62 Cavalry (India)

Defence India

April 1, 2006

A commemorative postage stamp on the Golden Jubilee of 62^nd Cavalry, the First Armoured Regiment of the Indian Army in independent India :

Issued by India

Issued on Apr 1, 2006

Issued for : The Department of Posts is proud to issue a Commemorative postage stamp on Golden Jubilee of 62 Cavalry.

Credits :
Stamp & FDC : Kamleshwar Singh
Cancellation : Alka Sharma

Type : Stamp, Mint Condition

Colour : Multi Colour

Denomination : 500 Paise

Stamps Printed : 0.8 Million

Printing Process : Photogravure

Printer : India Security Press, Nashik

About :

62 Cavalry has the dual honour of being the first Armoured Regiment to be raised in independent India, as also the first raised on Tanks. Raising orders were issued on 1^st July 1956, and the Regiment was declared fit for war on 31^st March 1957.
It was in the 1965 Indo-Pak war that the Regiment displayed its excellence in battle. It played a pivotal role in the capture of Phillora. Hurtling into combat, the aging Sherman tanks of the Regiment were pitted against the cream of Pakistani Armour Patton Tanks at Pagowal. In the intense and vicious tank battle that ensued, 62 Cavalry destroyed six Patton tanks and one Chaffee Tanks, thus securing the object, as well as the withdrawal of the pride of the enemy armour.
In the 1971 war, the Regiment was the first to be formed as an independent combat group of the Indian Army tasked to launch an audacious offensive into enemy territory. The operation was called off due to the ceasefire, a few hours prior to its commencement, and tanks had to be halted in their approach to battle. The Regiment had moved over 500 kms on tracks during the prelude to the launch.
On 31^st March 1981, the Silver Jubilee of the Regiment, Shri Neelam Sanjiva Reddy, the then President of India presented the Guidon to the Regiment. The Regiment has been successfully deployed Operation TRIDENT, Operation VIJAY and Operation PARAKRAM.
The badge of the Regiment is unique. The five-pointed star that surmounts the crest, represents the five basic elements of creation, the outer Chakra signified Lord Krishna’s Sudarshan Chakra as also the twelve pointed lotus of Lord Shiva in his benign form. The inner Chakra symbolizes Guru Gobind Singh’s grace in battle. The mace head in the center symbolizes Yama, the Kaal or Shiva as the destroyer of the enemy. The Regiments motto enshrined in the crest reads “Dhairya avm Shaurya” or “Fortitude and Valour”. To the wearer of this crest, the complete significance can be interpreted as “having surrendered to the will of God, fight with courage”.
Text : Material provided by the Army Headquarters.