Our motherland gave us a number of heroes to be proud of. Among all those brave hearts, was K.M. Cariappa. Field Marshal Kodandera Madappa Cariappa OBE(The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire ) was the first Indian Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army. During the Indo-Pakistan war fought in the year 1947,he had led the Indian forces on the Western front.
In the year 1949, he was appointed as the FIRST INDIAN Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army. After Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw, he was the only Indian Army Officer to hold a five-star rank. His military career lasted for a span of three decades.
Talking of his personal details, he was born on 28th of January in 1899 in Madikeri, Kodagu. (Karnataka). After the end of First World War, he joined the British Army. On joining the British Army he was commissioned as a temporary first Lieutenant into the 2/88 Carnatic Infantry.
Before his permanent settlement in the 1/7 Rajput regiment, he had been transferred multiple times between different regiments.
Talking of his achievements, he was not only the FIRST INDIAN Commander-in-Chief of the Army, but also the first Military Officer to attend the Staff College, Quetta. Also the first Indian to command a battalion, and also one of the first two Indians selected to undergo training at the Imperial Defence College in Camberley.
He had served in various staff capacities at various units and command headquarters (HQ) and also at the general HQ situated at New Delhi. Before he was appointed the Commander-in-Chief of the Army, Cariappa had served as the Commander of the Army’s Eastern and Western commands.
He was an officer who displayed exemplary courage. I have mentioned the awards he was decorated with.
| General Service Medal 1947 | Indian Independence Medal | Order of the British Empire | 1939–1945 Star | |
| Burma Star | War Medal 1939–1945 | India Service Medal | Legion of Merit (Chief Commander) |
For more blogs subscribe to blog.majorklashiclasses.com
