K. M. Cariappa | |
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Indian High Commissioner to Australia and New Zealand | |
In office 1954–1956 | |
Preceded by | M.S. Duleepsinghji |
Succeeded by | K. R. P. Singh |
4th Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee | |
In office 14 October 1951 – 14 January 1953 | |
President | Rajendra Prasad |
Prime Minister | Jawaharlal Nehru |
Preceded by | Edward Parry |
Succeeded by | Mark Pizey |
2nd Commander-in-Chief, Indian Army | |
In office 15 January 1949 – 14 January 1953 | |
President | Rajendra Prasad (from 1950) |
Prime Minister | Jawaharlal Nehru |
Governor-General | C. Rajagopalachari (until 1950) |
Preceded by | F. R. Roy Bucher |
Succeeded by | Rajendrasinhji Jadeja |
Personal details | |
Born | Shanivarsanthe, Coorg Province, British India (now Kodagu district, Karnataka, India) | 28 January 1899
Died | 15 May 1993 Bangalore, Karnataka, India | (aged 94)
Children | K. C. Cariappa |
Nickname | Kipper |
Military service | |
Allegiance | ![]() ![]() |
Branch/service | ![]() ![]() |
Years of service |
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Rank | ![]() |
Unit | Rajput Regiment |
Commands | |
Battles/wars | |
Awards | |
Field Marshal Kodandera Madappa Cariappa, OBE (28 January 1899 – 15 May 1993) was an Indian military officer and diplomat who was the Indian Commander-in-Chief (C-in-C) of the Indian Army. He led Indian forces on the Western Front during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947. He was appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army in 1949. 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.[1]
His distinguished military career spanned almost three decades. Born in Madikeri, Kodagu, Cariappa joined the British Indian Army shortly after the end of World War I, and was commissioned as a temporary first lieutenant into the 2/88 Carnatic Infantry. He was transferred between multiple regiments early in his career before settling on 1/7 Rajputs, which became his permanent regiment.
He was the first Indian military officer to attend the Staff College, Quetta, the first Indian to command a battalion, and was also one of the first two Indians selected to undergo training at the Imperial Defence College in Camberley. He served in various staff capacities at various unit and command headquarters (HQ) and also at the General HQ, New Delhi. Before taking over as the C-in-C of the Indian Army, Cariappa served as the commander of the Indian Army's Eastern and Western Commands.
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