Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, January 6

After attending the ceremony to mark Gen MM Naravane taking over as the Chief of the Army Staff in New Delhi last week, Brig Madan Das (retd), who was the Army Chief’s first commanding officer (CO), described him as a remarkable officer who has a very effective working style.

Chandigarh-based Brig Das, who was commanding 7 Sikh Light Infantry when Gen Naravane was commissioned as the Second Lieutenant in 1980, said he had judged that the young man was not among the run-of-the-mill guys, but was thorough in his approach and would see through the situation in its entirety before taking any decision.

When Gen Naravane got commissioned as the Second Lieutenant in the 7th Battalion of the Sikh Light Infantry, he was then wearing a single star on his shoulder flaps and I felt immense happiness seeing his epaulettes embellished with a lot more shining brass at the inauguration.

Incidentally, Gen Naravane is the third officer from the Sikh Light Infantry, the maximum from one regiment, to be elevated to the top slot. The other two being Gen VP Malik and Gen Bikram Singh, who also are residing in the tricity after hanging up their boots. Of the 29 officers to have led the Indian Army so far, including those who have tenanted the erstwhile appointment of Commander-in-Chief, 18 have been from the Infantry, six from the Armoured Corps and five from the Artillery.

“From wearing a single star on his shoulders almost 40 years ago, his epaulettes are now embellished with a lot more brass, which also bring with them a huge responsibility,” the veteran Brigadier said.

“He was also fortunate to have very competent seniors and peers in 7 Sikh Light Infantry. The presence of such officers had created a healthy professional competition within the battalion and I am proud to say three of those earlier rose to become generals. Naravane is the fourth,” he said.