The origins of the Indian Army as it has evolved today can be traced back to the early days of the East India Company. Subsequently in 1856 when he British crown assume direct control of India and theEast India Company ceased to exist, there was a major reorganisation of the Indian Army. With the dawn of the independence in 1947, the armed forces of India had an entirely difetrent role to play- with new goals to spur them on and new aspirations.

Now to the armed forces fell the mantle of defending the sacred Motherland from external aggression. Few armies in the world have undertaken such diverse tasks as the Indian army during the last 25 years. Very soon after independence, the army was actively assisting the country affording protection to millions of displaced persons and in man\intaining law and order. Even before the task was achieved the Army had to rush to Jammu and Kashmir to repulse atacks by a large body of well-oranised raidrs. In this task, the Indian Air Force joined ands with the Indian Army. With the excellent co-operation between the two wings of the armed forces, the nation effectively fustrated the designes of the raiders.

In this pre-bomber area of the Indian Air-Force. The IAF had to undertake bombing orties with Dakota, transport aircraft. In 1962, India had to face a powerful challenge on its northern borders. In meeting the threat form across the northern borders, the armed forces of India had to face many seemingly insurmountable difficulties. There were the problems of man-power, communications, logstics and aclaimatisation in a very dificult terrai. Notwithstanding these difficulties, the Indian Jawans fought valiantly from Ladakh in the West to NEFA in the East. The IAF provided magnificent succour and sustenance to the Jawans posted at bleak hights in the Himalayas and in the remote fastness of the NEFA by airlifting supplies and ammunition to the forward positions which involved constant flying in unchartered hilly terrains and jungle in the tricklest weather with no ground aids. In 1965, the Armed forces of India wee called upon to meet another agression acrossthe Western boundaries.

The Attack started inKutch and soon spread to Jammu and Kashmir. In the fighting that continued for 25 days, the Army blunted the attack all along the border. In this war again, the deployment of the IAF was of great help to the Army in checkmating the advance of enemy armour in te Chhamb sector. In 1971 once again, the people of India had to face a new challenge arising from the influx of 10 million efugees and renewed tension on the borders. When the enemy launched a sudden and pre-mediated atack, the armed forces swung into action quickely effectively met the aggressor. In meeting this external aggression during 1971, all the threwings of the armed forces acted in unison. The fledging Indian Navy which we inherited from the British in 1947, had by now grown its wings (the aircraft carrier VIKRANT had joined the fleet in 1961) and had also moved into the third dimension with the acquisiton of submarines in 1968. By 1971, the Indian Navy had entered the missile era. In 1971 war, the Indian Navy not only protected the integrity of our long coast line against agression but alsocaried out daring attacks into the enemy's harbours. Thanks to the excellent co-ordnation between the thre sevices, the aggression was quickly repulsed and very soon the armed forces added another feather to their cap in helping the liberation of Bangla Desh.

The Indian Posts and Telegraphs department feel highly honoured in commemorating the valient role played by the Armed Forces of India in the cause of the Motherland during the last 25 years of Independence, by bringing out a special commemorative stamp. On this occasion, the Indian P & T Department joins the rest of the country in remembering with deep gratitude the several sacrifices and hardships endured by the members of Armed Forces in continuing to keep the flag of India flying high. The commemorative stamp brought out on the occasion depicts the inter Services Crest.

Source : Information Folder issued by Indian Posts & Telegraph Department, Government of India