Sundararajan Padmanabhan

Last updated


Sundararajan Padmanabhan

General Sundararajan Padmanabhan.jpg
Nickname(s)Paddy
Born (1940-12-05) 5 December 1940 (age 82)
Trivandrum, Travancore, British Raj
(now Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India)
AllegianceFlag of India.svg  India
Service/branchFlag of Indian Army.svg  Indian Army
Years of service1959-2002
Rank General of the Indian Army.svg General
Service number IC-11859 [1]
Unit Regiment of Artillery
Commands held IA Southern Command.svg Southern Army
IA Northern Command.jpg Northern Army
XV Corps
Awards Param Vishisht Seva Medal ribbon.svg Param Vishisht Seva Medal
Ati Vishisht Seva Medal ribbon.svg Ati Vishisht Seva Medal
Vishisht Seva Medal ribbon.svg Vishisht Seva Medal

General Sundararajan Padmanabhan PVSM, AVSM, VSM (born 5 December 1940 in Thiruvananthapuram, Travancore) is a former General Officer of the Indian Army. He served as the 17th Chief of Army Staff of the Indian Army. [2] Gen. Padmanabhan succeeded General V.P. Malik on 30 September 2000. [2] He also served as Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee. [3]

Contents

Early life and education

Padmanabhan was born in a Tamil Brahmin family. [4] He was schooled at the Rashtriya Indian Military College, Dehradun. In 1956, Padmanabhan joined the National Defence Academy and then the Indian Military Academy, from where graduated in 1959.

Military career

Padmanabhan was commissioned into the Regiment of Artillery on 13 December 1959. [2]

He attended the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington in 1973. Post this, he commanded an Independent Light Battery from 1975 to 1976. He then commanded the Gazala Mountain Regiment from 1977 to 1980. He also served as Instructor Gunnery at the School of Artillery, Deolali and two terms as an instructor at the Indian Military Academy.

AS a Brigadier, he attended the prestigious National Defence College, New Delhi. He then commanded an Infantry Brigade from December 1988 to February 1991 at Ranchi, Bihar and Punjab and was then appointed as the General Officer Commanding an Infantry Division in Punjab from March 1991 to August 1992. He served as Chief of Staff, III Corps from September 1992 to June 1993. After his promotion to Lieutenant General, he took over as the General Officer Commanding XV Corps in the Kashmir valley from July 1993 to February 1995. It was during his tenure as the XV Corps Commander, that the Army made big gains over the militants in Kashmir and could even scale down its operations. He was awarded the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM) for his services as the XV Corps Commander.

General Padmanabhan held the appointment of Director General Military Intelligence (DGMI) after the successful culmination of which, he took over as the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief Northern Command at Udhampur on 1 September 1996. Before being appointed as the Chief of Army Staff, he was the GOC-in-C of Southern Command.

He retired on 31 December 2002, after completing more than 43 years of distinguished military service. He has authored two books. He presently resides in Chennai. [5]

Author

Gen. Padmanabhan is also an author of Indian military fiction, including the 2004 novel Writing on the Wall, the plot of which involves India fighting a war simultaneously with Pakistan while improving relations with China.

Honours and awards

Military awards

Param Vishisht Seva Medal ribbon.svg Ati Vishisht Seva Medal ribbon.svg Vishisht Seva Medal ribbon.svg
India General Service Medal 1947.svg IND Siachen Glacier Medal Ribbon.svg IND Special Service Medal Ribbon.svg IND Raksha Medal Ribbon.svg
IND Sangram Medal Ribbon.svg IND Operation Vijay medal.svg IND Sainya Seva 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
Param Vishisht Seva Medal Ati Vishist Seva Medal Vishisht Seva Medal
General Service Medal Siachen Glacier Medal Special Service Medal Raksha Medal
Sangram Medal Operation Vijay Medal Sainya Seva 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

Dates of rank

InsigniaRankComponentDate of rank
Second Lieutenant of the Indian Army.svg Second Lieutenant Indian Army 13 December 1959 [1]
Lieutenant of the Indian Army.svg Lieutenant Indian Army13 December 1961
Captain of the Indian Army.svg Captain Indian Army13 December 1965 [6]
Major of the Indian Army.svg Major Indian Army13 December 1972 [7]
Lieutenant Colonel of the Indian Army.svg Lieutenant-Colonel Indian Army16 August 1978 [8]
Colonel of the Indian Army.svg Colonel Indian Army8 February 1985 [9]
Brigadier of the Indian Army.svg Brigadier Indian Army13 April 1986 [10]
Major General of the Indian Army.svg Major General Indian Army16 November 1991 [11]
Lieutenant General of the Indian Army.svg Lieutenant-General Indian Army1 November 1993 [12]
General of the Indian Army.svg General
(COAS)
Indian Army1 October 2000

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Krishnaswamy Sundarji</span> Indian general and author

General Krishnaswamy "Sundarji" Sundararajan, was the Chief of the Army Staff of the Indian Army from 1986 to 1988. He was the last former British Indian Army officer to command the Indian Army.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bipin Chandra Joshi</span> 17th Chief of Army Staff of the Indian Army

General Bipin Chandra Joshi, PVSM, AVSM, ADC was the 17th Chief of Army Staff (COAS) of the Indian Army. He is the only Chief of the Indian Army to die in office, and until the 2021 death of General Bipin Rawat in a helicopter crash, the only full general and serving Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee to have died in office.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nirmal Chander Vij</span>

General Nirmal Chander Vij PVSM, UYSM, AVSM was the 21st Chief of Army Staff of the Indian Army. He held the office from 1 Jan 2003 to 31 Jan 2005.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Deepak Kapoor</span>

General Deepak Kapoor PVSM, AVSM, SM, VSM, ADC served as the 22nd Chief of the Army Staff of the Indian Army, appointed on 30 September 2007 and Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee appointed on 31 August 2009.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bikram Singh (general)</span> Indian army officer

General Bikram Singh, PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, SM, VSM, ADC is a retired Indian army officer who served as the 24th Chief of Army Staff (COAS) of the Indian Army. Previously the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the army's Eastern Command, he succeeded General V. K. Singh as COAS on May 31, 2012. He retired on 31 July 2014. He is the second Sikh to be COAS, the first having been General J. J. Singh. He was also the Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee (CoSC) of the Indian armed forces.

Lieutenant General Inderjit Singh Gill, PVSM, MC was a general officer in the Indian Army. He was the officiating Director of Military Operations (DMO) of the Indian Army during the Bangladesh Liberation War. He retired in 1979 after serving as the Western Army Commander.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Devraj Anbu</span> Indian Army general

Lieutenant General Devraj Anbu, PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, YSM, SM, ADC is a retired Indian Army general who served as Vice Chief of Army Staff (VCOAS). He assumed office on 1 June 2018 following the retirement of Lt Gen Sarath Chand, and retired on 31 August 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Manoj Mukund Naravane</span> 27th Chief of the Army Staff (India)

General Manoj Mukund Naravane is a retired Indian Army General who served as the 28th Chief of the Army Staff (COAS), as well as the temporary Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee from 15 December 2021 until his superannuation on 30 April 2022. He took over as COAS from General Bipin Rawat on 31 December 2019 after the latter completed his term. Prior to his appointment as the COAS, the general served as the 40th Vice Chief of Army Staff (VCOAS) of the Indian Army, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (GOC-in-C) of Eastern Command and General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Army Training Command.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Iqroop Singh Ghuman</span>

Lieutenant General Iqroop Singh Ghuman, PVSM, AVSM, ADC is a commissioned officer of the Indian Army. He was the General Officer-Commanding-in-Chief (GOC-in-C), Central Command of the Indian Army. He took office on 2 October when Lt Gen Abhay Krishna retired.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Satinder Kumar Saini</span> Indian Army

Lieutenant General Satinder Kumar Saini, PVSM, AVSM, YSM, VSM, ADC was the 41st Vice Chief of the Army Staff of the Indian Army and assumed the office on 25 January 2020. He previously served as General Officer Commanding in Chief (GOC-in-C) Southern Command.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chandi Prasad Mohanty</span>

Lieutenant General Chandi Prasad Mohanty is a retired General Officer in the Indian Army. He was the 42nd Vice Chief of the Army Staff and assumed office on 1 February 2021, following the retirement of Satinder Kumar Saini. He was previously the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (GOC-in-C) of the Southern Command, assuming command on 30 January 2020. He was trained at RIMC Dehradun.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Manoj Pande</span> 29th Chief of the Army Staff (India)

General Manoj Pande, is an Indian Army General serving as the 29th and the current Chief of the Army Staff. He previously served as the Vice Chief of the Army Staff, General Officer-Commanding-in-Chief of Eastern Command and also as the Commander-in-Chief (CINCAN) of Andman and Nicobar Command. He is the first officer from the Corps of Engineers and also first from non infantry/armoured corps to become the Army Chief.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yogendra Dimri</span> Lieutenant General in the Indian Army

Lieutenant General Yogendra Dimri, PVSM, AVSM, VSM is a former General Officer in the Indian Army. He last served as the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Central Command in April 2021. He previously served as a Corps Commander and as Chief of Staff of the Western Command, he was appointed as a military attaché in the United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia and directing staff at the Defence Services Staff College.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Amardeep Singh Bhinder</span> Lieutinant general of India

Lieutenant General Amardeep Singh Bhinder, PVSM, AVSM, VSM is a former general officer of the Indian Army. He last served as the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief South Western Command from 2021 to 2023. He assumed command from Lieutenant General Alok Singh Kler on 1 April 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ajai Singh (lieutenant general)</span> Indian Army officer

Lieutenant General Ajai Singh PVSM, AVSM is a retired Indian Army general. He served as the 16th Commander-in-Chief, Andaman and Nicobar Command (CINCAN). He assumed command from Lieutenant-General Manoj Pande, PVSM, AVSM, VSM on 1 June 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rana Pratap Kalita</span> Indian army general

Lieutenant General Rana Pratap Kalita, PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, SM, VSM is a serving general officer in the Indian Army. He is currently the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (GOC-in-C) of the Indian Army's Eastern Command. He previously commanded the III Corps at Dimapur.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nav Kumar Khanduri</span> Lieutenant General in the Indian Army

Lieutenant General Nav Kumar Khanduri AVSM, VSM is a retired general officer in the Indian Army, and the former General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Western Command since November 2021. He is the first officer from the Corps of Army Air Defence to become an army commander.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Upendra Dwivedi</span> General in the Indian Army

Lieutenant General Upendra Dwivedi, AVSM is a serving general officer of the Indian Army. He currently serves as the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief Northern Command. He assumed the post upon the superannuation of Lieutenant General Yogesh Kumar Joshi. He previously served as the Deputy Chief of the Army Staff and as the General officer commanding IX Corps.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">M. V. Suchindra Kumar</span> Indian Army

Lieutenant General M. V. Suchindra Kumar AVSM, YSM & bar, VSM is a serving general officer of the Indian Army. He is the current Vice Chief of the Army Staff. He earlier served as the Deputy Chief of the Army Staff (Strategy).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">N. S. Raja Subramani</span> Indian Army General

Lieutenant General N. S. Raja Subramani AVSM, SM, VSM is a serving general officer of the Indian Army. He currently serves as the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief Central Command. He earlier served as the Chief of Staff of the Northern Command.

References

  1. 1 2 "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)". The Gazette of India. 17 September 1960. p. 239.
  2. 1 2 3 "Lt. Gen. Padmanabhan, new Army Chief". The Hindu . 2 August 2000. Archived from the original on 25 January 2013. Retrieved 26 April 2009.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  3. "Navy chief to head COSC - Times of India". articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com. Archived from the original on 24 December 2013. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
  4. "Veil off finger on N-button - Musharraf fires shot at outgoing indian army chief". Telegraph. Retrieved 30 December 2002.
  5. "Bharat Rakshak :: Land Forces Site - General Sundararajan Padmanabhan". www.bharat-rakshak.com. Archived from the original on 16 January 2011.
  6. "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)". The Gazette of India. 5 March 1966. p. 142.
  7. "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)". The Gazette of India. 24 March 1973. p. 375.
  8. "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)". The Gazette of India. 6 December 1980. p. 1380.
  9. "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)". The Gazette of India. 28 February 1987. p. 305.
  10. "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)". The Gazette of India. 7 November 1987. p. 1515.
  11. "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)". The Gazette of India. 16 November 1991. p. 1770.
  12. "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)". The Gazette of India. 27 August 1994. p. 1594.
Military offices
Preceded by Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee
30 December 2001 - 31 December 2002
Succeeded by
Preceded by Chief of Army Staff
20002002
Succeeded by
Preceded by General Officer Commanding-in-Chief Southern Command
19992000
Succeeded by
Preceded by
General Officer Commanding-in-Chief Northern Command
19961998
Succeeded by