Arun Shridhar Vaidya
General Arunkumar Shridhar Vaidya[1] PVSM, MVC, & Bar, AVSM (27 January 1926 – 10 August 1986) was the 13th Chief of Army Staff (COAS) of the Indian Army.
A S Vaidya | |
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| Born | 27 January 1926 Alibag, Kolaba District, Bombay Presidency, British India (now in Raigad District, Maharashtra, India) |
| Died | 10 August 1986 Pune, Maharashtra, India |
| Allegiance |   |
| Service/ |   |
| Years of service | 1944 - 1986 |
| Rank |  |
| Service number | IEC-11597 (emergency commission) IC-1701 (regular commission)[1] |
| Unit | 9th Deccan Horse |
| Commands held |  16 (Independent) Armoured Brigade Deccan Horse |
| Battles/wars | World War II Burma Campaign |
| Awards |    Maha Vir Chakra  |
Family
Vaidya was born in a Marathi Chandraseniya Kayastha Prabhu (CKP) family[2][3][4][5] to Shridhar B. Vaidya and his wife Indira in Bombay on 27 January 1926. His wife's name was Bhanu and they had three daughters.[6]
Joining the British Indian Army in 1944, Vaidya fought in the Burma Campaign during the final months of the Second World War.[7]
Military Career
Early army career
Vaidya received an emergency commission in the Armoured Corps on 20 October 1945, with the service number IEC-11597, and received a regular army commission as a lieutenant on 7 May 1947 (seniority from 20 April 1947), a few months before India's independence.[1]
1965 Indo-Pak war
Vaidya was promoted lieutenant-colonel on 10 June 1965,[8] shortly before war broke out between India and Pakistan that year. He was in command of the Deccan Horse. During the time he was instrumental in saving the Command Trucks and fleeing Divisional Headquarters through his tanks through an encirclement by Pakistan Army's 6th Armoured Division at the Battle of Chawinda which resulted in destruction of Pakistan's 1st Armoured Division and heavy loss of Pakistani lives. For this he was awarded India's second highest military decoration, the Maha Vir Chakra.
Maha Vir Chakra Citation
The citation for the Maha Vir Chakra reads as follows:[9][10]
Gazette Notification: 9 Pres/66,1-1-66
Operation: Date 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 Horse in the series of actions fought by his unit from the 6 to 11 September 1965 in Asal Uttar and Cheema (Punjab) in the operations against Pakistan.
In the battle he showed inspiring leadership and remarkable resourcefulness in organising his unit and fighting against heavy odds and inflicted severe casualties on the Patton tanks of the enemy.
With untiring effort he moved from sector to sector with complete disregard for his personal safety thereby inspiring his troops by his personal example. He was instrumental to a large extent in stemming thrusts by enemy armour in the battle of Asal Uttar and later at Cheema and delivered effective blows to the enemy tanks on 10 -11 September.
1971 Indo-Pak war
Promoted brigadier on 21 July 1969,[11] Vaidya during the 1971 Indo-Pak conflict was the commander of an armored brigade in the Zafarwal sector on the western front. In the Battle of Chakra and Dahira, the hostile terrain was combined with minefields. He crossed through the minefield and moved forward. Thus the entire squadron was able to push through the lane and quickly deploy itself to meet the Pakistan Army's counter-attacks.
During the Battle of Basantar or Battle of Barapind in the same conflict, he displayed skill and leadership in getting his tanks through deep minefields. For this he was awarded a second Maha Vir Chakra (known as the Bar to MVC).
Bar to Maha Vir Chakra Citation
The citation for the bar to the Maha Vir Chakra reads as follows:[12]
Gazette Notification: 22 Pres/72,12-2-72
Operation: 1971 Date of Award: 05 December 1971
CITATION
BRIGADIER ARUNKUMAR SHRIDHAR VAIDYA (IC-1701)
THE DECCAN HORSE (9th HORSE)Brigadier Arun Shridhar Vaidya was commander of an armoured brigade in the Zafanval sector during the operations against Pakistan on the Western Front. He moved his brigade swiftly to get to grips with the enemy, and took the enemy tanks by surprise. He employed his tanks relentlessly and aggressively and helped the division to maintain constant pressure and momentum of advance against the enemy. In the battle of Chakra and Dehira, the going was difficult due to deep minefield and terrain. In a cool and confident manner, Brigadier Vaidya undertook the crossing through the minefield. He personally moved forward, disregarding personal safety. Through his inspired leadership, the entire squadron pushed through the lane and quickly deployed itself to meet the enemy's counter-attacks. During the battle of Basantar he again displayed his professional skill and superb leadership. He got his tanks through one of the deepest minefields, expanded the bridgehead and repulsed a strong enemy counter attack. In this battle, 62 enemy tanks were destroyed.
Throughout, Brigadier Vaidya displayed outstanding courage, great professional skill, indomitable will, foresight and imagination in fighting against the enemy in keeping with the best traditions of the Army.
Subsequent career and promotion to COAS
On 2 November 1970, Brigadier Vaidya was appointed Commandant of the Armoured Corps Centre and School.[13] He was given command of an armoured division and was promoted to acting major-general on 4 January 1973,[14] with confirmation in the substantive rank on 1 April 1974.[15] He was promoted to lieutenant-general on 25 January 1980 (seniority from 16 August 1978).[16] On 31 July 1983 General Vaidya became the 13th Chief Of Army Staff of the Indian Army . In 1984, he planned Operation Blue Star to evict Sikh militants hidden in the Golden temple.
He retired on 31 January 1986, one of India's most decorated officers.[17] He had completed over 40 years of service.
Operation Blue Star
In 1984, Vaidya designed and supervised[18] Operation Blue Star - a military operation ordered by Indira Gandhi, then Prime Minister of India,[19] against militants commanded by Shabeg Singh (AVSM and PVSM) under Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, Chief of Damdami Taksal, in June 1984 at the Golden Temple complex.
Assassination
As the principal organiser of Operation Blue Star, Vaidya was well aware of being a high-profile target for assassins, but never regretted his role, stating in a 1985 interview: "I do not see any difference in taking up arms against a foreign enemy or an enemy from within...one who takes up arms against his own brother-citizens, against his own Constitution and legally-constituted government is enemy enough, deserving the most ruthless punishment."[20] Despite numerous death threats being sent to his offices in the months before his retirement, he remained equally calm about the very real danger to his life: "After seeing two wars I can't run away from danger. If a bullet is destined to get me, it will come with my name written on it."
Following Vaidya's retirement, he took up residence in Pune, India, where he built a three-bedroom bungalow for his retirement. Just six months later, on 10 August 1986, he was shot to death in his white Maruti car, bearing Registration No. DIB 1437, while driving home from the market on Rajendrasinhji Marg, Pune, at around 11:45 a.m.[20][21] According to police, four reportedly clean-shaven men pulled up alongside the car on motorcycles, with the lead assassin firing three shots into Vaidya through the driver's-side window; the first two bullets penetrated his brain and killed him instantly. His car steered towards a cyclist named Digamber Gaikwad, and the cycle was crushed, though the cyclist escaped unharmed, the general's car stopping in front of a compound wall.[20][22] A third bullet struck Vaidya in the shoulder, with another striking his wife Bhanumati in the neck. His bodyguard, who was also in the car, was wounded by four bullets in his back and thighs.[23] The bleeding general was carried to the Command Hospital in a passing green matador van, and was declared brought dead. The witnesses who deposed in court said that the assailants were clean shaven, but later in turban and beard in court.[24]
According to Indian intelligence sources, Vaidya had been the number four assassination target on lists of Punjabi insurgents and he was one of several people killed in retaliation for Operation Blue Star.[25][26] Vaidya was cremated in Pune with full military honours; in attendance were his wife, daughters Neeta Kochar, Parijat Belliappa and Tarini Vaidya, Union ministers V.P. Singh, V.N. Gadgil and Arun Singh, the three service chiefs, Maharashtra Governor S.D. Sharma and Chief Minister of Maharashtra S.B. Chavan, along with over 50,000 other mourners.[20]
Following the assassination, the Khalistan Commando Force issued a statement declaring that Vaidya had been killed in retaliation for the Golden Temple operation.[25] The assassination shocked India, and security measures for senior military commanders, particularly for those who had taken part in Blue Star, were immediately stepped up. Local anti-Sikh rioting broke out in Pune and Mumbai after Vaidya's assassination; a number of people were stabbed and several Sikh-owned businesses were attacked.[20]
In 1989, Sukhdev Singh Sukha and Harjinder Singh Jinda were sentenced to death for the killing. Despite admitting to the killing, they pleaded not-guilty, justifying their actions by stating that Vaidya was "guilty of a serious crime, the punishment for which could only be death".[26] The two were executed on 9 October 1992.
Awards and recognition
- Maha Vir Chakra (MVC) in 1965 - for distinctive service in the Indo-Pak war
- Bar to Maha Vir Chakra (MVC) in 1971 - for service in the Battle of Shakargarh.
- Param Vishisht Seva Medal (PVSM)
- Padma Vibhushan (Posthumous)
Honours and awards
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Dates of rank
| Insignia | Rank | Component | Date of rank |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Second Lieutenant | British Indian Army | 20 January 1945 (emergency)[7] 20 October 1945 (substantive)[1] |
 | Lieutenant | British Indian Army | 7 May 1947 (seniority from 20 April)[1] |
| Lieutenant | Indian Army | 15 August 1947[note 1][27] |
 | Lieutenant | Indian Army | 26 January 1950 (recommissioning and change in insignia)[27][28] |
 | Captain | Indian Army | 20 October 1951[1] |
 | Major | Indian Army | 20 October 1958[29] |
 | Lieutenant-Colonel | Indian Army | 10 June 1965[8] |
 | Colonel | Indian Army | 12 July 1968[30] |
 | Brigadier | Indian Army | 21 July 1969[11] |
 | Major General | Indian Army | 4 January 1973 (acting)[14] 1 April 1974 (substantive)[15] |
 | Lieutenant-General | Indian Army | 25 January 1980 (seniority from 16 August 1978)[16] |
| General (COAS) | Indian Army | 31 July 1983 |
Notes
- Upon independence in 1947, India became a Dominion within the British Commonwealth of Nations. As a result, the rank insignia of the British Army, incorporating the Tudor Crown and four-pointed Bath Star ("pip"), was retained, as George VI remained Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Armed Forces. After 26 January 1950, when India became a republic, the President of India became Commander-in-Chief, and the Ashoka Lion replaced the crown, with a five-pointed star being substituted for the "pip."
References
- "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)". The Gazette of India. 8 November 1952. p. 249.
- "DnaIndia mumbai report (Dec 2013)".
CKP as a community has been known for its "writing and fighting skills". Some prominent faces that it boasts as members are Baji Prabhu Deshpande, a fighter in Shivaji’s army, Ram Ganesh Gadkari, Marathi writer, B G Deshmukh, ex-chief secretary, Bal Thackeray, General Arun Kumar Vaidya, late army chief, and Tanuja and Smita Salaskar...
- "Nagpur Today (Nov 2014)".
Among the famous CKP people are – Balasaheb Thackeray and the entire clan; Mr. C.D. Deshmukh, India’s first Finance Minister and Governor of the RBI, film star Kajol’s mother Tanuja who is daughter of famous erstwhile actress Shobhana Samarth. Nutan was her sister. Admiral Tipnis, Chief of Indian Air force; General Vaidya and many more such luminaries.
- kule, mukund. "My Mumbai Ckp Community Alive". Maharashtra Times.
तर नंतरच्या काळात राम गणेश गडकरी, प्रबोधनकार ठाकरे, सी. डी. देशमुख, १९१२ साली मुंबई हायकोर्टाचे मुख्य न्यायाधीश असलेले महादेव चौबळ, मृणाल गोरे (मूळच्या मोहिले), अहिल्या रांगणेकर, बाळासाहेब ठाकरे, मेजर जनरल अरुणकुमार वैद्य, लेफ्टनंट दिलीप गुप्ते, हवाईदल प्रमुख अनिल टिपणीस, भारताचे एडिसन म्हणून ओळखले जाणारे शास्त्रज्ञ शंकर आबाजी भिसे, दत्ता ताम्हाणे, श्रीनिवास खळे, स्नेहप्रभा प्रधान, शोभना समर्थ, नूतन, नलिनी जयवंत, विजया मेहता अशा किती तरी व्यक्तींनी वेगवेगळ्या क्षेत्रांत सीकेपी समाजाचं नाव रोशन केलेलं आहे.
- Karandikar. "सीकेपी तितुका मेळवावा!". loksatta.
छत्रपती शिवाजी महाराजांचे सेनानी – बाजीप्रभू देशपांडे, मुरारबाजी देशपांडे, बाळाजी आवजी चिटणीस, खंडो बल्लाळ चिटणीस. मराठी साहित्यिक राम गणेश गडकरी, साहित्य संमेलनाच्या पहिल्या स्त्री अध्यक्षा कुसुमावती देशपांडे. अर्थशास्त्रज्ञ चिंतामणराव देशमुख. १९१२ मधील मुंबई हायकोर्टाचे मुख्य न्यायाधीश महादेव भास्कर चौबळ. राजकारणी दत्ता ताम्हाणे, बाळासाहेब ठाकरे, उद्धव ठाकरे, राज ठाकरे. माजी लष्कर प्रमुख अरुणकुमार वैद्य. हवाईदल प्रमुख अनिल टिपणीस. नाट्यसृष्टीच्या सर्वच दालनांच्या सर्वज्ञा विजया मेहता.मराठी आणि हिंदी चित्रपट सृष्टीतील सुमती गुप्ते, शोभना समर्थ, नूतन, तनुजा, नलिनी जयवंत, स्नेहप्रभा प्रधान. विविध २०० प्रकारचे वैज्ञानिक शोध लावणारे आणि ४० पेटंट्स नावावर असलेले आणि ज्यांना भारताचे एडिसन म्हटले जाते ते शास्त्रज्ञ शंकर आबाजी भिसे. संगीतातील फक्त एकच नाव घेतले पुरे आहे ते म्हणजे श्रीनिवास खळे. क्रिकेटपटू बाळू गुप्ते – सुभाष गुप्ते – नरेन ताम्हाणे. १९६५ च्या युद्धात अवघ्या २३ व्या वर्षी शाहिद झालेला लेफ्टनंट दिलीप गुप्ते, पत्रकार माधव गडकरी, आणखी कितीतरी….
- S.Sartaj Alam Abidi; Satinder Sharma (2008). Services Chiefs of India. Northern Book Centre. p. 73. ISBN 9788172111625.
- Abidi, S. Sartaj Alam; Sharma, Satinder (2007). Services Chiefs of India. New Delhi: Northern Book Centre. pp. 72–73. ISBN 978-81-7211-162-5.
- "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)". The Gazette of India. 11 March 1967. p. 178.
- "ARUNKUMAR SHRIDHAR VAIDYA | Gallantry Awards". gallantryawards.gov.in.
- "Awardee: Gen Arun Shridhar Vaidya, PVSM, MVC**, AVSM". twdi.in.
- "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)". The Gazette of India. 13 June 1970. p. 728.
- "Mahavir Chakra (MVC), Awardee: Gen Arun Shridhar Vaidya, PVSM, MVC**, AVSM @ TWDI". twdi.in.
- "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)". The Gazette of India. 26 December 1970. p. 1556.
- "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)". The Gazette of India. 31 March 1973. p. 404.
- "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)". The Gazette of India. 19 April 1975. p. 553.
- "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)". The Gazette of India. 12 July 1980. p. 770.
- "General Arunkumar Sridhar Vaidya". Bharat-Rakshak.com. Archived from the original on 10 January 2014.
- "IN BRIEF; Indian General Who Raided Temple Is Slain". The New York Times. 17 August 1986.
- "Operation Bluestar, 20 Years On". Rediff.com.
- Rahman, M. (31 August 1986). "Former army chief General A.S. Vaidya assassinated by Sikh militants in Pune". India Today.
- Associated Press. "Shrine Leader Killed in Ambush", The Dallas Morning News, 11 August 1986.
- Weisman, Steven R. "A Top Indian General is Assassinated", Seattle Post-Intelligencer, 11 August 1986.
- Sun-Times Wires. "Sikhs kill ex-army chief, massacre revenge hinted", Chicago Sun-Times, 11 August 1986.
- STATE OF MAHARASHTRA V. SUKHDEO SINGH & ANR [1992] RD-SC 169 (15 July 1992)
- Associated Press. "General cremated; Sikhs admit to killing", c/o Houston Chronicle, 11 August 1986.
- "The Vaidya Murder Case: Confirming Death Sentences", India Abroad. (New York edition). New York, N.Y.: 24 July 1992. Vol.XXII, Issue. 43; pg.20.
- "New Designs of Crests and Badges in the Services" (PDF). Press Information Bureau of India - Archive. Archived (PDF) from the original on 8 August 2017.
- "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)". The Gazette of India. 11 February 1950. p. 227.
- "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)". The Gazette of India. 20 December 1958. p. 284.
- "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)". The Gazette of India. 28 February 1970. p. 291.
| Military offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Oscar Stanley Dawson |
Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee 1 December 1984 – 31 January 1986 |
Succeeded by Radhakrishna Hariram Tahiliani |
| Preceded by Kotikalapudi Venkata Krishna Rao |
Chief of Army Staff 1983–1986 |
Succeeded by Krishnaswamy Sundarji |
| Preceded by E A Vas |
General Officer-Commanding-in-Chief Eastern Command 1981 - 1983 |
Succeeded by K Chiman Singh |
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| Commander-in-Chief, Indian Army (1947–1955) |
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| Chief of the Army Staff (1955–present) |
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(**Seconded from the British Army) | ||
Authority control  |
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