Late General Bipin Rawat who served as India’s first CDS was an outstanding professional and was in the midst of steering one of the most radical transformations of the Indian military….reports Asian Lite News
The Indian Army has dedicated a Chair of Excellence in memory of late Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat at the United Service Institution of India (USI) on the eve of his 65th birthday.
The formal announcement was made by General M.M. Naravane, Chief of Army Staff and Officiating Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee, at a ceremony organised at the South Block on Tuesday.
Indian Army Vice Chief Lieutenant General Manoj Pande, Vice Chief of the Air Staff Air Marshal Sandeep Singh, Vice Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral S.N. Ghormade, Chief of Integrated Defence Staff to the Chairman Chiefs of Staff Committee (CISC) Air Marshal B.R. Krishna and Deputy Chiefs of the Army Staff Lt Gen S.K. Sharma also attended the event.
A cheque of Rs 5 lakh was handed over to Maj Gen B.K. Sharma (retd), Director, USI which will be paid as honourarium to the nominated Chair of Excellence.
Pic credits @adgpi
Late General Bipin Rawat who served as India’s first CDS as well as the 27th Chief of Indian Army was an outstanding professional and was in the midst of steering one of the most radical transformations of the Indian military.
Gen Rawat Memorial Chair of Excellence will focus on the field of Jointness and Integration.
The Chair of Excellence is a befitting tribute to the astute leadership and professionalism of the General.
Pic credits @adgpi
On the occasion, the Army Chief recounted that General Rawat was passionate about strategic thoughts and invested considerable time and energy in the activities of various Think Tanks and therefore, his 65th birthday provided an opportune moment to reinforce the Services’ bond with their intellectual institutions.
The Chair will be open to Veterans of three Services and civilians having expertise in the field of National Security.
General Rawat, his wife Madhulika and 12 armed personnel were killed in a chopper crash on December 8, 2021.
General Rawat, leading from the front, had declared that the ambitious task of forming theatre commands in three years. Consequently, he emerged as an icon for jointness in the armed forces, and a one-man army that firmly rejected the prevailing culture of working in silos … Atul Aneja and Ateet Sharma report
The passing away of Gen. Bipin Rawat in a helicopter crash on Wednesday is a massive blow to the transition of India’s military into a fighting force that can fight win battles on many fronts simultaneously.
Symbolically, Gen. Rawat was part of a red-team led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which is anchoring the rise of a secure and self-confident India.
Gen. Rawat, India’s first Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), had been handpicked by the Modi administration to drive the formation of theatre commands. These were to be formed by pooling in the assets of the army, the Indian Air Force (IAF) and the Navy to deliver a joint tri-service punch to destroy or degrade designated targets.
General Rawat, leading from the front, had declared that the ambitious task of forming theatre commands in three years. Consequently, he emerged as an icon for jointness in the armed forces, and a one-man army that firmly rejected the prevailing culture of working in silos.
The General was also the assertive symbol of a new India. He steered the cross-border strike in Myanmar against rebels—an event that triggered the use of surgical strikes as a potent deterrent following the Uri attack. No armchair thinker, Gen. Rawat was the Chief of Army staff when the Indian armed forces stared down a belligerent China in Doklam in 2017, after a 73-day standoff. He was also known for asserting that India was prepared for a fighting two-and-a-half front war, taking on both China and Pakistan, without foregoing a reserve capacity to tackle an uprising in Kashmir, in an unlikely but extreme scenario.
Last month Gen. Rawat warned that China has become India’s biggest security threat and said troops along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) will be there for now.
At an event organised by a media house, General Rawat said, “India is prepared for any misadventure along the border and in the sea”.
Gen. Rawat’s assessment about China was not pulled out of thin air. The May 2020 transgressions in Eastern Ladakh show that PLA wanted to impose a Maoist-era 1959 line to define the LAC. China also continues to eye Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh. Since the 2008 Beijing Olympics, China has been upgrading its military infrastructure in Tibet and Xinjiang, posing a direct threat to India.
A strong advocate of indigenisation, Gen. Rawat was engaged in steering the Atmanirbhar Bharat drive in the defence industry, by steering the Defence Acquisition Council.
In his media interactions, Rawat had declared that The Air Defence Command, with hubs in Mumbai, Guwahati and Port Blair, combining aviation hardware drawn from the three services—Army, Navy and the Air Force–would be first to kick off as part of the formation of the theatre command systems.
Two theatre commands—the Northern Theatre Command and the Eastern Theatre Command – were expected to be formed facing China. Another two tri-service commands, including the western theatre command, could be deployed along the border with Pakistan. Analysts say that the chances of a two-front war with China and Pakistan are remote, but Indian military planners are looking at all possible contingencies.
Gen. Rawat was an advocate of the formation of a Peninsula Command, which would be formed to counter threats along the maritime borders. The Navy would have a larger role to cover the broader Indian Ocean Region (IOR) domain, starting from East Africa, the Malacca Straits and Australia.
The tri-service Andaman and Nicobar Command has already been in place since 2001, with primary focus on the IOR. The Strategic Forces Command, another tri-service institution, is in operational command of nuclear weapons.
The General who batted for New India
A former Chief of the Army Staff, General Bipin Rawat became India’s first Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) on January 1, 2020. As the CDS, his main role was to be the Principal Military Advisor to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on all Tri-Services matters.
He also headed the Department of Military Affairs (DMA), playing a key role in ensuring optimum utilisation of allocated budget and also ushering in more synergy in procurement, training and operations of the Services through joint planning and integration. Facilitating indigenisation of weapons and equipment to the maximum extent possible, he formulated the overall defence acquisition plan for the three Services.
Just after assuming charge, General Rawat had vowed to work to create more synergy among the three Services.
“The CDS is mandated to facilitate integration, ensure best economical use of resources allocated to the Armed Forces and bring uniformity in the procurement procedure. I want to assure you that the Army, Navy and Air Force will work as a team and the CDS will ensure integration among these,” he said on his first day as the CDS.
An alumnus of Shimla’s Saint Edward School, the National Defence Academy, Defence Services Staff College, Wellington; Higher Command, National Defence College, General Rawat also attended the Command and General Staff Course at Fort Leavenworth in Kansas, United States.
It was in December 1978 when General Rawat was commissioned in the Fifth Battalion of the Eleven Gorkha Rifles from Indian Military Academy, Dehradun, where he was awarded the ‘Sword of Honour’ – the most coveted recognition that a Gentleman Cadet (GC) aspires to possess.
The CDS had a vast experience in high altitude warfare and counter insurgency operations. During his distinguished career in the Army, General Rawat commanded an Infantry battalion along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Eastern Sector; a Rashtriya Rifles Sector and an Infantry Division in the Kashmir Valley, a Corps in the Eastern theatre and the Southern Command. He has tenanted instructional appointments at Indian Military Academy, Dehradun and at Army War College, Mhow.
General Rawat also held important staff appointments at Directorate General of Military Operations and Military Secretary’s Branch at Army HQ besides being a Major General General Staff (MGGS) at HQ Eastern Command.
The CDS commanded a Multinational Brigade, in a Chapter VII mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUC) and, whilst serving with the United Nations, was twice awarded the Force Commander’s Commendation.
As an Army Commander, he commanded a theatre of operations along the Western Front and was appointed the Vice Chief of the Army Staff (VCOAS).
On 31st December 2016, General Dalbir Singh handed over the baton to General Bipin Rawat who took over as the 27th Chief of the Army Staff.
In a span of over four decades in the Army, General Rawat had been awarded several gallantry and distinguished service awards, including the UYSM, AVSM, YSM, SM, VSM, COAS Commendation on two occasions and the Army Commander’s Commendation.
Academically inclined, he continued to author numerous articles on national security and leadership and was also awarded an M.Phil in Defence Studies from Madras University. He had a diploma in management and another diploma in computer studies. General Bipin Rawat also completed his research on military media strategic studies and was awarded Doctorate of Philosophy (Ph.D) from Chaudhary Charan Singh University, Meerut in 2011.
On October 31, while delivering All India Radio’s prestigious Sardar Patel Memorial Lecture, CDS Rawat had dwelled on ‘The Role of Indian Armed Forces in Nation Building’.
The Chief of Defence Staff asserted that India’s unity in diversity shall remain intact due to the virtues of sacrifice, loyalty and discipline of the Indian Armed Forces.
He highlighted that, in consonance with the Bhagwad Gita which says, “Considering your own duty, you should not waiver”, all cadets of IMA, before conclusion of their training, pledge allegiance to the oath that emphasises that the safety, honour and welfare of the nation is sacrosanct, followed by the honour, welfare and comfort of the men under command whereas individual ease, comfort and safety comes last, always and every time at the moment of reckoning.
On another occasion a few years ago, while interacting with the youth of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh as an Army chief, General Rawat had urged every Indian to rise above the “idea of microscopic identities”.
“You want to feel the oneness, join the Army, and see how we people, from different backgrounds, live together as Indians. Remember first, we are all Indians. We are proud of that, and the nation must come first. Then we can learn to live together,” General Rawat had said in 2018.
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“I had the privilege of meeting with him earlier this year and viewed him as a valued partner and friend of the United States,” said Austin. ….reports Arul Louis
Hailing General Bipin Rawat’s role in the transformation of India’s military, US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin said that he had left an ” indelible mark” on defence ties between the two countries.
“General Rawat left an indelible mark on the course of the US-India defense partnership and was at the center of the Indian Armed Forces’ transformation into a more jointly integrated warfighting organisation,” Austin said in a condolence message on Wednesday.
“I and the [Defense] Department extend our deepest condolences to the Rawat family, the Indian military, and the people of India after the tragic passing of Chief of Defense Staff General Bipin Rawat in a helicopter crash,” he said.
Rawat, his wife and 11 others were killed when their helicopter crashed in the Nilgris on Wednesday.
“I had the privilege of meeting with him earlier this year and viewed him as a valued partner and friend of the United States,” Austin said.
Rawat had visited the US in September and met with Austin, Chairman of Chiefs of Defence Staff General Mark Milley and other officials and visted Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington State.
After their meeting, Austin tweeted, “We reaffirmed our enduring commitment to a Free and Open Indo-Pacific and discussed ways to drive greater interoperability between the US and Indian armed forces.”
The US Embassy in New Delhi said that “Rawat spearheaded a historic period of transformation in the Indian military.”
“He was a strong friend and partner of the United States, overseeing a major expansion of India’s defense cooperation with the US military,” it said.
The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat was going to the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, to give a lecture…reports Asian Lite News.
India’s first Chief of Defence Staff, Gen Bipin Rawat, his wife, and 11 others were killed when their IAF Mi-17 helicopter crashed near Coonoor in Tamil Nadu’s Nilgiris district on Wednesday, the IAF announced.
“With deep regret, it has now been ascertained that Gen Bipin Rawat, Mrs Madhulika Rawat and 11 other persons on board have died in the unfortunate accident,” the Indian Air Force said in a tweet.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, in a series of tweets, said: “Deeply anguished by the sudden demise of Chief of Defence Staff Gen Bipin Rawat, his wife and 11 other Armed Forces personnel in an extremely unfortunate helicopter accident today in Tamil Nadu.
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
“His untimely death is an irreparable loss to our Armed Forces and the country”.
“General Rawat had served the country with exceptional courage and diligence. As the first Chief of Defence Staff he had prepared plans for jointness of our Armed Forces,” he said.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WYQe9vok_Sc
The CDS was going to the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, to give a lecture.
The chopper, with a total of 14 persons on board, took off from the Sulur air base near Coimbatore and was on its way to Coonoor. When the chopper was a few minutes away from landing, it, as per eyewitnesses, hit a tree, crashed, and caught fire, resulting in several casualties.
The force said that an inquiry has been ordered to ascertain the cause of the accident…reports Asian Lite News.
A military chopper crashed in Tamil Nadu’s Coonoor on Wednesday in which Indian’s Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat was travelling along with others.
Military chopper crashes in TN, Gen Bipin Rawat on board (Pictures: IANS)
The number of casualties are still unknown and local police has ascertained only three rescued and searches are on for others.
Along with General Rawat, his wife Madhulika Rawat, Brigadier L.S. Lidder, Lieutenant Colonel Harjinder Singh, Naik Gursewak Singh, Naik Jitender Kumar, Naik Vivek Kumar, Naik B. Sai Teja, Havaldar Satpal and pilots were travelling in the chopper.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FtfDjmYoKkk
Confirming about General Rawat presence, Indian Air Force tweeted, “An IAF Mi-17V5 helicopter, with CDS Gen Bipin Rawat on board, met with an accident today near Coonoor, Tamil Nadu.”
The force said that an inquiry has been ordered to ascertain the cause of the accident.
The rescued suffered serious injuries and have been taken to Wellington cantonment.
Speaking at a webinar organised by a defence think-tank on Friday, Rawat had termed the Air Force as a supporting arm, while Bhadauria later said: “it is not”…reports Asian Lite News.
Indian Air Force (IAF) chief, Air Chief Marshal R.K.S. Bhadauria, has expressed his reservation over terming the air force as a supporting arm in the proposed theatre command system, which is intended to bring better synergy between the three branches of the armed forces.
Even IAF veterans have come out in support of Bhadauria, terming Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat talk about the IAF’s air defence charter as well as its role as a supporting arm to the ground forces as ‘controversial’.
Speaking at a webinar organised by a defence think-tank on Friday, Rawat had termed the Air Force as a supporting arm, while Bhadauria later said: “it is not”.
Rawat had said that the air force is required to provide support to the ground forces. “Do not forget, the air force continues to remain a supporting arm to the armed forces just as the artillery or engineers support the combatant arms in the army,” the CDS had said.
They have an adequate charter of supporting the ground forces in times of war, he had said.
The CDS said that the air force has got another charter and that is to provide close air support to land forces when they undertake operations and for offensive air operations in case one goes into the adversary’s territory.
“The same is for the navy, they too require air support,” the Chief of Defence Staff had said.
The theatres with the northern and western adversary (China and Pakistan) will be land-based theatres, Rawat had said.
Later in the same webinar, the IAF chief said that his service was not of a supporting role.
“It is not for a supporting role alone. Airpower has a huge role to play in any of the integrated battle areas and it is not an issue of support alone. And, there are a whole lot of things in any air plan. Those are the issues that are under discussion,” Bhadauria said.
He also said that the formation of the theatre command is much more complex.
“The air force is for the formation of theatre commands. But the issue we have raised is about how we should do it. It is the most important reform that has an impact on war fighting,” the officer said.
He clarified that every service has its own doctrine, and one needs to have the best knowledge of how to employ the capabilities and capacities to get the best results.
Theaterisation is one of the charters of the Chief of Defence Staff’s plans to integrate the forces into five theatre commands — air defence, maritime theatre, eastern theatre, western theatre and the northern theatre command.
