Nature had been generous to the man who was destined to be the Army’s first Commander-in-Chief. Six-foot tall, muscular but slim, he had a remarkable uprightness of bearing that singled him out from others.
Field Marshal Manekshaw, reminiscing about the period when both were in Delhi – Cariappa as Chief and Manekshaw as Director of Military Operations – told Major K C Parval:
“Wherever Cariappa went, there was no doubt that he was the Jangi Lat …. When he walked down the corridor, the whole world knew that there was an Army Chief walking past. When he visited any State, any Country, they could make out that, that was the Army Chief. He gave all of us dignity by the way he carried himself”. The ability to impress those around him is a great asset to any commander.
Jangi Lat is an Urdu term which meant – military-lord, the commander-in-chief of the Indian army.
Sourced from Major K C Praval’s book – Indian Army After Independence(1987). Sentences have been edited for ease of reading.
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Nice one. He was the Jangi Lat.
Very impressive anecdotes on Field Marshal Cariappa and look forward to more of these snippets.
Field Marshal K.M. Cariappa was a true legend and a source of immense pride for India. As the First Indian Commander – in – Chief of the Indian Army, he played a pivotal role in shaping the Nation’s Military History. Besides dignity, his bravery, leadership and dedication continue to inspire generations.
His legacy is a testament to India’s military prowess and his contributions will forever be etched in our memories.