Wednesday, December 30, 2015

No.47 Squadron Indian Air Force - "Black Archers", 2009 - Army Cover


The Award of Presidential Standard to 47 Squadron Air Force was celebrated on 10th November, 2009. On the occasion the Army Postal Service issued a special cover, a special cancellation and a brochure detailing the achievements of the squadron.

The crest of the unit is a figure of a kneeling "Black Archer" with drawn bow chosen for its suggestion of poised readiness. The motto of the unit and its meaning --

कर्मणि व्यापृतं धनुः
karmaṇi vyāpṛtam dhanuḥ
"My bow is stretched for its task".

In coining this motto, I have to think that the Rāmāyaṇa has influenced much. Part of this motto, i.e., vyāpṛtam dhanuḥ is mentioned in the Vālmīki-rāmāyaṇa, with a little variation -- vyāpāritam dhanuḥ. The context of course is war against Khara and Dūṣaṇa. The original ślokas according to the Southern recension* is quoted below:-

नानाप्रहरणोपेताः  खरप्रमुखराक्षसाः ।
तेन सजातरोषेण रामेण रणमूर्धनि ‌‍‍‍।। 
अनुक्त्वा परुषं किञ्चिच्छरैर्व्यापारितं धनुः ।
चतुर्दशसहस्राणि रक्षसामुग्रतेजसाम्  ।।

..... Rākṣasas possessed of exceeding prowess; equipped with various weapons, headed by Khara met with Rāma in the field. Getting enraged, Rāma without returning any harsh speech, by means of his shafts shot from his bow, -- with his flaming arrows slaughtered fourteen thousand Rākṣasas of fierce energy.**



*Śrīmad-vālmīki-rāmāyaṇa, Āraṇyakāṇḍa, Sarga 36, Śloka 7-8, Eds. Mm S. Kuppusvāmi Śāstrin, Mm Kṛṣṇa Śāstrin, Padmanābha Śāstrin and Rāmacandra Dīkṣita, Madras Law Journal Press, Madras, 1933, (p. 353).

**Tr. Manmatha Nāth Dutt, Calcutta, 1891.

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