Lieutenant General PC Bhardwaj was commissioned into First Battalion the Parachute Regiment on 14 Jun 1970. A Special Operations specialist, he was the first person from the Indian Army to undergo the rigorous Commando Divers Course at Naval Diving School. He excelled on the course, qualifying as an instructor. He has also attended the prestigious Special Forces Officers Course at Fort Bragg, USA doing well again and earning an instructor rating.
As a 2Lt in the 1971 war, he was awarded the Vir Chakra for conspicuous bravery. He commanded his parent unit, 1 PARA (Cdo) in CI Ops in the East and was awarded the Shaurya Chakra for a daring rescue operation. He commanded a Mountain Brigade in Nagaland and also the elite Parachute Brigade. As a Major General he commanded Counter Insurgency Force Delta in Doda/Kishtwar and thereafter was appointed as the General Officer Commanding Delhi Area, where he was awarded the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal for distinguished service. The General Officer commanded 14 Corps, responsible for the vast areas of Ladakh and the Siachin Glacier before assuming command of Northern Command on 01 March 2008. For his distinguished service rendered, he was awarded the Param Vishisht Seva Medal on 26 Jan 2009, making him the most decorated soldier in the Indian Army.
Lt Gen Bhardwaj has served as an Instructor at Infantry School Mhow and at the Counter Insurgency and Jungle Warfare School. He has been a Brigade Major of an Infantry Brigade and Deputy Director General at the Directorate General of Military Operations, Army Headquarters. He was also served as Defence Attache at the Embassy of India in Myanmar from 1994 to 1997.
The challenges our army faces today from within & without are diverse and constantly increasing. We need an army which is well trained, well-equiped and well-motivated to meet the challenges thrown by the ever-changing scenario around us. In such circumstances what better leader for our army than a para commando? A para commando is perhaps the embodiment of all the finest there is in a soldier and therefore the best mentor for all other soldiers. I look forward to Lt Gen Bhardwaj'S appointment to the top post as well rather than another arty guy or tank man. In fact, let's have a round of commandoes as Army Chief's now. Any one remember the exploits of another commando who was the army chief next door?
other than the (NSP) little red string on wrist we should be happy.
what if everyone wants to wear color thread or ribbon on limbs whilst on parade ?
There have been other officers before him who has done the commando divers course. LT Gen NSI Narahari (Retd)is one of them. He was also a para sapper officer. So shiv please take with a pinch of salt what the PR boys put out to please their bosses. I am sure there have been several like that even before Gen NSI.
Dear friend,
Battles at National level are not fought by Commandos alone. So let us not start the Arty?Tank?foot soldier arguments. We have also forgotten somewhere along the line some of the techies in between like the cyber guys and the combat engineer. Everybody has his place and role. So let the system choose the best available person.If he is found wanting well it is the Nation's loss. We don't deserve any better. Because we hav'nt ensured that quality human resource enters the Armed Forces.
There are very few large scale commando operations which had succeeded. These had resulted in needless sacrifice of very special elite human resource.Military history is a great teacher.They have their uses. There are very many officers who have excelled in various commando courses held in many foreign countries and rose to the highest levels in our military. Gen PCB is a great soldier and leader of men' Otherwise he would not have been there where he is. BUT HE IS NOT THE ONLY ONE IN INDIA'S MILITARY.
i wish to say convey a simple thought after reading all the comments…that we(indians) do not know how to commend or appreciate anyone but only themselves.. of course there were countless army officers besides pc bharadwaj sir, but the reason that they succeeded in their missions was because pc bharadwaj was a good leader and an outstanding soldier..just because one is well trained and courageous, it does not guarantee victory.A good officer should inspire the men under him in order for them to excel..and i believe pc bharadwaj was an exceptionally great officer and that was the reason he was decorated such admirably..please..please..respect our men in uniform..jai hind
pls look up for Col N J Nair.