President of India to Present Silver Trumpet and Trumpet Banner to the President’s Bodyguard on March 30, 2013

The President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee will present Silver Trumpet and Trumpet Banner to the President’s Bodyguard (PBG) at a ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan on March 30, 2013.

In the hour-long ceremony at the Forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan, the PBG will accept President’s Silver Trumpet and Trumpet Banner. The presentation Parade shall thereafter be followed by an Audio Visual Presentation highlighting the history and significance of the Silver Trumpet & Trumpet Banner and the modern day role of the PBG.

Professionally honed with precision, trained to perfection, the horsemen will display a variety of traditional Indian Equestrian skills followed by the horses trotting in line with the music of the military band. It will show case the synchronous perfection in training, balance and ceremonial deportment of both the horse and the rider.

Being the President of India’s own Guard, the PBG has the unique distinction of being the only military unit of the Indian Army, privileged to carry the President’s Silver Trumpet & Trumpet Banner.

This distinction was conferred on the Bodyguard, for the first time in 1923 by Lord Reading, when the Bodyguard had completed 150 years of honourable service. He presented two Trumpets and Trumpet Banners to the Bodyguard: one Banner carried the Crest of the Star of India, emblazoned with the Battle Honours of the Corps and the other, carried the coat of Arms of the Viceroy.

Each succeeding Viceroy thereafter, presented the Silver Trumpet & Trumpet Banner to the Bodyguard. This practice has continued to this day by each successive President. Each monogram of the President appears on the Banner, in place of the Coat of Arms. Dr. Rajendra Prasad, the first President of India, presented his Silver Trumpet and Trumpet Banner to the Bodyguard on 14 May 1957.

This Trumpet and Trumpet Banner is then carried on subsequent mounted parades by the PBG. The Banner bears the symbols of the State Emblem with the initials of the Hon’ble President in the centre.

The Presentation on March 30, 2013 by President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee would be in keeping with this age old tradition and this will be the twelfth Silver Trumpet and Trumpet Banner that the regiment will receive since Independence.

The President’s Bodyguard (PBG) will complete two hundred and forty years of distinguished service this year. It is the senior most unit of the Indian Army. It is positioned on the ‘Right of the Line’ on all official and ceremonial occasions. The PBG thus, takes precedence over all other Regiments and Corps.

The PBG, as it is known today, was raised in 1773 at "Benares” by the then Governor, General Sir Warren Hastings, with a strength of 50 handpicked troopers. This nucleus of the Bodyguard was later augmented by another 50 horsemen, provided by Raja Cheyt Singh of Benares, bringing the overall strength of the Bodyguard up to 100 horses and men.

Over the years, the Bodyguards, has continued to be a select Cavalry Unit, primarily for the personal and battlefield security of the Governor Generals, who often, had to personally lead their forces into battle.

PBG today is a small body of hand picked men with special physical attributes selected through a rigourous process. Its officers and men are trained for operational duties, both, as tankmen and airborne troops in addition to their ceremonial role. This elite body of troops thus, has a distinguished and honourable record of service, in keeping with the finest traditions of the Indian Army and being the only Regiment whose troops are trained Horsemen, Paratroopers and Tankmen.

This release issued at 1215 hrs