Date:10/12/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/12/10/stories/2006121000602000.htm

National

A memorial to the Army's animals

Anil Kumar Sastry

Beasts of burden as heroes from the front lines, celebrated in Bangalore

PHOTO: SAMPATH KUMAR G.P.

LABOURING ARRAY: The Animal Transport Memorial at the Army Service Corps Centre and College.

BANGALORE: Long-overdue recognition has come to the beasts of burden who have played an important role in the Indian Army. The Army erected a memorial to transport animals on the occasion of the 246th Army Corps Service Day here on Friday.

Animals, especially mules, have been an invaluable means of transportation in inhospitable and difficult terrain, playing a pivotal role alongside their masters in campaigns and battles. Camels, horses, mules, yaks and dogs form the animal transport corps, set up in 1845 with the introduction of the Scinde Camel Baggage Corps — reorganised as the Animal Transport Corps (ATC) in 1900.

The first of its kind in Asia, the memorial depicts a convoy of mules carrying stores on a mountain track. It stands at Agram Grounds, Army Service Corps Centre (ASC) and College.

Sculptor Tejendra Singh Baoni, Head of the Department of Sculpture, Karnataka Chitrakala Parishat, created the work. Made of fabric on a concrete base at a cost of Rs. 21 lakh, it took 12 months to complete. The base depicts a convoy of elephants and horses in battle. The groundwork was done by the Army Service Corps Centre.

The Chief of the Army Staff's Unit Citation was awarded to 874 Animal Transport Battalion Army Service Corps for its role in "Operation Vijay" at Kargil.