Indian Army Mourns The Loss Of General S Padmanbham

Former Chief of Army Staff General Sundararajan Padmanabhan, who passed away at his Chennai residence on August 19, was cremated with full military honours at Besant Nagar on August 20. The Indian Army bid a solemn farewell to the late Gen S Padmanabhan, who died at 83 due to age-related ailments.

About General Sundararajan Padmanabhan

Sundararajan was born on December 5, 1940, in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala; General Padmanabhan was a distinguished alumnus of the Rashtriya Indian Military College (RIMC), Dehradun, and the National Defence Academy (NDA), Khadakwasla. He was commissioned into the Regiment of Artillery on December 13, 1959, marking the beginning of an illustrious career spanning over four decades.

His Service

Throughout his service, General Padmanabhan held numerous key command, staff, and instructional appointments. He commanded the Gazala Field Regiment, two infantry brigades and an artillery brigade. As a Major General, he commanded an Infantry Division in the Western Sector and as a Lieutenant General, he led a Corps in Kashmir Valley, where he played a crucial role in counter-terrorism operations.

20^th Chief of The Army Staff

The Indian Army deeply mourns the passing of General Sundararajan Padmanabhan (Retired), who served as the 20^th Chief of The Army Staff. The Chief of Army Staff, General Upendra Dwivedi and all ranks of the Indian Army offer their tribute and heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family. On September 1, 1996, General Padmanabhan took over as the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Northern Command and later, the Southern Command. He assumed the office of the Chief of Army Staff on October 1, 2000.

Known as Paddy

Known affectionately as “Paddy” among his peers, General Padmanabhan’s legacy is marked by his commitment to the welfare of soldiers, modernisation of the Indian Army and strategic vision. He was also an Honorary ADC to the President of India. General Padmanabhan led the Indian Army during the crucial period of ‘Operation PARAKRAM’. He retired on December 31, 2002, after 43 years of exemplary service. His death is a great loss to the Nation and the Indian Army.