Date: Thursday, 5 March, 2009, 11:00 AM
Gen Chandraseharan was more than a soldier. He was an institution. Here is what I know about him.
He began his life as an assistance in CME, Dapodi. Obtianed an Engineering degree through the AMIE route.
Was commissioned as a Technical graduate , in the Corps of Engeineers; with the age on his wrong side.
That notwithstanding, he rose to command a Mountain Brigade in the High Altitude Areas in Sikkim. And that is where I first met him in 1982.
We were both posted to the AG's Branch in 1983, he in the PS Dte and self in the Pay Cell.
Gen Chandrasekhar was promoted, but with the age against him, he was not given a Div. Instead, he was absorbed in the AHQ itasel.
And then began a journey which has few parallels. He joined the AGIF in around 1986 and remained there for a record 22 years. He was granted the Hony rank of Lt Gen. In sheer ability to work hard and go into details, he has no equal. As a footnote to this obituary, permit me to add that only a few days ago, I saw him in my dreams and he looked askance towards me, when I enquired about his retirement plans. His body language showed that he planned to go with his boots on.
In all probability, he holds an unbeatable record for the number of years spent in the service of the Army. By my calculation, it is over 56 years! (counting the initial period in the CME)
Maj Gen Surjit Singh (Retd)
