FIELD MARSHAL K.M. CARIAPPA, OBE
Kodandera Madappa Cariappa
was, for generations of Indians, the epitome of military leadership. As the
country's first Indian Commander-in-Chief of the Army, he laid the foundations
of the modern Indian Army. Kipper, as he was affectionately called, was a
'pucca' sahib, even more than the British themselves. Though many Indians
considered him a WOG (Westernised Oriental Gentleman), he was fiercely
patriotic. Known for his iron discipline, integrity and forthright views, Kipper had many
admirers. However, what he was known for
best was his love for the Indian soldier, or 'jawan'. No wonder, the
troops loved and worshipped him. For a military leader, there can be no greater
approbation.
Kipper was born on 28
January 1900, at Madikeri (Mercara), in Kodavu (Coorg), a small state on the
Western coast of South India. It is a picturesque region, known for its coffee
plantations, and is inhabited by the Kodagas (Coorgs), a warlike race. Cariappa
came from a family of prosperous farmers, belonging to the Kodandera clan. His
father, Madappa, was an official in the revenue department, who lived in a
house called Lime Cottage, in Madikeri. Madappa had four sons, Aiyanna,
Cariappa, Nanjappa and Bopaiah, and two daughters, the eldest being Bollu. After his schooling at the Centre School in
Madikeri, Cariappa joined the Presidency College in Madras, in 1917. While at
the College, he came to know that Indians were being selected for commissions
in the Indian Army, and would be trained in India. The British Government had
decided to open a Temporary School for Indian Cadets (TSIC), for the duration
of the War, at the Daly College, in Indore. Candidates were to be selected from
families which were loyal to the Crown, and had displayed zeal in recruitment
of soldiers for the War. The age limit was fixed as 25 years, and there was to
be a written test, followed by an interview. The period of training was not to
exceed one year, at the end of which the cadets would be granted temporary
King's Commissions. As an incentive, it was stated that these officers would be
eligible for confirmation as permanent commissioned officers, after the end of
the War. The first batch was to have 50 cadets, with another of the same size
to follow after six months.
Cariappa had always
aspired to become a soldier, and decided to apply. Of the 50 vacancies, only
one was allotted to Coorg. Out of seventy candidates who appeared, forty two
were finally selected, and granted admission. Cariappa was one of the
successful candidates, and on 1 June 1918, joined the TSIC, which was also
called the Daly Cadet College, at Indore.
At the College, Cariappa performed well. He took keen interest in all
activities, and played hockey and cricket. Being shy and reticent by nature,
his social interaction with others was limited. This could also be due to the
fact that most of the other cadets were from an aristocratic background, and
included the sons of the rulers of Indian States such as Jamnagar, Jind, Kapurthala
and Baroda. Though he could not match them in wealth and a luxurious life
style, Cariappa was able to hold his own in all activities concerned with
training. When he passed out, he was placed seventh in overall order of merit.
It was initially planned that the period of
training would be only six months. However, after the end of World War I, it was decided to extend the
training by one year. Hence, instead of December 1918, as initially planned,
the batch passed out on 1 December
1919. 39 cadets passed out, and were
granted temporary commissions. Subsequently, vide a Gazette Notification issued
on 9 September 1922, 33 were granted permanent commissions, with effect from 17
July 1920 (one died, two were found unsuitable, and three resigned). The date
of commission was decided by the War Office in order to make them junior to the
batch which had passed out from Sandhurst on 16 July 1920. In fact, 27 officers
had been commissioned into the Indian Army from Sandhurst on 17 December 1919;
104 from Wellington on 29 January 1920; and 57 from Sandhurst on 16 July 1920.
By this adjustment of their seniority, the Indian officers became junior to 188
British officers, who had passed out after them. This was done to account for
the shortfall in training, as compared to the Sandhurst trained officers, who
had undergone two and a half years training, while the Indore batch had spent
only 18 months. There were loud protests, from the affected officers, who felt
that the decision was discriminatory and unfair. Some of them even resigned in protest, and
were allowed to retire. As it happened,
Cariappa's batch was the only one to pass out from Indore, because subsequent
batches were trained at Sandhurst. Before this, nine Indians, serving in the
Imperial Cadet Corps, who had rendered service during the War, had been granted
King's Commissions, in August 1917. These were Zorawar Singh, Kunwar Amar
Singh, Aga Kasim Shah, Khan Muhammad Akbar Khan, Malik Mumtaz Muhammad Khan,
Kunwar Prithi Singh, Bala Saheb Daphle, Rana Jodha Jung Bahadur, and Kanwar
Savai Sinhji. The first batch of Indians to join Sandhurst in January 1919 had
five cadets, of which two died and one was withdrawn. The two who passed out from Sandhurst, on 16 July 1920,
were Syed Iskander Ali Mirza and Iqbal Ali Beg, but the latter did not join.
The sole survivor, Syed Iskander Ali Mirza, did not stay in the Army for long,
and was transferred to the political service.
Cariappa's first
posting was to the 2nd Battalion, the 88th Carnatic Infantry, then stationed at
Bombay. After spending just three months there, he was transferred to 2/125 Napier Rifles, which moved to
Mesopotamia in May 1920. After his return to India in June 1922, Cariappa was
again transferred, to the 7th Prince of Wales Own Dogra Regiment. The battalion
was then located at Khirgi, in Waziristan, and its main task was to keep the
Pathan tribesmen under control, and maintain law and order. Within a few months
of his arrival, Cariappa had his baptism by fire. He was leading a convoy of
twenty lorries, which was ambushed, a few miles outside the post. Cariappa
immediately rallied his men, and led an assault against the tribesmen, who were
firing from a hill top. The quick reaction resulted in the tribesmen running
away from the scene, and the convoy suffered
very little damage. By the time reinforcements arrived, Cariappa had the
situation well under control.
In 1923, the process
of Indianisation began, and two units of Cavalry (7th Light Cavalry and 16th
Cavalry), and six of Infantry (2/1 Madras Pioneers, 4/19 Hyderabad, 5/5
Mahratta Light Infantry, 1/7 Rajput, 1/14 Punjab and 2/1 Punjab) were
nominated, to which Indian officers were
to be posted. In June 1923, Cariappa was transferred to 1st Battalion the 7th Rajput Regiment
(Queen Victoria's Own Light Infantry), known in short as 1/7 Rajput (2 QVOLI),
which was one of the units thus selected, and this became his parent unit. The
battalion had just moved to Waziristan, and was employed on duties similar to
those of his erstwhile unit. Life on the Frontier was monotonous, but not free
of danger. The tribesmen were quick to exploit the slightest sign of laxity in
vigil, and the frequent skirmishes often resulted in casualties. The North West
Frontier was the best training ground for young officers, and Cariappa learned
the basics of his profession during the
three years he spent there. He developed an excellent eye for ground,
and learnt the importance of good administration, which were to stand him in
good stead in later years.
In 1925, Cariappa
decided to go on a Grand Tour. He had saved enough money, and General HQ in
Delhi not only accorded him permission, but arranged for his stay with British
units, wherever possible. Cariappa went around the World, and visited Europe,
USA, Japan, China and several other countries. He met a large number of
soldiers, as well as civilians, of different nationalities, and was able to see
for himself, the reason why some of them were far ahead, in many fields. The
trip was a great education for him, and he returned a much wiser and better
man. The battalion had moved to Fatehgarh in 1925, and for the first time in
his career, Cariappa was able to settle down. It was here that he got his nick
name, 'Kipper'. It is said that a British officer's wife found his name
difficult to pronounce, and started calling him Kipper.
As a young officer,
Cariappa took his soldiering seriously. He was a stickler, who lived by the
book, and thus rarely got into trouble. There is an interesting anecdote about
Mussourie, which was then a popular holiday resort for British officers. Once,
Cariappa applied for a few days leave, to visit the hill station. When his CO
heard about it, he told Cariappa to go somewhere else. Cariappa was surprised,
and wanted to know the reason. The 'Old Man' (an euphemism in the Army, for the
Commanding Officer, or Commander) told him that Mussourie was full of
disreputable women, and it was a regimental tradition that bachelors did not
visit the place. Cariappa took the advice seriously, and did not go to
Mussourie till after he was married, and his son was born.
During those days, life in
cantonments in peace stations was staid, and leisurely. Since these sojourns
were short, and intended as a respite from the rigorous activity on the
Frontier, officers and men tried to make the most of it. Fatehgarh was small
town, with little to offer in terms of entertainment or sight seeing. Cariappa
had plenty of time on his hands, and he utilised it by reading books on history,
tactics, and also some classics. He began to write, in military journals, and
also in newspapers. From these, he not only got some extra income, but also the
pleasure of seeing his name in print. He enjoyed music and theatre, and was an
avid fan of Prithvi Raj Kapoor, K.L. Saigal, and M.S. Subbulakshmi. Prithvi Raj Kapoor became a close friend, and
often stayed in his house, in Delhi and in Coorg, in later years.
Cariappa was a man of
frugal habits, and smoked and drank in moderation. His cigarettes were made
especially for him by a firm in England, and carried the letter 'C' on them. In
later years, he gave up cigarettes, and switched to cigars, and still later, to
a pipe. He avoided strong drinks, and consumed alcohol only during formal
functions and parties. He was very fussy about his attire, and took pride in
always appearing immaculately dressed. One could never find him dressed
casually, even in his own home. He was fastidious about punctuality, etiquette,
and table manners, and there are many stories and anecdotes about his fads,
concerning these aspects.
In those days, as it
is even now, the Staff College was considered a stepping stone to higher ranks,
in the Army. The Staff College at Camberley trained officers of the British
Army, whereas the one in Quetta had been established primarily for the Indian
Army. Once Indian officers began to get commissions, a few vacancies were
earmarked for them at Quetta, but these remained unfilled, since Indian
officers were still too junior, and none had passed the entrance examination.
In July 1931, Cariappa had been posted to HQ Peshawar District, as DAQMG. This
was a non graded staff appointment, and gave him some experience, of the
functioning of administrative staff at higher headquarters. His superiors and
colleagues urged him to appear for the Staff College examination, and offered
him guidance and coaching. Through the efforts of one of his friends, he went
to England, in January 1932, for tuition, by the Royal United Services
Institution (RUSI). He was also able to get a month's attachment with a British
battalion, the Coldstream Guards. He attended two short courses, at the Small
Arms School and the Royal Artillery School, to round off his preparation. As a
result of the hard work put in by him, Cariappa passed the entrance
examination, and became the first Indian officer to attend the course at the
Staff College, Quetta.
Cariappa's presence
on the course was regarded with some amusement, by his colleagues. British officers
treated those from the Colonies with contempt and disdain, and they were rarely
given their due. Cariappa tried to take the sarcasm and discrimination in his
stride, and rarely got into a confrontation. However, on one occasion, he spoke
up. In a large gathering, towards the end of the course, student officers were
invited to comment on the course, and suggest improvements. Cariappa felt that
the number of vacancies for Indian officers at the Staff College was too small.
This would deprive a large number of deserving Indians from attending the
course. In the ultimate analysis, it would affect the quality of the Imperial
Army, and may prove to be their undoing in a major war. Everyone, including the
Commandant, was stunned by these remarks, and the audacity of the Indian
officer.
Afterwards, Cariappa
was called by the Commandant, and told that his remarks seemed to be
politically motivated. He was advised to broaden his views, and think in terms
of the Army as a whole, rather than 'Indianisation,' which showed a narrow
vision. After the course, Cariappa asked for an appointment at the India House
in London, or the War Office, but this was not accepted. He joined his unit at
Kohat in 1934, for a third tenure of regimental service on the North West Frontier.
After successful
completion of the staff course, officers were normally given staff appointments, since they carried higher
emoluments. Cariappa also tried for a staff job, which he deserved. It was two
years before he was posted as Staff
Captain, in March 1936, to Deccan Area, in Secunderabad. It was a non graded
appointment, but Cariappa did not complain. Finally, in 1938, he was promoted
Major, and appointed DAA & QMG in the same HQ. In 1939, when World War II
started, he was posted as Brigade Major to 20 Indian Brigade, in Derajat. One
cannot help making a comparison between Cariappa and Thimayya. Both joined the
Army at a time when very few Indians held commissioned rank, and discrimination
between them and their British colleagues, in promotions and appointments, was
quite well known, though not officially sanctioned. Thimayya always rebelled
against such discrimination, and mostly got what he wanted. On the other hand,
Cariappa rarely displayed any ambition, and accepted whatever came his way.
While at Secunderabad,
Cariappa was married, in March 1937, to Muthu Machia, the daughter of a forest
officer. Like him, she was a Kodavu (Coorg), and also well educated and
sociable. At that time, Cariappa was still a Captain. He was thirty seven years
old, and his wife almost half his age, at twenty. Muthu was a very beautiful
woman, and known as the Ava Gardner of Coorg. They had a few years of wedded
bliss, and two children, a son and a daughter. Their son, K.C. Cariappa,
affectionately called Nanda, was born on 4 January 1938, followed by their
daughter Nalini, on 23 February 1943. Nanda later joined the Indian Air Force,
and rose to the rank of Air Marshal. Cariappa and Muthu were an ill matched
pair, and before long, cracks begin to appear in their marriage. Cariappa's
frequent transfers, coupled with his total involvement with his profession,
resulted in the distance between them growing larger, and Muthu began to feel
neglected. She was an extrovert, fond of parties and dances, while Cariappa had
no time for such trivialities. They started living apart, and she turned to
drink, to assuage her resentment and pain. The alienation turned into
bitterness, and in September 1945, they separated. There was no formal divorce
- Muthu simply left the children in his house, and began living with a friend.
She did not live long, and died three years later, in an accident. Cariappa
never remarried, and preferred to live alone, with his children. In later
years, his sister, Bolu Chengappa, or her daughter, Sagari, often stayed with
him, to act as his official hostess, when he was the C-in-C, in Delhi, and
later High Commissioner in Australia.
In 1939, the
Government, in response to the demand of a large section of Indians, and heated
discussions in the Assembly as well as the Council of States, formed the
Committee on the Indianisation of the Officer Ranks of the Indian Army. The
Skeen Committee, as it came to be known, issued a long questionnaire to
officers commissioned after 1919, asking for their views on the progress of
Indianisation. A large number of officers were called as witnesses, to give
evidence before the Committee. One of them was Major K.M. Cariappa, who was
called in June 1939, as the 26th witness. He was then the senior Indian officer,
with 19 years service, and the Committee held detailed discussions with him,
over several days.
Cariappa was not
satisfied with the pace of Indianisation, and stated this in no uncertain
terms. In the last 20 years, only 250 Indians had been granted commissions,
including the King's Commissioned Indian Officers (KCIOs) from Sandhurst, and
the Indian Commissioned Officers (ICOs) from Dehradun. He felt that the ICOs
made better regimental officers, and were better suited to the Indian Army than
KCIOs. As to the type of entry, he felt that the 'O' (open) entry cadets were much better than
the other two - the 'A' cadets who came from the ranks, and the 'S' cadets who
came from State Families. The latter provided a back door entry to those who
could not get admission through open competition, and resulted in the induction
of officers of lower quality and higher age group, who would have to be wasted
out, and could not aspire for command of a battalion.
Cariappa was also
against the 8 Unit Scheme, and called it segregation. These units were top
heavy, with the British officers being very senior, and the Indians all very
junior. This precluded the development of camaraderie and harmonious relations
between officers. What was worse, these units were considered inferior, and
looked down upon, not only in the Army, but also by civilians. "There are
too many critical eyes set on these units, and naturally so - but is it fair on
the young Indians? In these circumstances, they will have to be 100 per cent perfect
to be considered average - quite an
impossibility," he said.
When questioned
about the poor response from the public for entry of good cadets, Cariappa
stated that it was due to lack of education about career prospects in the Army.
When asked what could be done to improve matters, he said,"... no
Indian had as yet been placed in a
position of responsibility to demonstrate whether he can run the show properly
or not." Another point which was discussed was the use of ICOs to replace
Viceroy's Commissioned Officers (VCOs), as platoon commanders, unlike the
KCIOs, who became company officers. Cariappa felt that this was similar to
using a Rolls Royce in place of a Ford car. He also had very strong feelings
about the difference in rates of pay of KCIOs and ICOs. Other anomalies were
overseas allowance, marriage allowance etc, to which only KCIOs were entitled.
The ICO, who was drawing less than half the pay of the KCIO, had to dine in the
same mess, and pay the same charges, which was definitely a severe drain on his
finances. All this, coupled with the ICOs being made to carry out tasks which
only VCOs are made to do in non Indianised units, gave them a feeling that they
were inferior to KCIOs, he stated. The Skeen Committee adjourned on 24 August
1939, and could never reassemble, due to outbreak of World War II. However, the
records of its deliberations make interesting reading, and give an insight into
Cariappa's mind, and the opinions he held at that time.
In January 1941, Cariappa
was posted as DAQMG of 10 Indian Division, which was then in Iraq. The GOC was
'Bill' Slim, and he was overjoyed when Cariappa joined his staff in Baghdad.
World War II had begun, and he spent the next one year in Iraq, Iran, Syria,
and in North Africa. While they were in Syria, the division was advancing
through a town called Derazar. The Mayor came to meet Cariappa, and asked him
if he could let the women out. On enquiry, he revealed that having heard
rumours about the way Indians treated women, he had ordered them all to stay
indoors. Cariappa was amused, and also angry. With indignation, he told the
Mayor that Indians never misbehaved with women, and if there was any such
instance, strict action would be taken against the offenders. The Mayor left,
and returned after a few days, to apologise. As Cariappa had predicted, there
was not a single case of misbehaviour with women, involving Indian troops.
In March 1942,
Cariappa was posted as second-in-command of 7 Rajput Machine Gun Battalion,
which was a new raising, at Fatehgarh. On 15 April 1942, he was promoted Lieut
Colonel, and given command of the battalion.
He became the first Indian to command a battalion, in the Indian Army.
In a way, his promotion was a sign that the British had finally 'accepted'
Indians, in the officer cadre. The way was now open for Indians to reach the
top echelons of the military, and Cariappa's appointment was widely acclaimed,
not only by his compatriots, but several Englishmen, including Slim, who was
now commanding 15 Corps, which had just retreated from Burma. Major (later
General) Maharaj Rajendra Sinhji, who had been commissioned into the 2nd
Lancers from Sandhurst on 14 July 1921, and was destined to succeed Cariappa as
the C-in-C in 1953, wrote: ".....VCs, DSOs are a flash in the pan. A bit
of luck, and there it is. But the command of a battalion is not mere
luck."
Cariappa's battalion
comprised Muslims and Rajputs, in the ranks. Among officers, two thirds were
British, and one third Indian. The unit was equipped with Vickers machine guns,
which required considerable skill in handling. A battalion under raising has to
start from scratch, not only in terms of administration and training, but in
building up esprit de corps. Cariappa soon welded his men into an
effective fighting force. He was a hard task master, and always on his feet,
training and motivating his troops. After three months, the unit was
redesignated as 52 Rajput, and moved to Lahore, as part of 43
Indian Armoured Division. It was converted into an Armoured Corps unit, and its
machine guns were replaced by tanks. But this did not last long, and within two
months, they were reverted to Infantry, redesignated 17/7 Rajput, and moved to
Secunderabad, in the Deccan. With two conversions, and two moves within as many
months, the unit and the CO were not only confused, but tired, and breathed a
sigh of relief when they reached Secunderabad.
On 1 April 1943,
Cariappa handed over command of his battalion, and proceeded to HQ Eastern
Command, as AQMG. Though he had been given command of a battalion, he would
miss the opportunity to lead it in battle, against the Germans or the Japanese.
Several other Indians, such as Rajendra Sinhji, Nathu Singh, Thimayya, Thorat,
and Sen had this chance. Thimayya even
commanded a brigade, in Burma. As result, Cariappa could not earn a decoration,
as most of the others did. This was a pity, and Cariappa remained bitter at the
injustice, though he accepted it, as always.
As AQMG, in Eastern
Command, Cariappa was involved with logistics, of several formations, including
the Fourteenth Army, now being commanded by Slim. He was not very happy,
cooling his heels in a staff job, while most others were on active service. He
knew that battle experience was essential, not only for personal improvement,
but also for further promotion. In August 1943, the South East Asia Command was
formed, and the Fourteenth Army was placed under its command. There were
several changes, and Cariappa volunteered to serve in an active formation. He
was posted as AQMG, 26 Indian Division, then located near Buthidaung, in Burma. It was a staff
job, but at least it was on the battle front. The division was being commanded
by Major General C.E.N. Lomax, who was in fact junior to Cariappa. It was in
the thick of fighting, and was instrumental in pushing the Japanese back from
the Arakan. Cariappa did an excellent job, and was awarded the Order of the
British Empire (OBE), for his services. Though it could not be compared to a DSO, or an MC,
which were awarded for gallantry, it was some compensation for his efforts.
On 1 November 1944,
Cariappa was promoted to the rank of Brigadier. However, instead of being given
command of a brigade, which he expected, and deserved, he was posted as a
member of the Reorganisation Committee. Cariappa protested to the Military
Secretary, but to no avail. Again, one cannot help but make a comparison with
Thimayya, who raised a shindy and offered to resign when told that he was not
being sent back to his brigade, after recovering from sickness; he got back his
command, though he was only officiating as a brigade commander. Cariappa did
not believe in making an issue of personal matters, such as promotion or
posting. If he could get what he wanted by using the laid down channels, it was
good enough. If he could not, he accepted it, like a good soldier.
Cariappa spent about
a year on the Reorganisation Committee, which had six British and one Indian
officer, with Lieut General Sir Henry Wilcox as the Chairman. He was stationed
at Delhi, and had an opportunity to see, at close quarters, the working of
General Headquarters, and the Viceroy's Secretariat. This was to prove
invaluable, when he took over as C-in-C, after four years. It also gave an
opportunity to the British hierarchy, which included Lord Wavell, the Viceroy,
and Field Marshal Auchinleck, the
C-in-C, to assess Cariappa. The Committee was the brainchild of Auchinleck, who
knew that after the war, there would be a need to reorganise the Army. He
wanted the Committee to make a perspective plan for the next 15 to 20 years,
catering for Indianisation of the Army. When the report was submitted, it was
found that only 50 per cent Indianisation
had been recommended, and that too by 1960. The Viceroy's Commissioned
Officer (VCO), peculiar to the Indian Army, was also to go. Cariappa did not
agree with these recommendations, and recorded his dissent. Auchinleck was also
unhappy with the report, and felt it had not examined the issues in sufficient
depth. In the event, before any action could be taken on the report, events had
overtaken the issue, and instead of reorganisation, the Indian Army had to
undergo division, along with the country.
In November 1945,
Cariappa was finally given command of a brigade. He was posted as Commander of
the Bannu Frontier Brigade, in Waziristan. Having served in the NWFP as a young
officer, Cariappa was conversant with the terrain, as well as the habits of the
Pathan tribesmen who lived in the area. He had seen that the British policy of
trying to keep them under control by force had not succeeded, and resolved to
try a different method. He decided to win the hearts and minds of the
tribesmen, by extending a hand of friendship. He knew that they were warm and
hospitable, if treated with respect, and as equals.
One day, while passing
through a village, he saw a group of Pathan women carrying pitchers of water.
When he found that they had to fetch water daily from another village, four
miles away, he immediately ordered a well to be dug near their own village. The
Pathans were overwhelmed by this gesture, and started calling him 'Khalifa'.
Later, when the region was torn by communal strife, Bannu remained a haven of
peace, thanks to the goodwill generated by Cariappa. When Jawahar Lal Nehru
visited Bannu, as Head of the Interim Government, Cariappa organised a public
meeting, which was attended by all tribal leaders. Next day, when he visited
Razmak, where another brigade was stationed,
Nehru was fired upon by the tribesmen, and the visit had to be called
off. Nehru was impressed by Cariappa's leadership qualities and rapport with
the tribesmen.
Alongwith his efforts to
win over the locals, Cariappa paid due attention to the living conditions of
his troops. He improved medical and canteen facilities for the men, and ensured
that they were given adequate opportunity for games and entertainment. One of
his innovations was establishing separate messes for VCOs. After Independence,
VCOs were redesignated as Junior Commissioned Officers (JCOs). Cariappa, as the
first Indian C-in-C, retained the system of separate messes for JCOs, started
by him in Bannu. These exist even today.
In February 1946, he
was appointed Presiding Officer of one
of the General Court Martials constituted to try members of the Indian National
Army (INA). Before the trial, he visited some of the detention camps, where the
prisoners were lodged. He found them full of rancour and hatred against the
British, for treating them badly, and holding them without trial. Cariappa was
pained by their plight, and wrote to the Adjutant General, requesting him to
expedite the trials. He also recommended that some of them, such as Shah Nawaz
Khan, G.S. Dhillon, and P.K. Sehgal, should be pardoned. Cariappa pointed out
that there was considerable amount of sympathy and support for the prisoners
among the political leaders, who would, at a later date, be ruling the country.
He felt that their attitude towards the Indian Army would be affected by the
treatment given to the INA prisoners, and this must be considered by the
Government. It would be fair to assume that the British decision to let off
most of the prisoners, was prompted as much by the impassioned pleas of
soldiers, such as Cariappa and Nathu Singh, as it was by the strong reaction
from the general public, and the political leaders.
Notwithstanding his
feelings, Cariappa performed his duties on the Court Martial without fear or
favour. One of the officers tried by his court was Captain Burhanuddin, of 2/10
Baluch Regiment. He was found guilty, and Cariappa announced the sentence of 7
years rigorous imprisonment. After this, he went up to the accused, and shook
hands with him, as well as his counsel. There were raised eye brows, and
Cariappa was later called by the Adjutant General, to explain his conduct. Cariappa thought he
had done nothing wrong. He said," I sentenced him as the President of the
Court, and shook hands with him as a gentleman."
In January 1947, he
was sent to UK, to attend the Imperial Defence College, along with J.N.
Chaudhuri, who was only a Colonel. This was the first time Indian officers had
been sent on this prestigious course, and was the result of the foresight of
Auchinleck. The 'Auk' knew that the British would be leaving India soon, and
appreciated the necessity of training Indian officers to fill senior
appointments in the Government and the Army. Cariappa's old commander, and
mentor, Bill Slim, was the Commandant of the Imperial Defence College. He saw
Cariappa as the future C-in-C of the Indian Army, and often invited him for
discussions on the situation then unfolding in the sub continent.
At the Imperial
Defence College, Cariappa was exposed to a much wider canvas, than he had been
used to. He realised that officers of the Indian Army had a long way to go,
before they could achieve the levels of those from the developed nations.
During this time, there was a lot of talk of India, and the Indian Army, being
divided. Cariappa, realising the dangers
of dividing the Army, and the lack of experience of officers, at senior levels,
made a statement that it would take at least five years before the Indian Army
could stand on its feet, without the help of British officers. This was picked
up by the press, and caused a furore in India. Liaquat Ali Khan, of the Muslim
League, felt that Cariappa's intentions, in keeping an undivided Army, were
suspect, and took up the issue with Mountbatten. Cariappa was summoned to India
House, in London, where Lord Ismay, Mountbatten's Chief of Staff, was present.
Cariappa clarified that he had made the suggestion only because he felt that an
undivided Army could help the two newly independent nations in getting over
their teething problems. He was admonished, told to knock the idea out of his
mind, and not to mention it again. In a telegram to Mountbatten, on 4 May 1947,
Ismay wrote: "It is hard to know whether Cariappa in putting forward
his idea was ingenious and ignorant or disingenious and dangerous, or
both."
Cariappa took the
advice, and did not talk about it again. In fact, he was not the only one who
felt this way. Brigadier Nathu Singh, of his own regiment, had already taken up
this matter with the Defence Minister, Sardar Baldev Singh, several months
earlier. Cariappa could not complete the course, as he was recalled in July, to
supervise the reorganisation of the Army, before Partition. Immediately on his
return, he wrote to Nehru, making another fervent appeal to prevent the
division of the Army. Nehru's reply was non committal. On one occasion, he
collared Jinnah at a social function, and told him categorically that if the
Army was split, both India and Pakistan would be vulnerable to outside attack.
Jinnah laughed it off, saying that if this happened, both countries would get
together and face the enemy.
On 15 August 1947, the day
India became independent, Cariappa was promoted Major General, and appointed
Deputy Chief of General Staff, at Army HQ. He saw, from close at hand, the
traumatic events which followed the partition of the country. The Indian Army
was partitioned also, and there was considerable wrangling and heart burning
over the division of regiments, military establishments, and weaponry. But
worse was to follow. On 22 October 1947, hordes of Pakistani tribesmen entered
Kashmir. After dithering for a few days, the Maharaja signed the Instrument of
Accession on 26 October, and Indian troops were airlifted to Srinagar, just
before the raiders could capture the town. Then began the long and difficult
struggle to drive them out of Kashmir.
In November 1947,
Cariappa took over as GOC-in-C Eastern Command, relieving Lieut General Sir
Francis Tuker. He remained at Ranchi for just over a month. As the Kashmir
situation worsened, he was moved to replace Lieut General Dudley Russel, who
resigned as GOC-in-C, Delhi and East Punjab (DEP) Command, in January 1948,
after he was denied entry to Kashmir, which formed part of his command. HQ DEP
Command was then located at Delhi, and one of Cariappa's first acts was to rename
it as Western Command. He soon took control of the situation, and selected
Thimayya to replace Kalwant Singh, as GOC JAK Force, which was renamed as SRI
Division (later 19 Division), at Srinagar. Atma Singh was appointed GOC of
Jammu Division (later 25 Division), at Jammu. Cariappa also moved his own HQ to
Jammu, and raised a Corps HQ, at Udhampur, under Shrinagesh, to command all
operations in Jammu and Kashmir.
Cariappa had some of his finest hours during the
Kashmir operations. Operation KIPPER, for the capture of Naushera and Jhangar,
was planned by him, and succeeded. This was followed by Operation EASY, for the
link up with Punch, and Operation BISON,
for the capture of Zojila, Dras and Kargil. If he had been given additional
troops, and the necessary permission, he would have succeeded in pushing the
Pakistanis out of Kashmir, for which plans had been made. Unfortunately, this
did not come about, due to the intervention of the United Nations, after an
appeal by India. Characteristically, Nehru took the decision to appeal to the
UN Security Council without consulting the Armed Forces.
India's report to
the UN Security Council was lodged on 1
June 1948, under Article 35 of the UN Charter. On 15 June, Pakistan replied to
the UN, denying that she was aiding the raiders. After several meetings, the
Security Council adopted a resolution on 21 April 1948, calling for a cease
fire, a plebiscite, and the appointment of a commission. Both India and
Pakistan rejected the resolution, but agreed to receive the commission. The
United Nations Commission for India and Pakistan (UNCIP) was then formed. The
UNCIP adopted a resolution, asking both countries to agree to a cease fire, and
conclude a truce agreement, for further consultations for a plebiscite. India
accepted this resolution, while Pakistan refused.
On 6 July 1948, Army
HQ issued instructions that no major operations were to be undertaken without
their sanction. Cariappa was told to concentrate on stabilising the existing
positions, and not to expect any additional troops, as none could be spared,
keeping in mind the Hyderabad operations, and overall situation in the country. Cariappa protested
that such a defensive policy would be harmful, since the enemy was on the
offensive in Tithwal, Punch, and Hajipir pass. There was a threat to Leh, and
if this fell, Kargil could be reinforced, posing a serious threat to the
Kashmir valley. He pleaded for continuing the offensive operations, for the
capture of Kargil, Domel, and Mirpur,
and asked for two additional brigades. With great reluctance, he was given
permission only for the advance to Kargil, and allotted a brigade for the task.
To make matters worse, the Indian Air Force was forbidden to attack
installations near the border, to avoid reports from the UNCIP.
Considering the
restrictions placed on him by his own Government, and the lack of support, in
terms of troops, it is indeed commendable that Cariappa succeeded in achieving
what he did. Due to political considerations, a defensive policy was imposed on
the Army. That he did not allow this to be transformed into a defensive
mentality was a major achievement. As a result of the defensive policy, India
lost several key objectives, in Uri and Tithwal sectors. Since the road to
Ladakh could not be opened till Zojila, Dras and Kargil were captured, Cariappa
decided to do so, on his own. In disobeying orders, which forbade all offensive
operations, he took a grave risk. But had he not done so, Ladakh may not have
been part of India today. As it happened, these key objectives were captured,
after a brilliant manouevre, including the use of tanks, for the first time, at
such altitudes. The country owes an eternal debt to Cariappa, for the risks he
took. If he had failed, it would have ended his career.
There are several
incidents during the Kashmir operations which give an insight into Cariappa's
character. He was utterly fearless, and was a frequent visitor to the front
lines. Once, he was going from Srinagar to Uri. Brigadier L.P. 'Bogey' Sen, who
was driving the jeep, suggested that they should remove the flag and star
plates, since they were likely to be sniped at by the enemy. Cariappa refused, saying that it would be bad
for the morale of the men, if they saw the Army Commander travelling without a
flag, out of fear. Soon enough, they came under sniper fire, but fortunately,
no one was hurt. Cariappa remarked that these could not be genuine tribesmen.
The ones he knew from his days on the Frontier were not such poor marksmen. On
his return journey, the Pathans fired at his jeep again, and managed to
puncture his tyre, but Cariappa was unperturbed. On another visit to Tithwal,
he showed a similar disregard for enemy fire. He climbed a hill which was under
observation of the enemy's artillery, and stood in full view of the enemy, his
red tabs and peak cap with the red band on, much to the distress of the local
commander. Within minutes of his moving away, a shell landed at the exact spot
where he had been standing. Cariappa remained unruffled, and made light of the
incident, remarking that even the enemy shell respected a general.
Soon after taking over as
Army Commander, he visited Naushera, which was held by 50 Parachute Brigade, commanded by Brigadier
Mohd Usman. Cariappa told Usman that he wanted a present from him. When Usman
asked him what he wanted, Cariappa said, "I want you to capture Kot."
This feature overlooked the Naushera Tavi valley, and was the key to the
defences of Naushera. Usman readily
accepted the task assigned by his Army Commander, and captured the feature.
When the town was attacked by the
raiders a few days later, Kot was held by Indian troops, and played a major
role in the successful defence of Naushera. Cariappa had spent many years in the
North West Frontier Province, and had a good eye for the ground. He appreciated
the tactical importance of Kot as soon
as he saw it.
Another quality which
Cariappa possessed was broad mindedness. He treated all troops the same, and
was utterly free of any parochial feelings. After the battle of Naushera, he
visited 1 Rajput, which had suffered heavy casualties, and won several
decorations. When he was shaking hands with the officers and JCOs, who had been
lined up to meet him, the CO, Lieut Colonel
Guman Singh said, "Sir, this is your battalion," since
Cariappa was from the Rajput Regiment. Cariappa replied, "All the troops here are mine too." During the same period, Air Commodore Mehar
Singh performed the unique feat of landing a Dakota packed with weapons at
Punch, at night. A few months later, he landed
a Dakota at Leh, with Thimayya on
board. Cariappa personally recommended Mehar Singh for a Maha Vir Chakra (MVC),
and made sure he got it. Strangely enough, the Air Force brass were not very
happy with 'Baba' Mehar, and he got no promotion after this.
When India became
independent, on 15 August 1947, Field Marshal Claude Auchinleck was appointed
the Supreme Commander, and General Sir Rob Lockhart became C-in-C Indian Army.
On the request of the Government of India, several British officers agreed to
serve, for another few years, in critical appointments. On 1 January, 1948,
General Sir Roy Bucher had taken over as C-in-C Indian Army. His one year
engagement was to expire in January 1949, and the Government decided that he
should be replaced by an Indian. At that time, the three senior most officers
were Cariappa, Rajendra Sinhji, and Nathu Singh. All three were lieutenant
generals, and Army Commanders. Rajendra Sinhji was a year junior, but six months older than Cariappa. Nathu Singh was two and a half years junior,
in service as well as age. Being senior, Cariappa should have been the natural
choice for the appointment of C-in-C, but this was not so. In fact, Sardar
Baldev Singh, the Defence Minister in the Interim Government in 1946, had
informed Nathu Singh, who was then just a brigadier, that he had been selected
to be the first Indian C-in-C. Cariappa and Nathu Singh were from the same
regiment, but there was little in common between them, including their views
about the British. Nathu Singh is reported to have declined the offer, as he
felt that Cariappa had a better claim for the job. In 1948, the most serious
contender was Rajendra Sinhji, who came from a princely family of Gujarat. He
had an impressive war record, and had won the DSO. The reason for some people
not favouring Cariappa for the coveted appointment was that he was considered
too strong and outspoken, apart from being 'anglicised'. There was also some
criticism of his fraternising with Pakistani officers. Whenever he visited
Pakistan, he stayed with his erstwhile colleagues, and they did the same when
they visited India. This naturally raised hackles in certain quarters, and led
some people to even doubt his nationalism. Fortunately, Cariappa's merit and
seniority along with the support of his colleagues won the day. Rajendra Sinhji
also declined the coveted appointment, in deference to Cariappa, and on 4
December 1948, the Government announced that Cariappa would be the next
C-in-C.
On 15 January 1949,
Cariappa succeeded General Roy Bucher, as Chief of Army Staff and
Commander-in-Chief, Indian Army. (The designation Commander-in-Chief was
discontinued, from 1 April, 1955). At precisely 9 a.m., Cariappa entered the
office of the C-in-C, in South Block. General Sir Roy Bucher, welcomed him, and
led him to his chair. They shook hands, and then General Bucher left. There was
no other ceremony. Cariappa was wearing the badges of rank of a full general, and
was 13 days short of his 49th birthday. After almost 200 years of British rule,
an Indian had finally assumed command of the Indian Army, and to mark this
historic occasion, 15 January became the official Army Day, in India.
Soon after he took over as
C-in-C, Nehru told Cariappa that one of
his important tasks was to bring the Army closer to the people. During British
rule, the Army had been an instrument of power, and had been deliberately kept
insulated from the public. Cariappa agreed with Nehru's views, and took several
measures in this direction. The National Cadet Corps had already been formed,
in October 1948, but it was Cariappa who gave it his whole hearted support,
during its formative years. It was due to his efforts that the Territorial Army was established, in 1949.
Cariappa also did away with the concept of martial races, and within two weeks
of his taking over, fixed percentages for recruitment were abolished, and it
was opened to all classes. However, this was made applicable only to new
raisings, and older units were not disturbed. The Brigade of Guards, which was
raised, in August 1949, was open to all classes. It was an elite force, of hand
picked men, modelled on the Coldstream Guards, in UK, with whom Cariappa had
been attached, in 1932. Four of the senior most battalions of the Indian Army
were converted to Guards, which was made the senior most regiment, of
Infantry.
At Independence, India had
three parachute battalions, but there was no parachute regiment. In 1952, the
Parachute Regiment came into being. Cariappa was not a paratrooper, but had a
lot of admiration and respect for them. During a visit to Agra in 1950, he
witnessed a jump. On his return to Delhi, he asked Major General H.J.
Wilkinson, the Director of Military Training, to draw up a programme for his
pre jump training, followed by a jump. There was consternation, in Army HQ, and
Major General Sharma, the Director of Medical Services, was given the task of
convincing the Chief that it was not advisable. Cariappa refused to listen to
his medical adviser. Next day, Wilkinson again tried, but failed to persuade
him to change his mind. Finally, he told Cariappa that in case there was an
accident, that would mean the end of his career, and he would not be able to
accomplish all that he wanted as C-in-C. This convinced Cariappa, and he
dropped the idea.
Cariappa served as
Commander-in-Chief for four years, retiring on 14 January 1953. His greatest
achievement was keeping the Indian Army apolitical, and establishing healthy
traditions. Unlike Pakistan and Burma, which achieved independence from British
rule at about the same time, the Indian Army has stayed out of politics, even
during times of crisis. Most of the credit for this must go to Cariappa. In fact,
he refused to take back INA personnel, primarily for this reason, since he was
convinced that they would bring politics into the Army. There was a lot of
pressure on him for this, and Nehru relented only after Cariappa threatened to
resign on this issue. However, he adopted the slogan 'Jai Hind', used by the
INA, and ended all his talks with this. 'Jai Hind' soon became the Indian
Army's slogan as well as form of greeting, between men and officers. He also opposed the reservation of vacancies
for scheduled castes and tribes, when
there was talk of implementing this in the Army, as with other government
services.
Before he retired,
he visited the Rajput Regimental Centre for a farewell visit. He was
accompanied by his son and daughter. The children were driven to the
Commandant's house in a private car, and remained there, during the day long
visit. According to the mess rules, children were not permitted in the officers
mess, and Cariappa would not violate them, even if he was the Chief. On his way
to the railway station, he was surprised to find that the entire police force of the town, and a large
number of civilians, had lined up the road, to cheer him. He was really moved.
On reaching the station, he got down from his car and went inside his saloon.
Then, remembering that he had forgotten to say good bye, he came out, and found
the District Magistrate, Mr Virendra Kumar, as well as the Superintendent of
Police, Mr Ali Qadeer, on the platform. He thanked them, and after shaking
hands with everyone present, went back to the saloon.
Though he was a
staunch 'Rajput', he never did anything to favour his own regiment. In fact,
just before he retired, Major (later Colonel) Mustasad Ahmed, the Centre
Adjutant, went to Delhi to get the new regimental headgear approved. Cariappa
called him over for lunch, and while they were talking, Mustasad blurted out; "Sir,
now that you are laying down the office, we feel that you have not done
anything special for the regiment." Cariappa smiled, and remarked, "So
that is what you all think". Fifteen years later, in 1968, they met
again in Delhi. Mustasad mentioned that with the Chief being a gunner, the
Artillery was now getting the best foreign assignments. Cariappa immediately
retorted; "You remember, you once told me that I have not done anything
special for the regiment. If I had, people would be saying the same about
me."
Cariappa was known for his
indomitable character. He was always direct and straight forward in dealing
with his superiors, as well as subordinates. Above all, he was fair, and never
bent the rules, for himself, or anyone else. He did not have favourites, and
neither did he ever carry a grudge. When his appointment as C-in-C was
announced, he wanted to take Major (later Lieut General) S.K. Sinha, who was
his staff officer in HQ Western Command, to Delhi with him, as his Military
Assistant. The Military Secretary
pointed out that the appointment was tenable by a lieut colonel, a rank which
was given only after a minimum service of six and a half years, while Sinha had
just five years service. Of course, as the Chief, Cariappa could waive the
rules if he wished. When Cariappa heard this, he dropped the idea, as he did
not want to break a rule, for showing a favour to anyone, and thus setting a bad example. He sent for Sinha, and
explained the position to him, regretting his inability to appoint him to the
coveted appointment.
Another time, he visited
Madras Area, soon after taking over as
Chief. A general officer, who was a close friend, tried to informally discuss
his future employment with him. Cariappa snapped at him, "Please talk
to the Military Secretary." In fact, Cariappa was a stickler for
discipline and propriety, and even his close friends hesitated to take liberties
with him. Thimayya was related to him, and had been a colleague, during the
War, and later in Kashmir. During a visit to Srinagar, when Cariappa was the
Army Commander, he and Thimayya were travelling in the same car. Thimayya
lighted a cigarette, and had just taken his first puff when Cariappa reminded
him that smoking was prohibited in military vehicles. Thimayya immediately
snuffed out the cigarette, and continued talking, as if nothing had happened.
After some time, out of habit, he pulled out a another cigarette, but
remembering Cariappa's admonishment, put it back. Cariappa noticed this, and
asked the driver to stop, so that Thimayya could smoke.
On the day Cariappa's
appointment as C-in-C was announced, he came to the Delhi Gymkhana Club, with
the British High Commissioner, and was sitting in the balcony. There were
several Army officers present, attending a party. Brigadier Sarda Nand Singh
went up to Thimayya and suggested that they should ask the band to play 'For he
is a jolly good fellow', and he being the senior officer present, should lead
the chorus. The last thing one could accuse Thimayya was of timidity, but he
declined, saying that the Old Man may consider it an act of indiscipline!
Cariappa had a quick
temper, but like a tempest, it would blow over in no time. Even when he was
angry, he was open to reason, and willing to be corrected if he was wrong. In
1951, he visited the Rajput Regimental Centre to present the Cariappa Banner,
which was awarded to the best training company of the year. There was a doubt
whether the banner should be escorted, on parade, like the Colours. The Centre
Commandant, Colonel Guman Singh, did not believe in polite gestures, and after
consulting the orders on the subject, decided that the banner was not entitled
to an escort.
When Cariappa
arrived on parade, and saw that the banner named after him was not being
properly escorted, he went crimson with rage. The initial blast was borne by
Lieut General Thakur Nathu Singh, who was GOC-in-C Eastern Command. He in turn
gave a dressing down to the Adjutant, Major Mustasad Ahmed, who could do little
else than look at the Centre Commandant, who happened to be the Army
Commander's son-in-law. Without batting an eye lid, Guman Singh told the Chief
that he had read the rules carefully, and the banner was not entitled to an
escort. Cariappa immediately cooled down, and became his charming self.
Having donned the
mantle of independent India's first Army Chief, Cariappa was faced with a very
heavy responsibility. The politicians in power had no experience of defence
matters, since the British rulers had kept the Army insulated from public
glare. It was for Cariappa to establish a sound working relationship between
the Armed Forces, and the bureaucracy, as well as the politicians in power. He
had his problems with both. The Defence Secretary, H.M. Patel, was always
looking for opportunities to assert the supremacy of the bureaucracy, over the
Armed Forces. He once asked all three Service Chiefs to attend a conference,
which he was to chair. Since the Service Chiefs were senior, in rank, to a
secretary to the Government, Cariappa refused to attend himself, and sent his
Chief of General Staff. He advised the other two Chiefs to follow suit.
Cariappa also had his
brushes with Nehru. He had foreseen the Chinese threat, and wanted to defend
the border more effectively. In May 1951, he presented an outline plan for the
defence of the North East Frontier Agency. Nehru dismissed his plans, adding
that it was not the business of the C-in-C to tell the Prime Minister how to
defend the country. He advised Cariappa to only worry about Pakistan and
Kashmir; as far as NEFA was concerned, the Chinese themselves would defend our
frontiers! Cariappa was terribly hurt, but like a good soldier, accepted the rebuke from the Prime Minister.
In later years, he realised his mistake. If he had persisted, and corrected
Nehru's fantasies with more forceful arguments and facts, perhaps the debacle
of 1962 would not have taken place.
One of the most well
known stories about Cariappa is about his inadequate knowledge of Hindustani,
which was one reason why many people called him a 'Brown Sahib'. Soon after
Independence, during a visit to the forward areas, he had to address the
troops. He wanted to tell the troops that now the country was free, and so were
all of them. What he said was something like this. "Is waqt aap
muft, ham muft, mulk muft, sab kuchh muft hai". (The word 'muft',
in Hindustani, means free of cost, or gratis. Freedom, or liberty, is denoted
by 'azad').
Cariappa
realised that India's growing population was one of the reasons for her
backwardness, and was one of the earliest proponents of family planning. In 1951,
he wrote the forward for a book on the subject, written by Dr. Satyawati. He
also laid stress on the need to have a small family during his talks to the
men, as well as their families. During
his 'durbars', he exhorted the men to undergo vasectomy operations, for which
arrangements had been made in all military hospitals. Once, during his visit to
a hospital in Shillong, he asked a soldier what ailment he was suffering from.
The soldier replied, "from the disease you have given us."
Cariappa was surprised till it was explained that the man had just undergone a
vasectomy. On another occasion, while addressing a large gathering of Army
wives at the Family Welfare Centre at Amritsar, he said, "Mataon aur
behnon. Ham chahta hai ki aap do baccha paida karo, ek apne liye, ek mere
liye." (Mothers and
sisters. I want you to produce two children, one for your self, and one for
me.) He wanted to say that they should have two sons, one of whom should stay
with the family, and the other should join the Army.
Cariappa was a meticulous host, as well as
a guest. Even after his retirement, when he lived alone, he entered his own
drawing room fully dressed. Once when he was the Chief, Lieut General Thakur Nathu Singh, then Army
Commander of Eastern Command, was a house guest. They had both served in the
same regiment, and Nathu Singh wanted to pull Cariappa's leg. So he put on a
'kurta' and 'pyjama', and sat in the drawing room. When Cariappa entered the
room some time later, he immediately ticked off Nathu Singh, who replied that
what he was wearing was the national dress, and Cariappa had better get used to
it. Another time, after he had retired, he happened to visit Lucknow. He was
invited to dinner by Brigadier V.D. Jayal, a retired KCIO. During the dinner,
the servant served him from the right side. Cariappa corrected the servant, and
told him to do so from the left, in future. He also told Jayal that he should train his servants
properly.
Cariappa was fastidious not
only about his dress, but all aspects of mess etiquette. He was a moderate
drinker, and insisted that dinner was served by 9 p.m., so that every could be
home by 11 p.m. He was very particular about paying for his drinks, during his
tours. When he was the Chief, he once went to visit the Rajput Regimental
Centre, at Fatehgarh. After his visit, his ADC asked for a mess bill. When the
Mess Secretary declined, on the plea that the C-in-C and Colonel of the
Regiment was an honoured guest, he was told very firmly that Cariappa had given
very clear orders in this regard. If he
was invited to a mess party, or in some officer's home, he would graciously
accept the food and drinks offered by his hosts. But all expenses incurred at
his place of stay would be paid by him. The Centre Commandant, Colonel Guman
Singh, knew Cariappa, as well as his temper. He immediately had a mess bill
prepared, which was promptly paid.
Cariappa laid great stress
on personal integrity, and did not allow any incident of moral turpitude to go
unpunished. Soon after he took over as GOC-in-C Eastern Command, he ordered the
dismissal of two officers who had contracted plural marriages. After he became
C-in-C, three senior officers were asked to retire, for 'un officer like'
behaviour, and this had a salutary effect. He addressed two personal letters to
all officers, which contained guidelines on dealing with the men, and other
duties. The first letter had the Cadet's Prayer, at West Point, and all
officers had to carry copies of both in the breast pockets of their uniforms.
There can be no better
illustration of Cariappa's sterling character, than that concerning his son,
Nanda Cariappa, a fighter pilot who was shot down in Pakistan, during the 1965
War (Nanda rose to be an Air Marshal, and retired as AOC-in-C, South Western
Air Command). Field Marshal Ayub Khan sent a message to Cariappa that his son
was safe and would be well looked after. He also offered to release him, if
Cariappa desired. Cariappa replied, "I will ask no favour for my son,
which I cannot secure for every soldier of the Indian Army. Look after all of
them. They are all my sons."
Cariappa's love and affection for the
Indian 'Jawan' was well known. He often said," Our Jawans are absolute
gems." After his retirement, when he moved to Roshanara, his house in
Mercara, he had a statue of a Jawan kept on his mantlepiece, next to a
photograph of his father. Cariappa started his day by paying obeisance to both.
He never accepted any criticism of the Indian Army, or the Jawan, and was quick
to rise to their defence. He once filed defamation charges against a newspaper
which carried derogatory remarks about the Indian Army. When the Editor
apologised, and retracted the remarks, Cariappa withdrew the suit.
Though Cariappa was a
strict disciplinarian, he also had a great sense of humour, and could be
extremely charming and full of fun. One such incident was described by Harjit Malik, in a 'middle', entitled THE
GENERAL DANCED, in the Times of India, of 3 June 1993. When Cariappa was the Chief,
he went on a visit to France, where the ambassador, H.S. Malik, asked him to
stay at the embassy. When he heard that the French celebrate the Quatorze
Juillet by dancing on the streets, he expressed a desire to join the
celebrations. There was great consternation, in the embassy as well as his
staff, but Cariappa was firm.
Accompanied by the Maliks and their daughter, Harjit, the General proceeded to the Latin Quarter,
and the party luckily found an empty table at one of the pavement cafes.
Cariappa sat for a while, erect as a ramrod, looking at the thousands of
Parisiennes, dancing with gay abandon, or locked in embrace, oblivious of the
World around. Then the music, and the atmosphere, became too much, and he got
up, and asked Harjit for a dance. And soon, people saw a sedate old gentleman,
impeccably dressed, with a young girl on his arm, dancing the foxtrot, in a
crowd of long haired and scantily dressed bohemians.
Soon after his
retirement, Cariappa was offered the job of Indian High Commissioner in
Australia, by the Prime Minister, Pandit Nehru. After some deliberation, he
accepted, and sailed for Sydney in July 1953. His niece, Sagari, volunteered to
go with him, and keep house. When Cariappa arrived at Canberra, the Governor
General, Field Marshal Slim, broke protocol, and called on Cariappa at his
residence, even before he had presented his credentials.
His stay in Australia was
eventful, and soon everyone was talking of the Indian High Commissioner.
During one of his trips, he saw a war
memorial, which was not being looked after, and surrounded by bushes. Cariappa
stopped his car, walked up to the memorial, and began clearing the growth with
his own hands. Soon, a crowd had collected. The incident was widely reported in
the Press, and the Australians felt ashamed that a foreigner had to show them
how to respect their martyrs.
On another occasion, when
Cariappa was going to attend a function organised by ex servicemen, his car
broke down. Cariappa took a lift in a truck. During the journey, the truck
driver asked him who he was. When Cariappa replied that he was the Indian High
Commissioner, the driver laughed and said, "In that case I am the King
of Nepal." When they reached their destination, Cariappa thanked the driver,
saying," Thank you, Your Majesty." The driver, seeing his
hosts, realised that he had indeed been travelling with the Indian High
Commissioner, and apologised.
Cariappa's tenure in
Australia was not without controversy. Once, he made certain remarks about
Australia's white migrants policy, which favoured immigration of white races
only. This created a furore in the Press, and there were demands for his
recall, for interfering in the domestic affairs of another country. But Cariappa
remained unfazed. He knew that he was right, and his views had many supporters.
Ultimately, the Australian Government was forced to review its immigration
policy, and make it more liberal.
Cariappa returned to India
in 1956, and retired to his house, Roshanara, in Mercara, in Coorg. But he
continued to take a keen interest in all matters concerning the Army. When the
Chinese attacked India in 1962, he went to the local recruiting office, and
offered to enlist, as a soldier. In 1965, after the cease fire, he expressed a
desire to visit the troops, on the front. During his visit to 17 Rajput, the
battalion he had raised in 1942, the troops raised their war cry, after he had
spoken to them. The Pakistani battalion commander on the other side was
agitated, and asked his men to man the trenches. He then registered a strong
protest. When he was told the reason for the war cry, he immediately came
across, saluted Cariappa, and requested him to come over, so that his men could
also have a glimpse of the legendary General.
Though Cariappa had
been C-in-C of the Indian Army for four years, he was only 53 years old when he
retired. Today, the Chief retires at 60. Not only Cariappa, but several other
senior officers had very short tenures. Nathu Singh retired at the age of 51,
and Thimayya and Thorat at 55. This was one of the biggest blunders of the
Nehru Government, which insisted on keeping British officers after
Independence, on the grounds that Indian officers lacked experience. At the
same time, it allowed its most experienced officers, such as Cariappa, Nathu
Singh, Thimayya and Thorat to retire, at a very young age. In the event, the
Nation was deprived of their services when it needed them most. When the
Chinese attacked India in 1962, both Thimayya and Thorat had spent just a year
out of uniform. Who knows, if they had been still serving, the Nation would
have been spared the humiliation it suffered.
The welfare of ex
servicemen always remained Cariappa's prime concern. In 1964, he founded the
Indian Ex Servicemens League (IESL), by amalgamating the Federation and the
Association, which were rival organisations, often working at cross purposes.
He was also responsible for creation of the Directorate of Resettlement. In
1957, he took up cudgels on behalf of Major
General Tara Singh Bal, who had been unjustly retired by the Government,
and had him reinstated. Keeping the IESL free from politics was one of his
major achievements.
Cariappa also had
made a brief foray into politics, in early 1971. Convinced that the country
could not be governed by the present system of elections, he recommended that
the general elections scheduled in 1971 be cancelled, and President's rule be
imposed for a few years, keeping the Constitution in suspended animation.
Political parties were to be abolished, and Martial Law imposed in disturbed
States. Once the situation had stabilised, elections could be held, with just
two or three parties, as in UK or USA. As was expected, there was a violent
reaction from all political parties, and Y.B. Chavan, the Home Minister,
denounced in Parliament the call for 'Army Rule by an ex C-in-C'. Cariappa
wrote an angry letter to Chavan, berating him for misleading the House, and
demanded an apology, which never came.
A number of his
friends and admirers had been trying to persuade him to join politics and stand
for elections, so that he could contribute to the Nation's development. After
deep reflection, he agreed, and decided to contest foe the Lok Sabha seat from
the North East Bombay. Lieut General S.P.P. Thorat, and several other retired
officers came forward to assist him in his campaign, in addition to several
well known industrialists and the erstwhile Maharaja of Mysore. Cariappa
declined to join any political party, and stood as an independent candidate.
Unfortunately, two of his opponents were V.K. Krishna Menon and Acharya J.B.
Kripalani, both veterans and political heavy weights. Cariappa, though widely
respected, was a novice in the rough and tumble world of politics. He refused
to use money or muscle, to get votes, and in his campaign speeches, talked of
honour, integrity and probity, which seemed unintelligible to his audiences.
Most of them came to his meetings with a sense of amusement, and laughed at his
'fauji Hindustani', which few in Bombay could comprehend. Not surprisingly, he
lost, and came a poor third, behind his two seasoned opponents, who had several
decades of experience, backed by the resources of their respective political
parties. Apart from lack of experience, he went wrong in the choice of his
constituency. If he had stood from his native Coorg, perhaps he would have won.
In 1986, the Government
decided to appoint him a Field Marshal. Technically, a Field Marshal never
retires, and therefore, retired officers cannot be given this rank. However,
the decision stemmed from the deep sense of respect and esteem in which
Cariappa was held, by all sections of Indian society. Cariappa graciously
accepted the honour. On 28 April 1986, at a Special Investiture Ceremony held
at Rashtrapati Bhawan, he was presented the Field Marshal's baton by President
Zail Singh. In deference to his age - he was 86 - he was offered a chair, while
the citation was being read out. True to his character, Cariappa declined the
offer, and stood ramrod straight, throughout the ceremony.
After 1991, Cariappa's
health deteriorated. He was suffering from arthritis, and a weak heart, and needed constant medical
attention. He was shifted to a cottage, in the Command Hospital, at Bangalore.
The end came on 15 May 1994. Cariappa died in his sleep, peacefully. Two days
later, his mortal remains were cremated at his ancestral home at Madikeri, in
Coorg. The cremation had all the ceremony and pomp which befitted a Field
Marshal, and the three Service Chiefs, along with Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw,
were in attendance, when his son Nanda Cariappa lit the funeral pyre, and the
buglers sounded the Last Post, with the Honour Guard reversing arms. Many of
the mourners, including some soldiers in uniform, had tears in their eyes, as
they bade farewell to the man who had always treated them like his sons, and
whom they called the 'Father of the Indian Army'.
Kipper is no more. But
if the adage about old soldiers never dying, but fading away, was ever true, it
was in his case. He had become a living legend, even before he rose to the
highest military rank. Every man has faults, and perhaps Cariappa too had some.
But they are hard to find. Even those who did not openly adore him respected
him, grudgingly. He had the strongest character and sense of values, qualities
that are hard to come by today. Although a strict disciplinarian, he was always
just and fair, and even those who felt the rough end of his stick vouch for
this. The Indian nation owes him an eternal debt, for his contributions, which
are too numerous to recount. Of course, if Cariappa had been alive, and told
this, he would have said that he only did what he felt was his duty. Though
anglicised in habits and behaviour, he was a patriot and kept the interest of
his country always uppermost, followed by that of the soldier. Every Indian
Army officer is reminded of the immortal words of Field Marshal Lord Chetwode,
as he takes the Final Step, and passes out, from the Indian Military Academy.
" The safety, honour and welfare of your country come first, always and
every time; the honour, welfare and comfort of the men you command come next;
your own ease, comfort and safety come last, always and every time." One of the few who followed it, in letter and
spirit, was K.M. Cariappa.
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