Chandigarh: On May 31, history was written for the Indian Army. The last of the Generals who participated in the last of the three wars that Independent India fought retired from service. Gen VK Singh, former Chief of Army Staff and Lt Gen SR Ghosh, former General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Command, were the last of the serving officers of the Indian Army who fought the 1971 India-Pakistan war.
All officers in the Indian Army, beginning June 1, 2012 were commissioned into the Indian Army after the 1971 Indo-Pak war. The Army has been participating in internal security duties and has taken part in operations with the United Nations in war torn areas and also in Sri Lanka and Maldives in addition to fighting the Kargil war. The Kargil war was not elevated to the level of an India-Pakistan war and was considered localized even as both Armies lost a large number of soldiers and officers on the icy heights.
Lt Gen SR Ghosh, General Officer Commanding in Chief (GOC-in-C), Western Command, bid farewell to arms Thursday after distinguished service to the nation spanning over four decades. After a solemn Wreath Laying ceremony at war memorial Veer Smriti Chandimandir Lt Gen SR Ghosh, remarked in the Veer Smriti Visitor Book "As the last veteran of the 1971 Indo-Pak war, I hang up my uniform and pay my solemn gratefulness to our brave soldiers who laid down their lives for our tomorrow".
Lt Gen SR Ghosh, an alumnus of St Josephs, Nainital and National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla, was commissioned on 14 November 1971 and immediately participated in Indo-Pakistan war in J&K. Besides commanding one of the oldest battalions of The Brigade of The Guards, he has commanded an Infantry Brigade on the Line of Control, an Infantry Division, The Mathura-based Strike Corps and the prestigious Western Army from where he bid adieu today.
Lt Gen Ghosh said that during the height of the controversy over his age Gen VK Singh told him that his fight was his personal issue and it should not affect the training, the operations or the functioning of the rest of the Army. "My belief is it has not affected the commands in any manner, the fighting armies," said Ghosh.
"We have kept out of the controversies; we frankly don't have the time to get into all that. Whatever he was fighting for was what he thought was right and just. I know the new Chief Gen Bikram Singh extremely well, we are very good friends, I have a huge regard for him, he is an extremely competent, well read and well spoken officer. I think he will be a dynamic leader. I was in J&K when he was injured. These things actually happened. Controversies may have been raised by somebody. But the Army should be allowed to get back to its functioning," said Lt Gen SR Ghosh.
A new Army Commander takes charge of Western Army Command from June 1.
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