army chief

7/27/2019 Army Chief

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General Sir Mcgregor Macdonald Lockhart KCB, CIE, MC

(15 Aug 1947 to 31 Dec 1947)

1. Born on 23rd Jun 1893, General Sir Robert McGregor MacdonaldLockhart, KCB, CIE, MC was commissioned in the British Indian Army and

joined 51 Sikhs Frontier Force on 08th Mar 1914. He served as MilitaryAttache to Kabul from Mar 1934 to Dec 1935 and DSD of India from Dec

1939 to Dec 1941. In Apr 1945 he was posted to Southern Army. The General

Officer relinquished the appointment of General Officer Commanding - in -

Chief, Southern Army in Jun 1947. He was appointed Commander in Chief of

the Indian Army from 15th Aug 1947 to 31st Dec 1947.

2. After the World War he served on the World Scout Committee of the

World Organisition of the Scout movement from 1953 to 1959. He was

awarded the Bronze Wolf Award, the only distinction of the World

Organisition of the Scout Movement, awarded by the World Scout Committee

for exceptional services to world scouting, in 1961.


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General Sir Francis Robert Roy Bucher, CB, OBE, MC

(01 Jan 1948 to 15 Jan 1949)

1. Born on 31

st

Aug 1895, General Sir Francis Robert Roy Bucher, CB,OBE, MC was commissioned in the British Indian Army on 15th

Aug1914. The General officer has held various appointments including

Assistant Adjutant General from Jan 1941 to Jun 1941 and Additional

Quartermaster General, in Iraq , from Jun 1941 to Mar 1942. He was

appointed as General Officer Commanding Bengal and Assam Area in

1946 and latter took over as General Officer Commanding - in - Chief,Eastern Command, in 1946 to 1947.

2. Later, the General Officer took over as Chief of Staff, ArmyHeadquarters, and was appointed Commander in Chief and Chief of

General Staff of the Indian Army from 31st Dec 1947 to 15th Jan 1949.

Field Marshal Kodandera Madappa Cariappa, OBE


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(16 Jan 1949 to 14 Jan 1953)

1. Field Marshal K M Cariappa, fondly known as 'Kipper', was born on

28th

January 1900 in Mercara state, now called Karnataka. He received

the King's Commission in 1919 with the first group of Indian cadets, and

in 1933, was the first Indian officer to join Staff College, Quetta. In

1942, Lt Col K M Cariappa raised 7th Rajput Machine Gun Battalion

(now 17 Rajput). In 1946, as a Brigadier, he joined the Imperial Defence

College, UK. Recalled from the UK to serve as a member of the Army

Sub Committee of the Forces Reconstitution Committee, during the

partition, he achieved an amicable settlement for the division of the

army between India and Pakistan.

2. On 21st November 1947, Lieutenant General Cariappa took over

as Army Commander, Eastern Command.On 20th January 1948, he took

over as Army Commander, Delhi and East Punjab

Command (now Western Command). Finally on 15th

January 1949,

General Cariappa became the first Commander - in - Chief of the

Indian Army. He was appointed Colonel of the Rajput Regiment from1949 to 1959. A veteran soldier, he has served with 2/125 Napier rifles,

1/7 Dogra and 1/7 Rajput. He had campaigned in Iraq, Syria and Iran.

He won the award of OBE in 1945 while serving as

the Assistant Adjutant and Quartermaster General with 26 Indian

Division in the Arakans. He also commanded the Bannu Frontier. General

K M Cariappa relinquished his office of the Chief of the Army Staff on14th January 1953.

3. He was the Indian High Commissioner to Australia for two and a

half years. In 1986, General K M Cariappa was honored with the rank

of Field Marshal by the President of India. Finally on 15th

May

1993, a glorious chapter of the Rajput Regiment and

the Indian Army came to an end with the passing away of Field Marshal

K M Cariappa, OBE


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General Maharaj Shri Rajendra Sinhji, DSO

(15 jan 1953 to 14 may 1955)

1. General M R Sinhji belonged to the house of Nawanagar. Born at

Sarodar in 1899, he had his education at Rajkumar College , Rajkot ,Malvern College , UK and Royal Military College , Sandhurst . In 1921,

he was commissioned into the 3rd Bn the 60th Rifles (KRRC British

Army) and the 2nd Royal Lancers a year later. During World War II in1941 he went to North Africa as a Squadron Commander where, for his

courageous leadership and determined actions he was awarded the

Distinguished Service Order (DSO).

2. In 1943 he was appointed Commandant of the 2nd Royal

Lancers. In May 1945 he went to Washington as the firstMilitary

Attache to that country. During this tour of duty he was decorated by

President Truman with the order of American Legion of Merit.

3. In September 1946 he was promoted to the rank of Brigadier andcommanded a Sub Area. In 1947 he was promoted to the rank of Major

General and took over command as GOC Delhi and East Punjab Area. He

rendered valuable and effective service in controlling the disturbances in

Delhi and the Punjab . Subsequently, In Jan 1948 he became General

Officer Commanding -in- Chief Eastern Command, thereafter moved as

General Officer Commanding -in- Chief Southern Command in May

1948, where he directed the swift police action in Hyderabad in

September of that year.


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4. The General Officer was selected to succeed General Cariappa as C -

in - C and assumed office on 15th

January 1953. The General Officer was

awarded Queen Elizabeth II's Commendation Medal in June 1953. The

Order of Yugoslavia Army Class I was bestowed on him by HE Marshal

Tito. The General Officer was appointed as Chief of Army Staff from 1st

April 1955 to 14th May 1955. He passed away on 1st Jan 1964.

General Satyawant Mallana Srinagesh

(15 May 1955 to 07 May 1957)

1. Commissioned as an officer in 19 Hyderabad Regiment (now

Kumaon Regiment) on 30th Aug 1923, he commanded 6/19 HyderabadRegiment from 17

thDec 1942 to 28

thAug 1945. He was the first Indian

Commandant of The Kumaon Regiment Centre from 2nd

Oct 1946 to 12th

Dec 1946.

2. Later, he was Commander of 268 Infantry Brigade BritishCommonwealth Occupation Force (BCOF) in JAPAN in 1946-47. He

was also Brigade Commander of the famous Lushai Brigade in Burma in

1947. In Dec 1947 he was appointed General Officer Commanding

Madras Area and was Adjutant General at Army Headquarters from Jan1948 to Aug 1948. Later he commanded 5 Corps. He was Chief of the

Army Staff from 14th May 1955 to 7th May 1957.

3. He was Governor of Assam from 1959 to 1962, Governor of Andhra

Pradesh from 1962 to 1964 and Governor of Mysore (now Karnataka)from 1964 to 1965. He passed away on 27th Dec 1977


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General Kodandera Subayya Thimayya, Padma Bhushan, DSO

(08 May 1957 to 07 May 1961)

1. Commissioned as an officer in 19 Hyderabad Regiment (nowKumaon Regiment) on 4th Feb 1926, he took over Command of 8/19

Hyderabad Regiment during World War II in Arakan (Burma) from19

thMay 44 to 24

thMar 1945.

2. He was Brigade Commander in World War II in Burma Campaign

and awarded the Distinguished Service Order (DSO). He was alsoCommander of 268 Infantry Brigade in Japan (The British

Commonwealth Force) in 1945. He was Commander of Indian Force

Jammu & Kashmir in 1948. He earned international fame as Chairman of

the Neutral Nations Repatriation Commission in Korea in 1953, and for

his services there the government conferred on him Padma Bhushan in

1953. He had the privilege of being the General Officer Commanding inChief (over separate tenures) of all the three Commands that existed at

the time i.e. Southern, Eastern and Western. He was the first Indian

Colonel of the Kumaon Regiment from 1st

Jan 49 to 8th

May 1961.

3. He was Chief of Army Staff from 7t May 1957 to 7t May 1961.

During his tenure as Chief of the Army Staff, the Military Academy was

set up with Indian aid in Ethiopia . In appreciation of which, the Emperor

of Ethiopia conferred upon him the Grand Cordon of Menelik II in Feb1961. He retired from Army on 8th May 1961. He was Commander of

UN Peace Keeping Force in Cyprus from Jun 62 to Dec 1965 and died in


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Cyprus while on active duty on 18th

Dec 1965.

General Pran Nath Thapar

(08 May 1961 to 19 Nov 1962)

1. General Thapar was born on 8th

May 1906 and was educated at

Government College, Lahore . He was commissioned into the 1st Punjab

Regiment from Sandhurst in 1926. As a regimental officer, he spentnearly ten years with the 1st Punjab Regiment and later attended and

qualified on staff courses at Quetta and Minlay-Manor in England.

2. During the Second World War in 1941, he saw service in Burma ,

followed by a tenure in 1943-44 in the Middle East and Italy. In 1945 he

was appointed as the Assistant Military Secretary, General Headquarters

in India . Later on he was selected to serve on the Army ReorganizationCommittee.

3. In 1946, after victory over Japan , he commanded the 1st Battalion of

his parent Regiment in Indonesia during the national trouble in thatcountry. Later he commanded the 161 Indian Infantry Brigade in East

Bengal . On the advent of partition and during its first turbulent months,

General Thapar was Director of Military Operations and Intelligence at

Army Headquarters, India from August to December 1947. In November

1947, he was promoted to Maj General and officiated for a few months as

Chief of the General Staff and later appointed as Military Secretary which

post he held till Aug 1949. This was followed by his appointment as

Master General of Ordnance from Aug 1949 to Apr 1950. He served as

the Colonel of The Rajputana Rifles from 18th Jul 49 to 20th Jul 63.4. He commanded an Infantry Division for about four years and was


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promoted to the rank of Lt Gen in 1954 as Commander of a Corps. He

held this appointment till Dec 1955 when he was selected to attend the

Imperial Defence College , London , from Jan to Dec 1956. On

successful completion of the course he was appointed as General Officer

Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Command, and later took over WesternCommand on 25th May 1959. General PN Thapar took over as Chief of

the Army Staff on 8th

May 1961 and served till 19th

Nov 62.

5. General Thapar who hails from a distinguished family brought to his

high office a wealth of experience and knowledge gained on variousfronts during his thirty five years service. A keen tennis and golf player,

General Thapar was at one time services tennis Champion. After

retirement he was appointed as Indian Ambassador to Afghanistan from

Aug 64 to 1st

Jan 69. He passed away on 23rd

Jan 75 at the age of 69 yrs

and 01 month.

General Jayanto Nath Chaudhuri, OBE(20 Nov 1962 to 07 Jun 1966)

1. General JN Chaudhuri, was born on 10t Jun 1908 and received his

early education in Calcutta and the High Gate School, London. He

obtained a nomination to the Royal Military College, Sandhurst and wascommissioned in February 1928 into the 7 Light Cavalry.

2. During World War II he went overseas with the famous 5 Indian

Division and saw active service in Sudan, Eritrea, Abyssinia and the

Western Desert and was awarded the OBE and Mentioned in Dispatches


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thrice. In August 1944, he took over command of the 16 Light Cavalry,

to become the first Indian Commanding Officer to lead an armoured

Regiment into battle and won great renown for fighting in Central

Burma. At the end of the Burma campaign, he saw service in French

Indo-China with his regiment in Java.

3. In January 1946 he was appointed as Brigadier-in-Charge,

Administration, Malaya Command, and was the third Indian to become a

Brigadier in the Indian Army. A year later, he went to England to attend

a course at the Imperial Defence College and on his return to India he

became Brigadier (Plans) and later Director of Military Operations and

Intelligence at Army HQ. In February 1948, he was promoted Major

General and became officiating Chief of the General Staff. In May 1948,

Gen Chaudhuri took over command of the 1 Armoured Division whichplayed a major role in the Hyderabad Operations, and then was

appointed Military Governor of the Hyderabad State for over a year. In

January 1952, he became Adjutant General, Army HQ and in January1953, he again took over as Chief of the General Staff.

4. Gen Chaudhuri served as the Chief of Army Staff of the Indian

Army from 20th

Nov 1962 to 7th

Jun 1966 with great distinction. Hepassed away on 6th Apr 1983.

General Paramasiva Prabhakar Kumramangalam, DSO

(08 Jun 1966 to 07 Jun 1969)

1. Born on 1st Jul 1913, he was commissioned into the Regiment of


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Artillery on 29th

Aug 1933. He was the second Indian Officer to be

commissioned into the Regiment of Artillery. During World War II, as a

Major, he took part in the operations in the Middle East and was awarded

the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) for an outstanding action in Libya

on 27th

May 1942.2. General Kumaramangalam took over as General Officer

Commanding-in - Chief, Eastern Command in May 1963. In Nov 1964

he was appointed Deputy Chief of the Army Staff and on 15th

Jan 1965

he became Vice Chief of the Army Staff. General Kumaramangalamtook over as the Chief of the Army Staff on June 8 th 1966, the first Indian

gunner officer to reach this coveted appointment. The tenure of General

Kumaramangalam as Chief of the Army Staff was marked by an

unpublicised but exhaustive re-organisation of the service, up gradation

of weapons, training and tactics based on the lessons learned from the1965 war.

3. General Kumaramangalam was a keen cricketer, horseman, show

jumper and an avid polo player. He was a member of the MCC, a Fellowof the Royal Horticultural Society, President of Indian Polo Association

and Equestrian Federation of India. He was Senior Colonel Commandant

of Regiment of Artillery from 5th

Jul 1959 to 4th

Jul 1969 and Honorary

Colonel Commandant from 5th Jul 1969 to 30th

Jun 1975. He passed

away on 13th

Mar 2000.

Field Marshal Sam Hormusji Framji Jamshedji Manekshaw, MC

(08 Jun 1969 to 15 Jan 1973)

1. Known to his friends as SAM, Field Marshal Sam Hormusji Framji


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Jamshedji Manekshaw, Militry Cross, was born on April 3rd, 1914. He

had his early schooling in Amritsar and Sherwood College Nanital.

Manekshaw belonged to the first batch of 40 cadets to be selected for the

Indian Military Academy and was commissioned into the 12 FF Rifles on

4th Feb 1934.

2. In the first Burma campaign, he took part in several actions againstthe Japanese. On the Sittang river when he came to grips with the

Japanese, during the push towards Pegu and Rangoon , Field Marshal

(then Capt) Manekshaw led his company with courage and tenacity,

despite being wounded. He was awarded the Military Cross (MC) for his

gallantry and leadership. Later he was again wounded a second time andevacuated to India .

3. Later Manekshaw commanded an Infantry Brigade for two

years. The Field Marshal is also a graduate of the Imperial Defence

College . He was later awarded the Padma Bhushan in 1968 for hisdistinguished service. He commanded a Division in the J&K for a short

duration and took over the command of a Corps on the Eastern Frontier in

November 1962. On 4th December 1963, then Lt General Manekshaw

became the first Indian Commissioned Officer to become an Army

Commander and became the General Officer Commanding-in-ChiefWestern Command before taking over as the General Officer

Commanding-in-Chief Eastern Command in November 1964. FieldMarshal Manekshaw was appointed the Chief of the Army Staff on 8th

Jun 1969.

4. Manekshaw was appointed the Colonel of the Regiment 8 Gorkha

Rifles and 61 Cavalry on 24th May 1953 and continues to be the

Honorary Colonel of the Regiment of the 8 Gorkha Rifles and 61 Cavalrytill his death.

5. As Chief of the Army Staff, he rendered yeoman service to theNation by forging the Indian Army into an efficient instrument of

War. In his capacity as the Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee,

he welded the Army, Navy and Air Force into a well knit team working in

perfect harmony which resulted in the capitulation of the Pakistani Army

in the Eastern Front. The decisive results achieved by the Indian Army

during the 1971 conflict with Pakistan under the able military leadershipof Manekshaw gave the nation a new sense of confidence and his services

were recognized by the President of India when in January 1973, he waselevated to the rank of Field Marshal.


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6. The Field Marshal passed away on 27 Jun 2008 after a long illness at

age of 94. The knight shall be missed forever.

General Gopal Gurnath Bewoor, Padam Bhushan, PVSM

(16 Jan 1973 to 31 May 1975)

1. General GG Bewoor, PVSM was born at Seoni, Madhya Pradesh on

11th Aug 1917. He is an alumini of Royal Indian Military College

(RIMC), Dehradun and the Indian Military Academy . He was

commissioned in 2 Green Howards Regiment on 15th July 1937 during

operations in Waziristan . Later, he was transferred to 5th Baluch and

served with them till July 1945. He attended Staff College course atQuetta and was specially selected as Under Secretary (Military) to the

Viceroy's Co- ordination Council - the only Indian officer to be given this

coveted appointment. He took over command of 2 Dogra in Oct 1947.

With a view to imparting basic military training to school and college

student, he became the First Director General of NCC in April 1948.

2. On promotion to the Rank of Brig in July 1951, he was initially

appointed as Commander 'Chand Sector' and later as Commander of

an Inf Bde located in J&K. This time he commanded of an Inf Bde

located at Ambala. He was the First Chief of Staff , HQ Western

Command, Shimla in Feb 1959 and had the unique distinction of

becoming the youngest Major General of the Indian Army

at the age of 42 years and six months. He assumed the appointmentof the Colonel of the 11 Gorkha Rifles on 25th May 1960.

3. After about two year's tenure as Chief of Staff, he was appointedGeneral Officer Commanding of an Inf Div in Feb 1961 at Jalandhar.


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Later he moved this division to Kalimpong in the wake of Chinese

Aggression of 1962. After finishing the command of the Mountain

Division in May 1963, he was posted to Army HQ, New Delhi asDirector of Military Training and remained there till Nov 1964.

4. He was promoted as General Officer Commanding Corps in Nov

1964. After the command of the Corps, he moved to Army HQ, asDeputy Chief of the Army Staff, Where he was awarded Param Vishist

Seva Medal (PVSM) for meritorious services. In July 1969 he assumed

the appointment of General Officer Commanding -in- Chief Southern

Command. In 1971, he was awarded Padam Bhusan for conducting

successful operations in Rajasthan Sector. In Jan 1973, he was appointedChief of Army Staff.

5. He retired from the Army in May 1975. In Feb 1976, he was

appointed as Ambassador of India to the Royal Court of Denmark where

he served till Feb 1978. The General remained a member of the Senate ofthe University of Pune for two years with effect from Aug 1979. Also, he

was on the Board of Directors of Kirloskar Oil Engines & Vickers Sperry

of Pune. Besides, he was often invited to give talks on leadership and

military matters by various educational societies. He passed away on 24th

Oct 1989.

General Tapishwar Narain Raina, Padam Bhushan, MVC

(01 Jun 1975 to 31 May 1978)


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1. Commissioned as an Officer in The Kumaon Regiment on 12th

Apr

1942, he took part in World War II (Burma Campaign) and was Mentioned -

in- Despatches for gallentry. He commanded an Infantry Brigade from 1959

to 1962 during INDO-CHINA Conflict-1962 and was awarded Maha Vir

Chakra (MVC) for showing great courage and leadership qualities inorganizing the defences of Chushul. He later commanded Infantry Division

and held higher staff appointments.

2. He was Deputy Adjutant General at Army Headquarters. Hecommanded a Corps in 1971 during liberation of Bangladesh. He was

awarded Padma Bhushan in 1971. He was General Officer Commanding-in-

Chief of Western Command from 1974 to 1975. He was Chief of the Army

Staff from 1st

Jun 1975 to 31st

May 1978. He was Colonel of the Kumaon

and Naga Regiments from 16

th

May 1971 to 31

st

May 1978.

3. He was appointed Indian High Commissioner to Canada in Feb 1979

after his retirement, where on 19th

May 1980 he died in Ottawa (Canada).

General Om Prakash Malhotra, PVSM

(01 Jun 1978 to 31 May 1981)

1. Born in August 1922, General Malhotra was commissioned into the

Regiment of Artillery in November 1941. He commanded different Artillery

Regiments between November 1950 and July 1961, besides being an

instructor at the Defence Service Staff College , Wellington . He was the

Military Attache at the Indian Embassy in Moscow for over three years from

June 1962.

2. He commanded an Artillery Brigade from August 1965 to January 1966

and there after took over a Mountain Brigade. He was promoted as Major

General in September 1967 and commanded an Infantry Division for two

years. He was posted as the Chief of Staff in a Corps Headquarters in the

Eastern Sector in September 1969 till May 1972, when he took over a Corps

in the Western Sector. In 1974, General Malhotra was appointed General

Officer Commanding - in - chief Southern Command and in Jan 1977, he


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was appointed as the Vice Chief of the Army Staff. General OP Malhotra,

assumed the office of the Chief of the Army Staff in June 1978.

3. After completing his three year tenure as the Chief of Army Staff, he

was appointed as the Indian Ambassador to Indonesia in March 1982 andcontinued in that appointment for three years. In December 1990, he was

appointed as the Governor of Punjab, a post he held till August 1991 when

he resigned from this assignment. He was the President of the Equestrian

Federation of India for nearly nine years. In 1994, the University of Jammu

conferred the Degree of Doctor of Letters (Honours Causa) upon him.

General Kotikalapudi Venkata Krishna Rao, PVSM

(01 Jun 1981 to 31 Jul 1983)

1. Born on 16th

Jul 1923, General KV Krishna Rao was commissioned into

the Mahar Regiment on 9th Aug 1942. He commanded a brigade in Ladakh

Sector during the 1965 war.2. During 1969 -70, the General commanded a Mountain Division in

Jammu . After the 1971 war with Pakistan , he was awarded the Param

Vishisht Seva Medal (PVSM) for his most laudable command of the

Mountain Division. In 1974, he took over a Corps in Jammu and was later

appointed Deputy Chief of Army Staff in 1978. Subsequently he served as

General Officer Commanding - in - Chief Western Command in 1979.

General Rao attained the ultimate in his military career when he became

Chief of Army Staff in 1981.

3. General KV Krishna Rao was the Colonel of the Mahar Regiment from


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June 1968 to June 1983. After his retirement in July 1983, General Rao

served as Governor of Nagaland, Manipur and Tripura from June 1984 to

1989 and subsequently as Governor of Jammu and Kashmir till January

1990. Presently, he is the Honorary Colonel of the Mahar Regiment.

General Arunkumar Shridhar Vaidya, Padam Vibhushan, PVSM,

MVC, AVSM(01 Aug 1983 31 Jan 1985)

1. Born on 27t January 1926, General AS Vaidya was commissioned in

the Armoured Corps in 1945 and saw battle during the Second World War.

During Indo-Pak war of 1965 as Commandant, of an Armoured Regiment in

the Khemkaran Sector, he was awarded the Maha Vir Chakra (MVC) for

conspicuous bravery. In 1971 as Brigade Commander in Shakargarh Sector,

he again displayed gallantry and leadership qualities of a very high order andwas awarded a Bar to the Maha Vir Chakra (MVC).

2. Elevated to the rank of Major General in 1973, he held the


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appointments of Director Military Operations, Chief of Staff at Headquarters

Command and as Commandant Armoured Corps Centre and School.

3. Promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General in January 1980, he held the

appointment of Master General of Ordnance and later as General OfficerCommanding of a Corps before being elevated to the appointment of General

Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Eastern Command in Jun 1981. His

tackling of the insurgency problems in his command has been particularly

praiseworthy. He was awarded Param Vishisht Seva Medal (PVSM) in 1983

for distinguished service of the most exceptional order.

4. General Vaidya took

over as Chief of the Army Staff from 1st

August 1983 to 31st

January

1985. An outstanding military leader, General Vaidya gave the Indian Army

a very sound leadership and brought with him an aura of gallantry and valourand remarkable reservoir of combat experience befitting the head of the

Army. He had the distinction of being among the most decorated soldiers in

the Defence Services of the country. He passed away on 10th

Aug 1986.

General Krishnaswami Sundarji, PVSM

(01 Feb 1985 to 31 May 1988)

1. General Sundarji was born on 30th

Apr 1928 and was Commissioned into

2 MAHAR in April 1946.2. A graduate of Defence Services Staff College (DSSC) at Wellington he

also attended the General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth (USA) in 1967-68

and subsequently the Senior Officers Preventive Maintenance Course at Fort


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Knox (USA). He was also a graduate of NDC, New Delhi .

3. General Sundarji held a number of coveted staff and instructional

appointments with distinction. He was Brigade Major of an Indian Independent

Brigade Group Congo in 1962-63 as part of UN Peace Keeping Force wherehe was awarded Mentioned - in - Despatches and Brigadier General Staff

(BGS) of a Corps in Eastern Sector.

4. He commanded a mountain Brigade, an Infantry Division, an Armoured

Division and a Corps. He was the Commandant, College of Combat and later

General Officer Commanding - in - Chief, Western Command. He was Vice

Chief of Army Staff prior to reaching the pinnacle of his career as COAS in

1985.

5. General Sundarji conducted 'Operation Brasstacks' in Rajasthan in Dec

1986 to test new concept of mobilisation with precision. He was also awarded

the PVSM in 1978 in recognition of his distinguished service of the most

exception order. He passed away on 8th Feb 1999.

General Vishwa Nath Sharma, PVSM, AVSM, ADC

(30 Jun 1988 to 30 Jun 1990)

1. General VN Sharma belongs to a distinguished military family that has

served the Armed Forces for two generations and produced three Generals. Heis the younger brother of late Major Som Nath Sharma, PVC, who was

awarded Independent India's first posthumous Param Vir Chakra (PVC) on3

rdNov 47 for the battle of Badgam in Kashmir.


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2. General Sharma was educated at Sherwood College, Nainital and Prince

of Wales' Rashtriya Indian Military College, Dehradun. He joined the 5th

Regular Course at the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun and was

commissioned on 04 Jun 1950 into the 16 Light Cavalry. As a Major he saw

action during the 1965 Indo-Pak War in the Lahore Sector. Hecommanded Armoured Regiment and held important staff and instructional

appointments.

3. On promotion to the rank of Brigadier, he commanded a Mountain

Brigade in an insurgency affected area and was awarded the Ati Vishisht Seva

Medal (AVSM) in 1977 for distinguished service. Later he commanded an

Armoured Brigade in the Rajasthan desert.

4. In 1980, he was elevated to Major General and commanded a Mountain

Division in the Western Sector. He was elevated to Lieutenant General andtook over command of a Corps in the Western Sector in 1984 and was awarded

the Param Vishisht Seva Medal (PVSM) for rendering distinguished service of

the most exceptional order.

5. General Sharma took over as General Officer Commanding-in-ChiefEastern Command, on 1st Jun 87. He was appointed Honorary Army ADC to

the President on 25th Jul 87. General Sharma served as the Chief of Army Staff

of the Indian Army from 30th

Jun 88 to 30th

Jun 90.

General Sunith Francis Rodrigues, PVSM, VSM

(01 Jul 1990 to 30 Jun 1993)

1. Born on 19th Sep 1933 in Bombay, he was educated at St Xavier's High

School, Bombay. He joined the Joint Services Wing of the Indian Military

Academy in 1949 and was commissioned in Dec 1952 into the Regiment of

Artillery. In 1972, he was awarded the Vishisht Seva Medal (VSM) for

distinguished service. He commanded a Mountain Brigade in high altitudesector from 1975 to 1977 and then attended the 1978 Course at Royal College

of Defence Studies in the UK. Later he commanded a Division also in a high

altitude area. He was the Chief of Staff of a Corps from 1983 to Sep 1985, andthen took over as Director General Military Training (DGMT) post. He also


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took over Command of a Corps in the Northern Sector.

2. He was Vice Chief of Army Staff from Nov 1987 to Apr 1989 and then

General Officer Commanding in Chief of Central & Western Commands from

Apr 1989 to Oct 1989 and from 1st

Nov 89 to 30th

Jun 1990 respectively. Hebecame the Chief of Army Staff in 1990 and retired on 30

thJun 1993.

3. The General was Director of the International Centre, Goa for nearly six

years after retirement. He served two terms in the National Security Advisory

Board. He has been continuously engaged in social and literary pursuits and

has also been delivering talks on strategic issues. He was on the Executive

Council of Goa University for seven years and in the Managing Committee of

the Goa Chamber of Commerce. He is also a long standing Member of the

Goa Planning Board and in the Board of Governors of the Goa Institute of

Management. General SF Rodrigues, PVSM, VSM was appointed as theGovernor of Punjab and Administrator, Union Territory, Chandigarh on 8 th

Nov 2004.

General Bipin Chandra Joshi, PVSM, AVSM, ADC

(01 Jul 1993 to 19 Nov 1994)

1. Commissioned in Dec 1954 in the Armoured Corps, General BC Joshi

has held important command and staff appointments which include staff

officer in the UN Force in Gaza , Brigadier General Staff in a CorpsHeadquarters and Military Advisor in Australia from May 1973 to October

1976. He commanded a Corps in the Eastern Sector and was also the General

Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Command.2. General Joshi commanded an Armoured Regiment in the Western Sector


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during the 1971 Indo-Pak operations. He has also commanded an Independent

Armoured Brigade and an Infantry Division.

3. General Joshi also held the appointment of Additional Director General of

Perspective Planning (ADG PP) and Director General Military Operations(DGMO) at the Army Headquarters. He had three tenures as an Instructor in

the Armoured Corps Centre and School Ahmednagar and was also a Directing

Staff in the College of Combat , Mhow.

4. General B C Joshi has been a recipient of Param Vishisht Seva

Medal (PVSM) and the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal

(AVSM) for distinguished service of the most exceptional order.

5. The General officer died in harness on 19th Nov 1994.

General Shankar Roy Chowdhury, PVSM, ADC

(22 Nov 1994 to 30 Sep 1997)

1. General S Roy Chowdhury, PVSM, ADC was born on 6th September

1937 at Calcutta and was educated at Calcutta and Mussorie. He joined the

Joint Services Wing, Dehradun in 1953 and was commissioned into 20

Lancers on 9th June 1957. He participated in the Indo-Pak conflict in 1965 and1971 including operations for the liberation of Bangladesh.

2. He commanded an Independent Armoured Brigade from December 1980

to July 1983 and Armoured Division from May 1988 to May 1990. He

subsequently commanded Corps in Jammu and Kashmir in 1991-92.


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3. He is a graduate of Defence Services Staff College and held several staff

and instructional appointments, including that of Director General Combat

Vehicle dealing with the Indian Main Battle Tank 'Arjun'.

4. The General Officer was awarded Param Vishisht Seva Medal (PVSM)

for distinguished service and valuable contribution. He took over as General

Officer Commanding - in - Chief, Army Training Command (ARTRAC) in

August 1992, and was the Chief of Army Staff from 22nd Nov 94 to 30th Sep

97.

5. Post retirement the General has taken to active politics. As a member ofthe Rajya Sabha he has highlighted and taken up Defence related issues with

great passion and vigour in the Parliament.

General Ved Prakash Malik, PVSM, AVSM

(01 Oct 1997 to 30 Sep 2000)

1. General VP Malik was born on 1st Nov 1939 at Dera Ismail Khan, NWFP,

now in Pakistan . Alumni of the National Defence Academy , Khadakwasla andthe Indian Military Academy , Dehradun, he was commissioned into 3 SIKH LI

on 7th Jun 1959. He commanded Infantry Brigade in Jammu & Kashmir where

he was awarded the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM).

2. In Dec 1989, he was appointed General Officer Commanding, Mountain


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Division and in Aug 1992, he assumed command of Corps in Punjab, where he

oversaw anti-militancy operations in the state.

3. In Jul 1995, he was appointed General Officer Commanding -in- Chief

Southern Command before moving to Army Headquarters as Vice Chief ofArmy Staff in August 1996. He was decorated with the Param Vishisht Seva

Medal (PVSM) in 1996.

4. He assumed the charge of Indian Army as the 19th Chief of Army Staff on

1st Oct 1997. Concurrently with the appointment, he took over as Chairman,

Chiefs of Staff Committee of India with effect from 1st Jan 1999. He

coordinated and oversaw the planning and execution of Operation Vijay to

successfully defeat Pakistan's attempted intrusion in Kargil sector during May

to Jul 1999.

5. He was felicitated with the 'Excellence in Leadership' award by the AturFoundation, Pune and also the `Distinguished Fellowship' of the Institute of

Directors, New Delhi in 1999. The Doon Citizens' Council gave him the 'Pride

of the Nation' award in Jul 2000. He was Colonel of the Sikh Light Infantry

from 1990 to 1998, and continues to be Honorary Colonel of the Regiment forlife.

6. General V P Malik retired on 30th Sep 2000, and has settled in Panchkula,

near Chandigarh .

General Sundararajan Padmanabhan, PVSM, AVSM, VSM

(01 Oct 2000 to 30 Dec 2002)

1. Born on 5th Dec 1940, General S Padmanabhan was commissioned in theRegiment of Artillery on 13th Dec 1959. He served as Instructor Gunnery at


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School of Artillery , Deolali and attended the Staff Course at DSSC,

Wellington in 1973. He commanded an Independent Light Battery from Aug

1975 to Jul 1976, and then commanded a Mountain Regiment from Sep 1977 to

Mar 1980. He served as Colonel General Staff of a Mountain Division from

Jan 1983 to May 1985 and was awarded the Vishisht Seva Medal.

2. The General Officer commanded an Independent Artillery Brigade and a

Mountain Brigade before attending the prestigious NDC course at Delhi . He

commanded an Infantry Brigade from Dec 1988 to Feb 1991 at Ranchi andPunjab and then was appointed as General Officer Commanding of an Infantry

Division in Punjab from Mar 1991 to Aug 1992. He served as Chief of

Staff, Corps from Sep 1992 to Jun 1993 and commanded Corps from Jul 1993

to Feb 1995 where he was awarded the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM). He

held the appointment of Director General Military Intelligence (DGMI) afterthe successful culmination of which he took over the challenging command of

the Northern Army followed by Southern Army before assuming command ofthe Indian Army on 1st Oct 2000.

3. The General Officer is a prolific writer and has authored two books titled

'The Writing on the Wall, India Checkmates America-2017' and 'A

General Speaks'. The General presently resides in Chennai.

General Nirmal Chander Vij, PVSM, UYSM, AVSM

(31 Dec 2002 to 31 Jan 2005)

1. General NC Vij, PVSM,UYSM, AVSM (Retd) passed out in December

1962 from the Indian Military Academy at Dehra Dun and was commissionedinto 4 Dogra. During the 1971 Indo-Pak war, his company was the first one to


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occupy the 'Chicken Neck' and also captured the 'Chhote Chak' post of

Pakistan in Miran Sahib Sector. He became the Colonel of the Dogra Regiment

and Dogra Scouts on 1st April 2002 and continued to hold that office till his

retirement in Jan 2005.

2. General Vij commanded Mountain Brigade; Infantry Division (RAPID);

two Corps and Southern Command. He was Deputy Director General of

Perspective Planning.

3. He was decorated with the AVSM in 1996, and PVSM while he was the

General Officer Commanding Corps. He was conferred with an Uttam Yudh

Seva Medal (UYSM) while he was serving as Director General Military

Operations during Operation Vijay.

4. On 31st December 2002, General N C Vij, took over as the Chief of theArmy Staff.

5. General Nirmal Chander Vij, PVSM, UYSM, AVSM (Retired) is

presently Honorary Colonel of the Dogra Regiment & Dogra Scouts and also

Vice Chairman of National Disaster Management Authority, Govt of India.

General Joginder Jaswant Singh, PVSM, AVSM, VSM, ADC

(01 Feb 2005 to 30 Sep 2007)

1. General (Retd) Joginder Jaswant Singh, PVSM, AVSM, VSM was bornon 17 Sep 1945 in Bahawalpur (now in Pakistan). An alumnus of the National

Defence Academy and was commissioned in The 9 MARATHA Light Infantry

on 02 Aug 1964.

2. The General Officer is a third generation soldier; an ace shooter and a

mountaineer. During his tenures with his battalions, he has served in Jammu &

Kashmir, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, and Sikkim. During one of these

tenure he was wounded in a counter insurgency operations. Later, he was

India's first Defence Attache to Algeria (1987-1990).

3. After his return from Algeria, the General officer commanded a Mountain

Brigade in Baramulla Sector, Jammu & Kashmir, with the insurgency at its


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peak, in 1991-92. He attended the National Defence College in 1993 and later

commanded Infantry Division from 1996 to 1998.

4. General J J Singh commanded Corps and in Jan 2003, he was appointed

as the General Officer Commanding - in - Chief of the Army Training

Command (ARTRAC). The General officer took over as Army CommanderWestern Command in Feb 2004.

5. On 31st Jan 2005, General Joginder Jaswant Singh assumed the office of

Chief of Army Staff. As the Chief of Army Staff, it was his constant endeavour

to modernise the Army, enhance its combat potential and reach, as alsostrengthen the welfare of all ranks and their families. The General officer

retired on 30 Sep 07 and is presently the Governor of Arunachal Pradesh.

GENERAL DEEPAK KAPOOR, PVSM, AVSM, SM, VSM, ADC

(30 Sep 2007 to 30 Mar 2010)

1. General Deepak Kapoor, PVSM, AVSM, SM, VSM, ADC wascommissioned from the Indian Military Academy into the Indian Army and the

Regiment of Artillery on 11 June 1967. He took over as the Chief of ArmyStaff on 30 September 2007 and as Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee on 31

August 2009.

2. In a distinguished career spanning over four decades, he has held important

command and staff appointments. The General Officer has taken active part inthe Indo-Pak War of 1971 in the operations for Liberation of Bangladesh. As

Commanding Officer of 74 Medium Regiment he oversaw its conversion fromheavy mortars to medium guns. His performance as Chief Operations Officer

for all United Nations forces deployed in Somalia was recognized by the award

of the Vishisht Seva Medal.

3. Besides commanding a Line of Control Mountain Brigade in Jammu &

Kashmir for which he was awarded the Sena Medal, he has steered an Infantry

Division which is part of the Strike Corps, during mobilization of Indian Army

on the Western borders in Operation PARAKRAM. The General Officer was

conferred the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal for his inspiring command of a Corpsdeployed on the Indo-China border in the North East.


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4. On promotion as Army Commander, he initially commanded the Army

Training Command, and then the Northern Command. His strategic guidance

and astute handling led to stabilization of the situation in the State of Jammu &

Kashmir; which was recognized by the award of the Param Vishisht SevaMedal. Prior to his present appointment, he has served as Vice Chief of Army

Staff. He has been appointed Honorary ADC to the Honorable President of

India.

5. The General Officer has schooled at Sainik School, Kunjpura and is an

alumnus of National Defence Academy, Defence Services Staff College and

National Defence College. He has an abiding interest in self education, self

improvement and acquisition of knowledge. He is an excellent sportsman and

has played hockey, basketball, tennis and golf at various levels. The Generalofficer retired on 30 Mar 10.

GENERAL VIJAY KUMAR SINGH, PVSM, AVSM, YSM, ADC

General Vijay Kumar Singh, PVSM, AVSM, YSM, ADC is a third generation

officer of the RAJPUT Regiment. An alumnus of Birla Public School, Pilaniand National Defence Academy, the General was commissioned in 2 RAJPUT(KALI CHINDI) in 1970 and

commanded the same battalion with distinction from June 1991 to May

1994.

General Singh has seen action in the liberation War of Bangladesh in 1971 and

Op. Pawan in Sri Lanka in 1987 where he was awarded Yudh Seva Medal. He

has vast operational experience in Counter Insurgency Operations, LC, LAC

and HAA environment. He has had an illustrious career with outstandingperformance on all the courses that he has attended. He is a graduate of the


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Defence Services Staff College, Wellington with a competitive vacancy. He is

also a graduate of US Army Rangers Course at Fort Benning, USA and USArmy War College, Carlisle.

The General has wide-ranging experience of various high profile commands,staff and instructional appointments. He commanded his battalion in an active

LC environment and brigade in an operationally sensitive area. While incommand of a Counter Insurgency Force in J&K, he was awarded the Ati

Vishisht Seva Medal for his distinguished service as General Officer

Commanding. On staff, he has served in MO Dte at Army HQ, Col GS of an

Infantry Division and BGS of a Corps during OP PARAKRAM. The General

Officer has also commanded the Prestigious Strike Corps in Western Sector,before taking over the command of the Eastern Army in March 2008. He has

been an instructor at Inf. School, Mhow and Chief Instructor at JLW(Commando Wing) at Belgaum. He has also served as an Instructor at HQ

IMTRAT. The General Officer has also been awarded with the

Param Vishisht Seva Medal by the President of India in recognition of hisexceptional and distinguished services on the eve of Republic Day 2009.

The General is also a keen sportsman and plays almost all troop games as well

as Tennis, Badminton and Golf. His hobbies include Trekking andPhotography.

The General Officer has taken over as the Chief of the Army Staff on 31 Mar2010.


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General Bikram Singh, PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, SM, VSM, ADC

General Bikram Singh, PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, SM, VSM, ADC is an

alumnus of Punjab Public School, Nabha. He was commissioned into The Sikh

Light Infantry in March 1972.

During his military career spanning over forty years, the General has held

various high profile Command and Staff appointments. He has commanded an

Infantry Battalion in the North East and on the Line of Control in J&K, a RR

Sector and an Infantry Division in Northern Command. He has commanded 15

Corps and Eastern Command. He has served in three UN Peace Keeping

Missions.

The General has also held important staff appointments at Army Headquarters,

which include tenures in Military Operations, Perspective Planning and StaffDuties.


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Besides holding two Masters Degrees from India, he also holds a Masters

Degree in Strategic Defence Studies from the USA.

The General is an avid sportsman. Cricket, Athletics and Hockey are hisfavourite games.

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