Indian Military Marches

INDIAN MILITARY MARCHES

Note: RealPlayer G2 is needed to play these songs

The National Anthem and Song

• Jana Gana Mana : The National Anthem, played by the Indian Navy Band. Played during the raising of the Indian National Flag, and during ceremonial parades, where the National Salute is given to the President of India. [Please Note: If you do plan to listen to the National Anthem, please stand as a sign of respect]

• Vande Mataram : The National Song, meaning I bow to thee, my mother land.

Bugle Calls

• Reveille: The bugle call which marks the beginning of a day. The Regimental Flag is raised at the Quarter Guard.

• Fall-In: The bugle call ordering the men to get on Parade.

• General Salute: The bugle call for the General Salute. General Salute is authorised for the ranks above a Brigadier. The bugle call is used when the band is not in attendance.

• Retreat: The bugle call which marks the end of a day. Called during sun set, the Regimental Flag is brought down.

• Last Post: The bugle call ordering the soldiers to put of all lights and goto sleep. The same call is also called during military funerals. Last Post during funerals, is called as the last bugle call which a soldier will hear before he is put to rest.

Marches

• Amar Senani (The Immortal Soldier): Quick march. There is no fixed occasion for this tune to be played.

• Dhwaj Ka Rakshak (Defenders of the Flag): Slow march. This is a tune for the compound march. The band platoon does a slow march and forms up in various formations on the parade ground.

• Gulmarg: Quick march. There is no fixed occasion for this tune to be played. Gulmarg is very a beautiful garden in Jammu & Kashmir.

• Benihaal: Quick march of the Indian Army. Benihaal is the name of a Pass, in the Himalayas.

• Uthari Seemaye (The Northern Frontiers): Quick march of the Indian Army.

• Suvruth (The Holy Oath): Quick march of the Indian Army.

• Vijayi Bharath (India, the Victorious): Quick march of the Indian Defence Forces.

• Hind Maha Sagar (The mighty Indian Ocean): Quick march of the Indian Navy. The Air Force band plays the tune slightly different from the Navy Band

• Naval Ensign: Quick march of the Indian Navy. Composed by Commander S.A. Anchees, Director of Music, Indian Navy.

• Sea Lord: Slow March of the Indian Navy. This is a tune for the compound march. The band platoon does a slow march and forms up in various formations on the parade ground. This march might originally be from the Royal Navy.

• Vayu Sena Nishaan (The Air Force emblem): This tune is not a quick march, but played on other official ceremonies. The band does not march, when this tune is played.

• Nabh Rakshak (Defenders of the Air): Quick march of the Indian Air Force.

• Antariksh Baan (Arrow in the Air): Quick march of the Indian Air Force.

• Dhwani Avrodh (Sound Barrier): Quick march of the Indian Air Force.

• Nirmaljit: Quick march of the Indian Air Force. In memory of Fg. Off. Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon, PVC.

• Siki Amole (Precious Coins): A prayer or hymn, played to remember the fallen soldiers. The band does not march when this tune is played.

• Voice of the Gun: Quick march. There is no fixed occasion for this tune to be played. Originally an English one, but is played by the Indian Army as well. The tune was composed by Kenneth Alford, the composer who composed the ever-green classic "Colonel Bogey".

• Sare Jahan Se Acha (Best in the World): The official march of India's Armed Forces (Para-Military and NCC forces generally play the Kadam Kadam Bhadaye Jaa). In this recording, this tune is played by all the three bands (Army, Navy and Air Force). This march is always played during the end of military parade, or any official function where the band is in attendance.

• Deshon Ka Sartaj, Bharath (India, Crown of the World): Quick March of the Indian Armed Forces. In this recording, the tune is sung by the Band and Choir of the Indian Navy. This is also the regimental march of the 13th, 16th and 19th Kumoan Battalions and also of the Mahar Regiment.

• Have the NCC Spirit in You: Quick march of the National Cadet Corps. Played by the Marching Band of San Thome High School.

BHARAT RAKSHAK is extremely grateful to O.A. Babu, H.C. of the Police Armed Reserve Camp, Thrissur for providing the Bugle Calls and to P.T. Krishnan Namboodiri, Cochin for providing the old recordings of the Armed Forces marches.