Enigmatic, Bold, Fearless- Remembering Late General Bipin Rawat

• ByStartupStory     |    June 11, 2021

“General Rawat is extremely hardworking and bold in pursuing the organisation’s objectives. He has the ability to think differently and take tough decisions without bothering about the accompanying criticism,” said Lieutenant General BS Sandhu (retd), who has known Rawat for almost 45 years and was his course mate at the Khadakwasla-based National Defence Academy.

A rare amalgam of intellect and hard-work, a quintessential military leader and an ardent family person are just a few ways people recall the Late General Bipin Rawat, who succumbed to death following a devastating chopper crash on 8th December, 2021 at Connor, Tamil Nadu. The general was on his way to deliver a speech at the Defence Services Staff College in Wellington when the chopper lost control and resulted in a dreadful descent leading to the passengers aboard getting charred from the flames. The nation lost its gems Late General Bipin Rawat, his wife Mrs Madhulika Rawat and 11 other soldiers in this ravaging chopper crash on 8th December, 2021, leading to a nation-wide mourning for these brave soldiers.

Frequently described as forthright, stern, professional and a soldier’s general, the 63-year old late general had a glorious tenure in the army as he collected a plethora of feathers under his hat during his time. The first CDS of India, the late general started his journey in the Army when he was commissioned in the year 1978, wherein he joined 5/11 Gorkha Rifles as a lieutenant. Following that he commanded his unit and quickly picked up his rank to a Major General of the defence forces. He is known to have played a significant role in the surgical strikes of 2015 in Myanmar as well as the one in the following year in Pakistan. Known for his outspoken nature, the late general has immense experience in the Jammu and Kashmir as well as the North-East region and his extensive study on the probable threats that China has on our country played a crucial role in the year 2020. The Late General Bipin Rawat however did receive a lot of criticism for his recent comments that were widely seen as being aimed at the anti-Citizenship (Amendment) Act protests across India; awarding the Chief of Army Staff’s Commendation card to Major Leetul Gogoi (who bound a Kashmiri civilian to the front of his jeep) and his position on the disability pension.

As people remember him today and his controversial yet bold answers, one thing that remains constant among the hearts of the countrymen is that Late General Bipin Rawat was a quintessential military leader who would never be afraid to answer any questions and would always stay undeterred on his stance. An exhibit of rare yet powerful leadership qualities, General Bipin Rawat has left behind a legacy for the future leaders of the world. 

 Futuristic Outlook

The Late General Bipin Rawat was known profoundly for his futuristic outlook. He constantly stressed on the fact that China presents a greater threat to the country than Pakistan and subsequently backed his conjecture with extensive research. He was in fact proven to be correct as China turned ferocious in 2020 leading to subsequent injuries of the individuals at the border. It is essential for a leader to live in the present while also having a futuristic outlook to ensure success of his organisation. Late General Bipin Rawat’s futuristic outlook helped him become triumphant in all his missions.

 Challenging the status quo

The 63 year old late general was often known to challenge the status quo and think outside the box. He was never afraid to put forth his unconventional views and shackle the barriers created by tradition. His outlook as the Force Commander at Congo saved a key Congolese province from being overrun from rebels, as he turned to an unconventional approach to tackle the problem. Following his strategy, the Congolese province was not only safeguarded but the country’s North-East region was stabilised and the rebels were forced to join the negotiation table. A leader should never shy away from challenging the pre-existing modules and think outside the box. Most successful ventures are often the ones which challenge their boundaries and are not afraid of making hard decisions, the same was well established by the late general through his exemplary actions as well.

Stern stance

“He may have courted controversies a few times with his comments but he is an outstanding soldier and military leader. He is very outspoken too. If you ask him a question, he will give you an answer,” said a senior officer, asking not to be named.

Often known for his controversial answers, a quality which is admired in the four-star general is the fact that he always remained stern in his stance. While he drove criticism multiple times during his tenure in the armed forces, he always backed his stance and never gave in to any pressure. In the year 2019, his statements following the Citizenship Act were viewed as derogatory and an extension of hate. He however did not shy away from putting forth his opinion despite the public disapproval. A strong leader is one who is stern as well as confident and does not get influenced by others opinions.

Fair and Upright

“The fact that he was picked up at the first Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) was because he met all the requirements. He had the calibre, he had the vision, and he had a heart to be the first CDS. He believed in things, he believed in the whole Army, the whole armed forces going on together. And he worked for it,” said the retired Lt. Gen A.K Bhatt in his tribute to the national hero. 

Being the first CDS of the country, Late General Bipin Rawat had a mammoth task of ensuring that all the three defence forces receive equal amount of attention and the decisions taken by the authorities are unbiased. At the top position, his decisions were always in the interest of the country and he did not blink an eye to make stern decisions. His decisions have always been unbiased and stern. As a leader one must be free of all prejudices and upright in all the decisions taken as the outcomes have profound implications for everyone in the organisation.

Balance between assertion and intellect

General Bipin Rawat has been known for his rare amalgamation of assertion and intellect. As a leader he had clear set out strategies which guided the teams to success. While in the UN Mission, the late general asserted his position to conduct children rescue programmes which in turn led to the success of the UN Peacekeeping mission. On the contrary, his deliberate strategies while tackling the surgical strikes are a testimony to the intellectual framework. A leader is one who remains balanced and uses a mix of various leadership styles. It is noted that the most successful ventures are ones which are led by leaders of intellect.

While the sudden demise of General Bipin Rawat is shocking, his legacy as a quintessential military leader will be earmarked in the years to come.

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