Tapishwar Narain Raina

Tapishwar Narain Raina (1921 Ludhiana - May 19,1980 Ottawa) was the Chief of the Army Staff of the Indian Army during 1975-78. Later he served as High Commissioner to Canada.

Birth & Family Bio Sketch

General T.N. Raina was born into Kashmiri family. Pandit Bhawani Prasad Razdan/ Bhoon Razdan (early 1800s) was an accomplished scholar of Persian language/culture. Narain Dass Raina/ Nao Naran, pioneered the construction of the first Kashmiri Houseboats. Earlier on, Pt. Bhawani Prasad's younger brother had moved out to settle down in Lahore, and generations later this branch of the family gave us Diwan Anand Kumar (Vice Chancellor of Undivided Punjab University) and also Tapishwar Narain Raina, Chief of Indian Army staff and High Commissioner to Canada.

His education was done at Ludhiana because his father Pandit B.N.Raina was posted here as Head Postmaster located next to Bhadaur House. [ [http://www.tribuneindia.com/2000/20000625/ldh1.htm#5 Little Known facts about Ludhianvis] The Tribune , Dated 25th June 2000] He was married to Marie Antoinette Raina [ [http://www.tribuneindia.com/2003/20031125/cth1.htm#11 Fauji Beat] The Tribune, Dated 25 November 2003] , who was a Frenchwoman.

Career

General T.N. Raina belonged to the Kumaon Regiment and was a veteran of the Second World War, as well as the 1962 and 1971 Wars.

During the second world war, 2nd Lieutenant T. N. Raina was injured a grenade accident which resulted in the loss of an eye. He had a glass eye in place for the rest of his career in the army.

He was the Brigade Commander at Chushul in Ladakh during November 1962. He was awarded the Maha Vir Chakra for his handling of the Battle of Chushul.

Later, Raina became the Brigadier General Staff (BGS) of the XXXIII Corps in West Bengal. [ [http://www.indiadefence.com/aulakh.htm Obituary to a Hero] India Defence]

In 1971, Raina was a Lieutenant General, and was the General Officer Commanding of II Corps in the Khulna sector. Raina was awarded the Padma Bhushan for his contributions to the War.

He served as the Chief of Army Staff of the Indian Army from 1 June 1975 to 31 May 1978.

During his tenure as the COAS, the central government led by Indira Gandhi imposed national emergency in India. Before the imposition of the emergency, it is believed that the Prime Minister asked for the Army's support in the venture, but General Raina bluntly told the Prime Minister " that the army would not be used to 'further her ends' but obey only those orders of a 'legally construed government.' " . This was considered a crucial moment that kept the Indian Army out of politics at a critical juncture. [ [http://www.staff.brad.ac.uk/akundu/books/book1.htm Militarism in India:The Army and Civil Society in Consensus] by Apurba Kundu] .

While serving as India's High Commissioner in Canada, Raina passed away in 1980.

References

External links

* [http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/LAND-FORCES/Army/Army-Chiefs/Chiefs-Army12.html Bio site with image]
* [http://www.regiments.org/biography/defchiefs/in2CinC.htm Chronological list of Indian Commanders-in-Chief since 1947]