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{{Short description|Artillery regiment of the Indian Army}}
{{Infobox military unit
|unit_name=9 Parachute Field Regiment
|image=File:Stamp of India - 1993 - Colnect 163844 - 9th Parachute Field Artillery Regiment - 50th Anniversary.jpeg
|caption=
|dates= 1943–present
|country=[[India]]
|allegiance={{ubl|{{flag|British India}}|{{flag|India}}}}
|branch= {{ubl|{{army|British India|23px}}|[[File:Flag of Indian Army.svg|23px]] [[Indian Army]]}}
|type= [[File:Regiment of Artillery Insignia (India).svg|20px]] [[Artillery]]
|role=
|size= Regiment
|command_structure=
|equipment=

|Past Commanders=
|ceremonial_chief=
|colonel_of_the_regiment=
|notable_commanders=

|identification_symbol=9 Para Fd Regt
|identification_symbol_label=Abbreviation

|nickname= Niners
|patron=
|motto= ''Sarvatra, Izzat-O-Iqbal''<br>"Everywhere with Honour and Glory"
|colors= Red and navy blue
|march=
|mascot=
|battles=
|anniversaries=
|decorations=
|battle_honours=
}}

'''9 Parachute Field Regiment''' is part of the [[Regiment of Artillery (India)|Regiment of Artillery]] of the [[Indian Army]].

== Formation ==
9 Parachute Field Regiment was raised on 1 April 1943 at Kumbergaon, [[Pune]], by Lieutenant Colonel R. A. Eden as 9 [[Field artillery|Field]] Regiment of the [[Royal Indian Artillery]], [[British Indian Army]].<ref name="ParaData">{{cite web|url= https://www.paradata.org.uk/unit/9-parachute-field-regiment-indian-army|title=9 Parachute Field Regiment, Indian Army|date=|access-date=2021-05-09}}</ref>

== History ==
The unit was raised as a pure [[Madrasi]] unit and was converted to become the first Parachute Field Regiment in the Indian Army in November 1945. The unit briefly formed part of the 2nd Indian Airborne Division (previously [[44th Airborne Division (India)|44th Indian Airborne Division]]), while located in [[Quetta]], prior to independence. Between 1946 and 1948, it was involved in internal security duties at Quetta, [[Karachi]] and [[Satara (city)|Satara]].<ref name="ParaData"/>

Following the partition, the regiment was allotted to India.<ref>{{cite book|last=Bhatia|first=HS|title=Military History of British India 1607 - 1947|year=2008|publisher=Deep & Deep Publications|page=28|ISBN=978-8184500790}}</ref> The first Indian Commanding Officer post independence, in 1947, was Lieutenant Colonel (later Brigadier) FSB Mehta, an Army Aviator.

The regiment along with [[17 (Parachute) Field Regiment (Zojila & Poongli Bridge)|17 (Parachute) Field Regiment]] alternatively form part of the [[50th Parachute Brigade (India)|50th Parachute Brigade]], while the other serves out its field tenure on rotation.

==Operations==
Following independence, the unit has been involved in numerous operations including:
; [[Annexation of Hyderabad |Operation Polo (Annexation of Hyderabad)]]
: In 1948, when the state of Hyderabad was annexed by India; the regiment was part of the 7th Infantry Brigade (Kill Force).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/archives/MONITOR/ISSUE2-3/lns.html|title=Operation Polo: The Liberation of Hyderabad|date=1999-11-01|access-date=2021-05-09}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Praval|first=KC|title=Indian Army After Independence|year=2013|publisher=Lancer Publishers LLC|page=|ISBN=978-1935501619}}</ref>
;[[ Annexation of Goa|Operation Vijay (Annexation of Goa)]]
:In 1961, the regiment took part in the operations which ended the Portuguese colonial rule in Goa, the culmination of which was the capture of Daman.<ref name="ParaData"/>
;[[Indo-Pakistani War of 1971|Operation Cactus Lily (Indo-Pakistani War of 1971)]]
:The regiment had for the second time changed over to the Parachute Field in 1966 and played an extremely important role in the war. It took part in the capture of Nagi Post in [[Sri Ganganagar|Sriganganagar]] Sector. On December 25 and 26, 1971, Pakistani forces had occupied the Indian territory at Nagi, a small village located in vicinity of the international boundary near [[Karanpur]], after announcement of the ceasefire on December 16. Indian Army units - [[Parachute Regiment (India)|4th Battalion, Parachute Regiment]], 9 Parachute Field Regiment and 410 Field Company under 51 Parachute Brigade effectively supported by [[18th King Edward's Own Cavalry|18 Cavalry]], evicted the enemy in a swift operation on December 28.<ref name="ParaData"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/amritsar/nagi-bravehearts-to-be-remembered-on-49th-anniversary/articleshow/79972198.cms|title=Nagi bravehearts to be remembered on 49th anniversary|date=2020-12-27|access-date=2021-05-09}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/indo-pak-face-off-at-nagi-sand-dune-commemorated-114122800663_1.html|title=Indo-Pak face-off at Nagi Sand Dune commemorated|date=2014-12-28|access-date=2021-05-09}}</ref>
;Other operations
:The regiment during its field tenures has taken part in counter-insurgency operations and internal security duties in [[Assam]] between 1982 and 1983 (Operation Rhino) and in Kashmir Valley in 1988 as part of ‘[[Indian Army operations in Jammu and Kashmir|Operation Rakshak]]’. It also participated as one of the parties that captured the [[Siachen Glacier]] under ‘[[Operation Meghdoot]]’.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ww.indiapicks.com/stamps/Forces/1533_Para_Field_Artillery.htm|title=9 Parachute Field Regiment – Golden Jubilee|date=1993-04-01|access-date=2021-05-09}}</ref> It took part in ‘Operation Hifazat’ - counter-insurgency operations in [[Tripura]], [[Manipur]]’s [[Jiribam district|Jiribam subdivision]] and adjoining [[Cachar district]];<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.thestatesman.com/opinion/difficult-done-immediately-1502638320.html|title= Where the difficult is done immediately|date=2018-05-20|access-date=2021-05-10}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/north-east/regiment-on-goodwill-task/cid/674009|title=Regiment on goodwill task|date=2005-03-28|access-date=2021-05-09}}</ref> Operation All Clear and Operation Falcon.

==Notable officers==
The unit boasts of having 56 of its officers becoming [[Flag officer#India|Flag officers]], including:
* Lieutenant General Sir [[William Pike (British Army officer)|William Gregory Huddleston Pike]] KCB, CBE, DSO – commanded the regiment and eventually became the Vice Chief of the Imperial General Staff.<ref name="ParaData"/>
*Brigadier Furdoon Siavax Byramji Mehta - first Indian Artillery officer to wear the wings of the Air Observation Post (Air OP), now known as [[Army Aviation Corps (India)|Army Aviation Corps]], first Indian Commanding Officer of 9 Parachute Field Regiment, believed to be the only Indian officer to have flown with a British Air Observation Post Squadron in the Second World War.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/pioneer-of-indian-army-aviation-corps-not-averse-to-risk-7226094/|title= Brigadier Furdoon Siavax Byramji Mehta: Pioneer of Indian Army Aviation Corps, not averse to risk|date=2021-03-13|access-date=2021-05-09}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/obituaries/2021/04/27/furdoon-duck-mehta-flew-artillery-observation-missions-support/|title=Furdoon ‘Duck’ Mehta , flew artillery observation missions in support of the 14th Army - obituary|date=2021-04-27|access-date=2021-05-09}}</ref>
*General [[Sunith Francis Rodrigues]], PVSM, VSM - [[Chief of the Army Staff (India)|Chief of the Army Staff]] of the [[Indian Army]] from 1990 to 1993 and [[List of governors of Punjab (India)|Governor]] of [[Punjab, India|Punjab]] from 2004 to 2010.<ref name="ParaData"/>

== Gallantry awards and honours==
*The Regiment holds the coveted honour of getting three unit citations.<ref name="ParaData"/>
*[[Vishisht Seva Medal]] – Major Chandra Shekhar Manda<ref>{{cite web|url=https://egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/2004/W_17_2011_128.pdf|title=Gazette of India, No 17, page 383|date=2004-04-24|access-date=2021-05-10}}</ref>
*[[Sena Medal]] – Major Vikesh Kumar<ref>{{cite web|url=https://egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/2007/W_11_2011_047.pdf|title=Gazette of India, No 11, page 528|date=2007-03-17|access-date=2021-05-10}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://sainiksamachar.nic.in/englisharchives/2007/feb15-07/h5.htm|title= Gallantry and Distinguished Service Awards|date=2007-02-07|access-date=2021-05-10}}</ref>
*COAS Commendation Cards<ref>{{cite web|url=https://indianarmy.nic.in/Site/FormTemplete/frmTempSimple.aspx?MnId=u5DSYwuaBFs+MuZh+pZk1g==&ParentID=EeyleY6RnThi8r3if9OQ+A==|title= COAS Commendation Cards 2007|date=|access-date=2021-05-10}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.indianarmy.nic.in/Site/FormTemplete/frmTempSimple.aspx?MnId=MZKsbzAu2BFDPbTA/oStBw==&ParentID=TX5cIJo16SWjKNoAQfKCMA==|title= COAS Commendation Cards, 2019|date=|access-date=2021-05-10}}</ref>

==See also==
[[List of regiments of the Indian Army#Artillery|List of artillery regiments of Indian Army]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LmWLnGEodv0''Video on 9 Para Fd Regt on YouTube'']

[[Category:Military units and formations established in 1943]]
[[Category:Artillery regiments of the Indian Army after 1947]]
[[Category:Parachuting in India]]
[[Category:Airborne regiments]]
[[Category:Airborne artillery units and formations]]

9 Parachute Field Regiment India - Revision history

Bot at 06:40, 15 December 2022