General Sundararajan Padmanabhan PVSM, AVSM, VSM (5 December 1940 – 18 August 2024) was a General Officer of the Indian Army. He served as the 19th Chief of Army Staff of the Indian Army. General Padmanabhan succeeded General V.P. Malik on 30 September 2000. He also served as Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee.
Early life and education Padmanabhan was born in a Tamil Brahmin family. He was schooled at the Rashtriya Indian Military College, Dehradun. In 1956, Padmanabhan joined the National Defence Academy and then the Indian Military Academy, from where he graduated in 1959.
Military career Padmanabhan was commissioned into the Regiment of Artillery on 13 December 1959.
He attended the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington in 1973. Post this, he commanded an Independent Light Battery from 1975 to 1976. He then commanded the Gazala Mountain Regiment from 1977 to 1980. He also served as Instructor Gunnery at the School of Artillery, Deolali and two terms as an instructor at the Indian Military Academy.
As a Brigadier, he attended the prestigious National Defence College, New Delhi.
He resided in Chennai after retirement. Padmanabhan authored two books. He died in Chennai on 18 August 2024, at the age of 83.
Books Gen. Padmanabhan was also an author of Indian military fiction, including the 2004 novel Writing on the Wall, the plot of which involves India fighting a war simultaneously with Pakistan while improving relations with China.
Honours and awards
Military awards
Param Vishisht Seva MedalAti Vishist Seva MedalVishisht Seva MedalGeneral Service MedalSiachen Glacier MedalSpecial Service MedalRaksha MedalSangram MedalOperation Vijay MedalSainya Seva Medal50th Anniversary of Independence Medal25th Anniversary of Independence Medal30 Years Long Service Medal20 Years Long Service Medal9 Years Long Service Medal
Dates of rank Insignia Rank Component Date of rank Second Lieutenant Indian Army 13 December 1959 Lieutenant Indian Army 13 December 1961 Captain Indian Army 13 December 1965 Major Indian Army 13 December 1972 Lieutenant-Colonel Indian Army 16 August 1978 Colonel Indian Army 8 February 1985 Brigadier Indian Army 13 April 1986 Major General Indian Army 16 November 1991 Lieutenant-General Indian Army 1 November 1993 General(COAS) Indian Army 1 October 2000
References