Baudhik Katha on Field Marshal KM Cariappa

Introduction:

As a part of today’s Baudhik we are going to learn more about an Indian Army Chief to whom even Pakisthan President saluted. You will be surprised to know this, but it is true there was an incident where the whole world saluted him. We will talk on that today.  Even current Army Chief General Bipin Rawat was claiming “Bharath Ratna” for him. He is none other than our first Army Chief Field Marshal KM Kariappa of Independent India.

Foundation is Important:

Before we going to discuss about him more, let’s learn first why he, in today’s topic?  The foundation is always important whatever we do. Because Doctor ji is the foundation of RSS, hence RSS. Nobody will dare to point finger at him, rather everybody will bow down to him by his Shila (Good qualities) “सुशीलं जगद्येन नम्रं भवेत्”. When he is the foundation then of course the Organisation will be strong. All SS wants to be Doctor Ji in RSS. See Indian National Congress, They keep taling about Gandhi but nobody wants to be Gandhi or live like Gandhi, how will be the Organisation, you can imagine.

Fiend Marshal KM Kariappa was such as a great personality and he was one of the main foundation stone of Indian Army. He is best remembered as the legend who made the Indian Army truly Indian. Hence Indian Army, Anybody has any question or doubt on the discipline on Indian Army, or sincerity of Indian Army.

• He told his officers in 1949, “Understand politics, but do not get involved in its processes, I want to make it clear, that you are not politicians... You are Indians first; and Indians last”.
• He did adopt INA’s slogan ‘Jai Hind’ as the formal phrase of greeting between army personnel.
• He also rejected the proposal for caste-based reservations in the Army, though there was political pressure.

As this is a Baudhik session about him, let’s learn some of his personal information. Let’s talk about the below Points in this Baudhik:

• His personal life Information
• Awards
• Couple of Incidents which made him deserve high respect.
• His association with RSS

His Personal Information:

• Cariappa was born on 28 January 1899, in Madikeri, Kodagu (Coorg), to a family of farmers. His father, Madappa, worked with the revenue department. Cariappa was the second child in a family of four sons and two daughters.
• After completing his education in the Central High School at Madikeri in 1917, he attended Presidency College, Chennai to pursue his education further.
• There he learned that Indians were being recruited into the Army. As he wished to serve as a soldier he applied for.  Of the 70 applicants, Cariappa was one of 42 who were finally granted admission.
• He was hard working and extremely dedicated. He quickly became one of the best cadets in the batch, excelling in subjects such as battle tactics, military strategy, leadership techniques and administrative skills.
• Service period 1919–1953
•  In 1942, he was given the command of an army unit, the first India officer to have British officers serving under him.
• Four years later, in 1946, Cariappa was promoted to Brigadier of the Frontier Brigade Group. During these years, Colonel Ayub Khan – who would later become the President of Pakistan (1962–1969) – served under his command.
• He led Indian forces on the Western Front during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947
• He was treating Indian National Army’s (INA) prisoners very well. Once, when he visited a camp of INA prisoners & he was sad by the conditions that they lived in. He immediately wrote a letter to the British General to improve their living conditions.
• He also recommended pardoning of those who were not guilty. Convinced by his letter, the British did release most of the INA prisoners.
• Pakistani tribal lashkars were attacking Kashmir and Cariappa was in charge of Indian Army’s operations in the region. Under his able leadership, the army cleared the area, strategically-important linkup was established with Leh.
• However, Cariappa’s plans to evict the lashkars from some ‘sensitive’ areas were not approved by his immediate superior, Sir Roy Butcher (the then-Commander-in-Chief of India). Cariappa protested against this, stating that this policy would put the security of the Kashmir Valley at stake. When permission was still not forthcoming, he disobeyed orders and continued to launch high-risk offensive strikes in Leh-Ladakh region, allowing India to secure control over the area.
• He was instrumental in the formation of the Brigade of Guards, the Parachute Regiment and the Territorial Army. Though the National Cadet Corps (NCC) had been already raised in 1948, it was Cariappa who strengthened and supported it during its formative years.
• Cariappa always led from the front, and by personal example. A strong believer in the power of personal communication, he would make it a point to spend time with his troops, to ask them about their food, their comfort and whether they had received letters from home. He was saying, “I will never ask you to do anything that I am myself incapable of doing.”

There were 2 incidents for which he is deeply respected:

First Incident:

In 1947 war there was a severe food scarcity in many villages in Kashmir. Once, Cariappa was stopped by a group of hungry people at Baramulla who told them about their suffering. After assuring them that he would do his best to help them. The next day, he fulfilled his assurance by returning to the town with flour, rice and salt that he distributed to the needy families. He also ensured that this was repeated in other villages that were suffering from food scarcity. Later, the grateful residents of Baramulla named a park after Cariappa (it still exists today).

Second Incident:

During the 1965 Indo-Pak war, Cariappa’s son — Flt. Lt. KC “Nanda” Cariappa was taken prisoner-of-war after his Hunter aircraft was shot down in Pakistani territory. Ayub Khan contacted Cariappa and offered to release his son immediately, to which the retired general 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.”

Award:

• He was awarded with prestigious Order of the British Empire.
• 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
• He was also honored with the ‘Order of the Chief Commander of the Legion of Merit’ by US President Harry Truman.
• There are many more in fact. 

Association with RSS:

• RSS had great respect for the General and the General had praised the organization for its nationalist approach and service to the motherland.
•  Gen Cariappa had visited the RSS shakha in Mangalore in 1959.
• He also visited Deendayal Research Institute, quoted saying, “RSS work is my heart’s work. If Muslims can sing the praises of Islam, what wrong is there if RSS sings the praises of Hinduism? My dear young men don’t be disturbed by uncharitable comments. Dr. Hedgewar, the revered founder of this great organization, has set before you a bright example of selfless devotion to the service of the motherland. Look ahead! Go ahead! This country is standing in need of your services alone.”
• On yet another occasion, the General was invited to watch a route march of RSS Ghosh (Band Platoon) and was told that the march would pass from the point at a certain time. He was not very sure but as he heard the sound of the marching tunes and the first file of the RSS swayamsevaks approached at the appointed hour, the General exclaimed: “Oh! Here they come!
• Sri Guruji had very cordial relations with the General. In 1956 they had met at Mysore and discussed the language issue which was the burning issue at that time and Gen Cariappa was very much impressed by Shri Guruji’s frank and patriotic views on the issue.
• 13 years later, in 1969 Gen Cariappa made it a point to participate in the state conference of Vishwa Hindu Parishad at Udupi in Karnataka. It was at this conference that the saints made a crystal clear statement that untouchability has no place in Hindu religion. Samarasata Mantra came from here “हिन्दव:सोदरा: सर्वे, न हिन्दू: पतितो भवेत्। मम दीक्षा हिन्दू रक्षा, मम मंत्र: समानता।।”

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.