Legends are born just once. I write this article in remembrance
of the greatest warrior of modern history on his 55th death anniversary,
General Kodandera Subbaiah Thimmaiah will be remembered forever.
General lived his life with a lot of passion, his commitment
to his country and his army men was commendable. He was promoted to the rank of
Major-General on September 1947 just
when India gained independence, Post the
assignation of Mahatma Gandhi, General Thimmaiah was the second most powerful
man in India, first of course was Jawaharlal Nehru.
It was a time of turmoil in Pakistan and India, people could
still not digest the fact that India was already divided into two nations,
while Pakistan army stepped in, to take control over rioting Pakistan after the
death of Mohammad Ali Jinnah, Back home in India the situation was no
different. The country was going through extreme mutinying against the division
and policy of the political leaders. India, today would have become another Military
ruled nation had the General ordered his army to take over the country to bring
situation under control and let me tell you no one would have dared to question
him for his actions as he was heavily backed by Indian armed forces. However
General was a man of vision and he firmly believed in a democratic India hence
he ordered the army to bring situation into control, gain the confidence of
citizens and install the faith in democratic India. Thimmaiah was a soldiers General,
People of India need to thank General Thimmaiah for a democratic India, Its
very unfortunate that the history text books in India education system only
projects certain politicians responsible for the world’s largest democracy, But
I would want to give the credit to Indian armed forces and General Thimmaiah for
gifting us a democratic India. In 1957, Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru visited
the office of General Thimmaiah, the Chief of Army Staff. Nehru saw a steel
cabinet behind his desk, and asked the General what it contained. The General
replied that the top drawer contained the nation’s defense plans and documents
pertaining to weaponries owned by Indian defense forces. The second one has
documents concerned with the security and integrity of the nation and he
stopped. Nehru asked, How about the Third one General ? to which General
replied The third one has secret copy of plans for a military coup against you
and few other politicians and smiled to ease out the tension he created in
Nehru’s mind, after few seconds of silence Nehru responded with a smile but
there was reflection of nervousness in his laughter. Nehru clearly knew General
was capable of over throwing political parties out of power over night due to
his reputation and his influence on eastern countries. General was a known name
in many countries by then.
General Thimmaiah a 20 year brave man from the land of
warriors was commissioned into army in 1926 as Second Lieutenant of the
highland light infantry later promoted to Lieutenant of 19th Hyderabad
Regiment. He mastered his soldiering skills battling the disobedient Pathan
tribals near Pakistan occupied Kashmir post which he was posted to his
battalion in Singapore by the British army. He was also promoted to the rank of
Brigadier in the field on 25 March 1945 after his outstanding success at the
battle in Burma during the Second World War when they defeated the Japanese
Army.
He was the only Indian to have commanded a brigade in the
Second World War. General represented the Indian Army at the surrender ceremony
at Singapore in 1945, when Count Hisaichi Terauchi, the Supreme Commander of
the Japanese Army in South East Asia, surrendered to Mountbatten. Thimmaiah was
one of the most celebrated soldier by United Nations. General was appointed as
Chairman of NNRC (Neutral Nations Repatriation Commission) and was deployed in Korea
he also commanded the Indian brigade of the occupation force in Japan. By now
the country knew the capability and gallantry of the General.
The first Kargil War in 1948 showed General Thimmaiah was
one of the finest strategist Indian army ever had, After the Pakistani forces
captured the Leh Ladak highway entering the Indian territory blocking all
access for Indian army Major General Kodandera
Subbaiah Thimmaiah spearheaded one of the greatest victories for the Indian
Army. After a record-breaking landing at
an airfield along with Air Cdre Meher Singh general ordered for deployment of
Stuart light tanks at Zojila Pass at twelve thousand feet above sea level which
gained Indian army an upper hand in the war, Generals love towards tanks was
immense, He believed a well operated Tank can win any war at any terrain. Stuart
light tanks deployment in first Kargil war was a huge risk since they were
never used by Indian army before but General knew his weapons much better than
anyone else. After the tanks were
deployed on first November 1948 the assault began and on 24th
November Kargil was re-occupied by Indian forces. In the year 1957 he took over
as the Chief of the Indian Army.
Commissioning Krishna Menon , a leftist by thought as Indian
Defense Minister by Jawaharlal Nehru didn’t go well with the commanding offers
of Indian army since Krishna was already involved in a Jeep buying scam for
Indian army. Krishna and General’s relation was a bitter one since Defense minister’s
actions had already costed Indian army dearly with deaths of many soldiers at
India-China border. General Thimmaiah offered to resign from defense forces
following Menons actions and interference into the defense matters, However
Nehru convinced Thimmaiah to withdraw his resignation but General resigned on 7
May 1961, after completing 35 years of distinguished military service. It’s unfortunate that China attacked India
just 15 months after Generals retirement and India lost the war.
General proved “Once a solider always a solider” post his retirement
from Indian army United Nations sought his services yet once again where he was
appointed as the Commander of UN Forces in Cyprus (UNFICYP) in July 1964. He passed
away during his tenure at UNFICYP on a unfortunate day of 17th December 1965. There are a lot of speculation pertaining to his death , people close to him claimed it could not be a natural death since his body had turned blue however government of India didn't bother to investigate this matter and to this date it's not really clear how the greatest General of Indian army passed away. The
Republic of Cyprus, also honored him by issuing a commemorative stamp in his
memory in 1966. General Thimmaiah was one of the Greatest Solider and a finest
strategist this country will ever see.
It’s also very disheartening to see that a man of his caliber not
celebrated as a greatest warrior in his own country while Singapore, Japan and
united nation organization consider him as a greatest warrior of all time. May
his legacy be remembered forever and may he inspire the youths of this nation
to protect and uphold the integrity of national pride.
Mukkatira Mac Thimmaiah
M2thimmaiah@gmail.com
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