CDS General Bipin Rawat (16 March 1958 – 8
December 2021) was an Indian military officer who was a four-star
General of the Indian Army. He served as the first Chief of
Defence Staff (CDS) of the Indian Armed Forces from January 1,
2020 until his death in a helicopter crash on December 8, 2021. Prior
to taking over as the CDS, he served as the 57th and
last Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee as well as 26th
Chief of Army Staff of the Indian Army.
Background, Education and Military Services
CDS Bipin Rawat was born in Pauri, Uttarakhand on March 16,
1958, his family had been serving in the Indian Army for many generations.
General Bipin Rawat attended Cambrian Hall School in
Dehradun and St. Edward's school in Shimla. He joined
the National Defence Academy (NDA), Khadakwasla and the Indian
Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun, from where he graduated first in the
order of merit and was awarded the 'Sword of Honor’. He was also a graduate of
the Defence Services Staff College (DSSC), Wellington and the Higher
Command Course at the United States Army Command and General Staff
College (USACGSC) at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas in 1997. In his
tenure at the DSSC, he obtained an MPhil degree in Defence Studies as
well as diplomas in Management and Computer Studies from the University of
Madras. In 2011, he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by CCS
University, Meerut for his research on military-media strategic
studies.
General Bipin Rawat started his career in
military from 5th battalion, the 11 Gorkha Rifles on December
16, 1978. He has spent his 10 years in counter in surgency operations. While in
the post of major, Bipin Rawat commanded a company in Uri, Jammu and Kashmir.
He commanded his battalion along the LAC at Kibithu as a Colonel. Bipin Rawat
was appointed as 27th Chief of Army Staff on 31 December 2016, after
the retirement of General Dalbir Singh Suhag. He was the appointed as
first Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) on December 31, 2019, and took office on
January 1, 2020. The CDS is a one point advisor to the government on matters
related to the military and functions with the main aim of integrating the
three services: Army, Navy and Air Force. CDS would also be the permanent Chief
of Staff Committee (COSC).
General Bipin Rawat had played a major role
successfully in carrying out the 2015 cross-border operation into Myanmar in
response to a major terrorist attack by Naga militants. He was the Chief of
Army Staff when Indian fighter jets pounded a Jaish-e-Muhammad terrorist
training camp deep inside Pakistan's Balakot. Besides Pakistan, he has also
managed military affairs along the border with China, following Doklam standoff
in Bhutan that went on for over two months.
Awards and Medals
During his service, General Bipin Rawat had been awarded with
the Param Vishisht Seva Medal, Uttam Yudh Seva Medal, Ati Vishisht Seva Medal,
Vishisht Seva Medal, Yudh Seva Medal, and Sena Medal.
Chopper Crash and Cremation
The Mi17V5 helicopter of Indian Air Force (IAF) crashed on 8
December 2021 in Coonoor, Tamil Nadu, carrying CDS General Bipin Rawat, his
wife and staff. He was pronounced dead by the IAF, along with his wife
Madhulika Rawat and 11 other members. Tributes have poured in from around the world for the CDS General Bipin
Rawat. As
a mark of respect, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh and Bhutan will be sending top
Army officials at the cremation of CDS Bipin Rawat and his wife. Sri Lanka will
be represented by CDS and Commander of the Sri Lankan Army, General Shavendra
Silva. He will be accompanied by Ex CDS Adm Ravi Wijegunaratne, (Retd) who was
the coursemate of CDS Bipin Rawat from National Defense College, India. Bangladesh
will be represented by a 3-star general. Bhutan will be represented by
Brigadier Dorji Rinchen, Deputy Chief Operations Officer of Royal Bhutan Army.
He is the second senior-most officer of the Royal Bhutan Army. Nepal will be
represented by Vice Chief of Army Staff Lt General BalKrishnaKarki.
“General Bipin Rawat was a hero son of India and a champion of very
strong defence relations between Israel and India. For us, it is a loss of a
friend. The top leadership of our country knew him and valued his friendship”, Naor Gilon, ambassador of Israel to India.
“My deep condolences on the deaths of Indian
Chief of Defense Staff General Rawat, his wife, and colleagues who perished in
today’s tragic accident. We'll remember Gen. Rawat as an exceptional leader who
served his country and contributed to the U.S.-India defense relationship.”
Secretary Antony Blinken, US government.
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