Wikipedia
XI Corps (India)
The XI Corps of the Indian Army is based in Jalandhar and is a part of Western Command.
| XI Corps | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1950 - present |
| Country | India |
| Branch | Indian Army |
| Role | Strike Corps |
| Size | Army Corps |
| Part of | Western Command |
| Garrison/HQ | Jalandhar |
| Nickname(s) | Vajra Corps Defenders of Punjab[1] |
| Battle honours | Theatre Honour: Punjab Battle Honours: Dograi Barki Asal Uttar Sehjra Dera Baba Nanak[2] |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander | Lt Gen Devendra Sharma |
| Notable commanders | General Om Prakash Malhotra General Ved Prakash Malik Lt Gen T B Henderson Brooks Lt Gen J S Dhillon |
History
XI Corps was raised to take command of the formations in the Punjab in 1950[3] as India reorganised its post-1947 army to meet the new threat of Pakistan.[4] It was raised on March 1, 1950 at Ambala under the command of Lieutenant General Kalwant Singh.[5] The corps headquarters was relocated to Jalandhar in July 1951.[2]
To reduce the load of XI Corps, X Corps was formed at Bathinda on 1 July 1979, taking over south Punjab and north Rajasthan.[6]
Formation Sign
The Corps formation sign consists of the 'red-white-red background' depicting a corps of the Indian Army overlaid by a Vajra, the powerful thunderbolt weapon of Lord Indra, the symbol of sacrifice of the great sage Dadhichi, who voluntarily sacrificed his body to make the fiercest weapon from his thighbone.[5]
Vajra Corps Platinum Jubilee, 1 March 2020
Organisation
The corps consists of:[7]
- 7 Infantry Division (Golden Arrow Division) headquartered at Firozpur, raised in 1964.[8]
- 9 Infantry Division (Pine Division) headquartered at Meerut.[9] It has one brigade each at Meerut, Delhi and Jalandhar.
- 15 Infantry Division (Panther Division) headquartered at Amritsar.[10] Appears to include 350 Infantry Brigade.[11]
- 23 (Independent) Armoured Brigade (Flaming Arrow Brigade) at Khasa, Amritsar.[12]
- 55 (Independent) Mechanised Brigade (Double Victory Brigade) at Beas[13][14]
- Corps Artillery Brigade[15]
- Corps Air Defence Brigade[16]
Vajra Shaurya Sthal, Jalandhar Cantonment - the Corps war memorial
Operations
List of Commanders
Vajra Museum, Jalandhar[18]
This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items. (June 2021) |
| Name | Rank | Appointment Date | Left Office | Unit of Commission | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kalwant Singh | Lieutenant General | 1 March 1950 | 1st Punjab Regiment | [5] | |
| S P P Thorat | 1955 | May 1957 | 1/14 Punjab | [19][5] | |
| T B Henderson Brooks | 1962 | 1963 | 5th Mahratta Light Infantry | [20] | |
| Joginder Singh Dhillon | November 1963 | August 1966 | Bengal Sappers | [21] | |
| Premindra Singh Bhagat | August 1966 | August 1970 | Bombay Sappers | ||
| Naveen Chand Rawlley | 1970 | 1972 | 12th Frontier Force Regiment | [22] | |
| Om Prakash Malhotra | May 1972 | July 1974 | Regiment of Artillery | [23] | |
| Krishnaswamy Gowri Shankar | 1984 | 1985 | Corps of Signals | [24] | |
| V K Nayar | 1985 | 31 October 1987 | Parachute Regiment[nb 1] | [26] | |
| Bakshi Krishan Nath Chhibber | July 1990 | September 1992 | 9th Gorkha Rifles | [27] | |
| Ved Prakash Malik | August 1992 | Sikh Light Infantry | [28][5] | ||
| H B Kala | April 1995 | Jat Regiment | [29] | ||
| Virendra Kumar Sewal | Armoured Corps | ||||
| Kamal Davar | March 2000 | April 2001 | 7th Light Cavalry | [30] | |
| Shantonu Choudhry | April 2001 | April 2002 | Regiment of Artillery | [31] | |
| Krishnamurthy Nagaraj | Apr 2002 | May 2003 | Maratha Light Infantry | [32] | |
| S Pattabhiraman | May 2003 | May 2004 | Bombay Sappers | [33][5] | |
| Parmendra Kumar Singh | May 2004 | May 2005 | Regiment of Artillery | [34] | |
| Mandhata Singh | May 2005 | April 2006 | 9th Gorkha Rifles | [34] | |
| Noble Thamburaj | May 2006 | September 2007 | Bombay Sappers | [35] | |
| S S Kumar | October 2007 | August 2008 | Brigade of the Guards | [36] | |
| Virender Singh Tonk | August 2008 | July 2009 | Rajput Regiment | [37] | |
| Ramesh Halgali | 24 July 2009 | August 2010 | Sikh Light Infantry | [38] | |
| Munish Sibal | August 2010 | November 2011 | Rajputana Rifles | [39][40] | |
| Sanjeev Madhok | November 2011 | March 2013 | Brigade of the Guards | [41] | |
| Ashwini Kumar Bakshi | March 2013 | July 2014 | Bihar Regiment | [42] | |
| N P S Hira | August 2014 | 31 July 2015 | Sikh Light Infantry | [43] | |
| Jagbir Singh Cheema | 21 August 2015 | 31 August 2016 | Sikh Regiment | [44][45] | |
| B S Sahrawat | 1 September 2016 | 2 November 2017 | Kumaon Regiment | [46] | |
| Dushyant Singh | 2 November 2017 | 4 November 2018 | Maratha Light Infantry | [47] | |
| Arvind Dutta | 5 November 2018 | 5 November 2019 | Dogra Regiment | [48] | |
| Sanjeev Sharma | 6 November 2019 | 2 December 2020 | Rajputana Rifles | [49] | |
| C B Ponnappa | 2 December 2020 | 10 February 2022 | Mahar Regiment | [50] | |
| Devendra Sharma | 11 February 2022 | Incumbent | Scinde Horse | [51] |
Notes
- ^ Originally a Signals officer, General Nayar, after persistent pestering of his bosses, managed a transfer to his desired regiment — the Maratha Light Infantry (MLI), securing a billet with 2 Para (3rd battalion, MLI, converted to paratroop infantry).[25]
References
- ^ "Vajra Corps celebrates 71st Raising Day". 1 March 2021. Retrieved 26 July 2021.
- ^ a b "Vajra Corps - 'Defenders of Punjab' - celebrates Platinum Jubilee". The Times of India. 1 March 2021. Retrieved 26 July 2021.
- ^ Renaldi & Rikhye 2011, 26.
- ^ . Archived from the original on 20 February 2012. Retrieved 21 September 2009.
- ^ a b c d e f "Vajra Corps celebrates Raising Day". 17 March 2007. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
- ^ "Commands of the Indian Army, South Western (Sapta Shakti) Command: Forever Victorious". 16 January 2019. Retrieved 26 July 2021.
- ^ "Vajra Corps celebrates Infantry Day". 28 October 2016. Retrieved 26 July 2021.
- ^ Renaldi & Rikhye 2011, 40
- ^ "Golden moments at Pine Division". 9 August 2014. Retrieved 25 July 2021.
- ^ "15 Infantry division celebrates its raising day". 1 October 2009. Retrieved 25 July 2021.
- ^ Renaldi & Rikhye 2011, 166.
- ^ "Army Commander Western Command visits Khasa Military station". 18 July 2020. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
- ^ Renaldi & Rikhye 2011.
- ^ "War Disabled Soldiers and Veer Naris Meet Organised at Beas". 16 January 2019. Retrieved 26 July 2021.
- ^ "Vajra Corps organises Veer Nari meet". 4 May 2015. Retrieved 26 July 2021.
- ^ "Vajra Air Defence felicitates veer naris at annual event". 17 December 2018. Retrieved 26 July 2021.
- ^ a b "Saluting 'Defenders of Punjab'". 7 March 2020. Retrieved 26 July 2021.
- ^ "Vajra Museum inaugurated". 6 October 2019. Retrieved 26 July 2021.
- ^ Singh, VK (2005). Leadership in the Indian Army: Biographies of Twelve Soldiers. SAGE India. p. 140. ISBN 978-0761933229.
- ^ "1962 war report: When Nehru stepped on the Dragon's tail". The Times of India. 19 March 2014. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
- ^ "Last salute to the lion of 1965". 19 December 2003. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
- ^ "1971 operations - Case West - I". Retrieved 24 July 2021.
- ^ "COAS pays Tribute to Former COAS Gen Om Prakash Malhotra". 31 December 2015. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
- ^ "Examples of Learning in Counter-Insurgency". Retrieved 24 July 2021.
- ^ "Unforgiving take on past". 11 August 2013. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
- ^ "PIB Release" (PDF). 27 October 1987. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
- ^ "Souvenir 1995" (PDF). Retrieved 25 July 2021.
- ^ "COVER STORY: DECORATED DUO". 16 August 2017. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
- ^ "About Us". Retrieved 23 July 2021.
- ^ "Golden jubilee of Vajra Corps". 4 March 2000. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
- ^ "Lt Gen Shantonu Choudhry appointed Vice Chief of Army Staff". 14 December 2002. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
- ^ "Vajra Corps celebrates Raising Day". 1 March 2003. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
- ^ "Pattabhiraman takes over as GOC-in-C, Western Command". 3 February 2005. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
- ^ a b "Lieut-Gen Mandhata Singh is new GOC of Vajra Corps". 22 May 2005. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
- ^ "Lt Gen Kumar takes over as GOC of Vajra Corps". 29 September 2007. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
- ^ "Vajra Celebrations". 8 April 2008. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
- ^ "Lt Gen VS Tonk takes command of Vajra Corps". 21 August 2008. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
- ^ "K'taka man to head military training". 17 August 2010. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
- ^ "Lt.Gen. Sibal to head Vajra Corps". 18 August 2010. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
- ^ "Appointment". 17 August 2010. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
- ^ "BriefLt Gen Madhok takes over Vajra Corps Command". The Times of India. 12 November 2011. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
- ^ "Lieutant general AK Bakshi assumes command of Vajra Corps". 13 March 2013. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
- ^ "Lt Gen Hira to take over as new Northern Command Chief of Staff today". 1 August 2015. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
- ^ "LT GEN JS CHEEMA, PVSM, AVSM (RETD)". Retrieved 20 November 2019.
- ^ "Deadlock over Army postings: GOC 11 Corps appointed officiating Western Army Commander". 29 January 2016. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
- ^ "Lt Gen BS Sahrawat takes over as commanding officer of Vajra Corps". Chandigarh. 3 September 2016. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
- ^ "Vajra Corps GOC". 3 November 2017.
- ^ "Lt Gen Arvind Dutta takes over command of Vajra Corps". Jalandhar. 5 November 2018. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
- ^ "Lt Gen sharma is Goc vajra corps". Jalandhar. 7 November 2019. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
- ^ Service, Tribune News. "Lt Gen C Bansi Ponnappa is new GOC Vajra Corps". Tribuneindia News Service. Retrieved 4 December 2020.
- ^ "Lieut Gen Devendra Sharma is new Vajra Corps commander". 12 February 2022. Retrieved 12 February 2022.