General K M Cariappa, Commander-in-Chief, Indian Army, took the salute at a Ceremonial Parade held on September 8, 1952 at the Race Course. Poona. 3,500 men paricipated in the Parade.

The galaxy of top-ranking officials of the Defence Services present at the function included Lt Gen Maharaj Shri Rajendrasinhji, Lt Gen. Thakur Nathu Singhji and Lt Gen S M Shrinagesh, Army Commanders of the Southern, Eastern and Western Commands respectively. The Navy and Air Force were represented by Commodore R.M.T Taylor and Air Vice Marshal Mukherjee respectively.

Commanded by Brigadier Harbhajan Singh, Sub-Area Commander, Poona, the Parade was led by the College of Military Engineering and had also men drawn from the Bombay Engineers Group, Southern Command. Signal Regiments, Mahratta Regiment, Maharasthra Regiment, Travancore Regiment, Army Supply Corps, Army Medical Corps, Army Ordnance Corps, Electrical and Mechanical Engineers and the Boys Battalion.

At the Parade, General Carriappa presented the Maha Vir Chakra to Major Harichand of the Gorkha Rifles (now with the College of Military Engineering) for gallantry in the Kashmir Operations in 1948. A Military Cross was also presented to Jemadar Balbir Singh of the Kumaon Regiment, (now with the HQ Southern Command) for gallantry in action during World War II.

According to the citation which was read by Lt Col. Majumdar, Maj Harichand stood alone with a bren gun with just a platoon for three days at his post in the Ladakh Valley in July 1948 holding an overwhelming force of the enemy at bay. Later in September 1948 he successfully organised a Guerilla party which wiped out a big enemy opposition and once again in October 1948 gave proof of his gallantry.

Addressing the Parade, Gen. Cariappa complimented the men on their smart turn-out and exhorted them to help in maintaining the hard earned freedom of the country for all future generations. He advised them to keep off those political parties whose aim is to disrupt law and order in the country.

General Cariappa thanked the civil population of Poona for the kind and generous way in which they have looked after the army. He said the role of the army is to defend the country against external forces’ aggression and help the civil and state Governments in times of need.

General Cariappa particularly asked the civil authorities to look after the ex-Servicemen as these brave soldiers had sacrificed much for the country. Appealing for the re-employment of ex-Servicemen in civil jobs he said that although these men may not have high academic qualifications yet they had the priceless qualities of discipline, loyalty and team work.

The Army Chief who was in Madras on a two-day farewell visit took the salute at an impressive Ceremonial Parade held at the Island Grounds, Madras on August 18, 1952. Later, General Cariappa referred to the Parade as a good-bye parade since he will be relinquishing the charge of Commander-in-Chief, Indian Army on the midnight of January 14, 1953.

At the parade ground, General Cariappa was received by Maj. Gen. H. M. Mohite, G.O.C., Madras Area. There was a large gathering at the parade including Ministers of Government, the Chief Justice, Judges of the High Court, and High ranking Army, Naval and Air Force Officers.

As the Madras Regimental Band struck a march tune Officers and men drawn from Madras Garrison representing the Artillery and Signal Corps, the Madras Regiment, the Ordnance Corps, and National Cadet Corps commanded by Lt-Col. Mullenux marched past the Commander-in-Chief.

At the Parade, General Cariappa presented the Military Cross to Major C. Vadivelu of the Medical Corps for gallantry in the Burma Campaign in 1940. Major Vadivelu took part in active operations for over two years and throughout this period treated a considerable number of casualties. Although on two occasions he himself was wounded yet he did not disclose this fact and continued to attend to his work thereby setting an excellent example of "steadfastness under fire, disregard for danger and attention given to sick and wounded." The citation was read at the parade by Lt. Col. D. R. Suri.