Chennai: Former Indian Army Chief of Staff Sundararajan Padmanabhan passed away in Chennai on Monday, August 19, 2024. He retired in 2002 after serving more than 43 years in the army. He died in Chennai due to ill health. The Indian Army has paid tribute to his demise and has condoled his death.
We are deeply saddened by the passing away of General Sundararajan Padmanabhan. #GeneralUpendraDwivedi #COAS and all ranks of the #IndianArmy, extend heartfelt condolences to his family and loved ones.
A visionary leader and accomplished soldier, General Padmanabhan served as… pic.twitter.com/wje63AKoSn
— ADG PI – INDIAN ARMY (@adgpi) August 19, 2024
Born in Thiruvananthapuram in 1940, he joined the Indian Army in 1959. Originally in the Artillery, he rose to higher ranks due to his skills. Especially from 1993 to 1995, he held the position of General Officer of XV Corps in Kashmir Valley. During this period, he had largely brought the rioters in Kashmir under control. This is something no one has done before.
Sundararajan was awarded the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM) in recognition of his military strategy. After this, he held various positions and in the year 2000, he rose to the rank of the Chief of the Indian Army. After holding this position for two years, he retired in 2002 and settled in Chennai. He has written two books about the army and the various challenges he faced during his 43-year army career.
