Page 48 - Leadership in the Indian Army

the driver saw Cariappa’s hosts he realised that he had indeed been
travelling with the Indian High Commissioner, and quickly apologised.
Cariappa’s tenure in Australia was not without controversy. Once, he

made certain remarks about Australia’s white migrants policy which
favoured the immigration of white races only. This created a furore in the
press and there were demands that he be recalled for interfering in the
domestic affairs of another country. But Cariappa remained unfazed. He
knew that he was right and that his view had many supporters. Eventually,
public opinion on this matter forced the Australian government to review its
immigration policy and make it more liberal.

Cariappa returned to India in 1956 and retired to his house, Roshanara.
But he continued to take a keen interest in all matters concerning the Army.
When the Chinese attacked India in 1962, he went to the local recruiting
office and offered to enlist as a soldier. In 1965, after the ceasefire, he
expressed a desire to visit the troops on the front. During his visit to 17
Rajput—the battalion he had raised in 1942—the troops raised their war cry

after he had spoken to them. The Pakistani battalion commander on the
other side became agitated and ordered his men to man the trenches. He
then registered a strong protest. When he was told the reason for the war
cry, he immediately came across, saluted Cariappa, and requested him to
visit his men so that they too could have a glimpse of the legendary
General.
Though Cariappa had been C-in-C of the Indian Army for four years, he

was only 53 when he retired. Today, the Chief retires at 62. Like Cariappa,
several other senior officers of that period also had very short tenures.
Nathu Singh retired at the age of 51, and Thimayya and Thorat at 55. This
was one of the biggest blunders of the Nehru government, which insisted on
keeping on British officers after Independence on the grounds that Indian
officers lacked experience. At the same time, it allowed its most

experienced officers, like Cariappa, Nathu Singh, Thimayya and Thorat, to
retire at a very young age, thus depriving the nation of their services when it
needed them the most. When the Chinese attacked India in 1962, both
Thimayya and Thorat had been out of uniform for just a year.
It is difficult to believe that Cariappa supported the proposal limiting the
tenure of the Chief and Army Commanders to four years. Perhaps he
acquiesced since the rule affected him directly and he may have felt that to

do otherwise might appear selfish. And being the gentle-man he was, this