The Proud Moment of the Dhanush Artillery Gun Handover to the Indian Armed Forces

by  Gitikka Ganju Dhar Industry Watch | May 1, 2019 | Guest Article

The Ordnance Factory Board

Some events mark significant milestones in the history of India. Irrespective of their size or scale, these are events one is proud of being a part of. One can tell one’s children that we were a part of this milestone. In my career, I have been fortunate to be a part of a few such events.

So has Wizcraft. The brief to the Wizcraft Delhi team led by Venkatesh Mahesh, Assistant Manager – Brand Activations, was to plan and execute, without a single hitch, the flag-off ceremony of the Dhanush Artillery Gun at the Gun Carriage Factory, Jabalpur. Thankfully, every shot hit home.

The Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) handed over six Dhanush artillery guns to the Army in the ceremony. The guns were flagged off by Saurabh Kumar, the Director General of Ordnance Factories and the Chairman of the Ordnance Factory Board (OFB). Dr. Ajay Kumar, the Secretary of Defence Production to the Government of India was the Chief Guest, while Lt. General P.K. Srivastava, PVSM, AVSM, VSM, the Director General of Artillery, Indian Armed Forces was the Guest of Honour. The ceremony also hosted the presence of Lt. General R.S. Salaria, VSM, Commandant School of Artillery, Major General Manmeet Singh, MG Artillery HQ Western Command, Chandi Mandir, among others.

Dhanush is the first indigenously built, a result of many years of good-old swadeshi hard work. It is a long-range artillery gun, 155 mm x 45 calibers with a strike range of 38 kilometres. It is a notable success story of the ‘Make in India’ initiative. Automated technology allows three to six guns to be fired simultaneously at a single target, each gun having a capacity to fire 42 rounds in an hour. The weight of the gun is under 13 tonnes, making it easy to mobilise in hilly terrains and remote areas. It is a versatile weapon that can operate in all climatic conditions. The weapon is a joint effort by the OFB, the Indian Army, Defence Research and Development Organisation, Directorate General Quality Assurance, PSUs Bharat Electronics Limited, SAIL and some private firms.

It is always a challenge to deliver the level of readiness that an event with the demands of the armed forces. The scope for error is inconceivable. Let’s just say, they do not understand the concept. The ceremony was crisp, to the point and encased in the protocol. Dignitaries addressed the gathering that consisted of officials from the board, senior officers of the Indian Army and workers of the factory. Scale models of the gun were presented to the dignitaries from the Indian Armed Forces. The ceremony peaked with the guns being flagged off with amidst patriotic chants that were a celebration of India’s commitment to peace, stability, and progress in the world. The ceremony flowed into High Tea and happy conversations of the kind that you can only have in Army life. Doordarshan telecast the ceremony.

One cannot admire enough the mettle these officers are made of. I met a senior serving officer whose young son is serving in Kashmir, his first posting after being commissioned. My father was in the Army. For me it was a home coming of sorts, yet again.

An unprecedented euphoria today surrounds these services. But at the core, the men and women who serve in the forces are pointedly distant from the tornado that celebrates them online and in print. They do their job and expect nothing in return. And that is why, every time I get roped in to host an event for them or allied organizations, I think of it as a privilege, an opportunity to perform for people who give too much, way too much.

Aye watan aye watan humko teri kasam,
Teri raahon mein jaan tak luta jaayenge,
Phool kya cheez hai, tere kadmon pe hum,
Bhent apne saron ki chadha jaayenge.

Got it? Try.

 Jaihind.