Maratha Infantry leads Indian Army

One of the oldest regiments of the Indian Army, created in 1768, which was deployed in Europe during the World War II Italian campaign, marched down Europe’s most famous landmark, the Champs Elysees in Paris on Tuesday to mark the Bastille Day.

It is the first regiment to participate in the National Day celebrations of another country. Sources in the Infantry said, Indian soldiers being invited to participate in the Bastille Day march for the first time, shows that Paris wants to emphasise its close ties with India.

The parade was led by the Maratha Light Infantry Major Vivek Khanduri. The MLI was chosen to represent the Indian Army following their being adjudged the best marching contingent at the Republic Day and Army Day celebrations. They marched to the tunes of ‘Kadam, kadam badhaye ja’ and ‘saare jahaase accha '.