Lucknow: In a moving ceremony steeped in military tradition, a statue of General Bipin Rawat, India’s first Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) and a distinguished officer of the 11 Gorkha Rifles, was unveiled at the regiment’s Regimental Centre (11 GRRC) here today. Brigadier Samar Singh Pundir, Commandant of 11 GRRC, performed the honours in the presence of serving personnel and veterans.
The bronze statue stands as a powerful symbol of valour, leadership, and selfless service. General Rawat, who served as Colonel of the Regiment, embodied the indomitable Gorkha spirit throughout his storied career. From commanding troops in challenging operational environments to steering India’s defence architecture as the pioneering CDS, his journey continues to inspire the armed forces.
Born on March 16, 1958, in Pauri town of Pauri Garhwal district in Uttarakhand, Rawat hailed from a family with deep military roots. His father, Lieutenant General Lakshman Singh Rawat, instilled in him the values of duty and discipline from an early age. Commissioned into the 5th Battalion of the 11 Gorkha Rifles on December 16, 1978, the same unit as his father, after earning the Sword of Honour at the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun, Rawat rose through the ranks with distinction.
His operational experience spanned counter-insurgency in the Northeast and Jammu & Kashmir, high-altitude deployments along the Line of Actual Control, and key command appointments, including the 19th Infantry Division and III Corps. As Army Chief and later CDS, he championed jointness and theatre commands, laying the groundwork for integrated defence reforms.
The statue at 11 GRRC, home to the ‘Bravest of the Brave,’ will particularly motivate young Agniveers and future generations of Gorkha soldiers. It serves as a constant reminder to uphold the regiment’s cherished traditions of valour, honour, and selfless duty to the nation.
General Rawat’s tragic demise in a helicopter crash in December 2021 cut short a remarkable life, but his legacy endures. As India strengthens its defence posture in an evolving geopolitical landscape, the spirit of this soldier-statesman remains a guiding light for the Indian Armed Forces.
In the words echoed during the ceremony, the Gorkha ethos of courage lives on, fierce in battle, unwavering in loyalty.
contact: drrajeshjauhri@gmail.com
Dr Rajesh Jauhri is a Journalist with an experience of over 25 years in Indian and foreign media, a Social Scientist, an Ac-complished Author, a Political & Strategic Analyst, a Marksman (Rifle & Pistol), an Orator, a Thinker and an Educationist. He holds a Ph.D. degree on “Impact of colonial heritage on Indian police”. He runs an NGO dedicated to the social and eco-nomic uplift of tribal communities in MP and two decades back, he established a school in a village of Indore district, providing education and moral values to children belonging to underprivileged and minority families. Has received multiple awards in various fields.
