KM Cariappa:

The First Indian Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army (Post Independence)

KM Cariappa was a distinguished military officer and diplomat who served as the first Indian Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army after independence. He was also one of the two Indian Army officers to hold the five-star rank of Field Marshal, the highest honor in the Indian Army. In this blog post, we will explore his life, career, and achievements.

Early Life and Education

KM Cariappa was born on 28 January 1899, in Shanivarsanthe, Coorg Province (present-day Kodagu district), Karnataka, to a family of farmers belonging to the Kodava clan. His father, Madappa, worked with the revenue department. Cariappa was the second child in a family of four sons and two daughters. He was nicknamed "Chimma".

After completing his education at the Central High School at Madikeri in 1917, he attended Presidency College, Chennai, to pursue his education further. However, he left college to join the British Indian Army shortly after the end of World War I.

Military career

He was commissioned as a temporary second lieutenant in the Carnatic Infantry in 1919, and later transferred to the 2/88 Carnatic Infantry. He served in various regiments, including the 37th Dogra and the 2nd Rajput Light Infantry, and saw action in Iraq, Syria, Iran, and Burma during World War II.. He was transferred between multiple regiments early in his career before settling on 1/7 Rajputs, which became his permanent regiment.

He was the first Indian military officer to attend the Staff College, Quetta, in 1933. He also became the first Indian to command a battalion in 1942, when he took charge of the 7th Rajput Machine Gun Battalion.

He served in various staff capacities at various unit and command headquarters and also at the General Headquarters, New Delhi. He was also one of the first two Indians selected to undergo training at the Imperial Defence College in Camberley, UK, in 1947.

He received the prestigious Order of the British Empire (OBE) for his role in the Burma campaign against the Japanese during World War II. He also saw action in Iraq, Syria, and Iran during the war.

Partition and Independence

Cariappa played a crucial role during the Partition of India in 1947, when he oversaw the division of the Army assets between India and Pakistan. He also ensured that there was no communal violence among the troops during this turbulent period.

He also led the Indian forces on the Western Front during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947-48. He successfully recaptured Zojila, Drass and Kargil and established a linkup with Leh. He also defended Kashmir from Pakistani invaders and earned the nickname "Kipper" from his troops.

On 15 January 1949, Cariappa became the first Indian Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army, succeeding General Sir Roy Bucher, who was the last British officer to hold that post. He held this position until his retirement on 14 January 1953.

Kipper Cariappa

Diplomatic Career and later life

After his retirement from the Army, Cariappa served as India's High Commissioner to Australia and New Zealand from 1954 to 1956. He also remained active in public life and social causes. He advocated for environmental conservation, national integration and secularism.

He was conferred with the rank of Field Marshal on 14 January 1986 by President Zail Singh, along with Sam Manekshaw, who was his junior in service. He was also awarded the Order of the Chief Commander of the Legion of Merit by US President Harry Truman.

He died on 15 May 1993 at Bangalore, Karnataka, at the age of 94. He was survived by his son K.C. Nanda Cariappa, who also served in the Indian Army as an Air Marshal.

Legacy and honor

KM Cariappa is widely regarded as one of India's greatest military leaders and a national hero. He is remembered for his professionalism, patriotism and secularism. He is also respected for his humility, simplicity and generosity.

He has been honoured with various awards and recognitions by various institutions and organisations. Some of them are:

- A statue of him was unveiled at Coorg in 2017 by General Bipin Rawat.

- A postal stamp bearing his image was released by India Post in 1995.

- A road in Delhi was named after him as K.M. Cariappa Marg.

- A hall at Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, was named after him as Cariappa Hall.

- A bust of him was installed at Rajput Regimental Centre, Fatehgarh.

- A school in Bangalore was named after him as Field Marshal K.M. Cariappa Public School.

- A park in Mysore was named after him as Field Marshal K.M. Cariappa Park.

- A hospital in Madikeri was named after him as Field Marshal K.M. Cariappa Hospital.

KM Cariappa was a visionary leader who shaped the Indian Army into a modern and professional force. He was a role model for generations of Indian soldiers and citizens. He was truly a legend in his own lifetime. KM Cariappa is a name that every Indian should be proud of. He was a visionary leader who shaped the Indian Army into a modern and efficient force. He was also a humble and generous person who cared for his men and his country. He is an inspiration for generations of Indians who aspire to serve their nation with honor and courage.