Commemorating CDS Gen Bipin Rawat on his Birth Anniversary
On 16th March India commemorates CDS Gen Bipin Rawat on his birth anniversary. General Bipin Rawat (March 16, 1958 – December 8, 2021) was the first officer of the Indian armed forces to hold the post of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) in 2019. The post was newly created as part of the government’s efforts to reframe India’s armed forces to meet present-day challenges. General Rawat was named CDS just a day before he was to retire as the Indian Army chief.
The death of the former Chief of Defence Staff of India, who died in a helicopter crash in Tamil Nadu in 2021, was a great loss for the Indian Armed Forces and the country as a whole. PM Modi also paid tribute to the great military personality that he was.
Gen Bipin Rawat was an outstanding soldier. A true patriot, he greatly contributed to modernising our armed forces and security apparatus. His insights and perspectives on strategic matters were exceptional. His passing away has saddened me deeply. Om Shanti. pic.twitter.com/YOuQvFT7Et
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 8, 2021
Education, family and Military Career
He was born in Uttarakhand. General Rawat received his early education at Cambrian Hall School in Dehradun and later attended the Indian Military Academy (IMA) in Dehradun, where he was commissioned into the 5th Battalion of the 11 Gorkha Rifles in December 1978.
His family had been serving in the Indian Army for multiple generations. His father Laxman Singh Rawat rose to the rank of Lt General and his grandfather was a Subedar Major in the Army. An alumnus of the National Defence Academy (NDA) and the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Rawat was commissioned into the Indian Army in December 1978 in the same unit as his father.
During his 43 years in service, Rawat served as a Brigade Commander, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (GOC-C) Southern Command, General Staff Officer Grade 2 at the Military Operations Directorate, Colonel Military Secretary and Deputy Military Secretary in the Military Secretary’s Branch and Senior Instructor in the Junior Command Wing. He was also a part of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force and commanded a multinational brigade in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Services rendered for the Motherland
- General Rawat was known for his strategic vision, innovative thinking, and ability to implement plans on the ground. He was a strong advocate of modernization and innovation in the military and worked tirelessly to enhance India’s military capabilities. He pushed for the procurement of modern equipment and technology, such as advanced helicopters, drones, and surveillance systems, to enhance the Army’s operational readiness.
- He also played a pivotal role in the development of the “Cold Start” doctrine, a military strategy aimed at a quick and decisive response to any conventional threat from Pakistan. While the strategy had been in place for a long time, he was the first to acknowledge it and also contributed to the further development of the same.
- He played a significant role in reducing militancy in Northeast India. One of the notable highlights of his career was the successful cross-border operation in 2015, where the Indian Army retaliated to an ambush by NSCN-K militants in Myanmar.
Read more:- 12 Prominent Indians who Perished In an Air Crash, List Contains Some Debated Deaths
Achievements and Lesser Known Facts
Gen Rawat was the first military officer to hold three posts – Chairman Chief of the Staff Committee, the Secretary Department of Military Affairs, and the Chief of Defence Staff.
His enthusiasm lead the Armed Forces to turn Agnipath – the biggest HR transformation by the Armed Forces since Independence, from an idea to reality. During his service, General Rawat had been decorated with the Param Vishisht Seva Medal, Uttam Yudh Seva Medal, Ati Vishisht Seva Medal, Vishisht Seva Medal, Yudh Seva Medal, and Sena Medal.
He was a trained paratrooper and an avid sportsman too. He also had an interest in music. He was known to enjoy singing his favourite songs and dancing at exclusive gatherings with soldiers.
His stunning comeback
As a 35-year-old Major in the Army deployed in Uri, Kashmir, in 1993, General Rawat’s battalion faced intense gunfire from Pakistan. During the attack, he sustained an injury to his ankle from a bullet and shrapnel grazed his hand. He received medical treatment at the 92 Base Hospital in Srinagar, where his hand and ankle were reconstructed. At that time, he was informed that his career in the Army was potentially over. Defying that, he bounced back to become India’s first CDS, according to India Today.
The Son bid adieu to his homeland
General Bipin Rawat’s death shocked the country. Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat and 12 others — including his wife Madhulika and 11 armed forces personnel — lost their lives in a helicopter crash in Tamil Nadu’s Coonoor. He is survived by his two daughters.
“I am shocked and anguished over the untimely demise of Gen. Bipin Rawat and his wife, Madhulika ji. The nation has lost one of its bravest sons,” said the former president, Mr Ram Nath Kovind.
Hat’s off to you sir for your remarkable contributions to the motherland. Nation will always remember the services you rendered and the difference you made.
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