 12 Armoured Regiment 27 Mar 1987 1 Apr 1990
63 Major Y.K. Singh 61 Cavalry 2 Apr 1990 13 Aug 1992
64 Major A.A. Mahmood 16 Cavalry 14 Aug 1992 5 Jun 1995
65 Major Bhawani Singh 61 Cavalry 6 Jun 1995 23 Aug 1998
66 Major S.S. Rathore 61 Cavalry 24 Aug 1998 5 Sep 2001
67 Major Bhanu Pratap Singh 51 Armoured Regiment 6 Sep 2001 3 Mar 2004
68 Lieutenant Colonel Sanjay Bhatia 49 Armoured Regiment 4 Mar 2004 18 Feb 2008
69 Lieutenant Colonel Ravinder Narwal, SM 46 Armoured Regiment 19 Feb 2008 26 Jun 2010
70 Lieutenant Colonel Mahendra Singh 2 Lancers 27 Jun 2010 29 May 2012
71 Lieutenant Colonel Amit Bhardwaj 52 Armoured Regiment 30 May 2012 –

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e 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. ^ https://www.presidentofindia.gov.in/press_releases/president-india-presents-presidents-standard-bodyguard-and-regimental-standard
  6. ^ a b "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.
  7. ^ Singh, Sarbans (1993). Battle Honours of the Indian Army 1757 - 1971. New Delhi: Vision Books. ISBN 978-81-7094-115-6.
  8. ^ Bhat, Anil (2011). "A Tryst with India's History". Salute magazine. Retrieved 29 March 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  9. ^ "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.
  10. ^ Wilkinson, Steven I. (2015). Army and Nation: The Military and Indian Democracy since Independence. Harvard University Press. ISBN 9780674967007. Retrieved 19 October 2021.
  11. ^ Gautam, PK (2016). Indigenous Historical Knowledge: Kautilya and His Vocabulary, Volume III. IDSA/Pentagon Press. p. 153. ISBN 978-81-8274-909-2.
  12. ^ a b Chhina, Rana; Khanna, Dinesh (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.
allikas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/President%27s_Bodyguard_(India)