Krishnaswamy Sundarji
General Krishnaswamy "Sundarji" Sundararajan, PVSM (28 April 1928 – 8 February 1999) was the Chief of the Army Staff of the Indian Army from 1986 to 1988. He was the last former British Indian Army officer to command the Indian Army.
Krishnaswamy Sundarji PVSM | |
|---|---|
| 13th Chief of the Army Staff | |
| In office 1 February 1986 - 31 May 1988 | |
| Preceded by | Arun Shridhar Vaidya |
| Succeeded by | Vishwa Nath Sharma |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Krishnaswamy Sundar 28 April 1928 Chengelpet, Madras Presidency, British India (Present-day Chengalpattu, Chengalpattu district, Tamil Nadu, India) |
| Died | 8 February 1999 (aged 70) |
| Spouse(s) | Padma Sundarji (Died) Vani Sundarji |
| Children | Vikram Sundarji (son) |
| Awards | Param Vishisht Seva Medal Mentioned in dispatches |
| Nickname(s) | KS Sundra, Sundarji |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | British India India |
| Branch/service | British Indian Army Indian Army |
| Years of service | 1945–1988 |
| Rank | General |
| Unit | Mahar Regiment |
| Commands | Western Army XXXIII Corps 1st Armoured Division |
| Battles/wars | Second World War Indo-Pakistani War of 1947 Congo Crisis Indo-Pakistani War of 1965 Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 Operation Brasstacks Indian intervention in the Sri Lankan Civil War 1987 Sino-Indian skirmish |
During his army career, he had commanded the Operation Blue Star under orders from Indira Gandhi to clear the Golden Temple shrine. Widely respected as a scholar warrior, he was regarded as one of the most promising generals of Independent India. He introduced a number of technology initiatives to the Indian Army. He was also questioned for his role in recommending the Bofors howitzer in the Bofors scandal. As the Chief of the Army Staff, he planned and executed Operation Brasstacks, a major military exercise, along the Rajasthan border.