Silver Jubilee of The Maratha Light Infantry (MLI; also the Ganpats)

The Maratha Light Infantry (MLI; also the Ganpats) is an elite regiment of the Indian Army. It was formed as the 103rd Maharattas in 1768, making it the most senior light infantry regiment of the Army.

The class composition of the regiment is primarily formed by hardy, frugal and disciplined people from the former Maratha Empire. The men are drawn from the state of Maharashtra, with some percentage from Marathi speaking areas of Karnataka including Coorg. Their regimental centre has been Belgaum, Karnataka, since 1922, which was part of the undivided Bombay state at that time. The battle cry of Maratha Light Infantry is, Bol Shri Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj ki Jai! ("Cry Victory to Emperor Shivaji!") in tribute to the Maratha emperor Chhatrapati Shivaji Raje Bhosle.

The 9^th Battalion which celebrated its Silver Jubillee on 1.10.1989 was originally raised at Belgaum on 1.2.1941 by Lt Col ERE Rerrie, and was subsequently converted to 5^th Maratha Anti Tank Regiment. The Battalion raised on 1.10.1964 by Lt Col MB Wadke, the first Commanding Officer of the 9^th Battalion of the MLI. Since then, the battalion has acquitted itself with credit on any venture the gallant Ganpats undertook.