Post Independence, Army wanted to select the most experienced Indian commander as Army chief. But Nehru without consulting anyone appointed Gen Rob Lockhart, a senior British Army officer as the Commander-in-Chief (C-in-C) of the Indian Army.
The next day emergency meeting was called to select the new Army Chief. Prime Minister Nehru chaired the meeting which was attended by the then Defence Minister Baldev Singh (YES MAN of Nehru),+
In the meeting Nehru started, “We should appoint a new Army Chief, as Gen Lockhart had resigned from the post. I consider that+
Everybody in the meeting was silent. The army officers felt very humiliated and insulted by Nehru’s words. Def. Minister Baldev Singh immediately+
But there was one man who stood and said “Sir, I have a point….You see sir, we don’t have a man with enough experience to lead a nation too, so shouldn’t we appoint someone from Britain as the first PM+
Annoyed Nehru interrupted and said “Are you saying that you are ready to be the first C-in-C of the Indian Army?”
The entire room stood and applauded the suggestion made by Lt Gen Nathu Singh Rathore. Gen Cariappa was made the first Indian C-in-C of the Indian Army in 1949.
