fbpx
Wikipedia

K. M. Cariappa

Field Marshal Kodandera Madappa Cariappa OBE (28 January 1899 – 15 May 1993) was the first Indian Commander-in-Chief (C-in-C) of the Indian Army. He led Indian forces on the Western Front during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947. He was appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army in 1949. He is one of only two Indian Army officers to hold the Five-star rank of Field Marshal; the other being Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw.[1]

K. M. Cariappa
Indian High Commissioner to Australia and New Zealand
In office
1954–1956
Preceded byM.S. Duleepsinghji
Succeeded byK. R. P. Singh
4th Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee
In office
14 October 1951 – 14 January 1953
PresidentRajendra Prasad
Prime MinisterJawaharlal Nehru
Preceded byEdward Parry
Succeeded byMark Pizey
2nd Commander-in-Chief, Indian Army (now COAS)
In office
15 January 1949 (1949-01-15) – 14 January 1953 (1953-01-14)
PresidentRajendra Prasad
(since 26 Jan 1950 post established)
Prime MinisterJawaharlal Nehru
ViceroyC. Rajagopalachari
(after 26 Jan 1950 post abolished)
Preceded byF. R. Roy Bucher
Succeeded byRajendrasinhji Jadeja
Personal details
Born(1899-01-28)28 January 1899
Shanivarsanthe, Coorg Province, British India
(present-day Kodagu, Karnataka, India)
Died15 February 1993(1993-02-15) (aged 94)
Bangalore, Karnataka, India
RelationsAir Marshal K. C. Cariappa (son)
Awards
NicknameKipper
Military service
Allegiance British India
 India
Branch/service British Indian Army
 Indian Army
Years of service
  • 1919–1953
  • 1986–1993[a]
Rank Field Marshal
Unit Rajput Regiment
Commands
Battles/wars

His distinguished military career spanned almost three decades. Born on 28 January 1899, in Madikeri, Kodagu, Cariappa joined the British Indian Army shortly after the end of World War I, and was commissioned as a temporary first lieutenant into the 2/88 Carnatic Infantry. He was transferred between multiple regiments early in his career before settling on 1/7 Rajputs, which became his permanent regiment.

He was the first Indian military officer to attend the Staff College, Quetta, the first Indian to command a battalion, and was also one of the first two Indians selected to undergo training at the Imperial Defence College in Camberley. He served in various staff capacities at various unit and command headquarters (HQ) and also at the General HQ, New Delhi. Before taking over as the C-in-C of the Indian Army, Cariappa served as the commander of the Indian Army's Eastern and Western Commands.

Early life and education

Cariappa was born on 28 January 1899, in Shanivarsanthe, Coorg Province (present day Kodagu district), to a family of farmers belonging to the Kodava clan. His father, Madappa, worked with the revenue department. Cariappa was the second child in a family of four sons and two daughters.[2]

He was known as "Chimma" to his relatives. After completing his education in the Central High School at Madikeri in 1917, he attended Presidency College, Chennai, to pursue his education further.[2] During college, he learned that Indians were being recruited into the Army, and that they were to be trained in India. As he wished to serve as a soldier he applied for the training.[3] Of the 70 applicants, Cariappa was one of 42 who were finally granted admission into the Daly Cadet College, Indore. He scored well in all the aspects of his training and graduated seventh in his class.[3]

Military career

Early service

Cariappa graduated on 1 December 1919, and was granted a temporary commission. Subsequently, a permanent commission was granted on 9 September 1922, with effect from 17 July 1920. This was done to make Cariappa's rank junior to the officers who passed out (graduated) from Royal Military College, Sandhurst, on 16 July 1920.[4][3] He was commissioned into the 2nd Battalion of the 88th Carnatic Infantry at Bombay (Mumbai) as a temporary second lieutenant.[5] He was promoted to temporary lieutenant on 1 December 1920.[6] Later he was transferred to the 2/125 Napier Rifles which moved to Mesopotamia (present-day Iraq) in May 1920. He was promoted to lieutenant on 17 July 1921.[7] On his return to India, Cariappa was posted to the 37th (Prince of Wales's Own) Dogras in June 1922.[5] In June 1923, Cariappa was transferred to the 1/7 Rajputs, which became his permanent regimental home.[8]

In 1925, Cariappa went on a world tour to Europe as well as the United States, Japan, and China. He met a large number of soldiers and civilians in various nations. The tour proved to be educational for him. After this he was able to settle down. He was given the nickname "Kipper" by a British officer's wife, who found his name difficult to pronounce, while he was serving in Fatehgarh.[8] In 1927, Cariappa was promoted to captain,[9] but the appointment was not officially gazetted until 1931.[10]

Cariappa was appointed as the deputy assistant quarter master general (DAQMG) at HQ Peshawar District in 1931. The experience he had gained at headquarters, his coaching at Royal United Services Institute in 1932, and the courses he attended at Small Arms School (SAS) and the Royal School of Artillery (RSA) helped him to get through the Quetta Staff College's entrance examination. He was the first Indian military officer to attend the course.[11] Though officers were generally given staff appointments after completion of the course, Cariappa was not given his staff appointment until two years later. Until then, he rendered regimental service with his parent unit on the North-West Frontier. In March 1936, he was appointed as staff captain of the Deccan Area.[12] In 1938, Cariappa was promoted to major[13] and was appointed the deputy assistant adjutant and quarter master general (DAA & QMG).[12]

World War II

In 1939, the Skeen Committee was set up to examine the options for the Indianisation of the Indian Army's officer ranks. As Cariappa was one of the most senior Indian officers with about 19 years of service, the committee held several discussions with him. He expressed his displeasure at the treatment of Indian officers in the Army. He stressed the discrimination shown toward Indian officers in terms of appointments, promotions, benefits and allowances to which European officers were entitled but Indian officers were not.[14]

After World War II began, Cariappa was posted as brigade major to the 20th Indian Brigade stationed in Derajat. Later he was appointed as the DAQMG of 10th Indian Division which was stationed in Iraq. He earned a Mention in Despatches as DAA and quartermaster general of General (later Field Marshal) William Slim's 10th Division. He served in Iraq, Iran and Syria in 1941–1942 and then in Burma in 1943–1944. Back in India in March 1942, he was posted as second-in-command of the newly raised 7th Rajput Machine Gun Battalion at Fatehgarh. On 15 April 1942, he was promoted to acting lieutenant colonel and was appointed commanding officer of the same battalion, receiving an advancement to temporary lieutenant-colonel on 15 July.[15] With this appointment he became the first Indian to command a battalion[c] in the Indian Army.[17] Cariappa was successful in stabilising the newly raised battalion in terms of administration, training, and the handling of arms. Later the unit was rechristened as the 52nd Rajput and put under 43rd Indian Armoured Division. Within a span of a few months, the unit observed two transformations and two moves. First, the battalion's machine guns were replaced with tanks in order to convert it into an armoured regiment. But soon the battalion was reverted to infantry and re-designated as 17/7 Rajputs. Subsequently, it was moved to Secunderabad. This move led to unrest among the unit's troops which was successfully handled by Cariappa.[18]

On 1 April 1943, he was appointed as the assistant quarter master general (AQMG) in the headquarters of Eastern Command. Though Cariappa wished to serve in combat, chance did not favour him. In August 1943, when the South East Asia Command was formed, and the Fourteenth Army was placed under it, Cariappa volunteered for active service in the war. But he was again posted as AQMG of the 26th Indian Division stationed at Buthidaung in Burma. The division played an important role in pushing the Japanese back from Arakan. For his services in the operation, Cariappa was awarded the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in June 1945.[19][20]

On 1 November 1944, Cariappa was promoted to the acting rank of brigadier,[15] but was not given the command of a brigade as expected. Instead, he became a member of the Reorganisation Committee chaired by Lieutenant General Sir Henry Willcox. Though Cariappa was not happy with the appointment initially, and protested to the Military Secretary, the experience proved to helpful when he took over as the C-in-C four years later. The committee closely worked with the General HQ and Viceroy's Secretariat. This gave the British hierarchy a chance to assess Cariappa.[19]

Post-war career

On 1 May 1945, Cariappa was promoted to brigadier, becoming the first Indian officer to fully attain the rank.[21] Finally, in November, Cariappa was made the commander of the Bannu Frontier Brigade in Waziristan. It was during this time that Colonel Ayub Khan – later field marshal and President of Pakistan (1962–1969) – served under him. Unlike previous commanders who tried to keep the local tribes under control by force, Cariappa adopted an alternate approach by extending friendly relations to them- which proved a far more effective tactic. When Head of the Interim Government, Jawaharlal Nehru, visited Bannu he found it extremely peaceful and settled, compared to Razmak where another brigade was stationed. Nehru was impressed by Cariappa's way of dealing with the tribes.[22] He was also widely acclaimed for his treatment of the Indian National Army's (INA) prisoners. When Cariappa visited one of the camps that held INA prisoners, he was moved by the conditions in which they lived. He immediately wrote to the Adjutant General recommending that their living conditions be improved and to pardon some of those who were not guilty. These included Colonel Prem Kumar Sahgal, Gurbaksh Singh Dhillon and Shah Nawaz Khan. Cariappa pointed out that these prisoners had considerable support from the Indian leaders, who would later rule the country. This led the British authorities to release most of the prisoners who were detained.[23]

In 1947, Cariappa was the first of two Indians selected to undergo training at the Imperial Defence College at Camberly in the United Kingdom, in order to attend the higher command courses.[23] With the experience he had gained at the Imperial Defence College, Cariappa felt that dividing the Indian Army during the partition would have a devastating effect on both the Indians and Pakistanis. He explained to the hierarchy that without the assistance of British officers, there was a risk of inexperienced Indian officers taking over higher commands. Despite this, his concerns went unaddressed by the hierarchy. During partition, Cariappa handled the division of the Army and sharing of its assets between the two new nations as the officer in charge.[24] On 30 July 1947, Cariappa was promoted to the rank of major-general, becoming one of the first Indians to be promoted to this rank in a combat arm of the Indian Army, along with brigadiers Muhammad Akbar Khan and Maharaj Shri Rajendrasinhji Jadeja.[25]

Post-Independence

Post-Independence, Cariappa was appointed as deputy chief of the general staff.[25][24] In November 1947, on being promoted to the rank of lieutenant general, he was appointed as the Eastern Army commander. In January 1948, owing to the worsening situation in Kashmir, Cariappa was called back to the capital and appointed as the GOC-in-C Delhi and East Punjab Command. After taking over the command, he immediately renamed it the Western Command and moved its headquarters (HQ) to Jammu; he subsequently raised a corps HQ under Lt Gen S.M. Shrinagesh at Udhampur. He appointed Lt Gen Kodandera Subayya Thimayya as the GOC Jammu and Kashmir Force (later 19th Division), and Atma Singh as the GOC Jammu Division (later 25th Division).[26]

He launched three subsequent attacks—Operations Kipper, Easy and Bison—to capture the Naushera, Jhangar, Poonch, Zoji La, Dras, and Kargil areas. Plans were laid to drive out the Pakistani forces from Kashmir completely, but they were stopped by the intervention of the United States. On 6 July 1948, the Army HQ issued strict instructions against conducting any major operations without its permission. Cariappa protested against this, stating that this policy would threaten Leh, Kargil, and ultimately the Kashmir Valley, which would put the country's security at stake. Though Cariappa asked for two brigades to continue offensive strikes, he was provided only one and permitted to advance to Kargil. He disobeyed orders and launched strikes in the Ladakh area allowing India to assert control over the region.[26][27] Cariappa continued several operations and offensive strikes against the Pakistanis, which involved high risk. Failure of any of them might have threatened the Indian forces. He was subsequently appointed to the supreme post of commander-in-chief.[28][29]

C-in-C of the Indian Army

When Lieutenant General Sir Roy Bucher's appointment as the C-in-C of the Indian Army was about to expire in January 1949, it was decided to replace him with an Indian. Cariappa, Shrinagesh, and Nathu Singh were the contenders for the post. Though Shrinagesh was six months older than Cariappa, he had not served as long as Cariappa had; Nathu Singh had served two-and-a-half years less. But the Interim Government's Defence Minister Baldev Singh was not in favour of Cariappa. He contacted Shrinagesh and Nathu Singh asking for their opinion of being appointed as C-in-C. Since both declined the offer, Cariappa took over as the first native Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army.[29]

The day Cariappa took over the reins of the Indian Army, 15 January 1949, was marked as official Army Day and celebrated annually. As the chief of the Army, Cariappa was instrumental in the formation of the Territorial Army in 1949. Though the National Cadet Corps had been already formed in 1948, it was Cariappa who extended support during its formative years. These two complementary branches of the Army later proved to be very helpful in the wars India fought in later years.[30]

Several measures taken by Cariappa, such as his refusal to induct former Indian National Army personnel into the Army, kept the organisation out of political affairs and maintained its autonomy despite being put under a lot of pressure by Nehru. Nehru only relented when he threatened to resign. However INA's slogan Jai Hind which means "Victory to India", was adopted by Cariappa and later it became a formal phrase between personnel to greet each other. He also turned down the proposal to reserve vacancies in the Army for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes as had been done in other government services.[31]

After four years of service as the C-in-C, Cariappa retired on 14 January 1953. Before he retired, he made a farewell visit to his parent regiment, the Rajput Regiment, at the Rajput Regimental Centre accompanied by his son and daughter. Rajendrasinhji Jadeja succeeded him as the C-in-C.[31]

Personal life

 
Cariappa on a 1995 stamp of India

Cariappa was married in March 1937, in Secunderabad, to Muthu Machia, a forest officer's daughter. Though their married life was happy initially, later, due to an age gap of almost 17 years, ideological differences, and Cariappa's professional commitments, their marriage broke down. In September 1945, the couple separated without any formal divorce. Three years later Muthu died in an accident.[32]

Cariappa and Muthu had a son and a daughter. Their son, K.C. Cariappa, was born on 4 January 1938, and daughter Nalini on 23 February 1948. Their son, called "Nanda", joined the Indian Air Force and rose to the rank of Air Marshal.[32]

His sister Bollava's son, Lieutenant general Biddanda Chengappa Nanda also had a distinguished career in the Indian Army and retired as GOC-in-C Northern Command

Post-retirement and death

Cariappa's alliance with the Indian Army was spread over a period of around three decades, during which he had broad experience of staff and command work. After his retirement in 1953, he served as the Indian high commissioner to Australia and New Zealand until 1956.[33][34] With a view toward ex-servicemen's welfare, Cariappa founded the Indian Ex-Servicemen's League (IESL) in 1964.[35] He was also instrumental in setting up the Directorate of Resettlement[36] (later Directorate General Resettlement), an inter-service organisation under the Department of Ex-servicemen Welfare, Ministry of Defence, that looked after the various issues surrounding the resettlement of retired soldiers, especially those who retired young.[37]

Cariappa took part in the re-organisation of the armed forces in many foreign countries. He was awarded the Legion of Merit in the degree of Chief Commander by the American President Harry S. Truman.[38]

Cariappa also tried his luck in politics after a lot of persuasion from his friends and admirers. He contested 1971 Lok Sabha poll from Mumbai North East (Lok Sabha constituency) but came third. Erroneous claims about him contesting against Krishna Menon appear in some books but they are not supported by any evidence on any Indian govt site.

As a mark of recognition for the commendable service rendered by him to the nation, the Government of India conferred the rank of field marshal on Cariappa on 28 April 1986, at a special investiture ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan, the official home of the president of India.[39]

Cariappa's health began to deteriorate in 1991; he suffered from arthritis and heart problems. He died in his sleep on 15 May 1993, at the Bangalore Command Hospital where he had been receiving treatment for a few years. His mortal remains were cremated in Madikeri two days later. The cremation was attended by the three service chiefs along with Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw. Cariappa's son, Nanda, lit the pyre while the Honour Guard reversed arms.[39]

Personality

 
COAS Gen Dalbir Singh Suhag paying tributes at the FM Cariappa Memorial at Madikeri, Coorg

According to biographer Vijay Singh, it was unheard of for Cariappa to use his power and status for personal purposes.[40] One example Singh cites occurred when Cariappa went to the Rajput Regimental Centre to pay farewell before he retired. He brought his son and daughter with him, and both of them stayed at the commandant's house till the next day. According to the rules, children were forbidden to attend the officers' mess. As chief, Cariappa could have taken them to the mess, but he did not.[31]

After he was the C-in-C, he wanted Major (later Lieutenant General) Srinivas Kumar Sinha to be his military assistant (MA). The military secretary noted that a military assistant must hold the rank of lieutenant colonel which required a minimum of six-and-a-half years of service. Sinha was only a major with five years of service. On learning this, Cariappa backed off the idea not wanting to break the rules.[40]

During the 1965 war, his son, Nanda, was shot down over Pakistan. He was captured and held as a prisoner of war (POW). On realizing the identity of the wounded soldier at Kargil, Radio Pakistan immediately announced the capture of the younger Cariappa. General Ayub Khan himself contacted General Cariappa, who was living a retired life at Mercara, his hometown, with information about his son's safety. When Ayub Khan offered to release his son immediately, Cariappa is reported to have scoffed at the idea and told him to give his son no better treatment than any other POW. Singh recounts that Cariappa replied, "He is my son no longer. He is the child of this country, a soldier fighting for his motherland like a true patriot. My many thanks for your kind gesture, but I request you to release all or release none. Give him no special treatment."[41]

 
Bust of Cariappa at the National Military Memorial in Bengaluru.

Awards and decorations

       
       

Dates of rank

Insignia Rank Component Date of rank
  Second Lieutenant British Indian Army 1 December 1919 (temporary)[43]
17 July 1920 (substantive)[4]
  Lieutenant British Indian Army 1 December 1920 (temporary)[6]
17 July 1921 (substantive)[7]
  Captain British Indian Army 17 July 1927[9]
  Major British Indian Army 17 July 1938[13]
  Lieutenant-Colonel British Indian Army July 1942 (acting)
15 July 1942 (temporary)[43]
17 July 1946 (substantive)[44]
  Colonel British Indian Army 1 November 1944 (acting)[45]
1 May 1945 (temporary)[46]
  Brigadier British Indian Army 1 November 1944 (acting)[45]
1 May 1945 (temporary)[21][25]
  Major-General British Indian Army 30 July 1947[25]
  Major-General Indian Army 15 August 1947[note 1][47]
  Lieutenant-General Indian Army 21 November 1947 (acting)[note 1][48]
  General
(C-in-C, IA)
Indian Army 15 January 1949 (acting)[note 1][49]
  General
(C-in-C, IA)
Indian Army 26 January 1950 (recommissioning and change in insignia)[47][50]
  Field Marshal Indian Army 15 January 1986[51]

Notes

  1. ^ a b c 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."

See also

Notes

Footnotes

  1. ^ Indian military officers of five-star rank hold their rank for life, and are considered to be serving officers until their deaths.[1]
  2. ^ Previously 7th Rajput Machine Gun Battalion.
  3. ^ A battalion comprises four rifle companies. A rifle company comprises three platoons. A platoon comprises three sections each of which has 10 men.[16]

Citations

  1. ^ a b Anwesha Madhukalya. "Did You Know That Only 3 People Have Been Given The Highest Ranks in the Indian Armed Forces?". Scoop Whoop. Retrieved 2 August 2016.
  2. ^ a b Singh 2005, p. 21.
  3. ^ a b c Singh 2005, p. 22.
  4. ^ a b "No. 32775". The London Gazette. 8 December 1922. p. 8723.
  5. ^ a b Singh 2005, p. 23.
  6. ^ a b "No. 32380". The London Gazette. 5 July 1921. p. 5359.
  7. ^ a b "No. 32878". The London Gazette. 9 November 1923. p. 7663.
  8. ^ a b Singh 2005, p. 24.
  9. ^ a b "Viewing Page 5805 of Issue 33310". The London Gazette. 9 September 1927. Retrieved 26 March 2012.
  10. ^ "Viewing Page 3324 of Issue 33718". The London Gazette. 22 May 1931. Retrieved 26 March 2012.
  11. ^ Singh 2005, p. 25–26.
  12. ^ a b Singh 2005, p. 26.
  13. ^ a b "No. 34541". The London Gazette. 12 August 1938. p. 5189.
  14. ^ Singh 2005, pp. 28–29.
  15. ^ a b Indian Army List for October 1945 (Part I). Government of India Press. 1945. p. 126.
  16. ^ "Structure". Indian Army. Retrieved 12 August 2016.
  17. ^ Singh 2005, p. 29.
  18. ^ Singh 2005, p. 30.
  19. ^ a b Singh 2005, pp. 30–31.
  20. ^ "No. 37151". The London Gazette (Supplement). 26 June 1945. p. 3373.
  21. ^ a b The Quarterly Army List: December 1946 (Part I). HM Stationery Office. 1946. pp. 132–A.
  22. ^ Singh 2005, p. 32.
  23. ^ a b Singh 2005, p. 33.
  24. ^ a b Singh 2005, p. 34.
  25. ^ a b c d "Press Communique" (PDF). Press Information Bureau of India – Archive. Retrieved 26 January 2019.
  26. ^ a b Singh 2005, p. 35.
  27. ^ Singh 2005, p. 36.
  28. ^ Singh 2005, p. 37.
  29. ^ a b Singh 2005, p. 38.
  30. ^ Singh 2005, p. 39.
  31. ^ a b c Singh 2005, p. 40.
  32. ^ a b Singh 2005, p. 27.
  33. ^ Singh 2005, p. 46.
  34. ^ . The High Commission of India in Australia. Archived from the original on 16 August 2016. Retrieved 12 August 2016.
  35. ^ Singh 2005, p. 47.
  36. ^ Singh 2005, p. 48.
  37. ^ "About Directorate General Resettlement, Ministry of Defence". Directorate General Resettlement. Retrieved 13 August 2016.
  38. ^ "General K.M Cariappa Biography – General K.M Cariappa Profile, Childhood, Life, Timeline". I Love India. Retrieved 13 August 2016.
  39. ^ a b Singh 2005, p. 49.
  40. ^ a b Singh 2005, p. 41.
  41. ^ Singh 2005, p. 45.
  42. ^ Sharma 2007, p. 44–45.
  43. ^ a b Indian Army List for October 1943 (Part I). Government of India Press. 1943. p. 125.
  44. ^ "No. 37747". The London Gazette. 4 October 1946. p. 4946.
  45. ^ a b Indian Army List for April 1945 (Part I). Government of India Press. 1945. pp. 46–O.
  46. ^ The Quarterly Army List: December 1946 (Part I). HM Stationery Office. 1946. pp. 220l–m.
  47. ^ a b "New Designs of Crests and Badges in the Services" (PDF). Press Information Bureau of India – Archive. (PDF) from the original on 8 August 2017.
  48. ^ "General Cariappa Becomes Eastern Army Commander" (PDF). Press Information Bureau of India – Archive. Retrieved 18 July 2020.
  49. ^ "The Gazette of India – Extraordinary". The Gazette of India. 15 January 1949. p. 41.
  50. ^ "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)". The Gazette of India. 11 February 1950. p. 227.
  51. ^ "Cariappa made Field Marshal" (PDF).

References

Further reading

  • Cariappa, K.C. (2007). Chaudhuri, Dipa (ed.). Field Marshal K.M. Cariappa (2nd ed.). New Delhi: Niyogi Books. ISBN 978-81-89738-26-6.
  • Khanduri, C.B. (1995). Field Marshal K M Cariappa: His Life And Times. New Delhi: Lancer Publishers & Distributors. ISBN 978-1-897829-75-2.
  • Khanduri, C.B. (2002). Field Marshal K M Cariappa: A Biographical Sketch. New Delhi: Dev Publications. ISBN 978-81-87577-02-7.
  • Muthanna, I.M. (1964). General Cariappa. Mysore: Usha Press. OCLC 21885326.
  • Seshagiri Rao, L.S. (2001). Field Marshal KM Cariappa – Immortal Lights. Bangalore: Sapna Book House. ISBN 978-81-2801-755-1.
  • Weis, Edel (2002). Field Marshal Cariappa: The Man Who Touched the Sky. New Delhi: Roopa & Co. ISBN 978-81-7167-944-7.

External links

  • Profile on Indian Army official website
  • Profile on Bharat Rakshak
  • Profile on The Indian Hawk
Military offices
Preceded by Chief of the General Staff
1947-1947
Succeeded by
P. N. Thapar (officiating)
Preceded by General Officer Commanding-in-Chief Eastern Command
1947-1948
Succeeded by
Preceded by General Officer Commanding-in-Chief Western Command
1948-1949
Succeeded by
Preceded by Commander-in-Chief, Indian Army
1949-1953
Succeeded by
Preceded by Chairman Chiefs of Staff Committee
1949-1953
Succeeded by
Diplomatic posts
Preceded by
M. S. Duleepsinghji
High Commissioner of India to Australia and New Zealand
1954-1956
Succeeded by
K. R. P. Singh

cariappa, field, marshal, kodandera, madappa, cariappa, january, 1899, 1993, first, indian, commander, chief, indian, army, indian, forces, western, front, during, indo, pakistani, 1947, appointed, commander, chief, indian, army, 1949, only, indian, army, offi. Field Marshal Kodandera Madappa Cariappa OBE 28 January 1899 15 May 1993 was the first Indian Commander in Chief C in C of the Indian Army He led Indian forces on the Western Front during the Indo Pakistani War of 1947 He was appointed Commander in Chief of the Indian Army in 1949 He is one of only two Indian Army officers to hold the Five star rank of Field Marshal the other being Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw 1 Field MarshalK M CariappaOBEIndian High Commissioner to Australia and New ZealandIn office 1954 1956Preceded byM S DuleepsinghjiSucceeded byK R P Singh4th Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff CommitteeIn office 14 October 1951 14 January 1953PresidentRajendra PrasadPrime MinisterJawaharlal NehruPreceded byEdward ParrySucceeded byMark Pizey2nd Commander in Chief Indian Army now COAS In office 15 January 1949 1949 01 15 14 January 1953 1953 01 14 PresidentRajendra Prasad since 26 Jan 1950 post established Prime MinisterJawaharlal NehruViceroyC Rajagopalachari after 26 Jan 1950 post abolished Preceded byF R Roy BucherSucceeded byRajendrasinhji JadejaPersonal detailsBorn 1899 01 28 28 January 1899Shanivarsanthe Coorg Province British India present day Kodagu Karnataka India Died15 February 1993 1993 02 15 aged 94 Bangalore Karnataka IndiaRelationsAir Marshal K C Cariappa son AwardsOrder of the British Empire Legion of Merit Mentioned in dispatchesNicknameKipperMilitary serviceAllegiance British India IndiaBranch service British Indian Army Indian ArmyYears of service1919 1953 1986 1993 a RankField MarshalUnitRajput RegimentCommandsWestern Army Eastern Army Bannu Brigade 17 Rajput b Battles warsWorld War II Indo Pakistani War of 1947His distinguished military career spanned almost three decades Born on 28 January 1899 in Madikeri Kodagu Cariappa joined the British Indian Army shortly after the end of World War I and was commissioned as a temporary first lieutenant into the 2 88 Carnatic Infantry He was transferred between multiple regiments early in his career before settling on 1 7 Rajputs which became his permanent regiment He was the first Indian military officer to attend the Staff College Quetta the first Indian to command a battalion and was also one of the first two Indians selected to undergo training at the Imperial Defence College in Camberley He served in various staff capacities at various unit and command headquarters HQ and also at the General HQ New Delhi Before taking over as the C in C of the Indian Army Cariappa served as the commander of the Indian Army s Eastern and Western Commands Contents 1 Early life and education 2 Military career 2 1 Early service 2 2 World War II 2 3 Post war career 2 4 Post Independence 2 5 C in C of the Indian Army 3 Personal life 4 Post retirement and death 5 Personality 6 Awards and decorations 7 Dates of rank 8 Notes 9 See also 10 Notes 11 References 12 Further reading 13 External linksEarly life and education EditCariappa was born on 28 January 1899 in Shanivarsanthe Coorg Province present day Kodagu district to a family of farmers belonging to the Kodava clan His father Madappa worked with the revenue department Cariappa was the second child in a family of four sons and two daughters 2 He was known as Chimma to his relatives After completing his education in the Central High School at Madikeri in 1917 he attended Presidency College Chennai to pursue his education further 2 During college he learned that Indians were being recruited into the Army and that they were to be trained in India As he wished to serve as a soldier he applied for the training 3 Of the 70 applicants Cariappa was one of 42 who were finally granted admission into the Daly Cadet College Indore He scored well in all the aspects of his training and graduated seventh in his class 3 Military career EditEarly service Edit Cariappa graduated on 1 December 1919 and was granted a temporary commission Subsequently a permanent commission was granted on 9 September 1922 with effect from 17 July 1920 This was done to make Cariappa s rank junior to the officers who passed out graduated from Royal Military College Sandhurst on 16 July 1920 4 3 He was commissioned into the 2nd Battalion of the 88th Carnatic Infantry at Bombay Mumbai as a temporary second lieutenant 5 He was promoted to temporary lieutenant on 1 December 1920 6 Later he was transferred to the 2 125 Napier Rifles which moved to Mesopotamia present day Iraq in May 1920 He was promoted to lieutenant on 17 July 1921 7 On his return to India Cariappa was posted to the 37th Prince of Wales s Own Dogras in June 1922 5 In June 1923 Cariappa was transferred to the 1 7 Rajputs which became his permanent regimental home 8 In 1925 Cariappa went on a world tour to Europe as well as the United States Japan and China He met a large number of soldiers and civilians in various nations The tour proved to be educational for him After this he was able to settle down He was given the nickname Kipper by a British officer s wife who found his name difficult to pronounce while he was serving in Fatehgarh 8 In 1927 Cariappa was promoted to captain 9 but the appointment was not officially gazetted until 1931 10 Cariappa was appointed as the deputy assistant quarter master general DAQMG at HQ Peshawar District in 1931 The experience he had gained at headquarters his coaching at Royal United Services Institute in 1932 and the courses he attended at Small Arms School SAS and the Royal School of Artillery RSA helped him to get through the Quetta Staff College s entrance examination He was the first Indian military officer to attend the course 11 Though officers were generally given staff appointments after completion of the course Cariappa was not given his staff appointment until two years later Until then he rendered regimental service with his parent unit on the North West Frontier In March 1936 he was appointed as staff captain of the Deccan Area 12 In 1938 Cariappa was promoted to major 13 and was appointed the deputy assistant adjutant and quarter master general DAA amp QMG 12 World War II Edit In 1939 the Skeen Committee was set up to examine the options for the Indianisation of the Indian Army s officer ranks As Cariappa was one of the most senior Indian officers with about 19 years of service the committee held several discussions with him He expressed his displeasure at the treatment of Indian officers in the Army He stressed the discrimination shown toward Indian officers in terms of appointments promotions benefits and allowances to which European officers were entitled but Indian officers were not 14 After World War II began Cariappa was posted as brigade major to the 20th Indian Brigade stationed in Derajat Later he was appointed as the DAQMG of 10th Indian Division which was stationed in Iraq He earned a Mention in Despatches as DAA and quartermaster general of General later Field Marshal William Slim s 10th Division He served in Iraq Iran and Syria in 1941 1942 and then in Burma in 1943 1944 Back in India in March 1942 he was posted as second in command of the newly raised 7th Rajput Machine Gun Battalion at Fatehgarh On 15 April 1942 he was promoted to acting lieutenant colonel and was appointed commanding officer of the same battalion receiving an advancement to temporary lieutenant colonel on 15 July 15 With this appointment he became the first Indian to command a battalion c in the Indian Army 17 Cariappa was successful in stabilising the newly raised battalion in terms of administration training and the handling of arms Later the unit was rechristened as the 52nd Rajput and put under 43rd Indian Armoured Division Within a span of a few months the unit observed two transformations and two moves First the battalion s machine guns were replaced with tanks in order to convert it into an armoured regiment But soon the battalion was reverted to infantry and re designated as 17 7 Rajputs Subsequently it was moved to Secunderabad This move led to unrest among the unit s troops which was successfully handled by Cariappa 18 On 1 April 1943 he was appointed as the assistant quarter master general AQMG in the headquarters of Eastern Command Though Cariappa wished to serve in combat chance did not favour him In August 1943 when the South East Asia Command was formed and the Fourteenth Army was placed under it Cariappa volunteered for active service in the war But he was again posted as AQMG of the 26th Indian Division stationed at Buthidaung in Burma The division played an important role in pushing the Japanese back from Arakan For his services in the operation Cariappa was awarded the Order of the British Empire OBE in June 1945 19 20 On 1 November 1944 Cariappa was promoted to the acting rank of brigadier 15 but was not given the command of a brigade as expected Instead he became a member of the Reorganisation Committee chaired by Lieutenant General Sir Henry Willcox Though Cariappa was not happy with the appointment initially and protested to the Military Secretary the experience proved to helpful when he took over as the C in C four years later The committee closely worked with the General HQ and Viceroy s Secretariat This gave the British hierarchy a chance to assess Cariappa 19 Post war career Edit On 1 May 1945 Cariappa was promoted to brigadier becoming the first Indian officer to fully attain the rank 21 Finally in November Cariappa was made the commander of the Bannu Frontier Brigade in Waziristan It was during this time that Colonel Ayub Khan later field marshal and President of Pakistan 1962 1969 served under him Unlike previous commanders who tried to keep the local tribes under control by force Cariappa adopted an alternate approach by extending friendly relations to them which proved a far more effective tactic When Head of the Interim Government Jawaharlal Nehru visited Bannu he found it extremely peaceful and settled compared to Razmak where another brigade was stationed Nehru was impressed by Cariappa s way of dealing with the tribes 22 He was also widely acclaimed for his treatment of the Indian National Army s INA prisoners When Cariappa visited one of the camps that held INA prisoners he was moved by the conditions in which they lived He immediately wrote to the Adjutant General recommending that their living conditions be improved and to pardon some of those who were not guilty These included Colonel Prem Kumar Sahgal Gurbaksh Singh Dhillon and Shah Nawaz Khan Cariappa pointed out that these prisoners had considerable support from the Indian leaders who would later rule the country This led the British authorities to release most of the prisoners who were detained 23 In 1947 Cariappa was the first of two Indians selected to undergo training at the Imperial Defence College at Camberly in the United Kingdom in order to attend the higher command courses 23 With the experience he had gained at the Imperial Defence College Cariappa felt that dividing the Indian Army during the partition would have a devastating effect on both the Indians and Pakistanis He explained to the hierarchy that without the assistance of British officers there was a risk of inexperienced Indian officers taking over higher commands Despite this his concerns went unaddressed by the hierarchy During partition Cariappa handled the division of the Army and sharing of its assets between the two new nations as the officer in charge 24 On 30 July 1947 Cariappa was promoted to the rank of major general becoming one of the first Indians to be promoted to this rank in a combat arm of the Indian Army along with brigadiers Muhammad Akbar Khan and Maharaj Shri Rajendrasinhji Jadeja 25 Post Independence Edit Post Independence Cariappa was appointed as deputy chief of the general staff 25 24 In November 1947 on being promoted to the rank of lieutenant general he was appointed as the Eastern Army commander In January 1948 owing to the worsening situation in Kashmir Cariappa was called back to the capital and appointed as the GOC in C Delhi and East Punjab Command After taking over the command he immediately renamed it the Western Command and moved its headquarters HQ to Jammu he subsequently raised a corps HQ under Lt Gen S M Shrinagesh at Udhampur He appointed Lt Gen Kodandera Subayya Thimayya as the GOC Jammu and Kashmir Force later 19th Division and Atma Singh as the GOC Jammu Division later 25th Division 26 He launched three subsequent attacks Operations Kipper Easy and Bison to capture the Naushera Jhangar Poonch Zoji La Dras and Kargil areas Plans were laid to drive out the Pakistani forces from Kashmir completely but they were stopped by the intervention of the United States On 6 July 1948 the Army HQ issued strict instructions against conducting any major operations without its permission Cariappa protested against this stating that this policy would threaten Leh Kargil and ultimately the Kashmir Valley which would put the country s security at stake Though Cariappa asked for two brigades to continue offensive strikes he was provided only one and permitted to advance to Kargil He disobeyed orders and launched strikes in the Ladakh area allowing India to assert control over the region 26 27 Cariappa continued several operations and offensive strikes against the Pakistanis which involved high risk Failure of any of them might have threatened the Indian forces He was subsequently appointed to the supreme post of commander in chief 28 29 C in C of the Indian Army Edit When Lieutenant General Sir Roy Bucher s appointment as the C in C of the Indian Army was about to expire in January 1949 it was decided to replace him with an Indian Cariappa Shrinagesh and Nathu Singh were the contenders for the post Though Shrinagesh was six months older than Cariappa he had not served as long as Cariappa had Nathu Singh had served two and a half years less But the Interim Government s Defence Minister Baldev Singh was not in favour of Cariappa He contacted Shrinagesh and Nathu Singh asking for their opinion of being appointed as C in C Since both declined the offer Cariappa took over as the first native Commander in Chief of the Indian Army 29 The day Cariappa took over the reins of the Indian Army 15 January 1949 was marked as official Army Day and celebrated annually As the chief of the Army Cariappa was instrumental in the formation of the Territorial Army in 1949 Though the National Cadet Corps had been already formed in 1948 it was Cariappa who extended support during its formative years These two complementary branches of the Army later proved to be very helpful in the wars India fought in later years 30 Several measures taken by Cariappa such as his refusal to induct former Indian National Army personnel into the Army kept the organisation out of political affairs and maintained its autonomy despite being put under a lot of pressure by Nehru Nehru only relented when he threatened to resign However INA s slogan Jai Hind which means Victory to India was adopted by Cariappa and later it became a formal phrase between personnel to greet each other He also turned down the proposal to reserve vacancies in the Army for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes as had been done in other government services 31 After four years of service as the C in C Cariappa retired on 14 January 1953 Before he retired he made a farewell visit to his parent regiment the Rajput Regiment at the Rajput Regimental Centre accompanied by his son and daughter Rajendrasinhji Jadeja succeeded him as the C in C 31 Personal life Edit Cariappa on a 1995 stamp of India Cariappa was married in March 1937 in Secunderabad to Muthu Machia a forest officer s daughter Though their married life was happy initially later due to an age gap of almost 17 years ideological differences and Cariappa s professional commitments their marriage broke down In September 1945 the couple separated without any formal divorce Three years later Muthu died in an accident 32 Cariappa and Muthu had a son and a daughter Their son K C Cariappa was born on 4 January 1938 and daughter Nalini on 23 February 1948 Their son called Nanda joined the Indian Air Force and rose to the rank of Air Marshal 32 His sister Bollava s son Lieutenant general Biddanda Chengappa Nanda also had a distinguished career in the Indian Army and retired as GOC in C Northern CommandPost retirement and death EditCariappa s alliance with the Indian Army was spread over a period of around three decades during which he had broad experience of staff and command work After his retirement in 1953 he served as the Indian high commissioner to Australia and New Zealand until 1956 33 34 With a view toward ex servicemen s welfare Cariappa founded the Indian Ex Servicemen s League IESL in 1964 35 He was also instrumental in setting up the Directorate of Resettlement 36 later Directorate General Resettlement an inter service organisation under the Department of Ex servicemen Welfare Ministry of Defence that looked after the various issues surrounding the resettlement of retired soldiers especially those who retired young 37 Cariappa took part in the re organisation of the armed forces in many foreign countries He was awarded the Legion of Merit in the degree of Chief Commander by the American President Harry S Truman 38 Cariappa also tried his luck in politics after a lot of persuasion from his friends and admirers He contested 1971 Lok Sabha poll from Mumbai North East Lok Sabha constituency but came third Erroneous claims about him contesting against Krishna Menon appear in some books but they are not supported by any evidence on any Indian govt site As a mark of recognition for the commendable service rendered by him to the nation the Government of India conferred the rank of field marshal on Cariappa on 28 April 1986 at a special investiture ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan the official home of the president of India 39 Cariappa s health began to deteriorate in 1991 he suffered from arthritis and heart problems He died in his sleep on 15 May 1993 at the Bangalore Command Hospital where he had been receiving treatment for a few years His mortal remains were cremated in Madikeri two days later The cremation was attended by the three service chiefs along with Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw Cariappa s son Nanda lit the pyre while the Honour Guard reversed arms 39 Personality Edit COAS Gen Dalbir Singh Suhag paying tributes at the FM Cariappa Memorial at Madikeri Coorg According to biographer Vijay Singh it was unheard of for Cariappa to use his power and status for personal purposes 40 One example Singh cites occurred when Cariappa went to the Rajput Regimental Centre to pay farewell before he retired He brought his son and daughter with him and both of them stayed at the commandant s house till the next day According to the rules children were forbidden to attend the officers mess As chief Cariappa could have taken them to the mess but he did not 31 After he was the C in C he wanted Major later Lieutenant General Srinivas Kumar Sinha to be his military assistant MA The military secretary noted that a military assistant must hold the rank of lieutenant colonel which required a minimum of six and a half years of service Sinha was only a major with five years of service On learning this Cariappa backed off the idea not wanting to break the rules 40 During the 1965 war his son Nanda was shot down over Pakistan He was captured and held as a prisoner of war POW On realizing the identity of the wounded soldier at Kargil Radio Pakistan immediately announced the capture of the younger Cariappa General Ayub Khan himself contacted General Cariappa who was living a retired life at Mercara his hometown with information about his son s safety When Ayub Khan offered to release his son immediately Cariappa is reported to have scoffed at the idea and told him to give his son no better treatment than any other POW Singh recounts that Cariappa replied He is my son no longer He is the child of this country a soldier fighting for his motherland like a true patriot My many thanks for your kind gesture but I request you to release all or release none Give him no special treatment 41 Bust of Cariappa at the National Military Memorial in Bengaluru Awards and decorations Edit General Service Medal 1947 Indian Independence Medal Order of the British Empire 1939 1945 Star 42 Burma Star War Medal 1939 1945 India Service Medal Legion of Merit Chief Commander Dates of rank EditInsignia Rank Component Date of rank Second Lieutenant British Indian Army 1 December 1919 temporary 43 17 July 1920 substantive 4 Lieutenant British Indian Army 1 December 1920 temporary 6 17 July 1921 substantive 7 Captain British Indian Army 17 July 1927 9 Major British Indian Army 17 July 1938 13 Lieutenant Colonel British Indian Army July 1942 acting 15 July 1942 temporary 43 17 July 1946 substantive 44 Colonel British Indian Army 1 November 1944 acting 45 1 May 1945 temporary 46 Brigadier British Indian Army 1 November 1944 acting 45 1 May 1945 temporary 21 25 Major General British Indian Army 30 July 1947 25 Major General Indian Army 15 August 1947 note 1 47 Lieutenant General Indian Army 21 November 1947 acting note 1 48 General C in C IA Indian Army 15 January 1949 acting note 1 49 General C in C IA Indian Army 26 January 1950 recommissioning and change in insignia 47 50 Field Marshal Indian Army 15 January 1986 51 Notes Edit a b c 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 See also EditField Marshal Sam Manekshaw Marshal of the Indian Air Force Arjan Singh Admiral Ram Dass Katari Air Marshal Subroto MukerjeeNotes EditFootnotes Indian military officers of five star rank hold their rank for life and are considered to be serving officers until their deaths 1 Previously 7th Rajput Machine Gun Battalion A battalion comprises four rifle companies A rifle company comprises three platoons A platoon comprises three sections each of which has 10 men 16 Citations a b Anwesha Madhukalya Did You Know That Only 3 People Have Been Given The Highest Ranks in the Indian Armed Forces Scoop Whoop Retrieved 2 August 2016 a b Singh 2005 p 21 a b c Singh 2005 p 22 a b No 32775 The London Gazette 8 December 1922 p 8723 a b Singh 2005 p 23 a b No 32380 The London Gazette 5 July 1921 p 5359 a b No 32878 The London Gazette 9 November 1923 p 7663 a b Singh 2005 p 24 a b Viewing Page 5805 of Issue 33310 The London Gazette 9 September 1927 Retrieved 26 March 2012 Viewing Page 3324 of Issue 33718 The London Gazette 22 May 1931 Retrieved 26 March 2012 Singh 2005 p 25 26 a b Singh 2005 p 26 a b No 34541 The London Gazette 12 August 1938 p 5189 Singh 2005 pp 28 29 a b Indian Army List for October 1945 Part I Government of India Press 1945 p 126 Structure Indian Army Retrieved 12 August 2016 Singh 2005 p 29 Singh 2005 p 30 a b Singh 2005 pp 30 31 No 37151 The London Gazette Supplement 26 June 1945 p 3373 a b The Quarterly Army List December 1946 Part I HM Stationery Office 1946 pp 132 A Singh 2005 p 32 a b Singh 2005 p 33 a b Singh 2005 p 34 a b c d Press Communique PDF Press Information Bureau of India Archive Retrieved 26 January 2019 a b Singh 2005 p 35 Singh 2005 p 36 Singh 2005 p 37 a b Singh 2005 p 38 Singh 2005 p 39 a b c Singh 2005 p 40 a b Singh 2005 p 27 Singh 2005 p 46 Previous High Commissioners The High Commission of India in Australia Archived from the original on 16 August 2016 Retrieved 12 August 2016 Singh 2005 p 47 Singh 2005 p 48 About Directorate General Resettlement Ministry of Defence Directorate General Resettlement Retrieved 13 August 2016 General K M Cariappa Biography General K M Cariappa Profile Childhood Life Timeline I Love India Retrieved 13 August 2016 a b Singh 2005 p 49 a b Singh 2005 p 41 Singh 2005 p 45 Sharma 2007 p 44 45 a b Indian Army List for October 1943 Part I Government of India Press 1943 p 125 No 37747 The London Gazette 4 October 1946 p 4946 a b Indian Army List for April 1945 Part I Government of India Press 1945 pp 46 O The Quarterly Army List December 1946 Part I HM Stationery Office 1946 pp 220l m a b 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 General Cariappa Becomes Eastern Army Commander PDF Press Information Bureau of India Archive Retrieved 18 July 2020 The Gazette of India Extraordinary The Gazette of India 15 January 1949 p 41 Part I Section 4 Ministry of Defence Army Branch The Gazette of India 11 February 1950 p 227 Cariappa made Field Marshal PDF References EditSingh Vijay Kumar 2005 Leadership in the Indian Army Biographies of Twelve Soldiers SAGE ISBN 978 0 7619 3322 9 Sharma Satinder 2007 Services Chiefs of India Northern Book Centre ISBN 978 81 7211 162 5 Further reading EditCariappa K C 2007 Chaudhuri Dipa ed Field Marshal K M Cariappa 2nd ed New Delhi Niyogi Books ISBN 978 81 89738 26 6 Khanduri C B 1995 Field Marshal K M Cariappa His Life And Times New Delhi Lancer Publishers amp Distributors ISBN 978 1 897829 75 2 Khanduri C B 2002 Field Marshal K M Cariappa A Biographical Sketch New Delhi Dev Publications ISBN 978 81 87577 02 7 Muthanna I M 1964 General Cariappa Mysore Usha Press OCLC 21885326 Seshagiri Rao L S 2001 Field Marshal KM Cariappa Immortal Lights Bangalore Sapna Book House ISBN 978 81 2801 755 1 Weis Edel 2002 Field Marshal Cariappa The Man Who Touched the Sky New Delhi Roopa amp Co ISBN 978 81 7167 944 7 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kodandera M Cariappa Profile on Indian Army official website Profile on Bharat Rakshak Profile on The Indian HawkMilitary officesPreceded byArthur Smith Chief of the General Staff1947 1947 Succeeded byP N Thapar officiating Preceded byRoy Bucher General Officer Commanding in Chief Eastern Command1947 1948 Succeeded byRajendrasinhji JadejaPreceded byDudley Russell General Officer Commanding in Chief Western Command1948 1949 Succeeded byS M ShrinageshPreceded byRoy Bucher Commander in Chief Indian Army1949 1953 Succeeded byRajendrasinhji JadejaPreceded byAdmiral Edward Parry Chairman Chiefs of Staff Committee1949 1953 Succeeded byAdmiral Mark PizeyDiplomatic postsPreceded byM S Duleepsinghji High Commissioner of India to Australia and New Zealand1954 1956 Succeeded byK R P Singh Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title K M Cariappa amp oldid 1144027590, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

article

, read, download, free, free download, mp3, video, mp4, 3gp, jpg, jpeg, gif, png, picture, music, song, movie, book, game, games.