Ravi Datt Mehta

Infobox Military Person
name=Ravi Datt Mehta


caption= Brigadier Ravi Datt Mehta India's Defense attaché in Afghanistan
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died=Death date|2008|07|07
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placeofdeath= Kabul, Afghanistan
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allegiance=flag|India
branch=Indian Army
serviceyears=1976 - 2008
rank=
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Ravi Datt Mehta (1955 - 7 July 2008), was a brigadier in the Indian army. He died in the suicide bombing of the Indian Embassy in Kabul while serving as India's Defence Attaché to Afghanistan on July 7th, 2008.cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/Brigadier_targeted_for_role_in_training_Afghan_army/articleshow/3208668.cms|title=Brigadier targeted for role in training Afghan army|last=Pandit|first=Rajat |date=08-07-2008|work=TNN|publisher=timesofindia.indiatimes.com|accessdate=2008-07-08]

Early life and Military career

R.D. Mehta was born into a family of Muhiyal brahmins, an Indian community noted for its tradition of military service [The history of the Muhiyals: The militant Brahman race of India, by T. P. Rusell Stracey ,Lahore,1911] [Census of India, 1901 By Herbert Hope Risley, India Census Commissioner, Edward Gait, India - Page 77] .

"Indian Express" states that he was a math wizard in his younger days [ [http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/Shock-would-have-been-lesser-had-Ravi-died-saving-his-country/333024/ The Indian Express, 09 July 2008] ] . He joined the Indian Army in 1976 and went on to become a highly rated officer. [ [http://howrah.org/india_news/18243.html The Asian Age, 7th July 2008] ] His selection as Defence Attaché in Kabul is said to have followed an intensive screening process that shortlists the candidate pool to unofficially the "top three" [Times of India, 9 July 2008 [http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/Kabul_attack_Brigadier_Mehta_cremated/articleshow/3212429.cms Last farewell to Brig. Mehta] ] officers of the Indian Army, prior to making the final selection for the job .He had proficiency in many languages [The Tribune, 08 July 2008, [http://www.tribuneindia.com/2008/20080708/main4.htm#3 Simla Link] ] including Pashto, Mandarin and Tibetan. His work as defence attache in Kabul was praised in both Indian media and Pakistani media. [ [http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/story.aspx?id=NEWEN20080056698&ch=7/12/2008%209:21:00%20AM Defence Attaches remember Brigadier Mehta in Kabul] ] . In the words of a columnist of the "Dawn newspaper", he was: :"an affable defence attaché who was popular with Indian expatriates and local Afghans alike" [ [http://www.dawn.com/weekly/jawed/20080714.htm The Dawn, 14th July 2008, Karachi] ]

It is speculated that he was targeted, allegedly by the Taliban and the ISI, due to his significant role in training the Afghan army and his close monitoring of the re-established links between Pakistan's Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) and the Taliban [The Times of India, 08 July 2008 [http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/Brigadier_targeted_for_role_in_training_Afghan_army/articleshow/3208668.cms Briagdier targeted for role in training Afghan army] ] . He was said to have a "good relationship" with Afghan defense minister Abdul Rahim Wardak. Brig. Mehta had earlier also served as the head of the Indian Army's Intelligence Corps in the state of Jammu and Kashmir.

Legacy and honours

A road in his hometown Simla near his childhood home is now named after him [Department of Information & Public Relations, Himachal Pradesh, [http://www.himachalpr.gov.in/pressreleaseEng.asp?id=2290 Communique 11th July 2008] ] . He is also slated to be posthumously awarded the Kirti Chakra [ [http://www.india-server.com/news/kirti-chakra-recommended-for-4-kabul-2346.html Kirti Chakra recommended for Kabul blast victims.] ] , India's second-highest peacetime gallantry award. His funeral was attended by Chief of Army Staff General Deepak Kapoor, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Suresh Mehta and Chief of the Air Staff Fali Homi Major] . [ [http://www.indianewscalling.com/tip.php?tipid=12360 India News Calling] ]

Brigadier Mehta's wife was also working in Afghanistan for empowerment of women during his stay there. Brigadier Mehta has a son who is also serving in the Indian Air Force as a fighter pilot. [The Telegraph, Kolkata [http://www.telegraphindia.com/1080709/jsp/nation/story_9524938.jsp Families weep, refuse to crumble] ]

References