Field Marshal (India)

Field Marshal (India)

Field Marshal is the highest possible rank in the military of India. Only two Army appointments have been made by the Government of India since independence in 1947. The rank of Field Marshal however, existed in the old Indian Army.

Independent India's first, and only active Field Marshal (appointed when in service), was the then Chief of Army Staff Gen. Sam Manekshaw. A much admired and decorated World War 2 officer he was conferred the rank in 1973 by the Indira Gandhi-led government, largely in recognition of his sterling leadership during the Indo-Pakistani war of 1971. He is seen as being principally responsible, in a military sense, for an Indian victory in that war, and for the subsequent split of Pakistan

Later, the first Indian officer to be appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Armed Forces (see Indian Military), Gen. K.M. Cariappa was awarded the honorary rank of Field Marshal in 1983. Cariappa had many firsts to his name in the Indian Army's annals and had led the force in the 1947 conflict with Pakistan over Kashmir. He was also the officer tasked by India with overseeing the equitable division of the Royal Indian Army into two new forces and laid down much of the structure of the modern Indian Army.

In 2002, the government conferred the Indian Air Force's equivalent rank of Marshal of the Air Force on Air Chief Marshal Arjan Singh in recognition of both, his service in building the Force, and for his astute helmsmanship of the IAF in the 1965 India-Pakistan conflict. He was also the first officer promoted to Air Chief Marshal (India) in the IAF. All previous Indian Chief of Air Staff (India) had been Air Marshals.

While the provision for the rank of Admiral of the Fleet exists, no officer of the Indian Navy has yet been conferred an equivalent rank.

ee also

*Marshall of the Indian Air Force & Pakistan


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать курсовую

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Field marshal — For other uses, see Field marshal (disambiguation). Common anglophone military ranks Navies Armies Air forces Officers Admiral of the fleet Marshal / …   Wikipedia

  • Field Marshal — For other meanings see Field Marshal (disambiguation)Field marshal is a military officer rank. Today it is the highest rank in the armies in which it is used, one step above a general or colonel general. Historically, however, several armies used …   Wikipedia

  • Ayub Khan (Field Marshal) — This article is about a Pakistani military officer. For other uses see Ayub Khan (disambiguation). Field Marshal Ayub Khan محمد ایوب خان …   Wikipedia

  • Wavell, Field Marshal Sir Archibald — 1883–1950    Wavell was a highly respected and brilliant General who had the misfortune of being consistently sent to impossible situations, yet always acquitted himself well. In July 1939 he was appointed Commander in Chief of the Middle East… …   Who’s Who in World War Two

  • Wolseley, Garnet Wolseley, Field Marshal Viscount — (1833–1913)    Among the most successful British soldiers of the nineteenth century, Garnet Wolseley was the son of an impecunious Anglo Irish army officer. Unable to afford a commission, he was granted one by the Duke of Wellington on the… …   Encyclopedia of the Age of Imperialism, 1800–1914

  • Auchinleck, Field Marshal Sir Claude — 1884–1981    Auchinleck, affectionately known as ‘the Auk,’ was one of the most respected Commanders in the British Army. He had made his career as a soldier in the Indian Army and had been brought home to command the IV Corps in 1939. He spent… …   Who’s Who in World War Two

  • Gort, Field Marshal John — 1886–1946    Highly decorated in World War I, Lord Gort served the military between the wars as Director of Military Training India (1932) and Commandant of the Staff College at Camberley (1936–37). In 1937 HORE BELISHA, Minister of War, promoted …   Who’s Who in World War Two

  • Alexander, Field Marshal Sir Harold — 1891–1969    Alexander was one of the outstanding Commanders of the British Army, who was called in by CHURCHILL in times of trouble. In 1940 he went to France to command the 1st Division of the British Expeditionary Force and at Dunkirk was… …   Who’s Who in World War Two

  • Marshal of the air force — This article is about air force officers who rank as marshals. For the similarly named but lesser air force rank, see Air Marshal. Common anglophone military ranks Navies Armies Air forces Officers Admiral of the fleet …   Wikipedia

  • Commander-in-Chief, India — The third British Commander in Chief of India, Major General Robert Clive. Clive was one of the many Commanders in Chief who, as soldier politicals, helped the British gain ascendency in India. The British Commander in Chief in India (or… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”