Havildar Satvir of the Kumaon
regiment enjoys a special status
Farrokh Jijina
Havildar Satvir of the 7 Kumaon battalion of the Indian Army’s Kumaon regiment receives his Commanding Officer Col Yazad Ilavia every day with a salute and handshake. Like all his fellow soldiers, Satvir, whose rank corresponds with that of a sergeant, participates in ceremonial functions and accompanies the unit on all its moves in the country. He takes the train along with all his colleagues and officers. He dons a woollen cape in green and yellow, embroidered with the regimental crest in gold and starts his day with a run along with his fellow soldiers. He also participates in games in the evening. For these events, he is excused from wearing his cape. A mountain goat, he is the mascot of his regiment.
Havildar Satvir: part of his regiment’s families
When Satvir retires after serving his regiment at the age of 10, another namesake will take charge. This has been the custom for 60 years, noted the Business Standard of April 25, 2023. The news report explained that Satvirs are goats brought at a young age from the higher ranges of the Indo-Tibet border of the Kumaon hills. The current Satvir is the sixth goat in the lineage. Upon death, Satvirs are accorded a military funeral and buried along with a three-gun salute.
In 1965, when the unit’s long range patrol was on the field, a mountain goat had followed them back to their base location, reported The Times of India (TOI) of April 25, 2023. Adopted by the unit, the goat was given the name Satvir, an acronym derived from the battalion’s name (Seven Kumaon), motto (All the way to battle) and the names of their then officers. Conferred the rank of Lance Naik in 1965, the first Satvir was promoted to Naik in 1968 and Havildar in 1971.
Forty-one-year-old Ilavia’s father Col Yazdi too had years earlier commanded 7 Kumaon. Yazad told ToI that he has fond memories of playing with a Satvir as a child. Many second generation soldiers in his battalion consider Satvir a part of their family, "and vice versa,” noted the news report. Having schooled all over India, after graduation from the National Defence Academy, Yazad reportedly exercised an option to serve in the same regiment as Yazdi. The colonel did not have clearance from the establishment to speak to Parsiana.
Marzban Giara had written in Valiant Parsis that under Yazdi’s leadership the battalion "was awarded the Unit Citation of the Chief of the Army for its gallant achievements on Army Day, 1998.”
Parsiana requested Diana Ratnagar, chairperson, Beauty Without Cruelty (BWC), India to comment on the practice of having a live animal as a mascot. She called Satvir a "lucky mascot,” adding that "a mascot can be a living creature, a costumed human, a picture, or an object adopted by an institution to bring it good luck.
"Remember the Hutch ad with its cute pug? The picture of the famous bulldog of The Daily from the Blitz group was synonymous with its editor! The Syndicate Bank’s logo also has a ‘faithful and friendly’ dog although dogs are not allowed inside!
"However, keeping an exotic or wild living creature in captivity as a mascot is positively cruel — an ‘attraction’ needlessly sentenced for life therefore can be anything but lucky! Havildar Satvir does not fall into this category… He could never have been subjected to hunger, torture or fear, kept on display, or trained to perform as in circuses. From all accounts, they get lots of affection and respect.”
Ratnagar said that "such a mascot is no different to a companion dog or cat joining a family, getting extra special attention and being happy. It forms a strong bond with humans making family members feel a sense of belonging among themselves too. Importantly, if people relate kindly to a living goat (or rooster), wouldn’t it make them think twice before eating mutton (or chicken)?”
BWC’s activities are based on guiding people to make lifestyle changes that help themselves and, in turn, animals through research and investigation; documentation; education and public awareness; campaigning and lobbying.