Page 135 - Leadership in the Indian Army

account of Thorat’s career. Yashwant came away feeling that they knew
more about his father than he himself did. He remembers his visit to
Sandhurst as one of the most memorable experiences of his life.

One quality for which Thorat was admired, both by officers and men, was
his concern for the welfare of the troops, and his humane and
compassionate attitude towards them. He was able to empathise with his
subordinates and always treated them with warmth and consideration. One
of his aides, Captain Har Mander Singh, who later joined the Civil Service
recalls how the Thorats made him feel at home on his very first visit to
them. Not only Singh, but his family too came to be accepted as part of the

Thorat household. Thorat’s behaviour towards young officers was like that
of a father with his son, and his daughters behaved with his aides as they
would with their brother. When being driven in his car, if he saw a young
officer walking, he always stopped and asked the youngster if he wanted a
lift. He never asked his aides to perform menial tasks, like carrying bags,
opening doors or pouring drinks. Irrespective of rank, he treated every

soldier with respect, and never made him feel small.
Thorat was a good orator and a voracious reader. He had a scholastic bent
of mind and was well versed in Sanskrit. Though he always addressed
troops in simple Hindustani, he often used Sanskrit slokas (verses) to drive
home a point. Thorat’s behaviour with the ladies was impeccable, and other
than smoking, he had no vices. He rolled his own cigarettes, which he
carried in a slim cigarette case. He had a habit of tapping a cigarette three

times before putting it between his lips and lighting it. This idiosyncracy
was often mimicked by younger officers, who felt that it would make them
look suave and debonair.
Thorat died on 10 August 1992, in Kolhapur at the age of 86. His death
was widely mourned not only in Maharashtra, but in the entire country, by
soldiers as well as civilians. Due to his tenure in Korea, he was well known

outside India as well, and almost all national dailies carried an obituary. He
had many friends and admirers, and it was difficult to find a single instance
in his long and distinguished career when he acted in a manner that was not
expected of an officer and a gentleman.
It was indeed unfortunate that both Thimayya and Thorat had retired
when the Chinese attacked in 1962. Had they still been active, the nation
might perhaps have been spared the ignominy and humiliation it had to

suffer, resulting mainly from the lack of courage, experience and