Wednesday, December 8th, was a devastating day for our country, as we learned of the loss of Indian Army Chief of Staff General Bipin Rawat, his wife Madhulika Rawat, and 11 other people on board an Indian Air Force chopper that crashed in Tamil Nadu.
The entire country came together to pay their respects to the deceased and to pray for their families.
It was a terribly tragic day for India, as it lost some truly exceptional men, including General Bipin Rawat.
Here are some facts about the late Army guy that you should be aware of:
Early Life & Indian Army
Gen. Bipin Rawat, who was born in the Pauri area of Uttarakhand’s northern state, joined the Indian Army in keeping with his family’s generations-old tradition.
His father, Lieutenant General Laxman Singh Rawat, had served in the army, and Gen. Rawat had accomplished every goal he could in order to make his family, and indeed the entire country, proud of him.
A Hero Who Served In The Most Difficult And Dangerous Environments
Gen Bipin Rawat was a counterinsurgency veteran who served and battled in some of India’s most difficult terrains, including the northern and eastern commands, throughout his career.
He was also instrumental in diminishing militancy in the Northeast, with one of his most notable achievements being the 2015 cross-border operation into Myanmar.
A Super Decorated Army Official
He won the respect of everyone in the country, and he was awarded the Param Vishisht Seva Medal, Uttam Yudh Seva Medal, Ati Vishisht Seva Medal, Vishisht Seva Medal, Yudh Seva Medal, and Sena Medal for his service to the country.
Became India’s 1st Chief Of Defence Staff (CDS)
Gen Bipin Rawat, India’s first Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), was appointed on December 30, 2019, in what was a spectacular announcement barely two years ago.
On January 1, 2020, the outstanding Army officer was appointed to the position so that he could offer even more to his country.
The Minds Behind the Surgical Strike in 2016
Remember the 2016 Surgical Strike against Pakistan, which inspired Vicky Kaushal’s hugely successful film Uri?
Gen. Rawat, on the other hand, was one of the masterminds of the actual operation that saw the Indian Army breach the Line of Control (LoC) into Pakistan-controlled Kashmir.
General Bipin Rawat, according to reports, kept an eye on the situation from South Block in New Delhi.
He also played a key role in the Indian Army’s retaliation against the exploits of Pakistan’s Iron Brothers and China as a whole.
And it appears that we’ve lost one of the most highly respected and commanding Army officials in recent memory.
He lived to serve his country and died in the process.
Sir, may you rest in peace.
