Maj Gen MC Rawat

I first saw Maj Gen MC Rawat, way backing 1950, while as a cadet in JSW (later NDA). Some of the Cadets were taken on a visit to Operational Areas in J&K. Gen Rawat, then a Subaltern was Sparrow, 17 Para Field Regiment located at Pattan. His younger brother is our Course mate and so we had a link with him.

Next we as a Course met Gen Rawat in School of Signals (now MCTE), in 1953, when we arrived there for the YO’s Course. He was our Group Officer. Gen Rawat endeared himself with the Course and was a very good influence, with his mature and balanced personality. He was always calm and cool and a man of moderate habits. Maj Gen Rawat used to play good Hockey and was quick on his feet. Hockey was the main game those days.

In 1973-74 he was CSO 33 Corps and I had the good fortune to be Commanding 33 Corps Signal Regiment during that period. A few years before that he was GSO1 Signals Adm, in Sigs Dte and was responsible for literally grabbing the present accommodation occupied by the DG Signals in Sena Bhawan, in a kind of special operation!! Otherwise Sigs Dte would have carried on in Hutments for many more years.

Maj Gen MC Rawat was a very humane person, mature and balanced in his dealings, took considered decisions, was approachable and at the same time firm and highly capable.
He passed away rather early in life on 18 Oct 2007. He will be missed by one and all. It was very sad to meet Mrs. Rawat a few weeks back. Our heartfelt condolences to Mrs. Rawat. We pray to God to bless his soul.

Harbhajan Singh
Lt Gen (Retd)

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In 1953, I was doing my YO’s 10 course, at School of Signals, Mhow. (Then Capt) MC Rawat completed his OST course and was appointed our Group Officer. A good sportsman and professionally sound Capt Rawat became a role model for us, taking full part in sports, cultural and professional activities, and encouraging us to do the same.

We shared a special bond with him, which comes only when young officers, freshly inducted into the Army, are properly guided and encouraged to integrate with and feel proud of the arm that they have been inducted into. This was further strengthened by the fact that his younger brother was our course mate from NDA.

We watched with pride his rise to the rank of Maj Gen (our group officer!). He also followed our achievements, in service, as well as post service. It gave him great satisfaction to see our progress, especially when one of the young officers he had trained, went on to become the SO in C. The Corps has lost a distinguished senior officer, who played a role in building up the Corps. We pray to God to grant him peace and give strength to his family to bear the loss.

Inderjit Singh
Lt Col (Retd)