New Delhi: General Bikram Singh on Thursday took over from General V K Singh as the 25th Chief of the Army Staff at a formal handing over ceremony here.
An astute military tactician and a master strategist during the Kargil war, Gen Singh was commissioned on March 31, 1972 into Sikh Light Infantry Regiment. His four-decades career in the Army has been a saga of striving for excellence.
Popularly known as Bikki among his friends, the General’s tenure in South Block as director in Military Operations Directorate, coincided with the Kargil war and he was chosen to brief the nation through the media on the daily progress of the conflict.
In addition to important staff roles, Gen Singh went on to command several field formations having assignments with the United Nations in Central America. He was the Deputy Force Commander in war ravaged African Nation of Congo.
As a young gentleman cadet in IMA, he was awarded the Jammu and Kashmir Rifles gold Medal for “Tactics and leadership” and the Shri Ganesh Trophy.
As an instructor at Commando Wing of the Infantry School, Gen Singh found his life partner Surjeet, popularly known as ‘Bubbles’ in Army circle. Ms Bubbles as the president of Army wives Welfare Association now will have an important role to play.
Meanwhile, hanging up his boots after a controversial tenure, outgoing Army Chief Gen VK Singh on Thursday said the internal health of the force has improved during his 26 months in office.
Interacting with reporters after his farewell guard of honour here, Singh, 62, said he was alarmed about an incident where a Major had complained about a fake encounter and there was no investigation by the 3 Corps headed by Lt Gen Dalbir Singh Suhag, who is in line to head the force in 2014.
“The internal health of the Army has improved and I am sure that this will continue in the future also. What I said before taking over, that has been implemented and as what I have said always is that the Army works on its ‘naam, namak and nishan’ (name, salt and symbol),” he said in reply to a question on the internal health of the 1.13-million strong force.
On whether he felt that there were far too many controversies during his tenure, Singh said, “There is no controversy. If we pay too much attention towards certain things, they become controversial.”
Asked about his major achievements in the 26-month at the helm, Singh said, “What we have been able to achieve is changing of mindsets in the Army. We have been able to take on the path of transformation which includes making the Army ready, relevant, agile and much more effective. Leaner in terms of how it takes its decisions (and that) is already in the pipeline.
“We have been able to ensure that the hollowness that was affecting the Army has been addressed in very cogent manner and we had support from Defence Minister (AK Antony), he said.
Asked about the allegations levelled by a Major about a fake encounter in northeast in a letter to him, Singh said, “See when something is written to me, I forward it to the headquarters concerned.
“They had asked headquarters 3 Corps to investigate. So far as I know, investigations have not been done.” (Agencies)