Page 103 - Leadership in the Indian Army

describing the operations in Kashmir, notably the attack on Zojila, where
tanks were used. When asked about it, Thimayya confirmed that he had not
authorised publication of the book and had learned about it only after it was

reviewed in the newspapers. After this, the issue was closed, though it did
creep up again on several occasions.
Thimayya retired on 8 May 1961. Though he recommended Lieutenant
General S.P.P. Thorat as his successor because of his distinguished service
record, the government ignored his advice and appointed P.N. Thapar, who
was from the same Sandhurst batch as Thimayya. It was an unfortunate
choice, as Thapar could neither stand up to Krishna Menon, nor control the

unbridled ambition of Kaul, who had begun to run the army like his fief.
After the 1962 Indo–Chinese conflict, Thapar was made a scape goat and
had resign. On the eve of his retirement, Thimayya spoke to the men in
words that proved prophetic. He said: ‘I hope I am not leaving you as
cannon fodder for the Chinese…. God bless you all.’
No story about Thimayya can be complete without mention of his orderly,

Ram Singh, who became a legend in the Kumaon Regiment, just as Timmy
became one in the Army. When Thimayya took over command of 8/19
Hyderabad in Burma, he asked the Subedar Major to detail the ‘biggest
bonehead you can find’ as his orderly. What he got was Ram Singh, a tall
and hefty Jat from Sonepat in Haryana. Ram Singh stayed with Thimayya
for the next 20 years, until he retired in 1961. Many are the tales told of
Ram Singh and his boss, each of whom thought that he was indispensable

to the other. Ram Singh always followed Thimayya like a shadow, and
considered himself his protector. During a sudden artillery bombardment,
when Thimayya took cover in a trench, Ram Singh jumped in on top of
him, almost crushing him in the process. When asked the reason for his
behaviour, Ram Singh innocently replied that as the CO, Thimayya’s life
was more precious than his own.

When Thimayya was awarded the DSO in Burma, the whole battalion
was overjoyed. The only person who seemed to be unhappy was Ram
Singh. When Thimayya asked him the reason for his long face, Ram Singh
told him that he was disappointed, as he felt that he too deserved the medal.
‘After all, I have been to every place you have’, he told Thimayya. When
Thimayya became Chief, Ram Singh moved with him to White Gates, the
Army House in Delhi. Once, Lieutenant Colonel (later Brigadier) Teg

Bahadur Kapur, who was then commanding 4 Kumaon, called on