Hindi is the language of drill Command for the Indian Army
“A Professional Soldier has an obligation to be well trained”
Arjun – Mahabharata
The primary object of parade ground drill is to build up and maintain in a recruit a high standard of discipline, turn-out, bearing and pride in self and in the Force. In addition to these qualities being instilled among the force, well-executed parade ground drill also indirectly develops individual self-respect and gives to the Force a feeling of power, cohesion and purpose. Drill brings about the co-ordination between mind and body and serves as the basis for imparting other service training.
A drill in military terms is the action of memorising certain actions through repetition until the action is instinctive to the soldiers being drilled. Complex actions are broken down into simpler ones which can be practised in isolation as when the whole is put together the desired results are achieved. Such is necessary for a fighting force to perform at maximum efficiency in all manner of situations. Drilling increased in importance when men stopped fighting as individuals and began to fight together as units. Drilling as a vital component of a war machine further increased with the increases in the size of armies, for example when Phillip II of Macedon disciplined his army so they could swiftly form the phalanxes that were so critical to his successes as a general. Military drilling later was used by the Roman Army to maximise efficiency and deadliness throughout their long history.
After the fall of the empire, and the Dark Ages set in Europe, most feudal lords more heaviliy relied on peasant levies and their wealthy knights to fight their wars, the knights for the most part reverting to fighting as individuals. Massed military drilling was used mostly by only the foremost armies and nations, such as the Normans.The U.S. drill is based on the contributions of Baron von Steuben, a Prussian Army officer who served as a volunteer in the Continental Army. During the winter quarters in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, von Steuben taught a model company of 100 soldiers musket drill. These soldiers, in turn, taught the remainder of the Continental Army. [POLICE DRILL MANUAL- Bureau of Police Research And Development]
Attention ( Savdhan) : standing straight, eyes forward, chest out, shoulders back
and down, knees straight but not locked, heels together, feet at a 30-degree angle
(540 mils). All muscles are rigid. The hands are held in tight fists with the thumbs
aligned with the seam of the trousers.
At Ease (Vishram) : a modified position of attention in which the left foot is
moved to shoulder width and the hands are placed behind the back with arms
fully extended. The right hand is placed inside the left with all fingers together
and pointing rigidly downwards.
Easy (Aaram Se) : Legs remain at Ease position, arms are brought to the sides to
a more natural standing position. Member may relax their muscles and make
minimal movements.
Line Ban: Fall In
Line Thod: Fall out
Savdhan: Attention
Vishram: Stand at-ease,rest-position
Hilo Matt: Stand Still or Don’t Move
Aaram Se: Stand easy (but no talking or shifting from the current place)
Sajj-Dahine Sajj: Dress-Right Dress
Sajj-Bah(y)en Sajj: Dress-Left Dress
Khuli Line chal: Open order march
Nikat Line chal: Close order march
Salami Shastr: Present Arms. The English words “General Salute” is used, but “National Salute” has been replaced with Rashtriya Salute
Baaju Shastr: Order Arms
Bagal Shastr: Shoulder Arms. On this command rifles are thrown up using the right hand.
Bayen Shastr: Port Arms
Oonch Bayen Shastr: High Port Arms. Rifles are held above the head.
Shok Shastr: Mourn Arms
Ulte Shastr: Reverse Arms. The rifles are held tightly under the left arms with the barrel facing backwards.
Dahine/Bhah(y)e/Peechhe Mud: Right/Left/About Turn
Tham: Halt
Tez Chal: Quick march. For breaking into quick time from slow time, the command would be Tez Chal Mein… Tez Chal..
Dheere Chal: Slow march. For breaking into slow time from quick time, the command would be Dheere Chal Mein… Dheere Chal..
Daudke Chal: Super quick time, or running
Parade Teeno-teen mein dahine/baye chalega…: Move to the right/left in columns of threes. This command is given just before the orders to actually execute the turn.
Kooch kar: Take charge. Usually given when a senior officer wants someone junior to him to take charge of the parade/company/troop. On hearing this command, the junior officer would take a step forward, salute and then about turn to the men on parade.
Parade par: On Parade. Usually given during parades, when certain officers/JCOs/NCOs who would be standing as a separate group, is to march up to stand in front of the troops coming under them.
Hoshiar: Stand to. This command is essentially used at the quarter guard when the sentry senses any danger (or is ordered by the duty officer/JCO to test the alertness of the guard). The sentry is to shout out thrice Guard Hoshiar, and within this time period the members of the quarter guard are to run out of the guard room and occupied their pre-determined positions.
Visarjan: Dismiss
Dahine Dekh: Eyes right
Ba(h)yen Dekh: Eyes left
Saamne Dekh: Eyes front