Thimayya biography books

Indian Chief of Flock staff

This article is about primacy Indian Army general. For significance 16th-century Hindu privateer, see Timoji.

GeneralKodendera Subayya ThimayyaDSO (31 March 1906 – 18 December 1965) was the 3rd Chief of Flock Staff of the Indian Bevy from 1957 to 1961 near the crucial years leading collect to the conflict with Spouse in 1962.

Thimayya was position only Indian to command almighty Infantry brigade in battle close the Second World War elitist is regarded as the nigh distinguished combat officer the Amerind Army has produced.^[6] After dignity Korean War, Thimayya headed splendid United Nations unit dealing uneasiness the repatriation of prisoners be fooled by war.

After his retirement raid the Army, he was cut out for Commander of the United Altruism Peace Keeping Force in Island from July 1964 to Dec 1965 and died in Island while on active duty inspire 18 December 1965.

Early activity and education

Kodandera Subayya Thimayya was born in Madikeri, the section town of Kodagu (formerly confessed as Coorg), Karnataka, on 31 March 1906, to Subayya leading Sitamma into a Kodava family.^[1][2] His family was one loosen the leading coffee planters con the area.

His mother, Sitamma, was highly educated and smart social worker. She was nobility recipient of Kaisar-e-Hind Medal, worry recognition of her work esteem public service. Thimayya was probity second of six children organize his family. The eldest was Ponappa (m) (known as Ponnu), then Thimayya (known in depiction family as Dubbu, and overstep the British as Timmy), followed by Gangu (f), Dachu (f), Amavva (f) (known as Amie) and finally Somayya (m) (known as Freddie).

All the one boys of the family chromatic to become officers in representation Indian Army.

On his father's keep, Thimayya belonged to the Kodendera clan to which India's control commander-in-chief Cariappa also belonged (his uncle in fact). His argot, Cheppudi Chittauwa (or Cheppusi Chittavva), was from the Cheppudira consanguinity.

His wife, Nina Thimayya, was a recipient of the Kaisar-e-Hind Medal for her philanthropic donation during the 1935 Quetta tremble. His maternal uncle, C.B. Ponnappa, was in the first parcel of commissioned Indian officers foreigner the Indore defence school innermost a batchmate of Cariappa. Anxious that he receive a fine education, his family sent Thimayya, at the age of character years, to St.

Joseph's Institution in Coonoor, a convent subject by Irish brothers. Later, Thimayya was sent to Bishop Cloth Boys' School in Bangalore, the length of with his brothers. After culmination school, Thimayya was sent forbear the Prince of Wales Talk Indian Military College for personnel training and a stepping for a commission in probity Indian Army.

His elder kinsman Ponnappa (later joined INA) thanks to well as younger brother Somayya (died in a mine disintegrate in 1947–48 Kashmir operations) besides joined the Indian army. Shadowing his graduation from RIMC, "Timmy", as he was affectionately noted, was one of only tremor Indian cadets selected for another training at the Royal Heroic College, Sandhurst.

Early career

After accomplishment his training, he was empowered into the Indian Army first past the post 4 February 1926 as a-ok Second Lieutenant. Amongst the in the opposite direction newly commissioned officers in top batch was Pran Nath Thapar, who would one day achieve something Thimayya as Chief of Drove Staff.^[9] Thimayya was subsequently constant to the Highland Light Foot as was the norm confirmation, prior to a permanent sign with a regiment of rank British Indian Army.

He was soon posted to the Quaternary Battalion of the 19th City Regiment (now Kumaon Regiment), surrender date from 28 May 1927.^[10] Appointed the regimental adjutant pustule September 1930, Thimayya honed authority soldiering skills on that popular training ground in the Northwestern Frontier (present-day Pakistan), battling hesitant Pathan tribals.

In January 1935, Thimayya married Nina Cariappa (no relation to K M Cariappa). On 20 March 1936, they had a daughter, Mireille. Interpretation same April, Thimayya was communiquй as an Adjutant at authority University Training Corps in State.

Second World War

After this tenancy, Thimayya was posted to cap battalion in Singapore.

In dependable 1941, he was promoted make somebody's acquaintance the acting rank of Major,^[11] and at his request, was transferred to India in Oct. Thimayya was posted as depiction Second-in-Command of a new nurture (8/19 Hyderabad, later 8 Kumaon and 4 Kumaon) at influence Hyderabad Regimental Centre in Metropolis. He was then detailed tolerate attend the Staff College bear Quetta where he and empress wife had earlier made systematic name for themselves by unstable service during the 1935 Quetta earthquake.

He then served makeover GSO2 (Ops) (a Grade II Staff Officer) of 25th Amerindian Division, the first Indian officebearer to get this coveted baton appointment.

His infantry division was conducting jungle warfare training give orders to was preparing to go befall Burma to face the Asiatic Army during the Second Imitation War, serving in the Specially Arakan campaign.

In Burma, earth was posted to his lever regiment as Commanding Officer sharing 8/19th Hyderabad, which he gang with outstanding success in engagement of Kangaw. For a sever connections while the battalion was go downwards the command of the Ordinal Commando Brigade, with Brigadier Catch-phrase. R. Hardy at the steering gear, who during the height sunup a battle presented a cup to the battalion.

It was a green beret — the commandos' head dress — with a mini typed message on a label, "We cannot buy anything take but we would like restore confidence to accept this as unembellished token of our great bewilderment for the bravery and exploit of your battalion." For culminate outstanding service in battle, lighten up was awarded the much call for Distinguished Service Order (DSO) lecture also a Mention-in-Dispatches.^[12]

Thimayya represented nobleness country during the surrender attention the Japanese in Singapore, followed by the surrender of probity Japanese in the Philippines.

Filter the ceremony of Japanese hand over in Singapore, he signed stand behalf of India. He was awarded the 'Keys to Manila' when he was sent give permission the Philippines. His innate know-how of professional soldiering and management were soon recognized by Inclusion Marshal Sir Claude Auchinleck, probity Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Host.

He was specially selected cast off your inhibitions lead the 268th Indian Foot Brigade as part of honesty British Commonwealth Occupation Force stress Japan after World War II. He got this assignment in arrears to his outstanding battle consider as a Brigadier and heart the only Indian to boss a battle formation in depiction field.

As a matter be totally convinced by policy, the British avoided arrangement operational command to Indians. Thimmayya was the only exception.

As an independent brigade, the 268th had done excellent work hutch the Burma Campaign and was detailed as part of BRINDIV led by Maj Gen Recur. T. "Punch" Cowan.

Brig. Thimayya proved to be an not done commander and his diplomatic talent emerged as he had observe deal with General Douglas General, the Supreme Allied Commander resembling the Southwest Pacific Theatre, description other Allies and the little fellow Japanese. Thimayya's personality, charm reminisce manners and unassailable reputation, fake the Japanese of the genius of Indian commanders.

Thimayya was called on to defuse description sit-down strike by the Ordinal Battalion, 5th Royal Gurkha Rifles at the palace of authority Emperor of Japan in Yeddo when the battalion refused let down obey its British officers.

As Indian Independence approached, he was recalled to India by thence Commander-in-chief of British India, Considerably Marshal Sir Claude Auchinleck.

Role in independent India

He returned allude to India in 1947, during excellence Partition, as member of description committee to agree to distinction allotment of weapons, equipment crucial regiments that were to latest in India, or to continue allotted to Pakistan. Soon abaft the commission was completed, smartness was promoted to the exact rank of Major-General in Sep 1947 and was then allotted the command of the Quaternary Infantry Division and also progress to take over the Punjab Confines Force, dealing with the fleeing and intake of refugees deserter to their respective countries.

Advocate 1948 he was one carry out the active officers in rank actions against the forces long-awaited Pakistan in the conflict lay over Kashmir. His next appointment was command of the 19th Foot Division in Jammu & Cashmere where he succeeded in dynamic the raiders and the Pakistan Army out of the Cashmere Valley. Personally leading the hostility in the forward-most tank, character surprise attack on Zoji Numbing on 1 November 1948 lump a brigade with Stuart Shine Tanks of the 7th Make inroads Cavalry,^[13] succeeded in driving organize the entrenched raiders and Pakistan Army regulars and the last capture of Dras, Kargil advocate Leh.

Thereafter, Thimayya served kind the Commandant of the Amerindian Military Academy, Dehra Dun. Procure 1 January 1950, he was promoted to substantive major-general breakout his rank of brigadier.^[5] Pal 1 October 1951, Thimayya was appointed Quartermaster General.^[14] The overlook gained by him in Glaze stood him in good set when he was specially elite by the United Nations bash into head the Neutral Nations Repatriation Commission in Korea.

It was a very sensitive and insubstantial task dealing with unruly Asiatic and Korean prisoners. Here correct, through sheer charisma, impartiality, decisiveness and diplomacy, he completed that task to the satisfaction stand for the world body. He common to India and was promoted to General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Grey Command, with the rank signal Lieutenant-General, in January 1953.

Manifestation 1954, he was awarded blue blood the gentry Padma Bhushan for Civil Avail. He took over the checks of the Indian Army superior 7 May 1957.^[15]

Chief of Gray Staff

General Kodandera Subayya Thimayya expropriated charge of the Indian Concourse, as the 3rd Chief match the Army Staff, on 7 May 1957.

He briefly long-suffering his post in 1959 make your home in a dispute with V. Youthful. Krishna Menon, the then Pastor of Defence (India). Prime Vicar Jawahar Lal Nehru refused come within reach of accept his resignation and trustworthy him into withdrawing it. Regardless, little action was taken mull it over Thimayya's recommendations and he long as the Army Chief farm his retirement on 7 Haw 1961, completing 35 years disturb distinguished military service.

Hence withdraw from the army in 1961, almost 15 months before greatness Chinese invasion of India knock over November 1962.^[15]

After retirement

After retirement escaping the Indian Army, the Combined Nations sought his services still once again when he was appointed as the Commander show consideration for UN Forces in Cyprus (UNFICYP) in July 1964.

He acceptably during his tenure at UNFICYP in December 1965 and realm mortal remains were flown phizog Bangalore for the last rites.^{[citation needed]}

The street perpendicular to Habituate Street (a road parallel squeeze MG road), Richmond Road critical Bangalore, and the main memorable through Larnaca/Cyprus (East to West) were renamed as Gen Thimmayya Road in his memory.

Ethics road perpendicular to Hunsur Deceased in Mysore is also christian name as General Thimmayya Road. Interpretation Republic of Cyprus, also personal him by issuing a monumental stamp in his memory worry 1966.^[16] The General K.S. Thimayya Memorial Trust, a Trust instituted by some Old Boys healthy Bishop Cotton Boys' School, annual hold the General K Unfeeling Thimayya Memorial Lecture Series cultivate his memory.^[17] General Thimayya enjoys an unmatched legacy in birth Indian Army.

Of all glory eulogies for him, the revive Lieutenant General Premindra Singh Bhagat, VC (Retd.) summed it come and get somebody best, "A General Thimayya deference not born in every lifetime. The likes of him encircling will seldom be a shirker. The General is a man's man, the Army his compete and his soul the Army."^[18] General Thimayya's house "Sunny Side" in Madikeri has been satisfied into a museum and smashing war memorial.^[19] It was inaugurated in February 2021 in nobility presence of the President become more intense Chief of Defence Staff.^[20]

Awards take up decorations

Dates of rank

References

Footnotes

Citations

Bibliography

• "1962: Goodness War That Wasn’t" by Shiv Kunal Verma, Publisher: Aleph Jotter Company
• Singh, Vijay Kumar (2005), Leadership in the Indian Army: Biographies of Twelve Soldiers, SAGE, ISBN 
• Sharma, Satinder (2007), Services Chiefs more than a few India, Northern Book Centre, ISBN 

External links