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The Army Chief Gen NC Vij, presented colours to three Battalions of the Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry Regiment on 16 September 2004 at Srinagar. A host of senior military and civil officials participated in the grand parade held at the JAK LI Regimental Centre, in the backdrop of the serene beauty of the Pir Panjal and Shamshabari Ranges. Lt Gen Hari Prasad, Colonel of the JAK LI Regiment and Northern Army Commander was the Chief host for all the activities.
The JAK LI Regiment, earlier J&K Militia was raised as volunteer force on 15 April 1948, when the Kabalies raided the State of J&K. A clarion call was given by Late Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah, at the rampart of Lal Chowk for volunteers to come forward and protect the State, and push back the raiders supported by Pakistan. Thousands volunteered with staves, lathies, spears and some with single barrel guns and facilitated the Indian Army in launching operations by acting as guides, porters and even in leading assaults.
While the nefarious designs of the raiders were thwarted, these volunteers were organized into fighting units under the banner J&K MILITIA. The Regiment remained deployed along the Line of Control as a Regional force and participated in all operations. The Government of India after the 1971 Indo-Pak conflict, recognized the valour displayed by the Regiment and gave it the status of a Regular Regiment of the Indian Army on 02 December 1972 and redesignated it as The Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry in April 1976. The intake for recruitment for all the battalions is restricted to the State of J&K only and the Regiment’s strength emerges from in the concept of ‘Unity in Diversity’ with a mix of muslims, Hindus and Sikhs, serving together in the same battalion, company, platoon! and section. The credo of the Regiment is Balidam Veer Lakshanam (Sacrifice is the virtue of the Brave) and the Battle cry ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’.
The ceremony for presentation of colours today was a grand spectacle for the entire Regiment when many veterans, war widows and serving personnel of the Regiment exchanged news and views and reflected on the past. The last such gatherings were held in April and October 1998, when the Regiment celebrated its Golden Jubilee and was presented colours for the first time in the history of Regiment.
The Regiment, in its 56 years of existence has 15 colours to its credit with 12 having been presented in October 1998 and a long list of honours and gallantry awards.
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