General Sundararajan Padmanabhan (December 13, 1940 – August 19, 2024)
Chennai: General Sundararajan Padmanabhan, the 20th chief of the Indian Army, passed away on Monday. He was 83. Gen Padmanabhan, affectionately known as “Paddy” within military circles, died at his residence in Chennai after a prolonged illness.
Born on December 5, 1940, in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, Gen Padmanabhan had an illustrious career spanning over four decades. He was an alumnus of the Rashtriya Indian Military College (RIMC) in Dehradun and the National Defence Academy (NDA) in Khadakwasla, Pune. Commissioned into the Regiment of Artillery on December 13, 1959, he quickly rose through the ranks due to his exemplary leadership and dedication.
Genl Padmanabhan held several key command, staff, and instructional roles throughout his career. He commanded the Gazala Field Regiment, two infantry brigades, and an artillery brigade. As a major general, he led an infantry division in the western sector, and as a lieutenant general, he commanded a corps in the Kashmir valley, significantly contributing to counterterrorism and counterinsurgency operations.
In 1996, he was appointed the general officer commanding in chief (GOC-in-C) of the Northern Army Command and later the Southern Command. On September 30, 2000, he assumed the position of chief of Army staff (COAS), leading the Indian Army through a critical period during Operation Parakram, which the-then government of Atal Bihari Vajpayee ordered following the December 13, 2001, attack on Parliament.
Gen Padmanabhan was known for his strategic acumen and unwavering commitment to the nation. His tenure as the COAS was marked by significant operational achievements and modernization efforts within the Army. He was awarded the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM) and the Vishisht Seva Medal (VSM) for his distinguished service.
The defence ministry, the services, and veterans condoled the death of the former Army chief. In a statement, the Army, led by the current its current chief, General Upendra Dwivedi, said: “The Indian Army deeply mourns the passing of General Sundararajan Padmanabhan, who served with exemplary leadership and dedication.”
General Sundararajan Padmanabhan is survived by his wife, daughter, and son.
