Page 39 - Leadership in the Indian Army

Kot.’ This feature overlooked the Naushera Tavi valley, and was the key to
the defence of Naushera. Usman readily accepted the task assigned by his
Army Commander and captured Kot. When Naushera was attacked by

raiders a few days later, Kot was held by Indian troops and played a major
role in the successful defence of the town. Cariappa had spent many years
in the NWFP, and had a good eye for the ground. He appreciated the tactical
importance of Kot as soon as he saw it.
Another of Cariappa’s endearing qualities was his broadmindedness. He
treated all troops equally and was utterly devoid of parochial feelings. After
the battle of Naushera, he visited 1 Rajput, which had suffered heavy

casualties and won several decorations. When he was shaking hands with
the officers and JCOs who had lined up to meet him, the CO, Lieutenant
Colonel Guman Singh said; ‘Sir, this is your battalion,’ (since Cariappa was
from the Rajput Regiment). Cariappa replied; ‘All the troops here are mine
too.’
During the same period, Air Commodore Mehar Singh performed the

unique feat of landing a Dakota packed with weapons at Punch, and that too
at night. A few months later, he landed a Dakota at Leh, with Thimayya on
board. Cariappa personally recommended Mehar Singh for a Maha Vir
Chakra (MVC) and made sure he got it. Strangely enough, the Air Force
brass were not very happy with ‘Baba’ Mehar, and he got no promotion
after this.
When India became independent on 15 August 1947, Field Marshal

Claude Auchinleck was appointed the Supreme Commander and General
Sir Rob Lockhart the C-in-C of the Indian Army. At the request of the
Government of India, several British officers in critical appointments
agreed to serve for another few years. On 1 January 1948, General Sir Roy
Bucher took over as C-in-C. His one-year engagement was to expire in
January 1949, and the government decided to replace him with an Indian.

At that time, the three seniormost officers were Cariappa, Rajendra Sinhji
and Nathu Singh. All three were lieutenant generals and army commanders.
Rajendra Sinhji was a year junior but six months older than Cariappa.
Nathu Singh was two-and-a-half years junior, in service as well as age.
Being seniormost Cariappa should have been the natural choice for the
appointment of C-in-C, but this was not so. In fact, Sardar Baldev Singh,
the Defence Minister in the interim government in 1946, had informed

Nathu Singh—who was then just a brigadier—that he had been selected to