Field Marshal Kodandera Madappa Cariappa was a true hero in the history of the Indian Army. As the first Commander-in-Chief of India, he led with courage, discipline, and integrity, earning the respect of both his soldiers and even his enemies. Cariappa’s journey from a young officer to the first Indian Field Marshal is a story of dedication, honor, and love for his country. His leadership during crucial moments in India’s history and his personal values continue to inspire generations. This biography highlights his remarkable life, his role in shaping the Indian Army, and his lasting legacy as a symbol of strength and patriotism.
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Whenever the leadership of the Indian Army is discussed, Field Marshal Kodandera Madappa Cariappa is remembered with great respect.
He was the first Commander in Chief of the Indian Army and is often called a 'Keeper'. The story goes in time when he was posted in Fatehgarh, the wife of his British officer struggled to pronounce his name. As a result, they began calling him 'Keeper'.
In 1942, Cariappa became the first Indian officer to achieve the rank of lieutenant colonel. In 1944, he was promoted to brigadier and given command of the Bannu Frontier Brigade.
Major General VK Singh, who wrote Cariappa's biography, shares an interesting story. "One day, while passing through a village, Cariappa saw Pathan women carrying large pots of water on their heads."
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"Upon asking, he learned that they had to walk four miles every day to fetch water from another village. Field Marshal Cariappa immediately ordered a well to be dug in the village. The Pathans were so grateful that they began calling him 'Khalifa'."
Field Marshal Cariappa's Role in Integrating Leh into India
In November 1947, Field Marshal Cariappa was appointed as the Chief of Eastern Command and posted to Ranchi.
However, with the situation in Kashmir deteriorating just two months later, he was reassigned as the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (GOC-in-C) of Delhi and East Punjab, replacing Lieutenant General Dudley Russell. Cariappa renamed this command the Western Command.
He quickly appointed General Thimmaiah as the head of the Jammu and Kashmir Force, replacing General Kalwant Singh.
The road to Leh could not be opened until the Indian Army captured key locations such as Zoji-La, Dras, and Kargil.
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Defying orders, Cariappa took decisive action to ensure that Leh became part of India. Without his intervention, it is believed that Leh might not have been successfully integrated. The Indian Army first captured Naushera and Jhangar before pushing back the attackers from Zoji-La, Dras, and Kargil, securing the region for India.
Cariappa's Jeep Attacked by Tribals
After assuming the role of Commander, Field Marshal Cariappa visited Nowshera, where the 50 Parachute Brigade was in control at the time.
During his visit, Cariappa told Brigadier Usman that he would like a gift from him. When Usman asked what he desired, Cariappa requested the possession of a coat. Usman successfully carried out the task.
Later, when the tribes attacked Nowshera, the control of Indian soldiers over the coat played a crucial role in the defence of the region.
While traveling from his jeep to Srinagar, Brigadier Bogi Sen advised Cariappa to remove the flags and star plates from the jeep. The purpose was to prevent the enemy from identifying his vehicle and targeting it with sniper fire.
Major General VK Singh explains that Cariappa agreed to the advice, but he also stated that removing the flag would negatively impact the morale of his soldiers, who might believe their commander was showing fear.
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Bogi Sen's caution turned out to be accurate. Cariappa's jeep was fired upon, but fortunately, no one was injured. On the return journey, the jeep came under fire again, causing a puncture to one of the tires. Despite this, Cariappa was unharmed.
Cariappa Awarded Mahavir Chakra to Meher Singh
During a visit to Tithwal, Field Marshal Cariappa, disregarding his own safety, climbed a hill where tribesmen were observing from a distance.
Soon after his departure, a cannonball landed at the spot where they had been standing.
Later, Cariappa humorously remarked, "Enemy shells also respect the general."
During this campaign, Air Commodore Meher Singh successfully landed a Dakota aircraft carrying arms at night. Later, he also managed to land in Leh, where General Thimmaiah was stationed.
Cariappa not only recommended that Meher Singh be awarded the Mahavir Chakra but also ensured he received the honor.
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Interestingly, the Air Force was initially reluctant to award the Mahavir Chakra to one of its own officers, and after this, Meher Singh was not given any promotions.
Cariappa's Story of Becoming First Indian Commander-in-Chief
In 1946, Baldev Singh, the Minister of Defense in the Interim Government, offered Brigadier Nathu Singh the position of the first Commander-in-Chief of India.
However, Major General Bhuvan Chandra Khanduri, who wrote a biography of Field Marshal Cariappa in his book Field Marshal KM Cariappa: His Life and Times, states, "Nathu Singh did not accept the offer politely, as he believed that Cariappa'', being senior, had a stronger claim to the post."
After Nathu Singh, the position was also offered to Rajendra Singhji, but he too declined out of respect for Cariappa. Finally, on December 4, 1948, Cariappa was appointed as the first Indian Commander-in-Chief of the Army.
At the time, Cariappa was 49 years old, and for the first time in 200 years of British rule, an Indian was entrusted with the leadership of the Indian Army.
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On January 15, 1949, Cariappa formally assumed the position. Since then, this day has been celebrated as Army Day.
The Soldier of Discipline
One of Field Marshal Cariappa’s greatest contributions was his ability to keep the Indian Army away from politics.
This is likely why he refused to integrate Indian Army troops with the Indian National Army (INA). He believed that doing so would drag the Indian Army into politics, which could harm its integrity.
Cariappa valued discipline above all else. His strict adherence to rules meant that even his closest friends hesitated to take liberties around him.
In his book Leadership in the Indian Army, Major General VK Singh recalls a story from Srinagar. "Once, General Thimmaiah, who had worked alongside Cariappa during World War II and in Kashmir, was traveling with him in the same car. Thimmaiah lit a cigarette, but Cariappa immediately forbade him from smoking in a military vehicle."
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"A short time later, General Thimmaiah, a habitual smoker, took out another cigarette but quickly put it back in the pack, remembering Cariappa's rule. Cariappa noticed this and ordered the driver to stop the car so Thimmaiah could smoke."
Ruckus Over Private Use of a Government Car
Air Marshal Nandu Cariappa, the son of Field Marshal Cariappa, shares an incident in his father’s biography. "When I was studying at Naveen Bharat High School in Delhi, one day the army truck couldn’t come to pick us up. My father’s ADC suggested sending a staff car to bring me home. I was thrilled."
"A few days later, while having breakfast, my father mentioned the incident. Upon hearing it, he became enraged. He immediately reprimanded his ADC, saying that no government vehicle should ever be used for personal purposes. He instructed that a bill be made for the car’s use and that it be deducted from the ADC's salary."
Ayub Khan Rejected the Offer
During the 1965 war with Pakistan, Nandu Cariappa, a fighter pilot in the Indian Air Force, had his plane shot down and was taken prisoner of war by Pakistan.
Nandu Cariappa later recalled, "There was a strong bond of friendship between my father and the President of Pakistan, General Ayub Khan, as Ayub had worked under him in the 1940s. When I was captured, Radio Pakistan even announced that I was safe and well."
"Within an hour, the Pakistan High Commissioner in Delhi called my father, relaying a message from Ayub Khan. He said that if my father wished, he could send me back to India immediately. My father’s response was firm: 'All Indian prisoners of war are my sons. You leave my son with them.'"
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"Even while I was in Rawalpindi's jail, Begum Ayub came to meet me, bringing with her a cart of state-issued cigarettes and a PG Wodehouse novel."
Pakistani Soldiers Put Down Their Weapons and Saluted Field Marshal Cariappa
After the India-Pakistan war, Field Marshal Cariappa visited the Indo-Pakistan border to boost the morale of Indian soldiers.
During his visit, he crossed the border and entered "No Man’s Land."
Nandu Cariappa writes in his father’s biography, “Upon seeing him, the Pakistani commander ordered his troops to stop Cariappa, threatening to shoot him. However, someone from the Indian side shouted that this was General Cariappa. Hearing this, the Pakistani soldiers lowered their weapons.”
The Pakistani officer then approached Cariappa and saluted him. Cariappa, in his characteristic demeanor, inquired about the officer's well-being and even asked if he was receiving letters from home.
Difficulty in Speaking Hindi
Field Marshal Cariappa, although highly disciplined and respected, had a bit of difficulty speaking Hindi fluently. This led to him being affectionately called "brown Saab." He usually thought in English, which occasionally affected his speeches.
Shortly after independence, Cariappa was to address the troops near the border. He wanted to tell them that the country was now free. However, he mistakenly said, "Iss waqt aap muft, mulk muft hai, sab kuch muft hai," meaning, "You are free, free at this moment, everything is free."
Cariappa was also a strong advocate for family planning. While addressing the wives of soldiers at the Family Welfare Center in Amritsar, he said, "Mothers and sisters, we want you to have two children—one for yourself, and one for me."
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It was clear he was encouraging them to have two sons—one to stay with the family, and the other to serve in the Indian Army.
Suit Buff
Field Marshal Cariappa was known for his impeccable dress sense. He always appeared in a black suit or bandhgala at dinner, regardless of whether he was dining alone or with guests.
His daughter, Nalini, recalls, “Once, he invited an American diplomat to dinner. The guest was unaware of the dress code and arrived wearing a plain shirt. My father used the excuse of the cold weather in Madikeri to make him wear a coat. He insisted on this, and only then was the guest allowed to sit at the dinner table.”
She adds, “Once, my fiancée came to a family luncheon wearing just a coat without a tie. My father made it clear that as his future son-in-law and an army officer, he would have to follow the proper dress code at the dining table.”
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Field Marshal Cariappa was so particular about his appearance that even when arriving in a city by car, he would stop to comb his hair and wipe the dust off his car before entering.
The Craze of Field Marshal Cariappa
Cariappa was known for his unique habits and high standards. He had a number of eccentricities, especially concerning his appearance and manners.
For example, he could not tolerate anyone turning up their shirt sleeves. Nandu Cariappa recalls, "I don't remember ever seeing my father in a half-sleeve shirt or without a proper uniform." He humorously called his army jacket his “maternity jacket,” highlighting his attachment to his appearance. He always tied a scarf around his neck while playing sports, and guests who visited the Cariappa home were expected to wear a suit.
Cariappa had very specific ideas about dress code. If someone opened the buttons of their coat, he found it unacceptable.
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Interestingly, he had a particular dislike for the harmonium. Whenever there was music at army ceremonies, he insisted that the harmonium not be played. On the other hand, he had a deep appreciation for technology, especially the transistor radio, which he considered the world’s greatest invention. He always carried one with him and had little interest in watching television.
Cariappa Became Field Marshal at the Age of 87
On January 15, 1986, Field Marshal Cariappa travelled to Delhi for the Army Day parade.
After the parade, the then Chief of Army Staff, General K. Sundarji, announced that the government had decided to honour General Cariappa by making him a Field Marshal.
His son, Air Marshal Nandu Cariappa, recalls, "On the day of the ceremony, my father was experiencing a lot of pain in the little toe of his right foot. At home, he would wear shoes on his left foot and slippers on his right foot to ease the pain."
"We all advised him not to wear shoes for the function at Rashtrapati Bhavan, but he didn’t listen to us. As usual, he wore his pointed shoes. Despite his discomfort, when it was time to receive his Field Marshal's baton from the President, he didn’t even use a walking stick."
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“The President’s ADC offered to support him, but he refused,” Nandu continues. “At that time, he was 87 years old. The whole ceremony lasted about 10 minutes, but during that time, despite the severe pain in his leg, Cariappa stood still and composed."
This moment exemplified Cariappa’s incredible resilience and sense of duty, even at the age of 87.
