‘In demise of CDS Gen Bipin Rawat, nation has lost a dynamic leader’

 

 

 

Disbelief. Shock. Grief. These three words in that sequence sum up the emotional state of Nagpurians when the news of General Bipin Rawat, India’s first Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), hit them like a bolt from the blue on Wednesday. Those who had the fortune of having a close association with the highly decorated General described how dynamic he was, and also recollected memories of his visits to the city. The last visit of the CDS to Nagpur came last month only. On November 15, he visited Solar Group installation and also the Headquarters Maintenance Command (HQMC) of the Indian Air Force (IAF). During the visit, General Bipin Rawat attended the demonstrations of prototypes of Weaponised Drones (Hexacopter) and Loitering Munitions at Solar Industries facility. General Bipin Rawat, an officer decorated with PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, YSM, SM, VSM, ADC, took a keen interest in the products. Satyanarayan Nuwal, Chairman and Managing Director of the company; Manish Nuwal, Executive Director, and other officials were present during the live demonstrations. Recollecting that visit, Satyanarayan Nuwal said that the news of General Bipin Rawat and his wife getting killed in chopper crash came as a big shock. “I have no words to express my feelings. It is a very very unfortunate incident.

 

It is a great loss to the nation,” he said. According to Nuwal, his interaction with the CDS revealed that the latter was very aggressive about ‘Make in India’ initiative in Defence sector. “He was active in implementing reforms in Defence sector. In his demise, India has lost an officer deeply committed to the nation, a person with positive attitude, a staunch patriot, and a dashing and dynamic decision-making leader in Defence sector,” Nuwal added. It was only a few days ago that Satyanarayan Nuwal had an interaction with General Bipin Rawat. During the interaction, they discussed trial of the prototypes. The CDS told Nuwal that the trial should be conducted in high-altitude area. On his arrival in the city on November 15, the CDS was received by Air Marshal Sashiker Choudhary, Air Officer Commanding in Chief (AOC-in-C), Maintenance Command, and Major General Dinesh Hooda, General Officer Commanding (GOC) Uttar Maharashtra and Gujarat Sub Area. General Bipin Rawat had also visited the IAF Maintenance Command where Air Marshal Sashiker Choudhary briefed him on the role played by the Command to ensure all-time serviceability of different kinds of aircrafts and the IAF equipment. During that briefing also, he took a keen interest in knowing about the initiatives aimed at self-reliance. Earlier also, General Bipin Rawat had visited the city.

 

Then, he was the Chief of Army Staff. On January 5, 2019, he had graced the 23rd Annual Day celebrations of Bhonsala Military School (BMS) at Kasturchand Park here. In his inspiring address to the cadets of the school, he had said, “This is the beginning of a journey for you. The future of the country rests on your abilities, whose foundation has been laid in school. One may acquire Knowledge through various sources including books, Internet etc. However, Education is acquired through culture, traditions, and rich values. History is replete with role-models. All of them shared the qualities of hard work and discipline, and got good guidance.” Devendra Fadnavis, the then Chief Minister; Chandrasekhar Bawankule, the then Guardian Minister of district; Lt Gen (retd) Dr D B Shekatkar PVSM AVSM VSM, President of All India Governing Board of Central Hindu Military Education Society (CHMES) that runs BMS; Suryaratan Daga, President of CHMES; Shailesh Joglekar, Chairman of BMS Nagpur; and Prof Dilip Delgaonkar, Secretary of the Governing Body of CHMES; Kumar Kale, Secretary of CHMES; Col J S Bhandari, Commandant of BMS Nagpur; also had shared the dais. During a very brief interaction with mediapersons after the function, General Bipin Rawat had disclosed for the first time that the Indian Army was preparing for ‘non-contact warfare’. The statement assumed significance as he had initiated four studies for transforming the Indian Army into a better agile fighting force. In the network-centric environment, use of unmanned combat aerial vehicles, unmanned ground and sea vehicles, directed energy weapons, robotics etc were being talked about in reference to ‘non-contact warfare’.

 

 ‘Jung ka ek hi usool hain - Jeet!’ Nagpur is fortunate to have got a big pool of military veterans with diverse experience. Among them are people like Brigadier (retd) S V Gaopande, President of Purva Sainik Seva Parishad, Vidarbha Prant, who once served in the same battalion as General Bipin Rawat did. Brig (retd) S V Gaopande was a Lieutenant and General Bipin Rawat was a Captain in 5/11 Gorkha Rifles Battallion in Harsil sector in the then Uttar Pradesh (now in Uttarakhand). It was in 1982-83. “My deepest condolences with the families of the persons who died in this tragic chopper crash at Coonoor. The CDS was one of the most upright officers from Gorkha Rifles Battalion. His level of combat experience was the highest, in all sectors in India. He was DGMO too. He was rock solid but down-to-earth, resolute person who pushed through massive Defence reforms, theatre command to name a few. His 43 years of military service has always India first, and he died serving India,” Brig (retd) S V Gaopande told ‘The Hitavada’. In one of the meetings two years ago, Brig (retd) Gaopande recalled, General Bipin Rawat had said, “Jung ka ek hi usool hain, Jeet! (In conflict, there is only one outcome, and that is, Victory!). We will do all that is possible to achieve that.” The CDS was a ground soldier and was also like a parachute. “He was always open to views from one and all. He was senior to me by 6-8 months. We always knew that one day he would head the esteemed organisation -- the great Indian Army. He did that. I salute to the departed soul of General Bipin Rawat,” Brig (retd) Gaopande added. 

 

He was simple, but tough officer’ Kishan Sharma, acclaimed Stage Compere and former Senior Announcer of Vividh Bharati (All India Radio), knew the CDS General Bipin Rawat for some years and had met him last at Rashtrapati Bhavan. Sharma recalled that General Bipin Rawat was a simple but tough Army officer. Recalling the meeting with the CDS at Rashtrapati Bhavan in Delhi, Sharma said that they were sipping tea along with the Chiefs of the Indian Army, the Indian Air Force, and the Indian Navy. General Bipin Rawat asked Sharma if he could arrange some musical programmes on the borders for the Army. Such programmes were being presented in the earlier days with film stars, under the leadership of actor-producer-politician Sunil Dutt and his Ajanta Arts group, some of which were compered by Sharma. “I told him that the present lot of top film stars, singers, music directors and musicians would not agree to participate in any programme without remuneration and five-star comforts and facilities, which are impossible on the tough border posts,” Sharma said. In response, General Bipin Rawat said, “You must talk to some of them. We will also try, if we could get some sponsorship.” Later, Sharma got a call from the CDS’ office to get some more information about the expected expenditure and facilities required. “We had to drop the idea for the time being because of COVID-19 pandemic. But, I cannot forget his initiative for the well-being of troops. I will miss him throughout my life,” Sharma stated in a condolence message.