New Delhi: On the eve of the 65th birthday of late Chief of Defence Staff, General Bipin Rawat, the Indian Army has dedicated a Chair of Excellence in his memory at the United Service Institution of India (USI).
It may be mentioned that India’s first Chief of Defense Staff, General Bipin Rawat, died in a helicopter crash on December 8, 2021, in Coonoor, along with his wife Madhulika Rawat and 11 military personnel including Brigadier LS Lidder, SM, VSM.
The formal announcement was made by General MM Naravane, Chief of Army Staff and Officiating Chairman, The Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee (COSC), at a solemn ceremony organised at the South Block on 15 March 2022. Lieutenant General Manoj Pande, the Vice Chief of the Army Staff (VCOAS), Air Marshal Sandeep Singh, Vice Chief of the Air Staff (VCAS), Vice Admiral SN Ghormade, Vice Chief of the Naval Staff (VCNS), Air Marshal BR Krishna, Chief of Integrated Defence Staff to the Chairman Chiefs of Staff Committee (CISC) and Lieutenant Geneneral SK Sharma, DCOAS (Strat) also attended the event. A cheque of Rs 5 lakhs was handed over to Major General BK Sharma (retired), Director, USI which will be paid as honourarium to the nominated Chair of Excellence.
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Late General Bipin Rawat who served as India’s first CDS as well as the 27th Chief of Indian Army was an outstanding professional and was in the midst of steering one of the most radical transformations of the Indian military. Gen Bipin Rawat Memorial Chair of Excellence will focus on the field of Jointness and Integration. The Chair of Excellence is a befitting tribute to the astute leadership and professionalism of the General, the Ministry of Defence said.
On the occasion, the Army Chief recounted that General Rawat was passionate about strategic thoughts and invested considerable time and energy in the activities of various Think Tanks and therefore, his 65th birthday provided an opportune moment to reinforce the Services’ bond with their intellectual institutions. The Chair will be open to veterans of three Services and civilians having expertise in the field of national security.
– global bihari bureau
