India’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Bipin Rawat, his wife Madhulika Rawat, and 11 others died in a military chopper crash near Coonoor in Tamil Nadu on Wednesday. It is indeed a sad news for all us. We all are shaken. It is unbelievable. It is so sad to lose an officer of such stature this way.  He was only 63.  

General Rawat, 63, took charge as India’s first Chief of Defence Staff on Jan.1, 2020. The position was created to integrate the three services — Army, Navy and Air Force.  Later, he was also appointed as the head of the newly-created Department of Military Affairs. He was a very jovial person and we have always seen him smiling on television. His untimely demise is a great loss for India.

The entire nation is in deep shock. This was unprecedented. Indian President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep grief over the demise of General Bipin Rawat, his wife and other military personnel.

Rashid Ahsan
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