"Infantry Day, October 27: The 1947 Srinagar Airlift and the 1st Sikh Explained"

Every October 27 the Indian Army remembers a morning in 1947 when soldiers were flown into Srinagar. The day is called Infantry Day, and it honours the Infantry, the largest fighting arm of the Army, as WION describes it.

This article sets out what the sources we read agree on, and where it stops. It does not argue the political dispute over Kashmir, which our Accession Day explainer treats separately.

What Happened on October 27, 1947

The Tribune reports that the first Indian troops landed at Srinagar on October 27, 1947. The unit was the First Battalion of the Sikh Regiment, known as 1 Sikh, which is now the Fourth Battalion of the Mechanised Regiment. It had been on internal security duty in Gurgaon before the mission.

The commander was Lt Col Dewan Ranjit Rai. The battalion headquarters and two companies assembled at Palam airport in Delhi, were issued ammunition, clothing and rations, and took off at first light.

The Airlift

The Tribune describes more than 30 Dakota sorties between Palam and Srinagar over five days. It adds that over 100 civilian aircraft were mobilised to carry troops, equipment and supplies. "Baba" Mehar Singh, described as a legendary figure in the Indian Air Force, was at the controls of the first aircraft, and Air Commodore Mehar Singh commanded the Operational Group that inducted the troops.

We have not opened an official Air Force or Army history, so treat the exact sortie counts as that article's reporting.

The Fight at Baramulla

According to the same account, Rai sent one company to Baramulla to engage the raiders. At about 11:30 AM, a large force with machine guns and mortars attacked. The attack was repulsed, but the enemy outflanked the troops and cut them off from the rear.

Rai then ordered a fall back to Pattan, midway between Baramulla and Srinagar. He was fatally hit by a stray bullet while seeing off the rearguard. The Tribune says he was posthumously awarded the Maha Vir Chakra. Brigadier L. P. Sen of 161 Brigade later arrived in Srinagar and took command of all Indian and state forces there.

Why It Is Called the First Military Operation of Independent India

WION quotes the Army's description of the landing as "the first military operation of independent India". The wording reflects the date, only about ten weeks after independence on August 15, 1947, a figure we calculated ourselves.

The Political Context

The troops were sent after the Instrument of Accession, which is dated October 26, 1947. Our Accession Day explainer notes that historians dispute when it was actually signed, and that Governor-General Mountbatten accepted it on October 27. The Wikipedia account we read says troops were airlifted on that same day.

The accession and its legal standing remain disputed between India and Pakistan. This article describes how the Indian Army commemorates the landing, and does not decide that question.

How Infantry Day Is Observed

WION reported that in 2025 the Army marked the 79th Infantry Day with ceremonies across the country. In Baramulla, senior officers laid wreaths at the Sikh War Memorial. The ceremony was led by the General Officer Commanding of the 19th Infantry Division.

By that numbering, October 27, 2026 would be the 80th Infantry Day. We found no announced programme for 2026, so we describe none. Army formations usually publish their own announcements closer to the date.

Why the Day Still Matters

Infantry Day links a single morning to a wider tribute. The Army uses it to honour the courage and sacrifice of the Infantry, and the Baramulla memorial ties the commemoration to a specific place. Together with Police Commemoration Day on October 21, covered in our Hot Springs 1959 explainer, it shows how India remembers its armed and police forces in late October. The 1962 conflict that followed, set out in our Sino-Indian War article, is a separate chapter.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is Infantry Day?

October 27 every year. In 2026 it is a Tuesday.

Which unit landed at Srinagar in 1947?

The 1st Battalion of the Sikh Regiment, now the Fourth Battalion of the Mechanised Regiment, per The Tribune.

Who commanded it?

Lt Col Dewan Ranjit Rai, who was posthumously awarded the Maha Vir Chakra.

Is Infantry Day a public holiday?

We found no source saying so, and it is an Army commemoration.

Conclusion

Infantry Day recalls one morning, one battalion and one airfield. The record we could check is the Tribune's account and the Army's own description reported by WION. For the date's wider context, see our October 27, 2026 overview.