G. D. Bakshi

Major General G. D. Bakshi SM VSM
Birth name	Gagan Deep Bakshi
Born	1950 (1950) (age 75) Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, India
Allegiance	India
Service / branch	Indian Army
Years of service	1971–2008
Rank	Major General
Unit	6 Jammu and Kashmir Rifles
Commands	Romeo Force 6 Jammu and Kashmir Rifles
Battles / wars	Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 and Kargil War [1]
Awards	See § Awards and decorations

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

Early life and education

G. D. Bakshi was born in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, ^[2] to S. P. Bakshi, who was the Chief Education Officer of the Jammu & Kashmir State Forces. ^[3] He studied at St. Aloysius Senior Secondary School, Jabalpur. ^[3] After his schooling, he went to the National Defence Academy at Khadakwasla, Pune. ^[3]

Career

Bakshi was commissioned into 6 Jammu and Kashmir Rifles in November 1971 and was sent to the eastern theatre (Bangladesh front) at the outbreak of hostilities. He first served on the “China front” and then with Mukti Bahini forces supporting the liberation of Bangladesh. ^[4] He later went on to command that unit. He was posted in Punjab during the height of Sikh militancy. As a commanding officer (then Lt Col), he led his Sikh troops against khalisthani militants and worked to maintain unit cohesion and local support. ^[5]

Bakshi was awarded the Vishisht Seva Medal for commanding a battalion in Kaksar, that falls in Drass, Kargil sector during 1987 border skirmishes. ^[6] 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. ^[7] He organized village defence committees and employed aggressive tactics to suppress insurgents. His efforts brought an end to major civilian killings and allowed displaced villagers to return. ^[8] 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. ^{[9] [10]} He retired in 2008.

Awards and decorations

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

Bibliography

• Bakshi, G. D. (2019). Bose Or Gandhi: Who Got India Her Freedom?. KW Publishers Pvt Limited. ISBN   978-93-87324-67-1.
• Bakshi, G. D. (2018). Guardians of the Gate: A Military History of the Mohyal Fighting Brahmins. KW Publishers Pvt Limited. ISBN   978-93-86288-77-6.
• Bakshi, G. D. (2019). Bose Or Gandhi: Who Got India Her Freedom?. KW Publishers Pvt Limited. ISBN   978-93-87324-67-1.
• China's Military Power: A Net Assessment: A Net Assessment. KW Publishers Pvt Ltd. 15 January 2015. ISBN   978-93-85714-01-6.
• Bakshi, G. D. (2013). Kishtwar Cauldron: The Struggle Against the ISI's Ethnic Cleansing. Pentagon Press. ISBN   978-81-8274-736-4.
• Bakshi, G. D. (2010). Limited Wars in South Asia: Need for an Indian Doctrine. Centre for Land Warfare Studies. ISBN   978-93-80502-45-8.
• The Rise of Indian Military Power: Evolution of an Indian Strategic Culture: Evolution of an Indian Strategic Culture. KW Publishers Pvt Ltd. 15 July 2015. ISBN   978-93-85714-07-8.
• Bakshi, G. D. (2002). Footprints in the Snow: On the Trail of Zorawar Singh. Lancer Publishers. ISBN   978-81-7062-292-5.
• Bakshi, G. D. (2002). Afghanistan: The First Faultline War. Lancer Publishers. ISBN   978-81-7062-220-8.
• Bakshi, G. D. (1990). Mahabharata, a Military Analysis. Lancer International. ISBN   978-81-7062-094-5.

Controversies

According to Nandita Singh of ThePrint, Bakshi has promoted fake news and misinformation on multiple occasions. ^{[11] [12]} 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. ^[11]

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. ^[13] The Print cites his position as a trustee in Netaji Bose INA Trust as one of the reason to downplay Quit India Movement. ^[12]

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. ^{[14] [15]}

GD Bakshi during a National Seminar

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. ^[16] His analysis is often criticized by other journalists for having a strong bias favouring the ruling government's agenda. ^[17] In one debate at Republic TV he was criticized for using profane language. ^[18]

Another video was surfaced, where he used foul word of Randi Khana (Brothel), Bakshi was heavily criticized for using this foul word. ^[19]

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. "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. "You have seen him on TV, but who is Gen GD Bakshi?". 23 October 2016.
5. "You have seen him on TV, but who is Gen GD Bakshi?". 23 October 2016.
6. "Journey of Maj Gen G D Bakshi in the Indian Armed Forces".
7. Puri, Luv (25 September 2005). "Pir Panjal vulnerable despite people's might". The Hindu . Retrieved 18 February 2019.^{[ dead link ]}
8. https://news.abplive.com/blog/you-have-seen-him-on-tv-but-who-is-gen-gd-bakshi 435502#:~:text=he%20received%20the%20Chief%E2%80%99s%20Commendation,to%20study%20at%20the%20National
9. 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.
10. "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.
11. Bakshi, Major General G D (18 February 2019). "General G D Bakshi makes false claim about Mehbooba Mufti and 2014 Budgam firing". Alt News.
12. Singh, Nandita (4 July 2020). "Maj. Gen. GD Bakshi, shrillest warmonger in the media, hits new low with gaali on Republic TV". ThePrint.
13. "'Flawed' argument: Gandhi had minimal role, naval mutinies alone led to Independence". Counterview. 11 September 2022.
14. "Ex-Indian army officer shares picture from movie set as 'truth' about Pakistan Army's presence in Panjshir". Dawn . 12 September 2021.
15. Misra, Shubhangi (14 September 2021). "Ex-Indian Army general mocked for sharing image of Pakistani actors as 'soldiers killed' in Panjshir". ThePrint.
16. 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.
17. "Journalism as News Laundering and Bhakti". The Wire. Archived from the original on 23 January 2023. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
18. "'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.
19. Singh, Nandita; ThePrint (4 July 2020). "Maj. Gen. GD Bakshi, shrillest warmonger in the media, hits new low with gaali on Republic TV". ThePrint. Retrieved 5 August 2024.