Tapishwar Narain Raina
Encyclopedia
Tapishwar Narain Raina (Punjabi
: ਤਾਪਿਸ਼੍ਵਰ ਨਾਰਾਇਣ ਰੈਨਾ; 1921 Ludhiana - May 19, 1980 Ottawa
) was the Chief of the Army Staff of the Indian Army
during 1975-78. Later he served as High Commissioner
to Canada
.
Early life and Education
General T.N. Raina was born into a family of Kashmiri Pandits. Pandit Bhawani Prasad Razdan/ Bhoon Razdan (early 19th century) was an accomplished scholar of Persian language/culture. Narain Dass Raina/ Nao Naran, pioneered the construction of the first Kashmiri Houseboats. Earlier on, Pt. Bhawani Prasad's younger brother had moved out to settle down in Lahore, and generations later this branch of the family produced Diwan Anand Kumar (Vice Chancellor of Undivided Punjab University), H.H Saint Scholar Swami Lakshman joo
and also Tapishwar Narain Raina, Chief of Indian Army staff and High Commissioner to Canada.
General Raina took his early education in the city of Ludhiana because his father Pandit B.N.Raina was posted here as Head Postmaster located next to Bhadaur House. He was married to Marie Antoinette Raina, who was a Frenchwoman.
Career
General T.N. Raina belonged to the Kumaon Regiment
and was a veteran of the Second World War, as well as the 1962 and 1971 Wars.
During the second world war, 2nd Lieutenant T. N. Raina was injured a grenade accident which resulted in the loss of an eye. He had a glass eye in place for the rest of his career in the army.
He was the Brigade Commander at Chushul in Ladakh
during November 1962. He was awarded the Maha Vir Chakra
for his handling of the Battle of Chushul
.
Later, Raina became the Brigadier General Staff (BGS) of the XXXIII Corps in West Bengal
.
In 1971, Raina was a Lieutenant General, and was the General Officer Commanding of II Corps in the Khulna sector. Raina was awarded the Padma Bhushan
for his contributions to the War.
He served as the Chief of Army Staff of the Indian Army from 1 June 1975 to 31 May 1978.
During his tenure as the COAS, the central government led by Indira Gandhi
declared a state of national emergency in India
. Before the imposition of the emergency, it is believed that the Prime Minister asked for the Army's support in the venture, but General Raina bluntly told the Prime Minister that the army would not be used to 'further her ends' but obey only those orders of a 'legally construed government.' . This was considered a crucial moment that kept the Indian Army out of politics at a critical juncture.
General Raina died in 1980, while serving as India's High Commissioner to Canada.
Punjabi language
Punjabi is an Indo-Aryan language spoken by inhabitants of the historical Punjab region . For Sikhs, the Punjabi language stands as the official language in which all ceremonies take place. In Pakistan, Punjabi is the most widely spoken language...
: ਤਾਪਿਸ਼੍ਵਰ ਨਾਰਾਇਣ ਰੈਨਾ; 1921 Ludhiana - May 19, 1980 Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
) was the Chief of the Army Staff of the Indian Army
Indian Army
The Indian Army is the land based branch and the largest component of the Indian Armed Forces. With about 1,100,000 soldiers in active service and about 1,150,000 reserve troops, the Indian Army is the world's largest standing volunteer army...
during 1975-78. Later he served as High Commissioner
High Commissioner
High Commissioner is the title of various high-ranking, special executive positions held by a commission of appointment.The English term is also used to render various equivalent titles in other languages.-Bilateral diplomacy:...
to Canada
Foreign relations of Canada
The foreign relations of Canada are Canada's relations with other governments and peoples. Canada's most important relationship, being the largest trading relationship in the world, is with the United States...
.
Early life and Education
General T.N. Raina was born into a family of Kashmiri Pandits. Pandit Bhawani Prasad Razdan/ Bhoon Razdan (early 19th century) was an accomplished scholar of Persian language/culture. Narain Dass Raina/ Nao Naran, pioneered the construction of the first Kashmiri Houseboats. Earlier on, Pt. Bhawani Prasad's younger brother had moved out to settle down in Lahore, and generations later this branch of the family produced Diwan Anand Kumar (Vice Chancellor of Undivided Punjab University), H.H Saint Scholar Swami Lakshman joo
Swami Lakshman Joo
Swami Lakshman Joo Raina was a famed mystic and scholar of Kashmir Shaivism. He was known as Lal Sahib by followers and considered by them to be a fully realized saint.- Family :...
and also Tapishwar Narain Raina, Chief of Indian Army staff and High Commissioner to Canada.
General Raina took his early education in the city of Ludhiana because his father Pandit B.N.Raina was posted here as Head Postmaster located next to Bhadaur House. He was married to Marie Antoinette Raina, who was a Frenchwoman.
Career
General T.N. Raina belonged to the Kumaon Regiment
Kumaon Regiment
The Kumaon Regiment is one of the most decorated regiments of the Indian Army. The regiment traces its origins to the 18th century and has fought in every major campaign of the British Indian Army and the Indian Army, including the two world wars...
and was a veteran of the Second World War, as well as the 1962 and 1971 Wars.
During the second world war, 2nd Lieutenant T. N. Raina was injured a grenade accident which resulted in the loss of an eye. He had a glass eye in place for the rest of his career in the army.
He was the Brigade Commander at Chushul in Ladakh
Ladakh
Ladakh is a region of Jammu and Kashmir, the northernmost state of the Republic of India. It lies between the Kunlun mountain range in the north and the main Great Himalayas to the south, inhabited by people of Indo-Aryan and Tibetan descent...
during November 1962. He was awarded the Maha Vir Chakra
Maha Vir Chakra
The Maha Vir Chakra is the second highest military decoration in India and is awarded for acts of conspicuous gallantry in the presence of the enemy, whether on land, at sea or in the air. It may be awarded posthumously. Literally Maha Veer means extraordinarily brave.-Appearance:The medal is made...
for his handling of the Battle of Chushul
Chushul
Chushul is a valley in Ladakh, in the state of Jammu and Kashmir in India. It was an airstrip used in the Sino-Indian War. It is close to Rezang La and Panggong Lake at a height of 4360 metres....
.
Later, Raina became the Brigadier General Staff (BGS) of the XXXIII Corps in West Bengal
West Bengal
West Bengal is a state in the eastern region of India and is the nation's fourth-most populous. It is also the seventh-most populous sub-national entity in the world, with over 91 million inhabitants. A major agricultural producer, West Bengal is the sixth-largest contributor to India's GDP...
.
In 1971, Raina was a Lieutenant General, and was the General Officer Commanding of II Corps in the Khulna sector. Raina was awarded the Padma Bhushan
Padma Bhushan
The Padma Bhushan is the third highest civilian award in the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna and the Padma Vibhushan, but comes before the Padma Shri. It is awarded by the Government of India.-History:...
for his contributions to the War.
He served as the Chief of Army Staff of the Indian Army from 1 June 1975 to 31 May 1978.
During his tenure as the COAS, the central government led by Indira Gandhi
Indira Gandhi
Indira Priyadarshini Gandhara was an Indian politician who served as the third Prime Minister of India for three consecutive terms and a fourth term . She was assassinated by Sikh extremists...
declared a state of national emergency in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. Before the imposition of the emergency, it is believed that the Prime Minister asked for the Army's support in the venture, but General Raina bluntly told the Prime Minister that the army would not be used to 'further her ends' but obey only those orders of a 'legally construed government.' . This was considered a crucial moment that kept the Indian Army out of politics at a critical juncture.
General Raina died in 1980, while serving as India's High Commissioner to Canada.