75 YEARS OF INDIAN TERRITORIAL ARMY (ITA)

Miscellaneous


 09-Oct-2024

About Indian Territorial Army

  • Inauguration Date: 9th October 1949, by Shri C. Rajagopalachari, India’s last Governor General.
  • Second Line of Defence: Known as the 'Terriers,' it serves as the second line of national defense after the regular Indian Army.
  • Primary Responsibilities
    • Relieve the Regular Army from static duties.
    • Assist civil administration during natural calamities and maintain essential services when communities are threatened.
    • Provide units for the Regular Army as needed.
  • Works Under: Defence Ministry of India.
  • Motto: "Savdhani Va Shoorta," or "Vigilance and Valour."
  • Historical Background
    • Foundation by Britishers: In 1920 under the Indian Territorial Act.
    • The ITA originally had two wings
      • The Auxiliary Force for Europeans and Anglo-Indians.
      • The Indian Territorial Force for Indian volunteers.
    • Post-Independence: The Territorial Army Act was passed in 1948, leading to the formal inauguration of the TA in 1949.

Logo : ITA

About C Rajagopalachari

  • Born: 10th December 1878.
  • He was popularly known as Rajaji.
  • He studied law at the Presidency College in Madras (now Chennai).
    • He began practice in Salem in the year 1900.
  • In 1916, he formed the Tamil Scientific Terms Society.
    • An organisation that translated scientific terms of chemistry, physics, mathematics, astronomy and biology into simple Tamil words.
  • He became the Chairperson of the municipality of Salem in 1917 and served there for two years.
  • In 1955, he was honoured with India’s highest civilian award Bharat Ratna.
  • Death: 25th December 1972.
  • Key Contributions
    • Literary Contribution He wrote a Tamil translation of the Ramayana, which was later published as Chakravarthi Thirumagan.
      • The book won the Sahitya Akademi Award in-Tamil language in 1958.
    • He also became the editor of Gandhi’s newspaper, Young India.
    • Contribution in National Movement
      • Non-Cooperation Movement
      • Vaikom Satyagraha
      • B Rajagopalachari carried out a similar march at Vedaranyam in the Madras Presidency.
      • Quit India Movement: During the Quit India Movement, Rajagopalachari opposed Gandhi.

C Rajagopalachari (1878-1972)