G. D. Bakshi

Last updated


G. D. Bakshi

GD Bakshi during a National Seminar at Bhopal January 2018 (1).jpg
Birth nameGagan Deep Bakshi
Born1950 (1950) (age 74)
Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, India
AllegianceFlag of India.svg  India
Service/branchFlag of Indian Army.svg  Indian Army
Years of service1971–2008
Rank Major General of the Indian Army.svg Major general
Battles/wars Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 and Kargil War [1]
AwardsSee § Awards and decorations

Major General Gagan Deep Bakshi SM VSM (born 1950) is a retired Indian Army officer.

Contents

Early life and education

Bakshi was born in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh. [2] His father was S. P. Bakshi. [3]

He was educated at Christ Church Boys School, Jabalpur. [3] After his schooling, he went to the National Defence Academy at Khadakwasla, Pune. [3]

Career

Bakshi was commissioned in the Indian Army from IMA Dehradun in November 1971. He commanded the 6 Jammu and Kashmir Rifles.

Bakshi was awarded the Vishisht Seva Medal for commanding a battalion in the Kargil War. [4] Later, he was awarded the Sena Medal for distinguished service in commanding a battalion during counter-insurgency drives.

Bakshi subsequently commanded the Romeo Force (Part of Rashtriya Rifles) during intensive counter-insurgency operations in the Rajouri and Poonch districts of Jammu and Kashmir and succeeded in suppressing the armed militancy in this area. [5]

Bakshi served two tenures at the Directorate General of Military Operations and was the first BGS (IW) at the Northern Command, where he dealt with Information Warfare and Psychological Operations. [6] [7] He retired in 2008.

Controversies

Bakshi has promoted fake news and misinformation on multiple occasions. [8] [9] In 2019, he wrongly claimed that a soldier was jailed in Tihar following a 2014 incident involving the death of a civilian in Budgam, and Mehbooba Mufti as CM had ordered no checking of vehicles. Fact checkers found these claims to be false because Mufti was not a CM at that time and there is no evidence of such an order that prevented checking of vehicles. Lt Gen Deependra Singh Hooda rejected the claim that a soldier was jailed after the Budgam incident. [8]

Bakshi has claimed that more than Quit India Movement, it was Indian National Army (INA) who was responsible in bringing independence to India. Bakshi depends on flawed arguments not supported by academic literature while making these claims. [10] The Print cites his position as a trustee in Netaji Bose INA Trust as one of the reason to downplay Quit India Movement. [9]

In 2021, Bakshi shared images to claim that Pakistani soldiers were killed in Panjshir conflict. This claim was debunked by fact checkers who found the images falsely claimed Pakistani actors working in a military-themed film to be actual soldiers. [11] [12]

He is sometimes called on news channels for his views on politics and he often appears on Republic TV, where he frequently defends narrative of Arnab Goswami. [13] His analysis is often criticized by other journalists for having a strong bias favouring the ruling government's agenda. [14] In one debate at Republic TV he was criticized for using profane language. [15]

Bibliography

Awards and decorations

Sena Medal ribbon.svg Vishisht Seva Medal ribbon.svg IND Special Service Medal Ribbon.svg IND Sangram Medal Ribbon.svg
IND Operation Vijay medal.svg IND Sainya Seva Medal Ribbon.svg IND High Altitude Medal Ribbon.svg IND 50th Anniversary Independence medal.svg
IND 25th Anniversary Independence medal.svg IND 30 Years Long Service Ribbon.svg IND 20YearsServiceMedalRibbon.svg IND 9YearsServiceMedalRibbon.svg
Sena Medal Vishisht Seva Medal Special Service Medal Sangram Medal
Operation Vijay Medal Sainya Seva Medal High Altitude Service Medal 50th Anniversary of Independence Medal
25th Anniversary of Independence Medal 30 Years Long Service Medal 20 Years Long Service Medal 9 Years Long Service Medal

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Indian National Army</span> Army of mostly Indian POWs of Japan in WW2

The Indian National Army was a collaborationist armed unit of Indian collaborators that fought under the command of the Japanese Empire. It was founded by Mohan Singh on 1 September 1942 in Southeast Asia during World War II.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Subhas Chandra Bose</span> Indian nationalist leader and politician (1897–1945)

Subhas Chandra Bose was an Indian nationalist whose defiance of British authority in India made him a hero among many Indians, but his wartime alliances with Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan left a legacy vexed by authoritarianism, anti-Semitism, and military failure. The honorific 'Netaji' was first applied to Bose in Germany in early 1942—by the Indian soldiers of the Indische Legion and by the German and Indian officials in the Special Bureau for India in Berlin. It is now used throughout India.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jabalpur</span> City in Madhya Pradesh, India

Jabalpur, formerly Jubbulpore, is a city situated on the banks of Narmada River in the state of Madhya Pradesh, India. According to the 2011 census, it is the third-largest urban agglomeration in Madhya Pradesh and the country's 38th-largest urban agglomeration. Jabalpur is an important administrative, industrial and business center of Madhya Pradesh. It is the judicial capital of Madhya Pradesh as The Madhya Pradesh High Court along with other important administrative headquarters of India and Madhya Pradesh are located in Jabalpur. It is generally accepted that the game of snooker originated in Jabalpur. Jabalpur is the administrative headquarters of Jabalpur district and the Jabalpur division. It also is a major education centre in India. The city is known for the marble rocks on the river Narmada at Bhedaghat.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Death of Subhas Chandra Bose</span>

Indian nationalist leader Subhas Chandra Bose died on 18 August 1945 from third-degree burns sustained after the bomber in which he was being transported as a guest of Lieutenant General Tsunamasa Shidei of the Imperial Japanese Kwantung Army crashed upon take off from the airport in Taihoku, Japanese-occupied Formosa, now Taipei, Taiwan. The chief pilot, copilot, and General Shidei were instantly killed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Indian Legion</span> Indian volunteer unit in Nazi Germany

The Indian Legion, officially the Free India Legion or 950th (Indian) Infantry Regiment, was a military unit raised during the Second World War initially as part of the German Army and later the Waffen-SS from August 1944. Intended to serve as a liberation force for British-ruled India, it was made up of Indian prisoners of war and expatriates in Europe. Due to its origins in the Indian independence movement, it was known also as the "Tiger Legion", and the "Azad Hind Fauj". As part of the Waffen-SS it was known as the Indian Volunteer Legion of the Waffen-SS.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">N. N. Pillai</span> Indian playwright and actor

N. N. Pillai was an Indian playwright, actor, theatre director, orator, screenplay writer, lyricist and an I.N.A Freedom fighter. : in INA - Indian National Army). He has been given the title “Nadakacharyan” of Malayalam Theatre. through his contributions to theater as a playwright, director, actor and a producer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shah Nawaz Khan (general)</span> Indian Army General and MP (1914–1983)

Shah Nawaz Khan was an Indian politician who served as an officer in the Indian National Army (INA) during World War II. He was profoundly influenced by Subhas Chandra Bose's speeches asking POWs to join the Indian National Army and to fight for a free India, Khan led the army into North-Eastern India, seizing Kohima and Imphal which were held briefly by the INA under the authority of the Japanese. In December 1944, Shah Nawaz Khan was appointed Commander of the 1st Division at Mandalay. After the war, he was tried, convicted for treason, and sentenced to death in a public court-martial carried out by the British Indian Army. The sentence was commuted by the Commander-in-chief of the Indian Army following unrest and protests in India. After the trial, Khan declared that he would henceforth follow the path of non-violence espoused by Mahatama Gandhi and joined the Congress party. Having successfully contested the first Lok Sabha in 1952 from Meerut, Khan had an illustrious parliamentary career. He was elected four times to the Lok Sabha from Meerut constituency in 1951, 1957, 1962 and 1971. He lost in the 1967 and 1977 Lok Sabha election from Meerut.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Indian National Army trials</span> British Indian trial by courts-martial

The Indian National Army trials was the British Indian trial by court-martial of a number of officers of the Indian National Army (INA) between November 1945 and May 1946, on various charges of treason, torture, murder and abetment to murder, during the Second World War.

Ram Singh Thakuri was an Indian freedom fighter, musician and composer. He composed a number of patriotic songs including Kadam Kadam Badaye Ja and Subh Sukh Chain whilst serving in the Indian National Army.

Lieutenant General Zorawar Chand 'Zoru' Bakshi PVSM, MVC, VrC, VSM was a General Officer of the Indian Army, most widely known as one of the commanders of Indo-Pakistani War of 1965. He also has the distinction of being "India's most decorated General".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mohammed Zaman Kiani</span> British Indian army officer

Major General Mohammed Zaman Kiani was an officer of the British Indian Army who later joined the Indian National Army (INA), led by Subhas Chandra Bose, and commanded its 1st Division.

Abid Hasan Safrani, IFS, born Zain-al-Abdin Hasan, was an officer of the Indian National Army (INA) and later, after 1947, an Indian diplomat. He famously introduced the slogan 'Jai Hind' translating to 'victory belongs to India' that is being used for official and semi-official purposes including army salutes, moral upliftment and in pop culture movies extensively.

The First Indian National Army was the Indian National Army as it existed between February and December 1942. It was formed with Japanese aid and support after the Fall of Singapore and consisted of approximately 12,000 of the 40,000 Indian prisoners of war who were captured either during the Malayan campaign or surrendered at Singapore. It was formally proclaimed in April 1942 and declared the subordinate military wing of the Indian Independence League in June that year. The unit was formed by Mohan Singh. The unit was dissolved in December 1942 after apprehensions of Japanese motives with regards to the INA led to disagreements and distrust between Mohan Singh and INA leadership on one hand, and the League's leadership, most notably Rash Behari Bose. Later on, the leadership of the Indian National Army was handed to Subhas Chandra Bose. A large number of the INAs initial volunteers, however, later went on to join the INA in its second incarnation under Subhas Chandra Bose.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kishtwar district</span> District of Jammu and Kashmir, India

Kishtwar district is an administrative district of the Jammu division of Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir in the disputed Kashmir region. As of 2011, it is the largest and the least populous district of Jammu and Kashmir.

Habib ur Rahman (1913–1978) was an army officer in the Indian National Army (INA) who was charged with "waging war against His Majesty the King Emperor". He served as Subhas Chandra Bose's chief of staff in Singapore, and accompanied Bose on his alleged last fatal flight from Taipei to Tokyo, sharing the last moments of his life. Rahman also played an important role in the First Kashmir War. Convinced that Maharaja Hari Singh was out to exterminate the Muslims of Jammu and Kashmir, he joined Major General Zaman Kiani, in launching a rebellion against the Maharaja from Gujrat in Pakistani Punjab. Rehman and his volunteer force launched an attack on the Bhimber town. But, the records of the 11th Cavalry of the Pakistan Army indicate that their efforts did not succeed, and eventually the Cavalry was responsible for conquering Bhimber.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Burhan Wani</span> Kashmiri Islamist militant (1994–2016)

Burhan Wani was a commander of Hizbul Mujahideen, an Islamist militant organization and insurgent group of the Kashmir conflict. He had become a popular figure amongst the local Kashmiri populace, having done so primarily through a strong social media presence, and was responsible for moulding the insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir into a youth-oriented movement. Wani was a militant leader and had reportedly recruited numerous foot-soldiers through his personal efforts.

Major Rohit Shukla SC, SM is an Indian Army Officer of 44 Rashtriya Rifles. He received the Shaurya Chakra, the third highest peacetime military award from the President of India, Ram Nath Kovind at the Defence Investiture Ceremony–I, at a ceremony in Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi on March 27, 2018. Major Shukla was awarded the Sena Medal on January 26, 2018.

Mehta Basti Ram was a Dogra officer and commander of the Fateh Shibji battalion under Raja Gulab Singh of Jammu. Basti Ram later served as the governor (thanadar) of Leh in Ladakh between 1847 and 1861. Basti Ram joined the service of Raja Gulab Singh in 1821 and became an officer under General Zorawar Singh during his conquest of Ladakh between 1834 and 1841. After holding positions such as the governor of Taklakot (briefly) and thanadar of Zanskar, he became the second governor of Leh under Maharaja Gulab Singh.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pitri Sharan Raturi</span>

Pitri Sharan Raturi (1920–1991) was an officer of the Indian National Army and later, of the Indian Police Service. He commanded the 1st battalion of the INA's 1st Guerrilla Regiment which participated in the battle of the Kaladan River valley in March–April 1944 against the 81st Division of the XV British Corps and forcing retreat of the British forces, entered India to occupy Mowdok, near Chittagong. After the war, Raturi joined the IPS and retired as Principal Director in the Directorate General of Security, the co-agency of the Research and Analysis Wing. Post-retirement, he served in an honorary capacity as Officer on Special Duty (INA) in the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Purabi Roy is an Indian multi-disciplinary researcher, author, and an eminent scholar in Russian language and history. She has been visiting professor at Moscow State University and Saint Petersburg State University in Russian Federation from 2000 to 2006. She is acknowledged as one of the foremost and veteran researchers on Subhas Chandra Bose and a former member of Indian Council of Historical Research.

References

  1. "Major Gen GD Bakshi wants India to prep for another Mahabharata". Catchnews. Archived from the original on 20 February 2019. Retrieved 19 February 2019.
  2. Soldiers in the Sun and Snow: A History of the J&K Rifles, The J&K Rifles Regimental Centre Jabalpur, Kishtwar cauldron: The Struggle Against Ethnic Cleansing in Kishtwar, Pentagon Press, New Delhi 2010
  3. 1 2 3 "You have seen him on TV, but who is Gen GD Bakshi?". ABP Live. Archived from the original on 17 March 2018. Retrieved 19 February 2019.
  4. w.dsalert.org/about-maj-gen-g-d-bakshi
  5. Puri, Luv (25 September 2005). "Pir Panjal vulnerable despite people's might". The Hindu . Retrieved 18 February 2019.[ dead link ]
  6. Bakshi, G. D. "Promotion System in the Army: Dealing with Peacetime Atrophy". Institute of Defence Studies and Analyses. Archived from the original on 19 February 2019. Retrieved 19 February 2019.
  7. "India's responses to Pakistan Army's braveness overdrive". salute.co.in. 2 August 2014. Archived from the original on 19 July 2018. Retrieved 19 February 2019.
  8. 1 2 Bakshi, Major General G D (18 February 2019). "General G D Bakshi makes false claim about Mehbooba Mufti and 2014 Budgam firing". Alt News.
  9. 1 2 Singh, Nandita (4 July 2020). "Maj. Gen. GD Bakshi, shrillest warmonger in the media, hits new low with gaali on Republic TV". ThePrint.
  10. "'Flawed' argument: Gandhi had minimal role, naval mutinies alone led to Independence". Counterview. 11 September 2022.
  11. "Ex-Indian army officer shares picture from movie set as 'truth' about Pakistan Army's presence in Panjshir". Dawn . 12 September 2021.
  12. Misra, Shubhangi (14 September 2021). "Ex-Indian Army general mocked for sharing image of Pakistani actors as 'soldiers killed' in Panjshir". ThePrint.
  13. Nandita Singh (4 July 2020). "Maj. Gen. GD Bakshi, shrillest warmonger in the media, hits new low with gaali on Republic TV". ThePrint. Archived from the original on 23 January 2023. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
  14. "Journalism as News Laundering and Bhakti". The Wire. Archived from the original on 23 January 2023. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
  15. "'M*******!!': Twitter in shock as Major Gen GD Bakshi curses on a live show". Free Press Journal. Archived from the original on 23 January 2023. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
  16. Bose: The Indian Samurai - Netaji and the INA a Military Assessment. India: K W PUBL PVT Limited. 2016. p. 384. ISBN   9789383649921. Archived from the original on 5 April 2023. Retrieved 3 January 2022.