Bipin Rawat

Lt. General Bipin Rawat, AVSM, YSM, SM, VSM is son of Lt. Gen. L S Rawat and belongs to the famous 5th Battalion of 11th Gorkha Rifles.^[1] He is the current Vice Chief of Army Staff (VCOAS) of Indian Army.

On commissioning from the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun, where he was awarded the 'Sword of Honour' he joined the Battalion in Jan 1979 at Mizoram, in India. He commanded the battalion in field area, during his tenure the Battalion was adjudged as the best Battalion in NEFA. He also commanded a brigade in counter-insurgency area and another one in United Nations peacekeeping mission in Congo.

Lt Gen Bipin Rawat born in Pauri Garhwal, Uttrakhand. while commanding a Multinational Brigade in a Chapter VII mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUC) has had a truly outstanding tour. Within two weeks of deployment in the DRC, the Brigade faced a major offensive in the East which threatened not only the regional capital of North Kivu, Goma, but stability across the country as a whole. The situation demanded a rapid response and North Kivu Brigade was reinforced, where it was responsible for over 7,000 men and women representing nearly half of the total MONUC Force. Whilst simultaneously engaged in offensive kinetic operations against the CNDP and other armed groups, Brigadier Rawat (Now Lt Gen) carried out tactical support to the Congolese Army (FARDC), sensitization programmes with the local population and detailed coordination to ensure that all were informed about the situation and worked together in prosecuting operations whilst trying to protect the vulnerable population. This hectic period of operational tempo lasted a full four months and during this time Brigadier (Now Lt Gen) Rawat, his Headquarters and his international Brigade, were tested to the full, across the operational spectrum. His personal leadership, courage and experience were pivotal to the success that the Brigade achieved. Goma never fell, the East stabilized and the main armed group was motivated to the negotiating table and has since been integrated into the FARDC.

He was also tasked to present the Revised Charter of Peace Enforcement to the Special Representatives of the Secretary General and Force Commanders of all the UN missions in a special conference at Wilton Park, London on 16 May 2009.

For his truly exceptional performance within MONUC the officer was awarded the Force Commanders Commendation.

Academically inclined, he has authored numerous articles on ‘National Security’ and ‘Leadership’ which have been published in various journals and publications. He has successfully completed M. Phil in Defence and Management Studies from Devi Ahilya University, Indore; and Strategic and Defence Studies from Madras University. He has a Diploma in Management and another Diploma in Computer Studies. Lt Gen Bipin Rawat has also completed his research on military media strategic studies and was awarded Doctorate of Philosophy (Ph. d) from Chaudhary Charan Singh University, Meerut in 2011.^[2]

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