Nathu and Lt. Gen. Cariappa....

 

After getting freedom in 1947, a meeting was organized to select the first General of Indian Army. Pt. Jawahar Lal Nehru was heading that meeting. Leaders and Army officers were discussing to whom this responsibility should be given.   In between the discussion Nehru said, "I think we should appoint a British officer as a General of Indian Army as we don't have enough experience to lead the same.   "Everybody supported Nehru because if the PM was suggesting something, how can they not agree?   But one of the army officers abruptly said, "I have a point, sir."   Nehru said, "Yes, gentleman. You are free to speak."   He said, "You see, sir, we don't have enough experience to lead a nation too, soshouldn't we appoint a British person as first PM of India?"   The meeting hall  suddenly  went  quiet.   Then, Nehru said, "Are you ready to be the first General of Indian Army ?"   He got a golden chance to accept  the  offer  but he refused  the same  and said, "Sir, we have a very talented army officer, my senior, Lt. Gen. Cariappa, who is the most deserving among us."   The army officer who raised his voice against the PM was Lt. General Nathu Singh Rathore, the 1st  Lt. General of the Indian Army.   That  is the professionalism  and  character  the  the Indian military is made of .................