Shankar Roychowdhury

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Template:Short description Script error: No such module "For". Script error: No such module "Unsubst". Template:Use Indian English Script error: No such module "infobox".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".Script error: No such module "Check for conflicting parameters".

General Shankar Roy Chowdhury Script error: No such module "If empty". is a former Chief of Army Staff of the Indian Army, and a former member of the Indian Parliament.[1][2]

Early life

General Roychowdhury was born in Kolkata, West Bengal, India into the Zamindar family of Taki (India), a Bengali Kayastha family, on 6 September 1937. He received his schooling at St. Xavier's Collegiate School in Kolkata and later at Wynberg Allen School, Mussoorie and St. George's College, Mussoorie. He then became a cadet in the Joint Services Wing of the Indian Armed Forces in 1953.[2][3]

Military career

General Shankar Roychowdhury was commissioned into the 20 Lancers of the Indian Army Armoured Corps on 9 June 1957, after graduating from the Indian Military Academy. He took part in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965 in the Chamb-Jaurian sector, and in Jessore and Khulna during the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971. He commanded the 20 Lancers from 1974 to 1976, an Independent Armoured Brigade from December 1980 to July 1983, and an Armoured Division from May 1988 to May 1990. He subsequently commanded the 16 Corps in Jammu and Kashmir from 1991 to 1992.[2][3]

He is a graduate of the Indian Military Academy Dehradun, National Defence Academy Pune, Defence Services Staff College, Army War College; National Defence College and also holds a Doctorate D.Litt. (Honoris CAVSA).[1] He held several staff and instructional appointments, including that of Director General Combat Vehicles dealing with the Arjun tank.[2][3]

He was awarded the Param Vishisht Seva Medal for distinguished service to the Indian Army and the nation. He took over as GOC-in-C, Army Training Command (ARTRAC) in August 1992. He assumed charge of the Indian Army as the 18th Chief of Army Staff on 22 November 1994, upon the untimely death of his predecessor, General B.C. Joshi.[4] He retired from the Indian Army on 30 September 1997, after 40 years of military service.[3][5]

Post-retirement

After retirement from the Army, General Roychowdhury became a member of the Rajya Sabha, where he highlighted defence related issues.[2] Since 21 January 2008, he has been a Director of Indian Metal & Ferro Alloys Ltd.[1][3] His autobiography titled Officially at Peace was published by Penguin Books in 2002.[6]

Honours and decorations

Template:Ribbon devices/alt File:IND Samar Seva Star Ribbon.svg File:IND Poorvi Star Ribbon.svg File:IND Paschimi Star Ribbon.svg
File:IND Raksha Medal Ribbon.svg File:IND Sangram Medal Ribbon.svg Template:Ribbon devices/alt Template:Ribbon devices/alt
Template:Ribbon devices/alt Template:Ribbon devices/alt Template:Ribbon devices/alt Template:Ribbon devices/alt
Param Vishisht Seva Medal Samar Seva Star Poorvi Star Paschimi Star
Raksha Medal Sangram Medal Sainya Seva Medal High Altitude Service Medal
25th Anniversary of Independence Medal 30 Years Long Service Medal 20 Years Long Service Medal 9 Years Long Service Medal

Dates of rank

Insignia Rank Component Date of rank
File:Second Lieutenant of the Indian Army.svg Second Lieutenant Indian Army 9 June 1957[7]
File:Lieutenant of the Indian Army.svg Lieutenant Indian Army 9 June 1959[8]
File:Captain of the Indian Army.svg Captain Indian Army 9 June 1963[9]
File:Major of the Indian Army.svg Major Indian Army 9 June 1970[10]
File:Lieutenant Colonel of the Indian Army.svg Lieutenant Colonel Indian Army 1976
File:Colonel of the Indian Army.svg Colonel Indian Army 24 October 1982[11]
File:Brigadier of the Indian Army.svg Brigadier Indian Army 12 April 1983[12]
File:Major General of the Indian Army.svg Major General Indian Army 2 January 1988[13]
File:Lieutenant General of the Indian Army.svg Lieutenant General Indian Army 1 July 1991[14]
File:General of the Indian Army.svg General
(COAS)
Indian Army 22 November 1994[15]

References

<templatestyles src="Reflist/styles.css" />

  1. a b c Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".Script error: No such module "Unsubst".Template:Cbignore
  2. a b c d e Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  3. a b c d e Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  4. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  5. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  6. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  7. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  8. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  9. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  10. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  11. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  12. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  13. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  14. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  15. Cite error: Script error: No such module "Namespace detect".Script error: No such module "Namespace detect".

Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".

External links

Notable publications

Military offices
Preceded byTemplate:S-bef/check Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee
1 October 1996 – 30 September 1997 Template:S-ttl/check
Template:S-aft/check Succeeded by
Preceded byTemplate:S-bef/checkTemplate:Succession box/check Chief of Army Staff
1994–1997 Template:S-ttl/check
Template:S-aft/check Succeeded by

Template:Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee Template:Chief of the Army Staff India Template:Authority control