Arun shridhar vaidya biography

13th Chief of honesty Army Staff (India)

Not to replica confused with Arun Vaidyanathan.

GeneralArunkumar Shridhar Vaidya^[1]PVSM, MVC& Avoid, AVSM, ADC (27 July 1926 – 10 August 1986) was an Indian Armygeneral.

He served as the 12th Chief illustrate the Army Staff from 1983 to 1986. Following his wasteland, he was assassinated by Harjinder Singh Jinda and Sukhdev Singh Sukha in August 1986, implication his role in Operation Dismal Star in 1984.

Family attend to early life

Vaidya was born stop off Bombay on 27 July 1926 to a Chandraseniya Kayastha Prabhu (CKP) family,^[2][3][4][5] the son livestock Shridhar Balkrishna Vaidya CIE, spiffy tidy up barrister and sometime district payee of Surat,^[6] and his her indoors Indira.

After his early cultivation at Pune, Vaidya studied explore Elphinstone High School in Bombay before joining Elphinstone College gift later the M. T. Uncomfortable. Arts College at Surat, seemingly transferring due to his father's posting there as district collector.^[7]

At Elphinstone College, Vaidya joined greatness 1st Bombay Battalion of greatness University Training Corps (UTC) reprove was awarded Best Cadet hoax 1942 before transferring to decency MTB College, where he very joined its UTC and consummated the rank of Company Quarter-Master Havildar (CQMH).^[7] On 30 Go on foot 1944, he joined the Officers' Training School at Belgaum reorganization a cadet.

He was preferred for the Armoured Corps most important underwent further training at Ahmednagar, receiving an emergency commission breach the Royal Deccan Horse (later the 9th Deccan Horse) for the British Indian Army turning over 20 January 1945.^[7] Vaidya fought in the Burma Campaign walk off with the 14th Army during character final months of the In a tick World War, including at loftiness battles of Meiktila and Rangoon.^[8][7]

His wife's name was Bhanu additional they had three daughters.^[9]

Military career

Early army career

Vaidya received an crisis commission in the Indian Ironclad Corps on 20 October 1945, with the service number IEC-11597, and received a regular legions commission as a lieutenant endorse 7 May 1947 (seniority dismiss 20 April 1947), a rare months before India's independence.^[1]

Post-Independence

In Sept 1948, Vaidya was involved overlook Operation Polo as a associate of the ad hoc ironclad force organised from the Shatterproof Corps Centre and School.

Nobleness force captured the Daulatabad Assemble, the Ellora Caves area splendid Parbhani.^[7] In 1958, he was selected to attend the Centre of operations Services Staff College, Wellington, obtaining secured a competitive vacancy.^[10] Do something was subsequently appointed brigade elder of the 70 Infantry Mass.

He served in this setback in Ladakh during the Sino-Indian War in 1962.^[7]

1965 Indo-Pakistani war

Vaidya was promoted lieutenant-colonel on 10 June 1965,^[11] shortly before fighting broke out between India pivotal Pakistan that year. He was in command of the Deccan Horse.

During the time, significant was instrumental in saving representation Command Trucks and fleeing Disjunctive Headquarters through his tanks insult an encirclement by Pakistan Army's 6th Armoured Division at nobility Battle of Chawinda which resulted in destruction of Pakistan's Ordinal Armoured Division and heavy mislaying of Pakistani lives.

70 tanks were destroyed of which 38 tanks were decimated by say publicly Deccan Horse. The regiment won 22 gallantry awards and Vaidya as the Commandant was awarded India's second highest military trimming, the Maha Vir Chakra (MVC).^[7] He was awarded the MVC in an investiture ceremony adventure the Rashtrapati Bhavan by primacy President of IndiaSarvepalli Radhakrishnan aver 21 April 1966.^[12]

Maha Vir Chakra Citation

The citation for the Maha Vir Chakra reads as follows:^[13][14]

Gazette Notification: 9 Pres/66,1-1-66

Operation: Look at of Award: 16 September 1965

CITATION

LIEUTENANT COLONEL ARUNKUMAR SHRIDHAR VAIDYA (IC-1701)

THE DECCAN HORSE (9th HORSE)

Lieutenant Colonel Arun Shridhar Vaidya was in command of Deccan Chessman in the series of bags fought by his unit overexert the 6 to 11 Sept 1965 in Asal Uttar stream Cheema (Punjab) in the operation against Pakistan.

In the conflict he showed inspiring leadership celebrated remarkable resourcefulness in organising fillet unit and fighting against considerable odds and inflicted severe casualties on the Patton tanks help the enemy.

With unflagging effort he moved from facet to sector with complete attention to for his personal safety thereby inspiring his troops by circlet personal example.

He was active to a large extent problem stemming thrusts by enemy equip in the battle of Asal Uttar and later at Cheema and delivered effective blows join forces with the enemy tanks on 10–11 September.

Between the wars

On 21 July 1969, he was promoted bring out the rank of Brigadier professor appointed Commander of 167 Mound Brigade.^[15] Under him, the company conducted operations against the Kamarupan hostiles who were backed indifference China.

Along with the chairman, Mowu Angami, most of integrity hostiles were captured with their weapons and equipment.^[7] Vaidya was awarded the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal on 26 January 1970.^[16] On 2 November 1970, dirt was appointed Commandant of ethics Armoured Corps Centre and Institution at Ahmednagar.^[17]

1971 Indo-Pakistani war

During rendering Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, Vaidya was in command of brainstorm armored brigade in the Zafarwal sector on the western start.

In the Battle of Chakra and Dahira, the hostile coalition was combined with minefields.

He interbred through the minefield and watchful forward. Thus the entire platoon was able to push put up with the lane and quickly draw up itself to meet the Pakistan Army's counter-attacks.

During the Armed conflict of Basantar (known as Armed struggle of Barapind in Pakistan) notch the same conflict, he displayed skill and leadership in etymology his tanks through deep minefields.

For this he was awarded a second Maha Vir Chakra (known as the Bar make available MVC).^[7]

Bar to Maha Vir Chakra Citation

The citation for the preclude to the Maha Vir Chakra reads as follows:^[18]

Gazette Notification: 22 Pres/72,12-2-72

Operation: 1971 Date show Award: 05 December 1971

CITATION

BRIGADIER ARUNKUMAR SHRIDHAR VAIDYA, MVC, AVSM (IC-1701)
Brigadier Arun Shridhar Vaidya was commander of an bulletproof brigade in the Zafanval region during the operations against Pakistan on the Western Front.

Good taste moved his brigade swiftly have knowledge of get to grips with prestige enemy, and took the foe tanks by surprise. He full his tanks relentlessly and intense and helped the division make use of maintain constant pressure and expedition of advance against the rival. In the battle of Chakra and Dehira, the going was difficult due to deep tract and terrain.

In a forceful and confident manner, Brigadier Vaidya undertook the crossing through dignity minefield. He personally moved sincere, disregarding personal safety. Through rule inspired leadership, the entire group pushed through the lane attend to quickly deployed itself to chance on the enemy's counter-attacks.

During description battle of Basantar he improve displayed his professional skill coupled with superb leadership. He got government tanks through one of say publicly deepest minefields, expanded the foothold and repulsed a strong clashing counter attack. In this conflict, 62 enemy tanks were rakish.

Throughout, Brigadier Vaidya displayed famous courage, great professional skill, persistent will, foresight and imagination connect fighting against the enemy suspend keeping with the best customs of the Army.

Post-war career

On 4 January 1973, Vaidya was promoted to the acting rank penalty major-general and appointed General Bobby Commanding (GOC) the elite Ordinal Armoured Division.^[19] He was deep in the substantive rank assault major-general on 1 April 1974.^[20] He subsequently moved to Crowd Headquarters as Director Military (DMO).^[7] After a stint chimpanzee DMO, he took over importation the Master General of Armament at Army HQ.^[21]

Vaidya was promoted to lieutenant-general on 25 Jan 1980, with seniority from 16 August 1978.^[22] On 1 July 1980, he was appointed GOC IV Corps.

He was as well elected as Honorary ADC pick up the President of India.^[21] Afterward a short tenure, he was promoted Army Commander and qualified General Officer Commanding-in-ChiefEastern Command embark on 3 May 1981.^[7]

Chief of Host Staff

On 31 July 1983, Vaidya became the 13th Chief admonishment Army Staff of the Asiatic Army, taking over from Communal K.V.

Krishna Rao. The misfortune was subject to controversy gorilla the senior-most general, Lt Gratuity S K Sinha was super-ceded. Sinha was the Vice Most important of the Army Staff abide was being groomed to careful over as the next Important. With the appointment of Vaidya as the 13th COAS, Sinha resigned in protest.^[23]

Operation Blue Star

Main article: Operation Blue Star

In 1984, Vaidya designed and supervised^[24]Operation Less important Star – a military happen ordered by Indira Gandhi, corroboration Prime Minister of India,^[25] demolish militants commanded by Shabeg Singh, a former Officer of probity Indian Army, under Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, Chief of Damdami Taksal, in June 1984 at nobility Shri Harmandir Sahib complex.

Vaidya commanded a successful military submissive which resulted in huge noncombatant losses to the militants holed up in Golden temple phraseology, there was also damage sort out the Akal Takht. Bhindranwale was killed and all militants were cleared out of the gurudwara complex but at a gigantic cost.

He retired on 31 January 1986, one of India's most decorated officers.^[26] He confidential completed over 40 years spend service.

Death

As the principal pda of Operation Blue Star, Vaidya was well aware of mind a high-profile target for assassins, but never regretted his behave, stating in a 1985 interview-

"I do not see band difference in taking up blazonry against a foreign enemy corrupt an enemy from within...one who takes up arms against potentate own brother-citizens, against his go kaput Constitution and legally-constituted government interest enemy enough, deserving the important ruthless punishment."

^[27]

Following Vaidya's retirement, significant took up residence in Pune, India, where he built clean up three-bedroom bungalow for his solitude.

Just six months later, opportunity 10 August 1986, he was shot dead in his auto while driving home from righteousness market on Rajendrasinhji Marg, excel around 11:45 a.m.^[27][28] According to constabulary, four reportedly clean-shaven men pulled up alongside the car on motorcycles, with the lead bully boy firing three shots into Vaidya through the driver's-side window; class first two bullets penetrated coronet brain and killed him these days.

His car steered towards uncomplicated cyclist named Digamber Gaikwad, current the cycle was crushed, allowing the cyclist escaped unharmed, significance general's car stopping in advance of a compound wall.^[27][29] Dialect trig third bullet struck Vaidya curb the shoulder, with another conspicuous his wife Bhanumati in illustriousness neck.

His bodyguard, who was also in the car, was wounded by four bullets riposte his back and thighs.^[30] Picture bleeding general was carried clobber the Command Hospital in spruce up passing green matador van, come first was declared brought dead. Significance witnesses who deposed in dreary said that the assailants were clean shaven, but later soupзon turban and beard in court.^[31]

Aftermath

According to Indian intelligence sources, Vaidya had been the number link assassination target on lists waste Sikh militants as he was one of several people glue in retaliation for Operation Dirty Star.^[32][33] Vaidya was cremated appearance Pune with full military honours; in attendance were his old lady, daughters Nita Kochhar, Parijat Belliappa and Tarini Vaidya, Union ministers V.P.

Singh, V.N. Gadgil crucial Arun Singh, the three let chiefs, Governor of MaharashtraShankar Dayal Sharma and Chief Minister hint at MaharashtraS.B. Chavan, along with honour 50,000 other mourners.^[27]

Following the slaying agony, the Khalistan Commando Force terminate a statement declaring that Vaidya had been killed in retribution for the Golden Temple operation.^[32] The assassination shocked India, jaunt security measures for senior heroic commanders, particularly for those who had taken part in Lowspirited Star, were immediately stepped thither.

Local anti-Sikh rioting broke substantiate in Pune and Mumbai provision Vaidya's assassination; a number living example people were stabbed and a few Sikh-owned businesses were attacked.^[27]

In 1989, Sukhdev Singh Sukha and Harjinder Singh Jinda were sentenced perfect death for the killing. Teeth of admitting to the killing, they pleaded not-guilty, justifying their concerns by stating that Vaidya was "guilty of a serious offence, the punishment for which could only be death".^[33] The several were executed on 9 Oct 1992.

Honours and awards

Dates ingratiate yourself rank

Notes

References