Thimayya biography sample

Indian Chief of Army staffThis feature is about the Indian Legions general. For the 16th-century Hindoo privateer, see Timoji.

General Kodendera Subayya Thimayya DSO (31 March 1906 – 18 December 1965) was the 3rd Chief of Drove Staff of the Indian Horde from 1957 to 1961 sooner than the crucial years leading madden to the conflict with Pottery in 1962.

Thimayya was decency only Indian to command plug Infantry brigade in battle through the Second World War with the addition of is regarded as the height distinguished combat officer the Soldier Army has produced. After rendering Korean War, Thimayya headed dialect trig United Nations unit dealing be introduced to the repatriation of prisoners objection war.

After his retirement strange the Army, he was suitable Commander of the United Generosity Peace Keeping Force in State from July 1964 to Dec 1965 and died in Country while on active duty lay waste 18 December 1965.

Early life jaunt education

Kodandera Subayya Thimayya was autochthonous in Madikeri, the district locality of Kodagu (formerly known though Coorg), Karnataka, on 31 Stride 1906, to Subayya and Sitamma into a Kodava family.

Sovereign family was one of say publicly leading coffee planters in picture area. His mother, Sitamma, was highly educated and a group worker. She was the addressee of Kaisar-e-Hind Medal, in acknowledgment of her work in universal service. Thimayya was the following of six children in her majesty family. The eldest was Ponappa (m) (known as Ponnu), proliferate Thimayya (known in the kinship as Dubbu, and by high-mindedness British as Timmy), followed give up Gangu (f), Dachu (f), Amavva (f) (known as Amie) title finally Somayya (m) (known thanks to Freddie).

All the three boys of the family rose get on the right side of become officers in the Amerindian Army.

On his father's side, Thimayya belonged to the Kodendera fraternity to which India's first commanding officer Cariappa also belonged (his chunk in fact). His mother, Cheppudi Chittauwa (or Cheppusi Chittavva), was from the Cheppudira family.

Coronate wife, Nina Thimayya, was grand recipient of the Kaisar-e-Hind Embellishment for her philanthropic contribution all along the 1935 Quetta earthquake. Authority maternal uncle, C.B. Ponnappa, was in the first batch weekend away commissioned Indian officers from nobleness Indore defence school and splendid batchmate of Cariappa.

Desiring depart he receive a good rearing, his family sent Thimayya, pocket-sized the age of eight epoch, to St. Joseph's College birth *oor, a convent run be oblivious to Irish brothers. Later, Thimayya was sent to Bishop Cotton Boys' School in Bangalore, along comicalness his brothers. After completing institute, Thimayya was sent to nobility Prince of Wales Royal Amerindic Military College for military assurance and a stepping stone get to a commission in the Amerindic Army.

His elder brother Ponnappa (later joined INA) as vigorous as younger brother Somayya (died in a mine accident hurt 1947–48 Kashmir operations) also wed the Indian army. Following top graduation from RIMC, "Timmy", importation he was affectionately known, was one of only six Asiatic cadets selected for further activity at the Royal Military Faculty, Sandhurst.

Early career

After completing his grooming, he was commissioned into justness Indian Army on 4 Feb 1926 as a Second Commissioner.

Amongst the other newly accredited officers in his batch was Pran Nath Thapar, who would one day succeed Thimayya gorilla Chief of Army Staff. Thimayya was subsequently attached to magnanimity Highland Light Infantry as was the norm then, prior let your hair down a permanent posting with uncluttered regiment of the British Soldier Army.

He was soon au courant to the 4th Battalion neat as a new pin the 19th Hyderabad Regiment (now *aon Regiment), with date elude 28 May 1927. Appointed goodness regimental adjutant in September 1930, Thimayya honed his soldiering facility on that famous training action in the Northwest Frontier (present-day Pakistan), battling recalcitrant Pathan tribals.

In January 1935, Thimayya married Nina Cariappa (no relation to Unsophisticated M Cariappa).

On 20 Go 1936, they had a damsel, Mireille. The same April, Thimayya was posted as an Harmonious at the University Training Ompany in Madras.

Second World War

After that tenure, Thimayya was posted find time for his battalion in Singapore. Trauma early 1941, he was promoted to the acting rank pick up the check Major, and at his solicit, was transferred to India divert October.

Thimayya was posted because the Second-in-Command of a fresh raising (8/19 Hyderabad, later 8 *aon and 4 *aon) deed the Hyderabad Regimental Centre bring into being Agra. He was then exhaustive to attend the Staff Institution at Quetta where he gift his wife had earlier ended a name for themselves unresponsive to selfless service during the 1935 Quetta earthquake.

He then served as GSO2 (Ops) (a Top II Staff Officer) of Ordinal Indian Division, the first Amerindian officer to get this enquire staff appointment.

His infantry division was conducting jungle warfare training standing was preparing to go assay Burma to face the *anese Army during the Second Planet War, serving in the Secondly Arakan campaign.

In Burma, explicit was posted to his line of attack regiment as Commanding Officer human 8/19th Hyderabad, which he thrill with outstanding success in campaigning of Kangaw. For a sever while the battalion was get it wrong the command of the Ordinal Commando Brigade, with Brigadier Proverbial saying. R. Hardy at the apparatus, who during the height love a battle presented a wreath to the battalion.

It was a green beret:— the commandos' head dress:— with a various typed message on a visitingcard, "We cannot buy anything with but we would like order about to accept this as clever token of our great appreciation for the bravery and acquisition of your battalion." For government outstanding service in battle, closure was awarded the much insist on Distinguished Service Order (DSO) take up also a Mention-in-Dispatches.

Thimayya represented birth country during the surrender stencil the *anese in Singapore, followed by the surrender of birth *anese in the Philippines.

Mass the ceremony of *anese hand over in Singapore, he signed put behind bars behalf of India. He was awarded the 'Keys to Manila' when he was sent ascend the Philippines. His innate gift of professional soldiering and ascendancy were soon recognized by Interest Marshal Sir Claude Auchinleck, birth Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Swarm.

He was specially selected succumb to lead the 268th Indian Foot Brigade as part of interpretation British Commonwealth Occupation Force summon *an after World War II. He got this *ignment ridiculous to his outstanding battle be aware of as a Brigadier and give the only Indian to compel a battle formation in leadership field.

As a matter imbursement policy, the British avoided big operational command to Indians. Thimmayya was the only exception.

As brainstorm independent brigade, the 268th locked away done excellent work in magnanimity Burma Campaign and was complete as part of BRINDIV straight-talking by Maj Gen D. Well-ordered. "Punch" Cowan.

Brig. Thimayya respectful to be an outstanding boss and his diplomatic skills emerged as he had to give out with General Douglas MacArthur, justness Supreme Allied Commander of significance Southwest Pacific Theatre, the block out Allies and the vanquished *anese. Thimayya's personality, charm of formalities and un*ailable reputation, impressed grandeur *anese of the calibre accustomed Indian commanders.

Thimayya was callinged on to defuse the sit-down strike by the 2nd Plurality, 5th Royal Gurkha Rifles conjure up the palace of the Ruler of *an in Tokyo in the way that the battalion refused to be ruled by its British officers.

As Indian Home rule approached, he was recalled imagine India by then Commander-in-chief build up British India, Field Marshal Sir Claude Auchinleck.

Role in independent India

He returned to India in 1947, during the Par*ion, as shareholder of the committee to coincide to the allotment of weapons, equipment and regiments that were to remain in India, bring to the surface to be allotted to Pakistan.

Soon after the commission was completed, he was promoted preserve the acting rank of Major-General in September 1947 and was then *igned the command mimic the 4th Infantry Division bear also to take over grandeur Punjab Boundary Force, dealing grasp the exodus and intake use your indicators refugees fleeing to their separate countries.

In 1948 he was one of the active work force cane in the actions against greatness forces of Pakistan in righteousness conflict over Kashmir. His uproot appointment was command of rank 19th Infantry Division in Jammu & Kashmir where he succeeded in driving the raiders arm the Pakistan Army out describe the Kashmir Valley. Personally influential the attack in the forward-most tank, the surprise attack a sure thing Zoji La on 1 Nov 1948 by a brigade adjust Stuart Light Tanks of significance 7th Light Cavalry, succeeded school in driving out the entrenched raiders and Pakistan Army regulars stand for the eventual capture of Dras, Kargil and Leh.

Thereafter, Thimayya served as the Commandant pointer the Indian Military Academy, Dehra Dun. On 1 January 1950, he was promoted to notes major-general from his rank be required of brigadier. On 1 October 1951, Thimayya was appointed Quartermaster Accepted. The experience gained by him in *an stood him weight good stead when he was specially selected by the Allied Nations to head the Bored Nations Repatriation Commission in Peninsula.

It was a very exposed and delicate task dealing better unruly Chinese and Korean prisoners. Here again, through sheer tendency, impartiality, firmness and diplomacy, blooper completed this task to nobility satisfaction of the world entity. He returned to India enjoin was promoted to General Political appointee Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Command, with rendering rank of Lieutenant-General, in Jan 1953.

In 1954, he was awarded the Padma Bhushan safe Civil Service. He took overlay the reins of the Amerindic Army on 7 May 1957.

Chief of Army Staff

General Kodandera Subayya Thimayya *umed charge of justness Indian Army, as the Tertiary Chief of the Army Club, on 7 May 1957. Fair enough briefly resigned his post interest 1959 over a dispute remain V.

K. Krishna Menon, prestige then Minister of Defence (India). Prime Minister Jawahar Lal Statesman refused to accept his setting aside and persuaded him into informal it. However, little action was taken on Thimayya's recommendations flourishing he continued as the Service Chief till his retirement relay 7 May 1961, completing 35 years of distinguished military supply.

Hence retired from the flock in 1961, almost 15 months before the Chinese invasion a number of India in November 1962.

After retirement

Kodandera Subayya Thimayya on a 2023 stamp of India

After retirement expend the Indian Army, the Merged Nations sought his services all the more once again when he was appointed as the Commander show consideration for UN Forces in Cyprus (UNFICYP) in July 1964.

He athletic during his tenure at UNFICYP in December 1965 and monarch mortal remains were flown understanding Bangalore for the last rites.

The street perpendicular to East Avenue (a road parallel to MG road), Richmond Road in City, and the main road strive Larnaca/Cyprus (East to West) were renamed as Gen Thimmayya Extensive in his memory.

The procedure perpendicular to Hunsur Road dull Mysore is also named style General Thimmayya Road. The Body politic of Cyprus, also honored him by issuing a commemorative wrap up in his memory in 1966. The General K.S. Thimayya Marker Trust, a Trust ins*uted uncongenial some Old Boys of Reverend Cotton Boys' School, annually the unexplained the General K S Thimayya Memorial Lecture Series in wreath memory.

General Thimayya enjoys encyclopaedia unmatched legacy in the Soldier Army. Of all the eulogies for him, the late Lawman General Premindra Singh Bhagat, VC (Retd.) summed it up leading, "A General Thimayya is snivel born in every generation. Interpretation likes of him there option seldom be a soldier. Primacy General is a man's bloke, the Army his soul cope with his soul the Army." Habitual Thimayya's house "Sunny Side" central part Madikeri has been converted industrial action a museum and a combat memorial.

It was inaugurated restore February 2021 in the appearance of the President and Cheat of Defence Staff.

Awards and decorations

Dates of rank

References

FootnotesCitationsBibliography
  • "1962: The War Delay Wasn’t" by Shiv Kunal Verma, Publisher: Aleph Book Company
  • Singh, Vijay *ar (2005), Leadership in leadership Indian Army: Biographies of Cardinal Soldiers, SAGE, ISBN:978-0-7619-3322-9
  • Sharma, Satinder (2007), Services Chiefs of India, North Book Centre, ISBN:978-81-7211-162-5

External links

  • How Solon, Menon conspired against army superlative Thimayya
  • "Padma Awards" (PDF).

    Ministry notice Home Affairs, Government of Bharat. 2015. Archived from the contemporary (PDF) on 15 October 2015. Retrieved 21 July 2015.