The biggest representative body of Garhwal’s inhabitants in Delhi Garhwal Hiteshini Sabha has on Saturday organised a condolence meeting at Garhwal Bhawan and paid it’s richest tributes to the first CDS n former Army chief Bipin Lakshman Singh Rawat, his wife Madhulika Raje Singh, Brigadier Lidder, Harjinder Singh, other Army officers and technical Army staff members who were martyred on 8 th December, 2021 at Nilgiri mountains in Coonoor Tamilnadu where the entire team of top Army officers were heading to Wellington college by M1V5 Army helicopter that met the tragic end in a deadly crash.
The life members of Garhwal Hiteshini Sabha that included Lt general Arvind Singh Rawat, its president Ajay Bisht, general secretary Dwarika Prasad Bhatt, municipal councillor Geeta Rawat, former general secretary Kedar Singh Rawat and others paid their richest floral tributes to these eminent personalities terming them as the greatest assets the nation has lost in this most tragic mis- happening. A Shanti path was also organised on this ocassion praying to Almighty to render peace to the departed souls and given them place at Almighty’s feet in heaven.
The Lt General Arvind Rawat termed the untimely passing away of CDS Bipin Rawat, his wife and other brave hearts as a national loss and a personal loss as well as he had not only known him from very close quarters but has served the Indian Army with him, know him and his family very personally and sharing together the thick n thin during his association with General Rawat. He said that in 1974 in National Defence Academy in was in 5 th Term and General Rawat was in 1 st term out of total six terms. Since I had special affinity with Garhwalies I then can to know that Bipin Rawat is in 1 st term in NDA. Since then we were together and knew each other very nicely. After his becoming the CDS n earlier Chief of India Army, he was busy, hence we couldn’t meet so often.
However, after he became CDS I did meet him in April. He was a most decorated Army officer having been awarded with outstanding honours viz PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, YSM, SM, VSM and ADC said Lt General Rawat also being ADC to president when he was was Lt general , the outstanding honour which very few officers get. He expressed his deepest condolences n tributes saying that the void left by him will be difficult to be filled with Indian Army losing a finest top officer of extreme bravery and impeccable integrity, ever. The president of Garhwal Hiteshini Sabha Ajay Bisht while expressing his tributes said that the nation has lost a great patriot, a brave heart daredevil, a most efficient Army chief and CDS and above all an outstanding war specialist CDS.
The president of Uttarakhand journalist Forum Sunil Negi said that the nation has lost a brave fighter to the core, a great patriot, a highly knowledgeable and experienced first CDS of the largest democracy of the world, a capable Army general and above all a great human being with affable nature with love for environmental issues with social attitude and immense generosity who brought modernisation to defence production and opening new avenues including giving new impetus to indigenous defense production.
His dynamic leadership and well behaved nature with his colleagues, defence and army staff and one and all is incomparable with special affinity to Uttarakhand’s culture and ethics added Sunil Negi.
A general who surpassed his seniors to lead an Army of the largest democracy of the world thereafter decorated with the first prestigious position as the chief of the Defence Forces actively dedicated to give all sector of defence Forces a new impetus encouraging the morale of defence forces, PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, YSM, SM, VSM and ADC having served in various significant national and international defence assignments, impressing one and all, 63 year old Bipin Rawat, his wife’s and 11 dedicated Army officers untimely death, ( martyrdom) in a tragic chopper accident is a huge loss to the Indian Army and the entire nation with shock waves making everyone stunned and traumatic, never ever to be forgotten.
There is, lot n lot n lot to be uttered in his praise but time has its constraints, therefore ending up on an anguished note that a gem has left us forever, though he, his wife and 11 die hard Army Men will rule our hearts and minds for ever. He was born for the nation and died for the nation.
The vaccum left behind by him will be neigh to impossible to be filled ever. Tons of salutations to this great soldier whose entire life was dedicated to the service of the nation with immense patriotism, determination, grit and unstinted commitment, ensuring the safety and security of 135 Indians to lead their secured and comfortable lives. Our heart goes to the bereaved families. May their soul rest in peace n at the feet of Almighty in heaven.
The former general secretary Dr. Kedar Singh Negi termed CDS Bipin Rawat as the most significant asset of the nation who rose from Captain to CDS by the dint if his intelligence, conviction, dedication, high knowledge, immense patriotic fervour, valour and above all being a genius having been the highly well read army officer with tremendous knowledge and expertise. His action in Myanmar, Doklam, LIC, LC from the front line pushing back the PLA soldiers and killing hundreds of Pak sponsored terrorists in Kashmir was incomparable said Kedar Singh. A minutes silence was also observed in honour of the martyred officers n soldiers on this occasion.
रामनारायण सिंह नेगी
वीर जवान अमर रहे। विनम्र श्रद्धांजलि