Bipin Rawat Age, Death, Caste, Wife, Children, Family, Biography & More

Bipin Rawat Age, Death, Caste, Wife, Children, Family, Biography & More

Some Lesser Known Facts About Bipin Rawat

• Bipin Rawat was a four-star General of the Indian Army who became the first Chief of Defence Staff of India on 31 December 2019. He died in a chopper crash on 8 December 2021.
  

• He was born into a Rajput Family of Uttarakhand that has been serving in the Indian Army for generations. Bipin Rawat belonged to the third generation of his family that had served the Indian Army. [12]
  

  Bipin Rawat with his family members in his native village in Uttarakhand

• His father, Laxman Singh Rawat, had also served the Indian Army as Lt. General. Laxman Singh Rawat had risen from the ranks (being a soldier) to become the Deputy Chief of Army Staff.

• Bipin Rawat’s paternal uncle, Bharat Singh Rawat is a retired Havaldar (non-commissioned officer) of the Indian Army. His other uncle Harinandan also served in the Indian Army.
  

  Bipin Rawat’s uncle Bharat Singh Rawat (in white Kurta)

• Bipin Rawat’s uncle, Bharat Singh Rawat, describes him as “a very smart boy right from childhood.” He says,Bipin has managed to get where he is only through sheer hard work and honesty. We were very sure that he would achieve great success, and he has proved us right.”

• Bipin used to take inputs (when he was appearing for the Service Selection Board; SSB) from his old associate, Lt Col Onkar Singh Dikrit, who had known him since his young days and was the senior of his father in 2/11 Gorkha Rifles. [13]

• Bipin did his schooling at Cambrian Hall School, Dehradun, and the St Edward’s School in Shimla.
  

  Bipin Rawat visiting his alma mater St Edward School in Shimla

• After completing his schooling, he joined the National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla and the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun, where he was awarded the ‘Sword of Honour.’

• After passing out from the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun, he was commissioned into the 5th Battalion of 11 Gorkha Rifles, on 16 December 1978; the same unit as his father’s.

• Soon after his induction into the Indian army as a Second Lieutenant, Mr. Rawat started showing his military skills and went on to have lots of experience in high altitude warfare, and he spent ten years conducting Counter-insurgency operations.

• As a Major, he commanded a company in Uri, Jammu & Kashmir. As a Colonel, he commanded the 5th battalion 11 Gorkha Rifles in the Eastern sector along the Line of Actual Control at Kibithu.

• After being promoted to the rank of Brigadier, he commanded 5 Sector of Rashtriya Rifles in Sopore.

• For commanding a multinational Brigade in a Chapter VII mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO), Mr. Rawat was twice awarded the Force Commander’s Commendation.

• His promotion to Major General led him to take over as the General Officer Commanding 19th Infantry Division (Uri).

• As a Lieutenant General, Mr. Rawat commanded III Corps, headquartered in Dimapur before taking over the Southern Army in Pune.

• During his career span of 37 years, Bipin Rawat was awarded various gallantry awards including the Param Vishisht Seva Medal for his distinguished service.

• On 1 January 2016, Bipin Rawat was promoted to the Army Commander grade and assumed the post of General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (GOC-in-C) Southern Command, and after a short stint, he assumed the post of Vice Chief of Army Staff on 1 September 2016.

• On 17 December 2016, the Government of India appointed Mr. Bipin Rawat as the 27th Chief of the Army Staff, superseding two seniors – Lieutenant Generals Praveen Bakshi and P M Hariz. With this, he became the third officer from the Gorkha Brigade to become the Chief of the Army Staff after Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw and General Dalbir Singh Suhag.
  

  Bipin Rawat taking charge as the Chief of Army Staff from Dalbir Singh Suhag

• Bipin Rawat was also the honorary General of the Nepalese Army.
  

  General Bipin Rawat presents a memento to General Rajendra Chhetri, Chief of the Army Staff Nepal Army, on the occasion of Nepal Army Day 2018

• Mr. Rawat’s battalion was deployed against the Chinese People’s Liberation Army; during the 1987 face-off in the Sumdorong Chu valley.

• In February 2019, Mr. Rawat took a sortie in indigenous Light Combat Aircraft Tejas in Bengaluru at the Aero India 2019. [14]
  

  Bipin Rawat waving while going to fly LCA Tejas

• Mr. Rawat was very close to his hometown in Uttarkhand, and he often paid a visit to his native village even during his busy schedule.
  

  Bipin Rawat on a visit to his maternal village Thati in Uttarkashi

• On one such visit to his native village Saina Birmoli, near Lansdowne, he desired to build a house in the village. His uncle Bharat Singh Rawat even showed him a plot to build his desired house.
  

  Bipin Rawat on a visit to his native village Saina Birmoli, near Lansdowne

• On 8 December 2021, an IAF Mi 17 V5 helicopter with a crew of 4 members carrying the CDS Bipin Rawat and 9 other passengers met with a tragic accident near Coonoor in Tamil Nadu, killing the CDS, his wife, and 11 more. According to the Indian Air Force, Bipin Rawat was on a visit to Defence Services Staff College, Wellington (Nilgiri Hills) to address the faculty and student officers of the Staff Course. [15]
  

  Wreckage of the crashed chopper that was carrying Bipin Rawat