General Bikram Singh hangs uniform, Gen. Dalbir Singh Suhag new army chief

Lt. Gen. Suhag, 59, a Gurkha officer who had participated in the 1987 Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) operation in Sri Lanka, is currently the vice-chief of the 1.3 million strong force.

He will have tenure of 30 months as the 26th Chief of Army Staff.

On the eve of his superannuation, the General Bikram Singh extended his gratitude to all ranks of the Indian Army. He also paid rich tributes to brave hearts who made the supreme sacrifice in the line of duty as also those who suffered grave injuries while upholding India’s Honour and Security.

The tenure of General Bikram Singh was marked by people friendly operations in J&K & the North East while maintaining a high state of operational preparedness along the borders. More often than not, the first responder to a national crisis, the Army’s professionalism was aptly demonstrated during the Uttarakhand tragedy. The General also initiated measures to refine modernisation procedures. His efforts were able to bring in greater transparency & accountability in all policies & procedures while ensuring greater financial probity.

His tenure of two years resulted in desired accretion of combat power achieved in the form of commencement of raising of Mountain Strike Corps. The tenure also saw a boost being imparted to infrastructure development along Northern borders by improving efficiency of Border Roads Organisation, outsourcing of projects and expediting the processes of environmental / forest clearance.

The outgoing Army Chief also initiated a review of Army’s Human Resource policies to fulfil the aspirations of the officers & soldiers as also the requirements of the organisation. His efforts to bring about an organisational wellness that permeated the rank & file of the Indian Army were reflected in the high levels of motivation & morale demonstrated by all ranks of the Indian Army. General Bikram also crafted a legacy in his pioneering efforts towards the welfare of Army Veterans, Veer Naris & widows.

The next army chief had   taken over as the Eastern Army Commander on June 16, 2012.

His appointment as army chief in May this year by the erstwhile United Progressive Allaince (UPA) government had kicked up a row with a section of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), then in the Opposition, and retired army chief Gen VK Singh raising a protest.

The controversy was triggered by a   vigilance ban imposed on him by the then army chief Gen VK Singh in connection with an intelligence operation in Assam earlier. The ban on Lt. Gen. Suhag, the then 2 Corps Commander, was lifted soon after Gen Bikram Singh took over in May, 2012.

Lt. Gen. Suhag was a Company Commander in Operation Pawan in Sri Lanka in 1987. he had also commanded 53 Infantry Brigade engaged in counter insurgency operations in the Kashmir Valley from July, 2003 to March, 2005.

An alumnus of Sainik School, Chittorgarh, he joined National Defence Academy in 1970 and was commissioned into 4/5 GR (FF) in June 1974.

The General Officer has attended various career courses in India and abroad which include LDMC at CDM, Secunderabad in 1997-98, NDC Course at New Delhi in 2006, Executive Course in USA in 2005 and Senior Mission Leaders Course (UN) in Kenya in 2007.

He holds the distinction of commanding 8 Mountain Division in Kargil from October 2007 to December 2008.