Page 78 - Leadership in the Indian Army

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G ENERAL K.S. T HIMAYYA , DSO

Timmy Sahib, India’s Most Popular General

Kodandera Subayya Thimayya is perhaps the most well known of India’s

military leaders. Though he was neither the first nor the most successful
chief, he was definitely the most talked about and admired. The first Indian
to command a brigade in battle during World War II, Timmy—as he was
popularly called—had become a legend in his lifetime. After his assignment
in Korea, he became known not only in India but all over the world. He is
the only Indian Army Chief who had his biography written by a foreign
journalist. Stories of his ready wit, fun-loving ways, quick temper and

fearless nature began making the rounds soon after he donned the uniform,
giving rise to the Thimayya legend. A charismatic leader, he was very
popular with both officers and men, who called him ‘General Timmy’ or
sometimes just ‘Timmy Sahib’.
Timmy was born on 31 March 1906 in Mercara in Coorg, to a family of
coffee planters. Like Cariappa, he belonged to the Kodandera clan. His

father was Thimayya, and when he was born he was christened Subayya.
According to custom, his full name should have been written as Kodandera
Thimayya Subayya but this was changed when he joined school. His
mother Sitamma was the daughter of Cheppudira Somayya, a leading coffee
planter of the district. Sitamma was an educated and accomplished lady,
who was also a social worker. In recognition of her public service, the
British government had awarded her the Kaiser-e-Hind medal. The couple

had three sons and three daughters. The eldest son was Ponappa, followed
by Subayya (Timmy), and then Somayya. All three became officers in the
Indian Army. The family lived in a large house called ‘Sunnyside’, which
belonged to Timmy’s maternal grandfather, Cheppudira Somayya.
Timmy was 6 and Ponappa 8 when they were sent to St Joseph’s College,

a school run by Irish brothers in Coonoor. They were the first Indians to be
admitted to the school, which until then had only taken in British or Anglo–
Indian students. It is perhaps for this reason that instead of Subayya, his