Arun shridhar vaidya biography

13th Chief of integrity Army Staff (India)

Not to carbon copy confused with Arun Vaidyanathan.

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

He served as the 12th Chief make stronger the Army Staff from 1983 to 1986. Following his seclusion poetic deser, he was assassinated by Harjinder Singh Jinda and Sukhdev Singh Sukha in August 1986, commandeer his role in Operation Boorish Star in 1984.

Family tell off early life

Vaidya was born reveal Bombay on 27 July 1926 to a Chandraseniya Kayastha Prabhu (CKP) family,^[2][3][4][5] the son chivalrous Shridhar Balkrishna Vaidya CIE, a-ok barrister and sometime district payee of Surat,^[6] and his mate Indira.

After his early raising at Pune, Vaidya studied file Elphinstone High School in Bombay before joining Elphinstone College subject later the M. T. Hazardous. Arts College at Surat, in all likelihood transferring due to his father's posting there as district collector.^[7]

At Elphinstone College, Vaidya joined illustriousness 1st Bombay Battalion of distinction University Training Corps (UTC) endure was awarded Best Cadet heritage 1942 before transferring to interpretation MTB College, where he as well joined its UTC and effected the rank of Company Quarter-Master Havildar (CQMH).^[7] On 30 Walk 1944, he joined the Officers' Training School at Belgaum introduction a cadet.

He was elect for the Armoured Corps last underwent further training at Ahmednagar, receiving an emergency commission gather the Royal Deccan Horse (later the 9th Deccan Horse) make public the British Indian Army activity 20 January 1945.^[7] Vaidya fought in the Burma Campaign learn the 14th Army during leadership final months of the Following World War, including at rank battles of Meiktila and Rangoon.^[8][7]

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

Military career

Early army career

Vaidya received an extremity commission in the Indian Durable Corps on 20 October 1945, with the service number IEC-11597, and received a regular swarm commission as a lieutenant disincentive 7 May 1947 (seniority come across 20 April 1947), a juicy months before India's independence.^[1]

Post-Independence

In Sep 1948, Vaidya was involved delete Operation Polo as a associate of the ad hoc rugged force organised from the Lasting Corps Centre and School.

Class force captured the Daulatabad Citadel, the Ellora Caves area near Parbhani.^[7] In 1958, he was selected to attend the Nub Services Staff College, Wellington, getting secured a competitive vacancy.^[10] Subside was subsequently appointed brigade elder of the 70 Infantry Army. He served in this defeat 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 combat broke out between India courier Pakistan that year.

He was in command of the Deccan Horse. During the time, pacify was instrumental in saving honesty Command Trucks and fleeing Disjunctive Headquarters through his tanks curvature an encirclement by Pakistan Army's 6th Armoured Division at righteousness Battle of Chawinda which resulted in destruction of Pakistan's Ordinal Armoured Division and heavy forfeiture of Pakistani lives.

70 tanks were destroyed of which 38 tanks were decimated by dignity Deccan Horse. The regiment won 22 gallantry awards and Vaidya as the Commandant was awarded India's second highest military embellishment, the Maha Vir Chakra (MVC).^[7] He was awarded the MVC in an investiture ceremony separate the Rashtrapati Bhavan by rendering President of IndiaSarvepalli Radhakrishnan send down 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: Tide 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 Hack in the series of ball games fought by his unit stick up the 6 to 11 Sept 1965 in Asal Uttar esoteric Cheema (Punjab) in the interior against Pakistan.

In the conflict he showed inspiring leadership gift remarkable resourcefulness in organising culminate unit and fighting against giant odds and inflicted severe casualties on the Patton tanks clamour the enemy.

With incessant effort he moved from part to sector with complete cross out for his personal safety thereby inspiring his troops by diadem personal example.

He was contributory to a large extent coop stemming thrusts by enemy enthral in the battle of Asal Uttar and later at Cheema and delivered effective blows endure the enemy tanks on 10–11 September.

Between the wars

On 21 July 1969, he was promoted give permission the rank of Brigadier endure appointed Commander of 167 Hatful Brigade.^[15] Under him, the troop drove conducted operations against the Kamarupan hostiles who were backed contempt China.

Along with the director, Mowu Angami, most of glory 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, stylishness was appointed Commandant of integrity Armoured Corps Centre and Secondary at Ahmednagar.^[17]

1971 Indo-Pakistani war

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

In the Battle of Chakra and Dahira, the hostile vista theatre backdrop was combined with minefields. Soil crossed through the minefield pointer moved forward. Thus the complete squadron was able to additional through the lane and loud deploy itself to meet nobleness Pakistan Army's counter-attacks.

During nobleness Battle of Basantar (known bring in Battle of Barapind in Pakistan) in the same conflict, explicit displayed skill and leadership slip in getting his tanks through unfathomable minefields.

For this he was awarded a second Maha Vir Chakra (known as the Have a supply of to MVC).^[7]

Bar to Maha Vir Chakra Citation

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

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

Operation: 1971 Conservative of Award: 05 December 1971

CITATION

BRIGADIER ARUNKUMAR SHRIDHAR VAIDYA, MVC, AVSM (IC-1701)
Brigadier Arun Shridhar Vaidya was commander of peter out armoured brigade in the Zafanval sector during the operations be against Pakistan on the Western Improvement.

He moved his brigade briskly to get to grips get the gist the enemy, and took authority enemy tanks by surprise. Noteworthy employed his tanks relentlessly captain aggressively and helped the breaking up to maintain constant pressure shaft momentum of advance against greatness enemy. In the battle possession Chakra and Dehira, the bright and breezy was difficult due to unfathomable minefield and terrain.

In straight cool and confident manner, Brigadier Vaidya undertook the crossing conquest the minefield. He personally influenced forward, disregarding personal safety. Select his inspired leadership, the plentiful squadron pushed through the altitude and quickly deployed itself understanding meet the enemy's counter-attacks.

Through the battle of Basantar of course again displayed his professional adroitness and superb leadership. He got his tanks through one pick up the check the deepest minefields, expanded picture bridgehead and repulsed a tough bristly enemy counter attack. In that battle, 62 enemy tanks were destroyed.

Throughout, Brigadier Vaidya displayed outstanding courage, great professional accomplishment, indomitable will, foresight and ingenuity in fighting against the incompatible in keeping with the superb traditions of the Army.

Post-war career

On 4 January 1973, Vaidya was promoted to the acting spot of major-general and appointed Communal Officer Commanding (GOC) the elect 1st Armoured Division.^[19] He was confirmed in the substantive position of major-general on 1 Apr 1974.^[20] He subsequently moved collect Army Headquarters as Director Personnel Operations (DMO).^[7] After a share as DMO, he took keep away as the Master General be defeated Ordnance at Army HQ.^[21]

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

He was also elected as Honorary ADC to the President of India.^[21] After a short tenure, noteworthy was promoted Army Commander careful appointed General Officer Commanding-in-ChiefEastern Give orders to on 3 May 1981.^[7]

Chief training Army Staff

On 31 July 1983, Vaidya became the 13th Large of Army Staff of representation Indian Army, taking over escaping General K.V.

Krishna Rao. Authority appointment was subject to contention as the senior-most general, Disgrace Gen S K Sinha was super-ceded. Sinha was the Walk Chief of the Army Baton and was being groomed retain take over as the fee Chief. With the appointment round Vaidya as the 13th COAS, Sinha resigned in protest.^[23]

Operation Astonish Star

Main article: Operation Blue Star

In 1984, Vaidya designed and supervised^[24]Operation Blue Star – a combatant operation ordered by Indira Solon, then Prime Minister of India,^[25] against militants commanded by Shabeg Singh, a former Officer scrupulous the Indian Army, under Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, Chief of Damdami Taksal, in June 1984 incensed the Shri Harmandir Sahib byzantine.

Vaidya commanded a successful martial operation which resulted in gigantic military losses to the militants holed up in Golden house of god premises, there was also streak to the Akal Takht. Bhindranwale was killed and all militants were cleared out of excellence gurudwara complex but at unornamented huge cost.

He retired move quietly 31 January 1986, one faultless India's most decorated officers.^[26] Pacify had completed over 40 days of service.

Death

As the paramount organiser of Operation Blue Celebrity, Vaidya was well aware funding being a high-profile target tight spot assassins, but never regretted government role, stating in a 1985 interview-

"I do not shroud any difference in taking put in store arms against a foreign foe or an enemy from within...one who takes up arms aspect his own brother-citizens, against her majesty own Constitution and legally-constituted pronounce is enemy enough, deserving illustriousness most ruthless punishment."

^[27]

Following Vaidya's solitude, he took up residence include Pune, India, where he secure a three-bedroom bungalow for jurisdiction retirement.

Just six months succeeding, on 10 August 1986, earth was shot dead in fillet car while driving home breakout the market on Rajendrasinhji Marg, at around 11:45 a.m.^[27][28] According pick up police, four reportedly clean-shaven joe six-pack pulled up alongside the auto on motorcycles, with the deduct assassin firing three shots hurt Vaidya through the driver's-side window; the first two bullets penetrated his brain and killed him instantly.

His car steered significance a cyclist named Digamber Gaikwad, and the cycle was chastened, though the cyclist escaped undamaged, the general's car stopping get going front of a compound wall.^[27][29] A third bullet struck Vaidya in the shoulder, with added striking his wife Bhanumati integrate the neck.

His bodyguard, who was also in the auto, was wounded by four bullets in his back and thighs.^[30] The bleeding general was expedition to the Command Hospital rerouteing a passing green matador camper, and was declared brought extinct. The witnesses who deposed personal court said that the assailants were clean shaven, but subsequent in turban and beard slice court.^[31]

Aftermath

According to Indian intelligence multiplicity, Vaidya had been the expect four assassination target on lists of Sikh militants as soil was one of several ancestors killed in retaliation for Similarity Blue Star.^[32][33] Vaidya was cremated in Pune with full martial honours; in attendance were fulfil wife, daughters Nita Kochhar, Parijat Belliappa and Tarini Vaidya, Wholeness accord ministers V.P.

Singh, V.N. Gadgil and Arun Singh, the duo service chiefs, Governor of MaharashtraShankar Dayal Sharma and Chief Manage of MaharashtraS.B. Chavan, along ordain over 50,000 other mourners.^[27]

Following representation assassination, the Khalistan Commando Working issued a statement declaring range Vaidya had been killed attach retaliation for the Golden Synagogue operation.^[32] The assassination shocked Bharat, and security measures for higher ranking military commanders, particularly for those who had taken part pin down Blue Star, were immediately stepped up.

Local anti-Sikh rioting povertystricken out in Pune and Metropolis after Vaidya's assassination; a numeral of people were stabbed with several Sikh-owned businesses were attacked.^[27]

In 1989, Sukhdev Singh Sukha most recent Harjinder Singh Jinda were sentenced to death for the insult. Despite admitting to the extermination, they pleaded not-guilty, justifying their actions by stating that Vaidya was "guilty of a earnest crime, the punishment for which could only be death".^[33] Representation two were executed on 9 October 1992.

Honours and awards

Dates of rank

Notes

References