Former Indian Army Chief General Sundararajan Padmanabhan Passes Away in Chennai
Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], August 19: Former Indian Army Chief General Sundararajan Padmanabhan passed away in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. He was born on December 5, 1940, in Trivandrum, Kerala.
Early Life and Education
General Padmanabhan was an alumnus of the Rashtriya Indian Military College (RIMC) in Dehra Dun and the National Defence Academy (NDA) in Pune. He graduated from the Indian Military Academy (IMA) on December 13, 1959, and was commissioned into the Regiment of Artillery.
Military Career
Throughout his career, General Padmanabhan held several prestigious command, staff, and instructional positions. He participated in numerous operations and was a graduate of the Defence Services Staff College (DSSC) and the National Defence College (NDC).
He commanded various brigades and divisions, including an Independent Light Battery, the Gazala Mountain Regiment, and an Infantry Brigade. He also served as the Chief of Staff for the 3 Corps and the commander of the 15 Corps in Kashmir, where he was awarded the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM).
Leadership Roles
General Padmanabhan held the position of Director General Military Intelligence (DGMI) and later became the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the Northern Command. He was appointed as the 20th Chief of Army Staff on September 30, 2000, and served until his retirement on December 31, 2002.
Legacy
Known affectionately as Paddy within army circles, General Padmanabhan’s career spanned over 43 years, during which he was awarded the Vishisht Seva Medal (VSM) and the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM) for his distinguished service.
Doubts Revealed
Indian Army Chief -: The Indian Army Chief is the top leader of the Indian Army, responsible for all army operations and decisions.
General Sundararajan Padmanabhan -: General Sundararajan Padmanabhan was a high-ranking officer in the Indian Army who led the army as its chief.
Chennai -: Chennai is a big city in the state of Tamil Nadu, located in the southern part of India.
Tamil Nadu -: Tamil Nadu is a state in southern India, known for its rich culture and history.
Trivandrum -: Trivandrum, also known as Thiruvananthapuram, is the capital city of the state of Kerala in India.
Kerala -: Kerala is a state in southern India, famous for its beautiful landscapes and backwaters.
Chief of Army Staff -: The Chief of Army Staff is the highest-ranking officer in the Indian Army, responsible for leading and managing the army.
Vishisht Seva Medal -: The Vishisht Seva Medal is an award given to Indian military personnel for exceptional service.
Ati Vishisht Seva Medal -: The Ati Vishisht Seva Medal is a higher award given to Indian military personnel for distinguished service of an exceptional order.