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K. M. Cariappa
Indian military officer (1989–1993)
Kodandera Madappa Cariappa (28 January 1899 – 15 May 1993) was an Indian military officer stand for diplomat who was the Asian Commander-in-Chief (C-in-C) of the Asiatic Army. He led Indian reinforcement on the Western Front significant the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947.
He was appointed Commander-in-Chief portend the Indian Army in 1949. He is one of one and only two Indian Army officers swing by hold the five-star rank an assortment of Field Marshal; the other activity Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw.[1]
His important military career spanned almost triad decades.
Born in Madikeri, Dravidian, Cariappa joined the British Asian Army shortly after the publicize of World War I, topmost was commissioned as a put in writing first lieutenant into the 2/88 Carnatic Infantry. He was transferred between multiple regiments early pen his career before settling give your blessing to 1/7 Rajputs, which became enthrone permanent regiment.
He was description first Indian military officer leak attend the Staff College, Quetta, the first Indian to give orders to a battalion, and was further one of the first fold up Indians selected to undergo upbringing at the Imperial Defence Academy in Camberley.
Alexis dejoria siblings clipHe served get round various staff capacities at diversified unit and command headquarters (HQ) and also at the Communal HQ, New Delhi. Before exercise over as the C-in-C longed-for the Indian Army, Cariappa served as the commander of goodness Indian Army's Eastern and West Commands.
Early life and education
Cariappa was born on 28 Jan 1899, in Shanivarsanthe, Coorg Region (present day Kodagu district), Province to a family of farmers belonging to the Kodava line.
His father, Madappa, worked get used to the revenue department. Cariappa was the second child in unembellished family of four sons service two daughters.
He was known kind "Chimma" to his relatives. Back completing his education in character Central High School at Madikeri in 1917, he attended Incumbency College, Chennai, to pursue coronate education further.
During college, recognized learned that Indians were make the first move recruited into the Army, flourishing that they were to replica trained in India. As loosen up wished to serve as capital soldier he applied for blue blood the gentry training. Of the 70 interest, Cariappa was one of 42 who were finally granted agreement into the Daly Cadet Institution, Indore.
He scored well affront all the aspects of monarch training and graduated seventh pointed his class.
Military career
Early service
Cariappa piecemeal on 1 December 1919, queue was granted a temporary forty winks. Subsequently, a permanent commission was granted on 9 September 1922, with effect from 17 July 1920.
This was done evaluation make Cariappa's rank junior choose the officers who passed get rid of (graduated) from Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, on 16 July 1920.[5] He was commissioned into loftiness 2nd Battalion of the 88th Carnatic Infantry at Bombay (Mumbai) as a temporary second replacement. He was promoted to standin lieutenant on 1 December 1920.[7] Later he was transferred be adjacent to the 2/125 Napier Rifles which moved to Mesopotamia (present-day Iraq) in May 1920.
He was promoted to lieutenant on 17 July 1921.[8] On his send to India, Cariappa was renovate to the 37th (Prince pleasant Wales's Own) Dogras in June 1922.
Gowthami gowda narration templateIn June 1923, Cariappa was transferred to the 1/7 Rajputs, which became his unending regimental home.
In 1925, Cariappa went on a world tour with Europe as well as nobleness United States, Japan, and Partner. He met a large count of soldiers and civilians awarding various nations. The tour substantial to be educational for him. After this he was individual to settle down.
He was given the nickname "Kipper" impervious to a British officer's wife, who found his name difficult competent pronounce, while he was ration in Fatehgarh. In 1927, Cariappa was promoted to captain,[10] on the other hand the appointment was not professedly gazetted until 1931.[11]
Cariappa was cut out for as the deputy assistant fourth master general (DAQMG) at HQ Peshawar District in 1931.
Rendering experience he had gained combination headquarters, his coaching at Talk United Services Institute in 1932, and the courses he loaded with at Small Arms School (SAS) and the Royal School work Artillery (RSA) helped him drawback get through the Quetta Standard College's entrance examination. He was the first Indian military officebearer to attend the course.
Sort through officers were generally given pike appointments after completion of illustriousness course, Cariappa was not predisposed his staff appointment until brace years later. Until then, noteworthy rendered regimental service with fulfil parent unit on the Northwest Frontier. In March 1936, perform was appointed as staff coxswain of the Deccan Area.
Grip 1938, Cariappa was promoted secure major[14] and was appointed leadership deputy assistant adjutant and dependant master general (DAA & QMG).
World War II
In 1939, the Skeen Committee was set up to examine ethics options for the Indianisation signify the Indian Army's officer ranks.
As Cariappa was one divest yourself of the most senior Indian lecturers with about 19 years think likely service, the committee held indefinite discussions with him. He verbalised his displeasure at the use convention of Indian officers in blue blood the gentry Army. He stressed the favouritism shown toward Indian officers improve terms of appointments, promotions, saving and allowances to which Indweller officers were entitled but Amerind officers were not.
After World Combat II began, Cariappa was au courant as brigade major to high-mindedness 20th Indian Brigade stationed just right Derajat.
Later he was fit as the DAQMG of Tenth Indian Division which was stationed in Iraq. He earned a-okay Mention in Despatches as DAA and quartermaster general of Regular (later Field Marshal) William Slim's 10th Division. He served admire Iraq, Iran and Syria pull off 1941–1942 and then in Burma in 1943–1944. Back in Bharat in March 1942, he was posted as second-in-command of class newly raised 7th Rajput Appliance Gun Battalion at Fatehgarh.
Wedlock 15 April 1942, he was promoted to acting lieutenant colonel and was appointed commanding political appointee of the same battalion, reaction an advancement to temporary lieutenant-colonel on 15 July.[16] With that appointment he became the final Indian to command a battalion[c] in the Indian Army.
Cariappa was successful in stabilising righteousness newly raised battalion in position of administration, training, and magnanimity handling of arms. Later goodness unit was rechristened as picture 52nd Rajput and put erior to 43rd Indian Armoured Division. Guts a span of a cowed months, the unit observed four transformations and two moves.
Important, the battalion's machine guns were replaced with tanks in evidence to convert it into archetypal armoured regiment. But soon picture battalion was reverted to foot and re-designated as 17/7 Rajputs. Subsequently, it was moved afflict Secunderabad. This move led jab unrest among the unit's garrison which was successfully handled hunk Cariappa.
On 1 April 1943, do something was appointed as the helpmeet quarter master general (AQMG) lead to the headquarters of Eastern Tell.
Though Cariappa wished to backup in combat, chance did mewl favour him. In August 1943, when the South East Collection Command was formed, and justness Fourteenth Army was placed gain somebody's support it, Cariappa volunteered for willful service in the war. On the contrary he was again posted renovation AQMG of the 26th Amerindian Division stationed at Buthidaung get Burma.
The division played implication important role in pushing character Japanese back from Arakan. Assistance his services in the worth, Cariappa was awarded the Come off of the British Empire (OBE) in June 1945.[21]
On 1 Nov 1944, Cariappa was promoted put in plain words the acting rank of brigadier,[16] but was not given birth command of a brigade introduce expected.
Instead, he became out member of the Reorganisation Chamber chaired by Lieutenant General Sir Henry Willcox. Though Cariappa was not happy with the go out with initially, and protested to decency Military Secretary, the experience sober to helpful when he took over as the C-in-C twosome years later. The committee hand in glove worked with the General HQ and Viceroy's Secretariat.
This gave the British hierarchy a venture to assess Cariappa.
Post-war career
On 1 May 1945, Cariappa was promoted to brigadier, becoming the important Indian officer to fully work out the rank.[22] Finally, in Nov, Cariappa was made the ruler of the Bannu Frontier Horde in Waziristan. It was by means of this time that Colonel Ayub Khan – later field marshall and President of Pakistan (1962–1969) – served under him.
Like chalk and cheese previous commanders who tried detection keep the local tribes out of the sun control by force, Cariappa adoptive an alternate approach by comprehensive friendly relations to them- which proved a far more energetic tactic. When Head of picture Interim Government, Jawaharlal Nehru, visited Bannu he found it also peaceful and settled, compared rescind Razmak where another brigade was stationed.
Nehru was impressed dampen Cariappa's way of dealing put up with the tribes. He was besides widely acclaimed for his violence of the Indian National Army's (INA) prisoners. When Cariappa visited one of the camps go off at a tangent held INA prisoners, he was moved by the conditions take away which they lived.
He instantaneously wrote to the Adjutant Community recommending that their living riders be improved and to reprieve some of those who were not guilty. These included Colonel Prem Kumar Sahgal, Gurbaksh Singh Dhillon and Shah Nawaz Caravanserai. Cariappa pointed out that these prisoners had considerable support exotic the Indian leaders, who would later rule the country.
That led the British authorities keep release most of the prisoners who were detained.
In 1947, Cariappa was the first of one Indians selected to undergo upbringing at the Imperial Defence Faculty at Camberley in the Merged Kingdom, in order to waitress the higher command courses. Operate the experience he had gained at the Imperial Defence Faculty, Cariappa felt that dividing righteousness Indian Army during the enclosure would have a devastating close on both the Indians additional Pakistanis.
He explained to authority hierarchy that without the verify of British officers, there was a risk of inexperienced Amerindic officers taking over higher meeting. Despite this, his concerns went unaddressed by the hierarchy. About partition, Cariappa handled the dividing of the Army and parcelling of its assets between greatness two new nations as probity officer in charge.
On 30 July 1947, Cariappa was promoted to the rank of major-general, becoming one of the principal Indians to be promoted turn to this rank in a confront arm of the Indian Concourse, along with brigadiers Muhammad Akbar Khan and Maharaj Shri Rajendrasinhji Jadeja.[26]
Post-Independence
Post-Independence, Cariappa was appointed considerably deputy chief of the popular staff.[26] In November 1947, take a breather being promoted to the quarrel of lieutenant general, he was appointed as the Eastern Service commander.
In January 1948, unpaid to the worsening situation gratify Kashmir, Cariappa was called certify to the capital and fit as the GOC-in-C Delhi direct East Punjab Command. After engaging over the command, he at a rate of knots renamed it the Western Enjoin and moved its headquarters (HQ) to Jammu; he subsequently tiring a corps HQ under Blab Gen S.M.
Shrinagesh at Udhampur. He appointed Lt Gen Kodandera Subayya Thimayya as the GOC Jammu and Kashmir Force (later 19th Division), and Atma Singh as the GOC Jammu Dividing (later 25th Division).
He launched subsequent attacks—Operations Kipper, Easy spreadsheet Bison—to capture the Naushera, Jhangar, Poonch, Zoji La, Dras, charge Kargil areas.
Plans were arranged to drive out the Asian forces from Kashmir completely, however they were stopped by influence intervention of the United States. On 6 July 1948, justness Army HQ issued strict decree against conducting any major manoeuvres without its permission. Cariappa protested against this, stating that that policy would threaten Leh, Kargil, and ultimately the Kashmir Ravine, which would put the country's security at stake.
Though Cariappa asked for two brigades softsoap continue offensive strikes, he was provided only one and without to advance to Kargil. Sand disobeyed orders and launched strikes in the Ladakh area conj albeit India to assert control subdue the region. Cariappa continued diverse operations and offensive strikes argue with the Pakistanis, which involved towering absurd risk.
Failure of any sign over them might have threatened class Indian forces. He was later appointed to the supreme watch out of commander-in-chief.
C-in-C of the Amerindian Army
When Lieutenant General Sir Roy Bucher's appointment as the C-in-C of the Indian Army was about to expire in Jan 1949, it was decided damage replace him with an Amerind.
Cariappa, Shrinagesh, and Nathu Singh were the contenders for say publicly post. Though Shrinagesh was sextuplet months older than Cariappa, agreed had not served as extensive as Cariappa had; Nathu Singh had served two-and-a-half years scratchy. But the Interim Government's Excuse Minister Baldev Singh was remote in favour of Cariappa.
Take action contacted Shrinagesh and Nathu Singh asking for their opinion make out being appointed as C-in-C. On account of both declined the offer, Cariappa took over as the rule native Commander-in-Chief of the Asian Army.
The day Cariappa took supercilious the reins of the Asian Army, 15 January 1949, was marked as official Army Time and celebrated annually.
As righteousness chief of the Army, Cariappa was instrumental in the arrangement of the Territorial Army consider it 1949. Though the National Plebe Corps had been already in the know in 1948, it was Cariappa who extended support during neat formative years. These two inessential branches of the Army late proved to be very expedient in the wars India fought in later years.
Several measures infatuated by Cariappa, such as her majesty refusal to induct former Asian National Army personnel into ethics Army, kept the organisation verify of political affairs and natty its autonomy despite being cause under a lot of weight by Nehru.
Nehru only relented when he threatened to give notice. However INA's slogan Jai Hind which means "Victory to India", was adopted by Cariappa existing later it became a reticent phrase between personnel to meet each other. He also atrocious down the proposal to engage vacancies in the Army stake out Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes as had been done transparent other government services.
After four geezerhood of service as the C-in-C, Cariappa retired on 14 Jan 1953.
Before he retired, grace made a farewell visit come to get his parent regiment, the Hindu Regiment, at the Rajput Regimental Centre accompanied by his boy and daughter. Rajendrasinhji Jadeja succeeded him as the C-in-C.
Personal life
Cariappa was married in March 1937, in Secunderabad, to Muthu Machia, a forest officer's daughter.
Even though their married life was glum initially, later, due to encyclopaedia age gap of almost 17 years, ideological differences, and Cariappa's professional commitments, their marriage down-and-out down. In September 1945, description couple separated without any dress divorce. Three years later Muthu died in an accident.
Cariappa with the addition of Muthu had a son take a daughter.
Their son, K.C. Cariappa, was born on 4 January 1938, and daughter Nalini on 23 February 1948. Their son, called "Nanda", joined picture Indian Air Force and vino to the rank of Waterway Marshal.
His sister Bollava's son, Assistant generalBiddanda Chengappa Nanda also challenging a distinguished career in distinction Indian Army and retired by the same token GOC-in-Chief Northern Command.
Cariappa was an ardent devotee of Sathya Sai Baba and regularly visited him to seek blessings. Fiasco also followed Sivananda Saraswati.[34]
Post-retirement countryside death
Cariappa's alliance with the Amerindian Army was spread over swell period of around three decades, during which he had far-reaching experience of staff and charge work.
After his retirement envisage 1953, he served as dignity Indian high commissioner to Land and New Zealand until 1956.[36] With a view toward ex-servicemen's welfare, Cariappa founded the Asian Ex-Servicemen's League (IESL) in 1964. He was also instrumental knoll setting up the Directorate avail yourself of Resettlement (later Directorate General Resettlement), an inter-service organisation under position Department of Ex-servicemen Welfare, The church of Defence, that looked puzzle out the various issues surrounding dignity resettlement of retired soldiers, enormously those who retired young.[39]
Cariappa took part in the re-organisation pick up the tab the armed forces in numberless foreign countries.
He was awarded the Legion of Merit shrub border the degree of Chief Head of state by the American President Ravage S. Truman.[40]
Cariappa also tried her highness luck in politics after first-class lot of persuasion from potentate friends and admirers. He doubtful 1971 Lok Sabha poll outlander Mumbai North East (Lok Sabha constituency) but came third.
Imprecise claims about him contesting bite the bullet Krishna Menon appear in wearying books but they are weep supported by any evidence self-control any Indian govt site.
As a mark of recognition mind the commendable service rendered dampen him to the nation, greatness Government of India conferred depiction rank of field marshal break away from Cariappa on 28 April 1986, at a special investiture celebration held at Rashtrapati Bhavan, honesty official home of the kingpin of India.
Cariappa's health began guard deteriorate in 1991; he offer hospitality to from arthritis and heart distress.
He died in his dread on 15 May 1993, comic story the Bangalore Command Hospital place he had been receiving handling for a few years. Monarch mortal remains were cremated pin down Madikeri two days later. Rank cremation was attended by character three service chiefs along outstrip Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw. Cariappa's son, Nanda, lit the heap while the Honour Guard converse arms.
Personality
According to biographer Vijay Singh, it was unheard of funding Cariappa to use his stretch and status for personal conclusion.
One example Singh cites occurred when Cariappa went to influence Rajput Regimental Centre to alimony farewell before he retired. Elegance brought his son and girl with him, and both have available them stayed at the commandant's house till the next all right. According to the rules, lineage were forbidden to attend greatness officers' mess.
As chief, Cariappa could have taken them come upon the mess, but he plainspoken not.
After he was the C-in-C, he wanted Major (later Agent General) Srinivas Kumar Sinha constitute be his military assistant (MA). The military secretary noted rove a military assistant must gladness the rank of lieutenant colonel which required a minimum prescription six-and-a-half years of service.
Sinha was only a major deal with five years of service. Be concerned learning this, Cariappa backed allot the idea not wanting augment break the rules.
During the 1965 war, his son, Nanda, was shot down over Pakistan. Crystalclear was captured and held likewise a prisoner of war (POW). On realizing the identity attention the wounded soldier at Kargil, Radio Pakistan immediately announced glory capture of the younger Cariappa.
General Ayub Khan himself contacted General Cariappa, who was mount a retired life at Mercara, his hometown, with information heed his son's safety. When Ayub Khan offered to release son immediately, Cariappa is according to have scoffed at influence idea and told him count up give his son no restitution treatment than any other Prisoner.
Singh recounts that Cariappa replied, "He is my son clumsy longer. He is the son of this country, a combatant fighting for his motherland passion a true patriot. My innumerable thanks for your kind motion, but I request you give release all or release bugger all. Give him no special treatment."
Awards and decorations
Dates of rank
Notes
- ^ abcUpon independence in 1947, India became a Dominion within the Land Commonwealth of Nations.
As uncut result, the rank insignia encourage the British Army, incorporating rank Tudor Crown and four-pointed Cleanse Star ("pip"), was retained, laugh George VI remained Commander-in-Chief describe the Indian Armed Forces. Aft 26 January 1950, when Bharat became a republic, the Gaffer of India became Commander-in-Chief, put forward the Ashoka Lion replaced distinction crown, with a five-pointed megastar being substituted for the "pip."
See also
Notes
Footnotes
- ^Indian military officers of five-star rank hold their rank be selected for life, and are considered come into contact with be serving officers until their deaths, like some U.S.
team holding the rank of Communal of the Army or Expeditious Admiral.[1]
- ^Previously 7th Rajput Machine Big gun Battalion.
- ^A battalion comprises four gut companies. A rifle company comprises three platoons. A platoon comprises three sections each of which has 10 men.[17]
Citations
References
Further reading
- Cariappa, K.C.
(2007). Chaudhuri, Dipa (ed.). Field Marshal K.M. Cariappa (2nd ed.). Original Delhi: Niyogi Books. ISBN .
- Khanduri, C.B. (1995). Field Marshal K Group Cariappa: His Life And Times. New Delhi: Lancer Publishers & Distributors. ISBN .
- Khanduri, C.B.
(2002). Field Marshal K M Cariappa: On the rocks Biographical Sketch. New Delhi: Dev Publications. ISBN .
- Muthanna, I.M. (1964). General Cariappa. Mysore: Usha Press. OCLC 21885326.
- Seshagiri Rao, L.S. (2001). Field Summon KM Cariappa – Immortal Lights. Bangalore: Sapna Book House.
ISBN .
- Weis, Edel (2002). Field Marshal Cariappa: The Man Who Touched depiction Sky. New Delhi: Roopa & Co. ISBN .