Pune: Bombay Sapper Contingent 2024 It’s the first time in history that a female officer is leading a Bombay Sapper contingent as contingent commander. Maj. Divya and Maj. Ruchi have been trained to lead the Bombay Sappers Contingent.
The contingent consists of 1 officer, 2 junior commissioned officers, and 146 other ranks.
The genesis of Bombay sappers They trace their ancestry back to 1777, when the Pioneer Lascars were raised under the Bombay Presidency; however, the date of raising of the group is taken as 1820, when Engineer Lascars were raised and formed into a company designated as ‘Sappers and Miners’ under the Bombay Army. We have the privilege of being the proud recipients of the highest gallantry awards, both pre- and post-independence, viz., the Victoria Cross, the Medaille Militaire, the Param Vir Chakra, and the Ashok Chakra, within its folds, the Parachute Field Company, and the Inland Water Transport Operating Units Engineers.
We have also utilised our military and technical skills in the development of our nation, according to a release.
The Bombay Sappers are one of the few that received colours from R. Venkataraman, the then president of India, on February 21, 1990.
Bombay Sappers, over the ages, have excelled in sports and have been awarded eight Arjuna Awards, three Dhyanchand Awards, and numerous medals while representing the country. The spirit of adventure is intrinsic, with Bombay Sappers having summited the highest mountains, sailed around the world, set foot on Antarctica, and the list is endless.
The participation in the Republic Day parade has knocked on our door after 20 years. The last time Bombay Sappers participated in the RDP was in 2004. This is a golden chance for the Bombay Sappers to once again prove their mettle and come back victorious," the release added.
In a historic moment, Maj. Divya and Maj. Ruchi led the Bombay Sappers Contingent with 1 officer, 2 junior commissioned officers, and 146 other ranks. The contingent, rooted in a legacy dating back to 1820, embraces a rich history of gallantry, technical contributions, and sporting excellence and is now set to showcase its mettle in the Republic Day parade after a two-decade hiatus, according to a release.
