Ascent of a General: A Profile of India’s 26TH Army Chief
General Dalbir Singh PVSM UYSM AVSM VSM ADC has taken over as the 26th
Chief of Army Staff in New Delhi, today (July 31, 2014).
His elevation to the coveted post is an inspiring saga of a young
village boy's aspirations who wanted to be an army officer one day. By sheer
hard work, resolve and dedication he not only succeeded in becoming an army
officer, but also its topmost General, this day.
The story of his life is what dreams are made of; dreams that millions
of youth see, but few realise. The story of the ascent of India's new Army
Chief will most certainly inspire the youth who can now believe in themselves
and their dreams, and with efforts, realise them too.
For the records, he is the third Army Chief after and Gen S.H.F.J. Manekshaw (later conferred the Field
Marshal's rank) and Gen G.G. Bewoor, who were either commissioned into or were
associated with the Brigade of Gorkhas.
Gen Dalbir Singh was commissioned on June 1974 into 4/5 GR (FF), more
easily understood as the 4th Battalion of the 5th Gorkha Rifles
(Frontier Force) for those not too familiar with such military nomenclatures.
It was a conscious choice I made as I wanted to join only the infantry,”
says Gen Dalbir of his choice to seek out the Gorkha Regiment, whose soldiers
are inarguably among the finest in the world, also much-feared and renowned for
their bravery.
With a lean and muscular frame at six-feet, the new Army Chief literally
and figuratively stands tall not just in the army but also is the revered
patriarch for the Gorkha troops as their senior-most serving General. By virtue
of the same, he holds the twin ceremonial appointments of 'Colonel of the
Regiment' 5 GR (FF) since April 19, 2011, and as 'President Gorkha Brigade'
since January 1, 2014.
However, traditionally an Army Chief also becomes 'Honorary Colonel' of
several other 'Arms' and 'Regiments' of the Indian Army by age-old customs.
Born to be a warrior
General Dalbir Singh was born in Bishan village in Haryana's Jhajjar
district on December 28, 1954. Although essentially an agrarian village like so
many others in the region, large numbers of able-bodied men from these
predominantly Jat villages, who inherit a martial ancestry and legacy, also
choose to serve in the army.
His father and uncles followed their father and uncles into joining the
army, mostly serving in cavalry and infantry units. Joining the army only
seemed a natural choice for young Dalbir.
It may seem an odious inference but the coincidence is nearly hard to
miss. Hailing from a nearby town – Kurukshetra -- made famous in the Indian
epic Mahabharata for its warring generals and an enduring battle, it seems as
if ordained that a warrior would one day emerge from around here to be
bequeathed as a modern-day General for the Indian Army.
Early life, humble beginnings
In a script that belies belief, the boy who would one day be a General
and Chief of the Indian Army in the 21st century had a far more
humble beginnings than many would ever imagine. Dalbir began his schooling in
the village primary school that had just about two brick-laid rooms to speak
for any modicum of a school. The rooms were also the exclusive preserve of the
senior classes, he recalls. Others including him had an earthier and shaded
space beneath the trees.
Life in a village for a young boy then was much the same as is perhaps
even today, in most rural settings. Nearly every village lad lends a helping
hand in tilling or attending to the fields in their spare time or when the
harvest season so demanded.
Young Dalbir too would also help his family members in his own way. This
would nurture a deep sense of respect for the motherland that bore them their
daily bread. It also instilled a great deal of pride in the young lad who was
destined for a far bigger role in future, to protect this very land and its
frontiers from external aggressions and threats, someday.
A cadet's life beckons at school
In 1961, the Government of India set out to establish Sainik Schools, a
residential Public School for boys in several states that would serve as feeder
schools to various officers training establishments such as the National
Defence Academy (NDA) among others.
Sainik School, Chittorgarh (SSC) in Rajasthan was also among them. Gen
Dalbir's granduncle was an equestrian instructor in the school, who suggested
that he studied there. Thus began a journey of a life in uniform for Cadet
Dalbir Singh on January 15, 1965, now almost half a century.
Suhag, incidentally is indeed his surname and although not averse to
being addressed as such, it may only be prudent to address the General by his
duly listed name -- Dalbir Singh -- to rule out any speculation on the
correctness or lack of it, in so far as addressing him on record is concerned.
The flight from his village Bishan to his eventual alma mater at
Chittorgarh would greatly shape his future to be an officer in the army. The
process of transforming him with all-round abilities, conviction, courage and a
steely resolve would be set forth here under the tutelage of some of the finest
teachers of those times.
Those who taught him are today, understandably, a proud lot. Among them,
Shri K.S. Kang who is in his 90s, exclaimed he felt “18 again” on hearing the
news that a protégé of his is set to be the Army Chief. Shri Kang had a 10-year
stint as an instructor at Indian Military Academy (IMA) before joining SSC in
its formative years. His experiences would prove invaluable.
Shri H.S. Rathi, a national-awardee teacher who retired in 1996,
describes Cdt Dalbir as a “very sincere, hard-working and obedient student,”
and also makes a special mention of his sporting excellence. “He was also very
good in sports and was a gifted basketball player,” he recalls.
Of his academic performance, Gen Dalbir's former English teacher, Shri
J.N. Bhargava, says: “He managed his studies very well,” alluding to his
excellent all-round attributes. “He was humility personified, a man of
determination, of speed and tenacity of purpose and would do any job assigned
to him most obediently” outlining his personality that set him apart from the
others at school.
Leadership at Kumbha House
By the time he was in 9th class, Gen Dalbir was nearly
as tall as he is today. He would also pick up riding early in school that would
put him in good stead later in life. Much of his leadership traits began to
surface as a House Captain of Kumbha House, one of the nine houses named after
valiant Rajput warrior-princes of the region.
In the school journal report of 1971-72, Kumbha House Captain, Suresh
Kumar Inani who took charge after Gen Dalbir left for NDA, wrote: “Having won
the highest points ever received by any Champion House in the history of this
Sainik School, the Kumbhaites are justly proud of this collective achievement,”
summing up the stellar leadership of Dalbir that helped Kumbha House
practically sweep all competitive trophies that year.
NDA, IMA – a bigger canvas
The 'Honour Roll' at the cadets’ mess of the school lists Cdt Dalbir
Singh (Roll No-382) as the 82ndoverall, and among the 12 cadets who
joined 44th NDA course on July 20, 1970.
NDA only proved to be an extension of the school-like canvas, albeit at
a wider and a more competitive level. Taking off from where he left at school
in outdoor and other activities, he would go on to be a champion athlete and a
sportsman par excellence. His riding skills would eventually lead him to be the
President, Riding and Polo Club in NDA.
In June 1974, 2/Lt Dalbir Singh would finally realise his dreams to be
an officer, a feat his veteran father, grandfather, uncles and granduncles and
other family members would be proud of. As mentioned earlier, he was granted
one of his choices of an infantry regiment and commissioned into 4/5 GR (FF),
which was then the youngest battalion of 5 Gorkha Rifles (Frontier Force)
having been raised on January 1, 1963.
Life in the army
To be commissioned in an outfit that had proven their mettle in the
eastern theatre during the Indo-Pak War of 1971, was both a matter of honour
and challenge. The unit had earned two coveted Maha Vir Chakras (MVC) and a few
other medals for gallantry. It was never going to be easy measuring up to the
reputation of the battalion and its valiant soldiers.
No challenge was however, insurmountable for this ambitious officer.
Soon he endeared himself to his troops and earned their respect with his
sincerity, involvement and abilities, always leading by example. His turn to
show his deep attachments with his battalion would soon come and he would not
fail them.
As a Major, he was an instructor at IMA when his battalion had moved to
Sri Lanka for 'Op Pawan'. In a major operation at Jaffna, only two days after
the unit had landed there, Commanding Officer (CO), Lt Col Inder Bal Singh Bawa
and several others including officers and soldiers were killed in action. He
recalls the onerous task of conveying the sad news to the parents of Col Bawa,
who lived near Dehradun.
Upon learning of the tragic news that had befallen his unit, he wasted
no time in asking Army HQ to revert him back to his battalion, which was
granted. Within 24 hours, he was back in his unit and assumed charge as a
Company Commander. He remained with the unit till they were finally withdrawn
after two years. His arrival would immensely boost the morale of his troops
that had earlier suffered several casualties.
As time went by, he rose in rank and also distinguished himself. Besides
undergoing various career-defining service courses, he added a few 'Masters'
degrees to his qualifications including one for 'Management Studies' from
Osmania University, and another on 'Strategic Studies' from Chennai University.
Among the prominent service courses he attended in India, include: 'Long
Defence Management Course' at College of Defence Management, Secunderabad
(1997-98), and the 'National Defence College' Course at New Delhi (2006), which
incidentally, is also an M.Phil (Strategic Studies).
The courses attended abroad include an 'Executive Course' at APCSS
(Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies), Hawaii (USA) in 2005, and 'Senior
Mission Leaders Course' held by UN Peace Keeping Centre, Nairobi (Kenya) and
also participated in an UN Exercise in Accra (Ghana) in May 2007, and PAM
seminar in Jakarta in 2008.
As he grew in the army's chain of command in a distinguished career
spanning four decades, he also held several critical 'Command' and 'Staff'
appointments. All this while, he would also serve in active counter-insurgency
(CI) and proxy war environments, both in the North-East and Jammu & Kashmir
as well.
He raised and commanded a 'Rashtriya Rifles Battalion' in Nagaland, and
later an 'Infantry Brigade' deeply committed in intense CI-operations in the
Kashmir valley, for which he was awarded a Vishisht Seva Medal (VSM) for
distinguished service of a high order.
He would also go on to command with great distinction a 'Mountain
Division' in the Kargil-Drass sector, deployed on the 'Line of Control' in a
high altitude area that earned him an Ati Vishist Seva Medal (AVSM) for
distinguished service of a very high order.
He also served under the Cabinet Secretariat as an Inspector General,
Special Frontier Force. On promotion, he was appointed General Officer
Commanding (GOC) of a Corps, looking after the dual responsibility of CI
operations in the North-Eastern States in addition to the conventional
operational role along the Indo-China border.
He would then be conferred an Uttam Yudh Seva Medal (UYSM).
Subsequently, he was appointed Eastern Army Commander from June 16, 2012
to December 31, 2013, and later to the post of Vice Chief of the Army Staff
(VCOAS) on January 1, 2014.
The General Officer would also be honoured with the Param Vishisht Seva
Medal (PVSM), the highest military decoration for services of exceptionally
high order to the nation
Having served in Army HQ in two prior assignments as a Director, and
later as a Deputy Director General in the 'General Service and Staff Duties'
(GS&SD) Directorate, he was well acquainted with the working environs in
the highest echelons of the Services HQ.
With seven months tenure as VCOAS behind him, he is aware of everything
that he needs to know, which augurs well for the army in every respect.
A family man to the core, and when they met
He was a strapping, young handsome Captain posted as an instructor at
the Army School of Mechanical Transport, Bangalore. He was also a bachelor and
had come to Delhi on leave during the 1982 Asian Games. A friend of his would
go on to suggest he consider a suitable proposal, the daughter of a retired
Naval officer who were a well-established family in the Capital. He would agree
and having met briefly his bride-to-be, would ask his parents to go ahead with
the customary formalities. They would later be married traditionally in New
Delhi on February 7, 1984.
Decades on, an interesting anecdote still evokes much laughter in the
household that took place in the bride's place. The girls in the house had
mistakenly assumed that the senior friend of then Capt Dalbir who had come home
to broach the subject of marriage, to be the suitor himself.
Much to her disenchantment, the visitor looked much older with grey
hair-burns et al. Needless to say, the erudite Namita, a Political Science
graduate from Delhi University, for whom the proposal was being considered was
in tears.
But soon she and her siblings would realise their folly and breathe a
sigh of relief. But the suspense remained for a while. It was only when the
tall, handsome officer dropped by eventually, his mannerisms and gentlemanly
bearing would altogether leave her gushing and blushing, and her siblings
impressed.
The couple would raise a family with daughters Pallavi, Priya and son,
Sahil. With son-in-law Nishant now married to their eldest daughter Pallavi,
the family picture is indeed a happy frame.
Family life in the armed forces has its own share of trials and
tribulations. In the army, perhaps more so because of the frequent transfers.
As Gen Dalbir rose through the hierarchy, his responsibilities also grew
manifold. His profile is indicative of the hard areas he spent, where families
were not permitted. This is when Mrs Namita Suhag would do well to take charge
of managing her family and children when her husband was away.
Yet, it was not her immediate family alone that she would have to take
care of. The families of soldiers living separated, remained her concern too.
“They are my family members too. I would visit them as often as I could and
resolve some of their problems in whatever way possible,” says Mrs Suhag, in
keeping with one of the finest welfare traditions of our army, where officers
and their families invariably adopt the culture, language and customs of their
troops.
Coming from a Services background it may have been relatively easy for
Mrs Suhag to don the role of a caring matriarch of sorts. Today, when she
assumes the mantle as President, Army Wives Welfare Association by virtue of
being the 'First Lady' of the Indian Army, the larger army family can look
forward to her benevolence, understanding and affection in a much grander way.
This would include the welfare of 'Veer Naris' who remain integral to the army.
In a way, it is not too difficult to see the attachment of the Army's
'First Family' with the Armed Forces. It is a well known fact that Gen Dalbir's
family has past ties with the army, which includes a younger brother who is a
serving Colonel with the Gorkha Regiment. Besides, his two sisters are also
married to army officers.
In the case of Mrs Suhag whose father once served in the Navy, all her
three brothers also served as officers in the armed forces. Her eldest brother
has since retired from the army. Of the two others who chose to join the Indian
Navy, one has since retired while the other is still serving. Her sister is
also married to an army officer, son of retired Col Hoshiar Singh, a Param Vir
Chakra awardee.
It is indeed an astounding record of sorts and comes as a little
surprise that one officer from the family would work his way up to be the Army
Chief. If ever there was a family who have given so many members in the service
of nation in the armed forces, one needn't look beyond theirs.
A home full of warmth and of strong ties
Despite them being rooted to earthy moorings, one would invariably find
the Suhag household a den of warmth. With interiors and decor also most
tastefully done up, the creative and artistic leanings of the lady of the house
is clearly evident. More than anything else, the family members make it a point
that visitors to their house go back with more than just pleasant memories.
Both, the General and his wife are also fond of music. It is, however,
of the older times and includes ghazals and songs from the times when they were
a young couple. Time permitting, they also indulge themselves by watching a
film together. Although he couldn't recall the name of the movie that he last
saw, he was certain Sonam Kapoor starred in it. One can't fault the General for
not remembering much of its screenplay though.
If possible, I would love to learn Bharatnatyam and other Indian
classical dances,” says Mrs Suhag, clearly wanting to catch up with her
interests and hobbies that she could not find time earlier. Although willing to
give it a try, she knows in her present role, she would be even busier with
welfare-related pursuits.
In recent years, the family did go through testing times. But that
ordeal only made the family bond much stronger and resolute. The family had
firm belief that they would overcome, and with prayers and wishes of family and
friends, they did ever so wonderfully. Well wishers of the family and old
friends who have known them for decades believed that insinuations would never
stick. Today, they all stand vindicated and wish the new Army Chief and his family
happy tidings.
The obedient one who is allowed to disobey
Surrounded by faithful guards and soldiers, it is unfathomable even to
assume that anyone can ever disobey a General. In the Suhag household, however,
there is someone who is allowed to have his way. Not just by the General's
volition but in his own right and playful way. Yes, 'Juno' is his name and he
is a four-year old Golden Retriever brought home as a gift to the family by
daughter, Pallavi.
Clearly, Juno goes about his ways around the house with abandon until he
sees his 'Master' come home, which is when he gets excited. At other times, he
would quietly sit near his Master, gently seeking his attention and affection.
“He helps me unwind completely,” says the General as he fondly pats Juno, who
is forever ready to obey his commands.
The General recalls an offer by a specialist dog-trainer who once told
him that he would train Juno to obey orders without blinking. The affable
General declined his offer politely, saying, “I would much rather have him
disobey me when everyone else around only obey my orders.”
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