Page 229 - Leadership in the Indian Army

armed forces. He was presented with the award at a formal investiture
ceremony held in the Durbar Hall of Rashtrapati Bhawan on 21 April 1966.
After the ceremony, President Dr S. Radhakrishnan met the awardees

informally at tea. When he was introduced to Raj’s mother, who was
present, he said: ‘You must be very proud of your son today.’ The dignified
lady drew herself up to her full height and told Dr Radhakrishnan with
obvious pride: ‘I have four more, just like him.’
In July 1966, after having held the appointment of SO-in-C for over five
years, Raj was appointed Director General of Civil Defence on deputation
to the Ministry of Home Affairs. He handed over to Major General I.D.

Verma, who had been his deputy and was familiar with the various ongoing
projects that Raj had initiated. Soon after assuming this new office, he was
promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General. As Director General Civil
Defence, Raj was responsible for the recruitment, training and employment
of the home guards, who functioned as a second line of defence, and were
designed to relieve the army and assist the police in carrying out routine

tasks, especially during war, natural calamities and civil unrest. He served
in this appointment for about four years, making several organisational
changes to enhance the effectiveness of the force.
Raj was to retire on 30 September 1970, but he took premature retirement
on 28 February 1970 to become the General Manager of Somaiya Organics
Limited, a chemical manufacturing concern which was setting up with
French collaboration a modern plant at Barabanki, near Lucknow. It was to

produce alcohol-based products for the industry, including pharmaceuticals.
Raj had virtually no experience in the field, but had spent several decades
successfully getting things done. The fact that he remained with the
company for almost 25 years, at first as its General Manager and later its
Director, bears testimony to the success he achieved. According to Mr G.H.
Keswani, who was also a Company Director, Raj ‘lent his deft and adept

hand in the establishment and subsequent expansion of the plant. He
himself brought colour, vivacity, intelligence and understanding to his
work, particularly in his dealing with other people.’
After spending about five years as General Manager of Somaiya
Organics, Raj decided settle down in Delhi. He had built a house in Defence
Colony, where most of his brothers, as well as a large number of his friends,
were living. To keep himself occupied, he joined Danfoss (India) Limited as

General Manager (Administration) though he continued to be a director in