The Indian Army has decided to review its age-old customs and regulations, including its uniform, ceremonies and the names of regiments and units, to do away with the British colonial legacy, prompting veterans to call the exercise “unnecessary meddling with military traditions”.

Sources in the army headquarters said the review was being led by the army chief, General Manoj Pande.

“The army has started the process of reviewing its uniform, pre-Independence era customs, practices and ceremonies and names of regiments and buildings to erase the British colonial legacy. The new reform has been undertaken following directions from the Prime Minister’s Office,” said an army official.

A retired colonel said the move spoke volumes about the government’s priorities at a time the Chinese army was sitting inside Indian territory in Ladakh.

“This is a useless exercise aimed at distracting from the real issues the army is facing along the China frontier in Ladakh,” the retired colonel said.

China is estimated to have taken over close to 1,000sqkm of India-claimed territory on the barren but strategically critical plains and valleys of Ladakh.

The rituals and practices under review include names of infantry regiments such as Sikh, Jat, Rajput and Gorkha, names of roads, institutes and parks after British commanders and also ceremonies like Beating the Retreat that marks the close of Republic Day celebrations.

“The exercise is unnecessary meddling with military traditions. It seems to be purely a political move keeping in mind the domestic audience. This is what happens when politicians start meddling with military traditions,” a former lieutenant general said.

In an article in The Financial Express, Lt Col Manoj K. Channan wrote: “The modern-day Pundits of South Block may not understand the concept of Naam, Namak aur Nishaan, perhaps a bit of education may do a lot of good to keep the fabric of the Indian Army intact.”

“Most modern defence services habitats, cantonments are named after our Bravehearts who have served our Nation and have sacrificed their lives in doing so,” Lt Col Channan further wrote.

Told that several veterans are critical of the proposal, an army official said: “Everything will be discussed by the top brass during the review meeting. No final decision has been taken yet as everything is under review.”