As India Marks Gen Bipin Rawat's 1st Birth Anniversary, Here Are A Few Lesser Known Facts About The Nation's 1st CDS

The nation will mark the first birth anniversary of India's first Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat on Thursday. Here's a look at some lesser known facts about the military leaders.

General Bipin Rawat, India's first Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), was known to enjoy singing his favourite songs and dancing at exclusive gatherings with soldiers. (Image courtesy: Getty Images)

General Bipin Rawat Birth Anniversary: India will commemorate the first birth anniversary of one of its most illustrious military leaders, General Bipin Rawat, on Thursday, March 16. The death of the former Chief of Defence Staff of India, who died in a helicopter crash in Tamil Nadu on December 8, 2022, was a great loss for the Indian Armed Forces and the country as a whole.

Here's a look back at the life and legacy of General Bipin Rawat:

General Bipin Rawat was born in 1958 in the Pauri Garhwal district of Uttarakhand. He came from a family with a strong military background. His father, Laxman Singh Rawat, was a Lieutenant General in the Indian Army, and his grandfather was a Subedar Major in the Army. 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.

MILITARY CAREER

General Rawat's military career spanned over four decades, during which he held a variety of important command and staff appointments. He served as the Brigade Major of an Infantry Brigade in the Kashmir Valley, the Colonel General Staff of a Mountain Division in the Eastern Sector, and the General Officer Commanding of a Strike Corps. He also served as the Vice Chief of Army Staff before being appointed as the Chief of Army Staff in December 2016. In December 2019, he became the first Chief of Defence Staff of India.

General Rawat was known for his strategic vision, innovative thinking, and ability to implement plans on the ground. He played a key role in implementing the Indian Army's "Cold Start" doctrine, which envisaged a rapid and decisive military response to any conventional threat from Pakistan. He was also instrumental in introducing several reforms in the Indian Armed Forces, including the establishment of a new Department of Military Affairs, the creation of the Integrated Defence Staff, and the implementation of a new joint logistics plan.

LEGACY

General Bipin Rawat was widely respected for his leadership, professionalism, and dedication to the Indian Armed Forces. He was a strong advocate of modernization and innovation in the military and worked tirelessly to enhance India's military capabilities. His death was a great loss for the country, and his legacy will continue to inspire future generations of Indian military leaders.

CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE ARMY

General Bipin Rawat made significant contributions to the Indian Army throughout his distinguished career. During his tenure, he brought about several changes and innovations that helped enhance the army's capabilities and effectiveness. Here are some of his notable contributions to the Indian Army:

1. Modernization of the Army: General Rawat was a strong advocate for modernization of the Indian Army. 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.

2. Development of "Cold Start" Doctrine: General Rawat 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. This strategy involves deploying a smaller, more mobile force that can launch quick, targeted strikes across the border. This strategy prevents Pakistan from resorting to nuclear tact. While the strategy had been in place for a long time, General Rawat was the first to acknowledge it. He also contributed to further development of the same.  

3. Restructuring and Reorganization: General Rawat initiated several reforms to the Army's organizational structure to make it more agile and responsive. He set up new divisions and brigades, established a new Department of Military Affairs, and created the Integrated Defence Staff to improve coordination among the services.

4. Focus on Training and Skill Development: General Rawat emphasized the importance of training and skill development for the Army's personnel. He introduced several new training programs and simulations to enhance their combat readiness and effectiveness.

5. Crusade against militancy and terrorism: General Bipin Rawat 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. Rawat supervised the operation command from the III Corps base in Dimapur. General Rawat was also involved in the planning of the 2016 surgical strikes where the Indian Army conducted an operation across the Line of Control into Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. It was reported that he closely monitored the developments from South Block in New Delhi.

Here a few lesser known facts about General Bipin Rawat:

1. General Rawat was a trained paratrooper, an avid sportsman. He also had an interest in music. The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) was known to enjoy singing his favourite songs and dancing at exclusive gatherings with soldiers, often accompanied by a drink of rum or whiskey. His lively spirit made him popular among the troops under his command. Just four days before his death, General Rawat was spotted spending a delightful evening with 1971 war veterans in New Delhi, where he danced to Nepali music.
   
   
2. General Rawat was the first military officer to hold three posts permanent Chairman Chiefs of Staff Committee, the Secretary Department of Military Affairs, and Chief of Defence Staff. 
   
   
3. Bipin Rawat attended classes at the Defence Services Staff College in Wellington, from where he graduated. He also completed the command and general staff training at Fort Leavenworth in the US.
   
   
4. Bipin Rawat's wife, Madhulika Rawat, who died with him in the crash, belonged to a royal family. Her father Mrighendra Singh was the Riyasatdar of Shadol district's Sohagpur Riyasat. Mrighendra Singh was also a Congress MLA from the district in 1967 and 1972. 
   
   
5. General Bipin Rawat is the second top Army officer to die while in office. The first Army chief to die in office was General Bipin Chandra Joshi (1994). Apart from sharing the same first name, both army chiefs belonged to Uttarakhand.
   
   
6. According to India Today, 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 a 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. However, he bounced back to become India's first CDS.