THE PRESIDENT'S SILVER TRUMPET AND TRUMPET BANNER (INDIA)

Over the years, the notes of the trumpet have always heralded the triumphant passage, the ceremonial and splendour of emperors, kings and victors. The clarion call of the trumpet has stirred men through the ages, to greater feats of valour in the battlefield, and so, traditionally, all cavalry units carry a trumpet. The various trumpet calls hence, are an essential part of regimental life and tradition. In the case of The President's Bodyguard, the presentation of a Silver Trumpet and Trumpet Banner was started in 1923, by Lord Reading, when the Bodyguard had completed 150 years of honorable service. Each succeeding Viceroy thereafter continued the tradition, presenting his Banner to the Bodyguard. Today the President's Bodyguard has the unique distinction of being the only military unit in the Indian Army, privileged to carry the President's Silver Trumpet and Trumpet Banner.

The President's Bodyguard was raised in 1773 at Benaras by the then Governor General of India, Warren Hasting and is the senior most Regiment of the Indian Army. The Regiment has completed 235 years of distinguished service. It is the senior most unit of the Indian Army, whose distinction, is in its position as 'Right of the Line' on all official and ceremonial occasions. The President's Bodyguard thus, takes precedence over all other Regiments and Corps. Col Ali Adil Mahmood, VSM is presently commanding the Regiment with Lt Col Ravinder Narwal, SM as Second-in-Command, Maj Mohit Vaishnava as Technical Adjutant and Maj Rahul Ranjan as the Medical Officer. Lt Gen Vinod Chopra, AVSM and Bar, Military Secretary to the President, is the Colonel of the Regiment.

The role of The President's Bodyguard is twofold - Ceremonial and Operational. They are the personal troops of The President of India and hence form an integral part of all state functions. Operationally, The President's Bodyguard has always responded to the call of duty. The Regiment has seen action in various roles and battlefields ever since it was raised. Post Independence, the Bodyguard Armoured Cars were the first to be air lifted to Chushul. In 1965, the Regiment participated in 'OPERATIONAL ABLAZE'. Detachments of the Bodyguard have served in 'OPERATION PAWAN' in Sri Lanka with the Indian Peace Keeping Force and in 'OPERATION MEGHDOOT' on the Siachen Glacier. Detachments of the Bodyguard have also served overseas with the United Nations Peace Keeping Forces in Somalia, Angola and Sierra Leone.

In the field of sports, the Regiment has performed admirably and has set standards of excellence which are difficult to match by others. The Regiment boasts of having two Arjuna Awardees for Polo and Equestrian sports, namely, Brig (Retd) VP Singh and Col (Retd) HS Sodhi, VSM. Ex Ris Maj & Hony Capt Milkha Singh won a Gold Medal for India in the 1982 Asian Games and Nb Ris Sajjan Kumar represented the Country in the Busan Asiad 2002. Astride Fariyad, the first Army horse to receive a Chief of Army Staff Commendation Card, Nb Ris Sajjan Kumar broke the 32 years old National Record of Open Jumping Puissance in 2004 by clearing a height of 195 cms. Till today, the officers, JCOs and other ranks are outstanding riders and polo players who participate in various national and international equestrian competitions and polo tournaments.

The Presentation by Smt Pratibha Devisingh Patil on 01 March 2008, was the 11th that the Regiment received since Independence. The glittering ceremony was held at the Forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan. The Presentation Parade was followed by an audio visual show depicting the Regiment's exalted past. There were also trick riding and jumping displays where riders exhibited excellent riding skill and daredevilry. The finale was a musical ride, with horses and riders carrying out complex movements in harmony with the music of a live band.