Om Prakash Malhotra

{{Infobox officeholder

| honorific_prefix = General

| image = Om-prakash-Mhalotra.jpg

| image_size =

| caption =

| name = Om Prakash Malhotra

| honorific_suffix = {{Post-nominals|country=IND|PVSM|size=100%}}

| birth_name = Om Prakash Malhotra

| birth_date = {{Birth date|1922|8|6|df=yes}}

| birth_place = Srinagar, J&K, India

| death_date = {{death date and age|2015|12|29|1922|8|6|df=yes}}

| death_place = Gurgaon, Haryana, India

| office = 21st Governor of Punjab and 8th Administrator of Chandigarh

| nationality = {{flagicon|British India}} British Indian {{small|(1922–1947)}}
{{flagicon|India}} Indian {{small|(1947–2015)}}

| citizenship = {{flagicon|British India}} British Indian {{small|(1922–1947)}}
{{flagicon|India}} Indian {{small|(1947–2015)}}

| education = MHS Srinagar
SPC Srinagar

| alma_mater = GCU Lahore
IMA Dera Doon
RSA Larkhill

| term_start = 18 December 1990

| term_end = 7 August 1991

| president = R. Venkataraman

| 1blankname = Chief Minister

| 1namedata = Vacant {{small|(President's rule)}}

| predecessor = Virendra Verma

| successor = Surendra Nath

| office1 = 13th Indian Ambassador to Indonesia

| term_start1 = February 1982

| term_end1 = November 1984

| predecessor1 = S. K. Bhutani

| successor1 = V. C. Khanna

| office2 = 21st Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee

| term_start2 = 1 March 1979

| term_end2 = 31 May 1981

| president2 = Neelam Sanjiva Reddy

| primeminister2 = Morarji Desai
Charan Singh
Indira Gandhi

| predecessor2 = Jal Cursetji

| successor2 = Idris Hasan Latif

| office3 = 10th Chief of the Army Staff (India)

| term_start3 = 1 June 1978

| term_end3 = 31 May 1981

| president3 = Neelam Sanjiva Reddy

| primeminister3 = Indira Gandhi
Morarji Desai
Charan Singh

| predecessor3 = Tapishwar Narain Raina

| successor3 = K. V. Krishna Rao

| allegiance = {{flag|British India}} {{small|(1922–1947)}}
{{flag|India}} {{small|(1947–2015)}}

| branch = {{army|British India}} {{small|(1941–1947)}}
{{army|India}} {{small|(1947–1981)}}

| rank = 23px General

| serviceyears = 1941–1981

| military_blank1 = Service number

| military_data1 = IC-478

| unit = {{plainlist |

}}

| commands = {{plainlist |

20px Southern Army
XI Corps
36 Infantry Division
167 Mountain Brigade
1 Artillery Brigade

}}

| battles = {{plainlist |

}}

| battles_label =

| military_blank2 = Award(s)

| military_data2 = {{plainlist |

}}

| relations =

| spouse = Saroj Malhotra

| signature =

}}

General Om Prakash Malhotra, {{post-nominals|country=IND|size=100%|PVSM}} (6 August 1922 – 29 December 2015), best known as OP Malhotra, was a senior army officer in the Indian Army who served as the 10th Chief of Army Staff of the Indian Army from 1978{{snd}}1981. Upon retiring from his military service in India, he served in the Indian Foreign Service when he tenured as the Indian Ambassador to Indonesia 1981–1984, and later served as a political administrator in India as the Governor of Punjab and Administrator of Chandigarh 1990–1991.

Early life

Om Prakash Malhotra was born on 6 August 1922 in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, British India, into a Punjabi Hindu Khatri family of the Malhotra clan, within the Dhai Ghar family-group originally belongs to Lahore. Malhotra received his schooling first at Model High School, Srinagar, and then at Sri Pratap College, Srinagar. He then attended Government College University, Lahore, before being selected to join the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dera Doon.{{citation needed|date=February 2017}}

Military career

He was commissioned into the Regiment of Artillery as a Second Lieutenant in November 1941. His first assignment was with 26 (Jacobs) Mountain Battery in Razmak, North West Frontier Province. He was later assigned to 15 (Jhelum) Mountain Battery which, as part of the 50th Parachute Brigade, fought against the Japanese during the Second World War on the Burmese front. He distinguished himself as a young officer in the Battle of Sangshak where he was wounded in action.{{cite book|last1=Seaman|first1=Harry|title=The Battle At Sangshak: Prelude to Kohim|date=1989|publisher=Leo Cooper|pages=130, 132|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=S8yXAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA130|isbn=9780850527209}}{{cite book|last1=Graham|first1=Brigadier General C. A. L.|title=The History of the Indian Mountain Artillery|date=1957|publisher=Gale & Polden|pages=352, 353|url=https://archive.org/stream/IndianMountainArtillery/mountainartillery_djvu.txt}} He later became Second-in-Command of 13 (Dardoni) Mountain Battery.

Malhotra became an instructor at the School of Artillery in Deolali, and in 1946 attended the Long Gunnery Staff Course at the Royal School of Artillery in Larkhill, United Kingdom. He commanded artillery regiments across India between November 1950 and July 1961 including 37 Coorg Anti Tank Regiment, 20 Locating Regiment{{cite web|title=20 Surveillance and Target Acquisition|url=http://sainiksamachar.nic.in/englisharchives/2007/aug15-07/h10.htm|website=Sainik Samachar}} and 42 Field Regiment. In between he served at Army HQ, New Delhi, did the Defense Services Staff College course at Wellington and was later an instructor at the Defense Services Staff College, Wellington. He was then posted from 1962 to 1965 as the Military and Naval Attaché of India to the USSR, concurrently accredited to Poland and Hungary, holding the local rank of brigadier in the role.

Upon return from Moscow in August 1965, Malhotra commanded 1 Artillery Brigade, part of 1 Armoured Division and fought in Sialkot Sector during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965.{{cite book|last1=Praval|first1=Major KC|title=Indian Army After Independence|date=2013|publisher=Lancer|page=548|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DdxDcxj_wn4C&pg=RA1-PT587|isbn=9781935501619}} After the ceasefire with Pakistan he commanded 167 Mountain Brigade at Sela Pass, Tawang District, North-East Frontier Agency. He was promoted to acting Major General in September 1967 and commanded 36 Infantry Division in Saugor for two years, with a promotion to substantive major-general on 28 February 1968. From 29 September 1969 till May 1972 he was Chief of Staff, IV Corps, in Tezpur during the Bangladesh Liberation War.{{cite news |title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch) |page=1095 |date=8 November 1969 |publisher=The Gazette of India}} He played a crucial role during the Battle of Sialkot during the Bangladesh Liberation War where, "the thrust by the 1 Artillery Brigade under his command forced Pakistan to thin forces from its main attack column that had overrun Khemkaran and was making a bid to drive a wedge through the heart of Punjab."{{Cite web |url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/nation/led-from-front-even-as-punjab-governor/177026.html |title=Led from front, even as Punjab Governor |access-date=28 August 2017 |archive-date=28 August 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170828184444/http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/nation/led-from-front-even-as-punjab-governor/177026.html |url-status=dead }} Subsequently, he was promoted to acting lieutenant-general on 29 May 1972 (substantive from 15 October) and given command of XI Corps in Jalandhar, which he commanded for two years.{{cite news |title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch) |page=95 |date=27 January 1973|url=http://egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/1973/O-1283-1973-0004-57168.pdf|publisher=The Gazette of India}} He was later the GOC-in-C Southern Command located at Pune.{{cite web |title=The Official Home Page of the Indian Army |url=https://indianarmy.nic.in/Site/FormTemplete/frmTemp1PTC2C.aspx?MnId=Sn64TXOZSvuLKO0MAkAhlQ==&ParentID=TYX3lHqlEiX3086VVhrQpQ== |website=www.indianarmy.nic.in}}

In 1976, Malhotra was awarded the Param Vishist Seva Medal for "service of the most exceptional order". He was Vice Chief of Army Staff before taking over as Chief of Army Staff of the Indian Army on 31 May 1978 and serving in that post for three years. He was an Honorary Senior Colonel Commandant of the Regiment of Artillery of the Indian Army and also an Honorary General of the Nepalese Army.

Ambassador to Indonesia and Governor of Punjab

After retiring from the Indian Army on 31 May 1981, Malhotra served as the Ambassador of India to Indonesia from 1981 to 1984. During 1990–1991, he was the Governor of the Indian State of Punjab and Administrator of Chandigarh{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/12/19/world/punjabis-caught-between-sikh-rebels-and-new-delhi-fear-a-showdown.html|title=Punjabis, Caught Between Sikh Rebels and New Delhi, Fear a Showdown|last=Crossette|first=Barbara |date=19 December 1990|work=The New York Times|page=3|access-date=24 September 2011}} when militancy in that state was at its height. Malhotra resigned from his post in protest when planned elections in the state were deferred by the National Election Commission without notice.(2008) Grewal, J.S. The Cambridge History of India: The Sikhs of Punjab, pg. 287, Cambridge University Press, http://www.vidhia.com/Historical%20and%20Political/The_Sikhs_of_Punjab.pdf {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131028014127/http://www.vidhia.com/Historical%20and%20Political/The_Sikhs_of_Punjab.pdf |date=28 October 2013 }} Upon the postponement of the elections he said that "I have been through three Wars, I have been a General in the Wars, but I have never felt as defeated as I feel today after this announcement by the Election Commission that the Elections have been postponed."{{cite web | url=http://parliamentofindia.nic.in/ls/lsdeb/ls10/ses1/0712079101.htm | title=Digital Sansad }}

Post-retirement

A keen sportsman, Malhotra was the Founder President of the Asian Equestrian Federation in 1978.{{Cite web|url=http://asianef.org/aboutaef/aboutaef/|title = About AEF}} He was also the President of the Delhi Golf Club, New Delhi from 1979 to 1980.{{cite web|url=http://www.delhigolfclub.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=28 |title=Founder Members, Past Presidents & Captains |publisher=Delhigolfclub.org |access-date=2017-02-16}}

He served for nine years as the President of the Equestrian Federation of India a post which he took on while serving as Chief of Army Staff and continued in post-retirement.{{Cite web|url=http://efinf.org/tent_pegging.html|title = Tent Pegging | Equestrian Federation of India}} He was responsible for the revival of the cavalry sport of Tent Pegging in India and across Asia, as an equestrian sport. After a demonstration of the sport in New Delhi to HRH Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, the serving President of International Federation for Equestrian Sports, approval was granted for its inclusion as an equestrian sport under regional governance which led to its inclusion in the Asian Games from 1981 onwards.{{Cite web|url=http://www.efinf.org/tent_pegging.html|title = Tent Pegging | Equestrian Federation of India}}

Malhotra was a Founder Trustee of the Nehru Trust for the Indian Collections at the Victoria & Albert Museum,{{cite web |url=http://www.nticva.org/trustees.html |title=Trustees |website=www.nticva.org |access-date=15 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080406191305/http://www.nticva.org/trustees.html |archive-date=6 April 2008 |url-status=dead}} and served as the President of India's largest NGO, the "National Association for the Blind" in New Delhi. He was the Chairperson of the National Association for the Blind Centre For Blind Women & Disability Studies.{{Cite web |url=http://nabcentreforwomen.org/our-profile/about-us/committees/ |title=Committees | NAB Center for Blind Women & Disability Studies |access-date=26 July 2013 |archive-date=12 June 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130612004230/http://nabcentreforwomen.org/our-profile/about-us/committees/ |url-status=dead }} He was an active member of Kiwanis Club of New Delhi, patron of the All India Federation of The Deaf,{{cite web |url=http://www.aifdeaf.in/committee.htm |title=Welcome to All India Federation of the Deaf |website=www.aifdeaf.in |access-date=22 May 2022 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130726180848/http://www.aifdeaf.in/committee.htm |archive-date=26 July 2013 |url-status=dead}} and a Trustee of the Delhi Cheshire Homes.{{Cite web |url=http://www.cheshirehomesindiadelhiunit.com/members.html |title=Cheshire Homes India-Delhi Unit :: |access-date=26 July 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130909025624/http://cheshirehomesindiadelhiunit.com/members.html |archive-date=9 September 2013 |url-status=dead }}

In addition, Malhotra was also the Founder and Chairman Emeritus of two charitable organisations Shiksha and Chikitsa.{{cite web |url=http://www.nehrutrustvam.or/om-prakash-malhotra |title=Trustees of the NTICVA General Om Prakash Malhotra PVSM |work=Nehru Trust for the Indian Collections at the Victoria and Albert Mission |publisher=Nehru Trust |access-date=2015-12-29 }}{{cite web |url=http://www.guidestarindia.org/Summary.aspx?CCReg=6470 |title=Org Summary |work=Guide Star India |access-date=2015-12-29 }}{{cite web |url=http://chikitsatrust.org/board-of-trustees/ |title=Board of Trustees |publisher=Chikitsa |access-date=2015-12-29 }}

Personal life

Malhotra was married to Saroj, with whom he had two children. His son, Ajai Malhotra, was Ambassador of India to the Russian Federation from 2011 – 2013.{{citation needed|date=February 2017}}

Death

Malhotra died at his home in Gurugram due to complications of old age on 29 December 2015.{{Cite news|url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ani/former-coas-gen-o-p-malhotra-passes-away-115122900759_1.html|title=Former COAS Gen. O P Malhotra passes away|last=ANI|date=29 December 2015|newspaper=Business Standard India|access-date=2017-01-19}} On 31 December 2015 his funeral was held with full military honours at Brar Square.{{cite web|url=http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=134065|title=COAS pays Tribute to Former COAS Gen Om Prakash Malhotra|website=pib.nic.in|access-date=2017-01-19}} As former Chief of Army Staff from the Regiment of Artillery his body was carried to the funeral on an artillery gun carriage.{{cite web|url=http://www.sainiksamachar.nic.in/englisharchives/2016/jan16-16/h6.htm|title=h6|website=www.sainiksamachar.nic.in|access-date=2017-01-19}}

Honours and awards

1976: Param Vishist Seva Medal for "service of the most exceptional order".
1977: Honorary Senior Colonel Commandant of the Regiment of Artillery.
1980: Honorary General of the Nepalese Army.
1994: conferred the Degree of Doctor of Letters Honoris Causa by University of Jammu

Dates of rank

class="wikitable" style="background:white" ! Insignia !! Rank !! Component !! Date of rank
align="center" \|35px	Second Lieutenant	British Indian Army	9 November 1941 (emergency){{cite book\|pages=249A\|title=Indian Army List (Special Edition) 1947\|publisher=Government of India Press\|year=1947}}
align="center" \|35px	Lieutenant	British Indian Army	1 October 1942 (war-substantive) 27 October 1945 (substantive; regular commission)
align="center" \|35px	Captain	British Indian Army	3 January 1944 (acting) 4 January 1944 (temporary)
align="center" \|35px	Major	British Indian Army	4 January 1944 (acting)
align="center" \|35px	Lieutenant	Indian Army	15 August 1947Upon independence in 1947, India became a Dominion within the British Commonwealth of Nations. As a result, the rank insignia of the British Army, incorporating the Tudor Crown and four-pointed Bath Star ("pip"), was retained, as George VI remained Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Armed Forces. After 26 January 1950, when India became a republic, the President of India became Commander-in-Chief, and the Ashoka Lion replaced the crown, with a five-pointed star being substituted for the "pip."
align="center" \|35px	Captain	Indian Army	22 April 1948{{cite news \|title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch) \|page=193 \|date=6 September 1952\|url=http://egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/1952/O-2278-1952-0036-105746.pdf \|publisher=The Gazette of India}}Upon independence in 1947, India became a Dominion within the British Commonwealth of Nations. As a result, the rank insignia of the British Army, incorporating the Tudor Crown and four-pointed Bath Star ("pip"), was retained, as George VI remained Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Armed Forces. After 26 January 1950, when India became a republic, the President of India became Commander-in-Chief, and the Ashoka Lion replaced the crown, with a five-pointed star being substituted for the "pip."
align="center" \|35px	Captain	Indian Army	26 January 1950 (recommissioning and change in insignia){{cite web\|title=New Designs of Crests and Badges in the Services\|url=http://pib.nic.in/archive/docs/DVD_38/ACC%20NO%20807-BR/HOM-1950-01-06_484.pdf\|website=Press Information Bureau of India – Archive\|url-status=live\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170808193914/http://pib.nic.in/archive/docs/DVD_38/ACC%20NO%20807-BR/HOM-1950-01-06_484.pdf\|archive-date=8 August 2017\|df=dmy-all}}{{cite news \|title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch) \|page=227 \|date=11 February 1950 \|publisher=The Gazette of India}}
align="center" \|35px	Major	Indian Army	22 April 1955{{cite news \|title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch) \|page=127 \|date=23 June 1956\|url=http://egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/1956/O-2166-1956-0025-98863.pdf \|publisher=The Gazette of India}}
align="center" \|35px	Lieutenant-Colonel	Indian Army	22 April 1958{{cite news \|title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch) \|page=217 \|date=27 August 1960\|url=http://egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/1960/O-1947-1960-0035-87643.pdf \|publisher=The Gazette of India}}
align="center" \|35px	Colonel	Indian Army	13 October 1964{{cite news \|title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch) \|page=583 \|date=13 November 1965\|url=http://egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/1965/O-1728-1965-0046-78951.pdf \|publisher=The Gazette of India}}
align="center" \|35px	Brigadier	Indian Army	22 March 1963 (local){{cite news \|title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch) \|page=140 \|date=27 April 1963\|url=http://egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/1963/O-1839-1963-0017-83440.pdf \|publisher=The Gazette of India}} 26 May 1965 (substantive){{cite news \|title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch) \|page=211 \|date=2 April 1966\|url=http://egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/1966/O-1663-1966-0014-75835.pdf \|publisher=The Gazette of India}}
align="center" \|35px	Major General	Indian Army	22 August 1967 (acting){{cite web\|title=Army Appointments/Promotions\|url=http://pibarchive.nic.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/1967-JULY-DEC-DEFENCE-VOL-2/PDF/DEF-1967-08-22_057.pdf\|website=Press Information Bureau of India – Archive\|date=22 August 1967\|access-date=2 February 2020}} 28 February 1968{{cite news \|title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch) \|page=369 \|date=4 May 1968\|url=http://egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/1968/O-1536-1968-0018-68854.pdf\|publisher=The Gazette of India}}
align="center" \|35px	Lieutenant-General	Indian Army	29 May 1972 (acting) 15 October 1972 (substantive){{cite news \|title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch) \|page=187 \|date=10 February 1973\|url=http://egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/1973/O-1283-1973-0006-57170.pdf\|publisher=The Gazette of India}}
align="center" \|35px	General (COAS)	Indian Army	1 June 1978{{cite news \|title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch) \|page=714 \|date=22 July 1978\|url=http://egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/1978/O-1094-1978-0029-48195.pdf\|publisher=The Gazette of India}}

Notes

References

External links

[http://indianarmy.nic.in/ The Official Website of the Indian Army]
[https://web.archive.org/web/20071204210430/http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/LAND-FORCES/Army/Army-Chiefs/Chiefs-Army13.html]

{{succession box

| before = Tapishwar Narain Raina

|title = Chief of Army Staff

| years = 1978–1981

| after = Kotikalapudi Venkata Krishna Rao}}

{{Succession box

| title = Vice Chief of Army Staff

| years = 20 January 1977 – 31 May 1978

| before = A M Vohra

| after = S L Menezes

}}

{{Succession box