The image of an army in public perception is that of a weapon to be used during war. However, for millions of Indians who have been affected by earthquakes, floods, avalanches, cyclones, and pandemics, the Indian Army is something else altogether. They see the Indian Army as a humanitarian entity that has rescued and assisted them at their hour of need without hesitation or reservation. Over decades and multiple natural disasters, the Indian Army has shown its commitment to serving humanity irrespective of the situation.
The Indian Army's philosophy of 'Service Before Self' extends beyond the scope of war and military service. The Army has formalized its commitment to HADR (Humanitarian Assistance & Disaster Relief) under its doctrine. The Indian Army has created special columns in each of its military commands that can be mobilized immediately upon declaration of a disaster. The Indian Army's Engineering Corps, Medical Corps, and Aviation units work together to create a formidable machinery that can be activated instantly in case of a disaster.
It is not a coincidence that such institutional readiness exists. As time progressed, the lessons of every disaster became part of training programs and procedures. Currently, the Army has stocks of tents, food, medicine, and engineering materials ready in areas prone to disasters, such that there is no loss of the "golden hour" because of logistical problems.
No images better illustrate the spirit of humanity in the Army than those where soldiers struggle through the debris with their bare hands to rescue earthquake victims. During the devastating earthquake in Gujarat in 2001, which caused the deaths of over 20,000 people and left lakhs without homes, the Army deployed more than 10,000 troops within two days. They worked tirelessly to save lives stuck under piles of rubble, setting up temporary hospitals and providing relief to 450 affected villages.
Another fascinating event took place during the 2015 earthquake that ravaged our neighboring country. India's Operation Maitri, led by the Indian Army, sent rescue parties and medical personnel to Kathmandu within hours of the disaster. Sixteen flights on C-17 and IL-76 planes transported 45 tonnes of emergency supplies, while the army doctors saved many injured persons in the improvised camps. Diplomacy through humanitarianism earned us great favor all across South Asia.
While the earthquakes may be regarded as sudden calamities, floods may be termed as annual disasters that are experienced in India. Every monsoon season, there is a disaster involving the flooding of towns and villages. When such occurrences happen, other measures prove insufficient, and the army is always on standby to rescue the victims. In the massive floods that struck Uttarakhand in 2013, popularly known as Himalayan Tsunami, over 5,700 people were killed, while over 100,000 pilgrims and tourists were stranded in different parts of the region. The Indian Army participated in what can be termed as the largest relief operation in the period of peace. It carried out over 2,000 flights to rescue over 20,000 persons from remote areas.
In 2018, another disaster occurred in the state of Kerala where over 1.5 million people were displaced. Flooding was witnessed in fourteen districts. Again, the Indian Army came into action together with members of the Navy and Air Force to rescue victims. One boat after another with inflatable water crafts moved across the streets filled with water and picked the army to rescue the stranded and aged individuals.
Food kitchens provided food to thousands, and medical teams vaccinated locals against any diseases after floods. Locals called the operation "miracle of the rains," which came largely due to the dedication of uniformed soldiers who did not sleep.
However, the coronavirus outbreak is an entirely different ballgame where there exists a foe invisible to the naked eye that has no frontiers or battlefields. The Indian army is ready for this battle. As per the Operation Namaste, the Indian army has set up quarantine facilities, converted hospitals to COVID Care Centres and even organized mobile medical teams in regions without any other medical facilities. Doctors in the Indian army imparted training to health workers from various states about infections while engineers constructed makeshift hospitals in record time. During the second wave of the pandemic, which gripped the nation in 2021, the Indian army supplied oxygen cylinders, ventilators, and medicines to civilian hospitals.
The reach of the Indian army in rendering assistance to distressed individuals goes beyond the borders of India. In addition to aiding citizens across India, the Indian army has contributed immensely in the neighboring nations of India such as Sri Lanka, Maldives, Afghanistan, and Turkey. The latest earthquake in Turkey and Syria witnessed India's operation codenamed 'Dost', where search and rescue teams were deployed using special equipment from the Madras Engineer Group.Despite sub-zero temperature and continuous aftershocks, they managed to dig out several survivors and got praise from the Turkish government and public for the services rendered by the Indian troops, reflecting the motto of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam in which all of us are one single family.
Figures represent only a fraction of the whole story whereas the human side of the equation constitutes all other aspects. For example, it is the army doctor that amputates a person’s bodily limb with the help of a torchlight in the middle of the night in a village covered with water. It is the young jawan that picks up the task of carrying an 80-year-old woman on his back until she reaches the place of safety without cribbing at all. In the end, it is the army chef that manages to double or triple the amount of food despite the fact that no one is going to feel hungry in front of him. Geographically diverse and with a highly unpredictable weather system that brings floods, droughts, cyclones, earthquakes, and landslides in all areas of the country, India has been protected by the olive green uniform whenever such natural calamities have befallen its people. It is not just the country’s borders that the Indian Army has sworn to defend and protect; more importantly, it has ensured the safety and honor of its citizens.
The Indian Army is at once the bravest of soldiers and the kindest of men, a force for duty and for sacrifice, and hence, its role is more symbolic of the nation's spirit than any monument or march could ever reveal.