| Bio/Wiki | |
|---|---|
| Profession | Army Personnel |
| Famous For | Being the first Chief of Defence Staff of India |
| Physical Stats & More | |
| Height (approx.) | in centimeters- 173 cm in meters- 1.73 m in feet & inches- 5’ 8” |
| Eye Colour | Dark Brown |
| Hair Colour | Grey |
| Military Service | |
| Service/Branch | Indian Army |
| Rank | Four-Star General |
| Service Years | 16 December 1978 – 8 December 2021 (till his death) |
| Unit | 5/11 Gorkha Rifles |
| Service Number | IC-35471M |
| Commands | • Southern Command III Corps • 19th Infantry Division • MONUSCO North Kivu Brigade • Rashtriya Rifles, Sector 5 |
| Career Ranks | • Second Lieutenant (16 December 1978) • Lieutenant (16 December 1980) • Captain (31 July 1984) • Major (16 December 1989) • Lieutenant-Colonel (1 June 1998) • Colonel (1 August 2003) • Brigadier (1 October 2007) • Major General (20 October 2011) • Lieutenant-General (1 June 2014 (substantive)) • General (1 January 2017) |
| Designations (major ones) | • 37th Vice Chief of the Army Staff (1 September 2016 – 31 December 2016) • 27th Chief of the Army Staff (31 December 2016 – 31 December 2019) • 32nd Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee (27 September 2019 – 31 December 2019) • 1st Chief of the Defence Staff (31 December 2019 - 8 December 2021; till his death) |
| Awards, Honours, Achievements | • Param Vishisht Seva Medal • Uttam Yudh Seva Medal • Ati Vishisht Seva Medal • Yudh Seva Medal • Sena Medal • Vishisht Seva Medal |
| Personal Life | |
| Date of Birth | 16 March 1958 |
| Birthplace | Saina Village, Birmoli, Lansdowne, Pauri, Pauri Garhwal, Uttar Pradesh, India (now in Uttarakhand, India) |
| Date of Death | 8 December 2021 |
| Place of Death | Coonoor, Tamil Nadu |
| Age (at the time of death) | 63 Years |
| Death Cause | He was killed after an IAF chopper, carrying him, his wife, and 11 more, crashed near Coonoor in Tamil Nadu. |
| Zodiac sign | Pisces |
| Signature |  |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Hometown | Lansdowne, Pauri Garhwal, Uttarakhand, India |
| School | • Cambrian Hall School, Dehradun • St. Edward’s School, Shimla |
| College/University | • National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla • Indian Military Academy, Dehradun • Defence Services Staff College (DSSC), Wellington • United States Army Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas • Madras University • Chaudhary Charan Singh University, Meerut |
| Educational Qualification(s) | • MPhil degree from the Defence Services Staff College (DSSC), Wellington • Diplomas in Management and Computer Studies from Madras University • Doctorate of Philosophy from Chaudhary Charan Singh University, Meerut, in 2011 |
| Religion | Hinduism |
| Caste | Kshatriya (Rajput) |
| Hobbies | Playing Football, Reading |
| Controversies | • In 2017, Rawat’s comments against stone pelters in Kashmir created a fuss. His comment was: “In fact, I wish these people, instead of throwing stones at us, were firing weapons at us. Then I would have been happy. Then I could do what I (want to do)." • Rawat has been criticized by the Indian Army veterans for his suggestion that there should be a code of conduct governing retired soldiers; however, the Army HQ has shown its intention that it doesn't favour any such code of conduct. • During an interview with a news channel when asked about the role of women in combat roles, he delivered a controversial statement. He said that women in combat roles could complain about men peeping into their tents while they were changing their clothes. He said, “She will say somebody is peeping, so we will have to give a sheet around her." • In 2017, he was criticized for awarding the Chief of Army Staff’s Commendation card to Major Leetul Gogoi for “sustained efforts” in counter-insurgency operations. Gogoi made headlines in 2017 for tying a Kashmiri civilian to the front of his jeep, apparently in an attempt to prevent stone-pelters from targeting his convoy. • In December 2018, his opinion regarding disability pension also sparked a row. He warned soldiers who falsely call themselves ‘disabled’ to earn extra money, through disability pension. He said, “If a soldier is truly disabled, we will pay special attention to them and help them fully, even financially. But, those who falsely call themselves ‘disabled’ and make their disability a way to earn money, I am warning them today, that you better mend your ways otherwise in a few days you might receive special instructions from the Army Headquarters, which will not be good news for you." • In December 2019, his comment, which was considered related to the anti-Citizenship (Amendment) Act protests across India, triggered a controversy by publicly condemning those leading violent protests, asserting that leadership wasn’t about guiding people to carry out arson and violence. The comment by the general drew sharp criticism from Opposition leaders and also senior retired officers though most of the latter did not want to come on record. |
| Relationships & More | |
| Marital Status (at the time of death) | Married |
| Family | |
| Wife/Spouse | Madhulika Rawat (President of Army Women Welfare Association (AWWA) |
| Children | Son- Not Known Daughter(s)- 2 • Kritika Rawat • He has 1 more daughter  |
| Parents | Father- Laxman Singh Rawat (Retired Lt. General Indian Army) Mother- Name Not Known |
| Money Factor | |
| Salary (as the Chief of Defence Staff) | Rs. 250,000/month + Other Allowances |
Some Lesser Known Facts About Bipin Rawat
- Bipin Rawat was a four-star General of the Indian Army who became the first Chief of Defence Staff of India on 31 December 2019. He died in a chopper crash on 8 December 2021.
- He was born into a Rajput Family of Uttarakhand that has been serving in the Indian Army for generations. Bipin Rawat belonged to the third generation of his family that had served the Indian Army.
Bipin Rawat with his family members in his native village in Uttarakhand
- His father, Laxman Singh Rawat, had also served the Indian Army as Lt. General. Laxman Singh Rawat had risen from the ranks (being a soldier) to become the Deputy Chief of Army Staff.
- Bipin Rawat’s paternal uncle, Bharat Singh Rawat is a retired Havaldar (non-commissioned officer) of the Indian Army. His other uncle Harinandan also served in the Indian Army.
Bipin Rawat’s uncle Bharat Singh Rawat (in white Kurta)
- Bipin Rawat’s uncle, Bharat Singh Rawat, describes him as “a very smart boy right from childhood.” He says,
Bipin has managed to get where he is only through sheer hard work and honesty. We were very sure that he would achieve great success, and he has proved us right.”
- Bipin used to take inputs (when he was appearing for the Service Selection Board; SSB) from his old associate, Lt Col Onkar Singh Dikrit, who had known him since his young days and was the senior of his father in 2/11 Gorkha Rifles.
- Bipin did his schooling at Cambrian Hall School, Dehradun, and the St Edward’s School in Shimla.
Bipin Rawat visiting his alma mater St Edward School in Shimla
- After completing his schooling, he joined the National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla and the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun, where he was awarded the ‘Sword of Honour.’
- After passing out from the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun, he was commissioned into the 5th Battalion of 11 Gorkha Rifles, on 16 December 1978; the same unit as his father’s.
- Soon after his induction into the Indian army as a Second Lieutenant, Mr. Rawat started showing his military skills and went on to have lots of experience in high altitude warfare, and he spent ten years conducting Counter-insurgency operations.
- As a Major, he commanded a company in Uri, Jammu & Kashmir. As a Colonel, he commanded the 5th battalion 11 Gorkha Rifles in the Eastern sector along the Line of Actual Control at Kibithu.
- After being promoted to the rank of Brigadier, he commanded 5 Sector of Rashtriya Rifles in Sopore.
- For commanding a multinational Brigade in a Chapter VII mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO), Mr. Rawat was twice awarded the Force Commander’s Commendation.
- His promotion to Major General led him to take over as the General Officer Commanding 19th Infantry Division (Uri).
- As a Lieutenant General, Mr. Rawat commanded III Corps, headquartered in Dimapur before taking over the Southern Army in Pune.
- During his career span of 37 years, Bipin Rawat was awarded various gallantry awards including the Param Vishisht Seva Medal for his distinguished service.
- On 1 January 2016, Bipin Rawat was promoted to the Army Commander grade and assumed the post of General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (GOC-in-C) Southern Command, and after a short stint, he assumed the post of Vice Chief of Army Staff on 1 September 2016.
- On 17 December 2016, the Government of India appointed Mr. Bipin Rawat as the 27th Chief of the Army Staff, superseding two seniors – Lieutenant Generals Praveen Bakshi and P M Hariz. With this, he became the third officer from the Gorkha Brigade to become the Chief of the Army Staff after Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw and General Dalbir Singh Suhag.
Bipin Rawat taking charge as the Chief of Army Staff from Dalbir Singh Suhag
- Bipin Rawat was also the honorary General of the Nepalese Army.
General Bipin Rawat presents a memento to General Rajendra Chhetri, Chief of the Army Staff Nepal Army, on the occasion of Nepal Army Day 2018
- Mr. Rawat’s battalion was deployed against the Chinese People’s Liberation Army; during the 1987 face-off in the Sumdorong Chu valley.
- In February 2019, Mr. Rawat took a sortie in indigenous Light Combat Aircraft Tejas in Bengaluru at the Aero India 2019.
Bipin Rawat waving while going to fly LCA Tejas
- Mr. Rawat was very close to his hometown in Uttarkhand, and he often paid a visit to his native village even during his busy schedule.
Bipin Rawat on a visit to his maternal village Thati in Uttarkashi
- On one such visit to his native village Saina Birmoli, near Lansdowne, he desired to build a house in the village. His uncle Bharat Singh Rawat even showed him a plot to build his desired house.
Bipin Rawat on a visit to his native village Saina Birmoli, near Lansdowne
- On 8 December 2021, an IAF Mi 17 V5 helicopter with a crew of 4 members carrying the CDS Bipin Rawat and 9 other passengers met with a tragic accident near Coonoor in Tamil Nadu, killing the CDS, his wife, and 11 more. According to the Indian Air Force, Bipin Rawat was on a visit to Defence Services Staff College, Wellington (Nilgiri Hills) to address the faculty and student officers of the Staff Course.
The remains of the crashed chopper that was carrying Bipin Rawat
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