K. C. Cariappa


K. C. Cariappa

Cariappa as Air Marshal in 1994
Nickname(s)Nanda
Born (1938-01-14) 14 January 1938 (age 86)
Coorg, Coorg Province, British India
AllegianceIndia
Service / branchIndian Air Force
Years of serviceMay 1956 - January 1996
RankAir Marshal
Commands
Battles / warsIndo-Pakistani War of 1965
Awards
RelationsK. M. Cariappa (father)

Air Marshal Kodandera Cariappa 'Nanda' Cariappa is a former Air Officer in the Indian Air Force. He served as the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief (AOC-in-C), South Western Air Command. He is the son of Field Marshal K. M. Cariappa, who was the first commander-in-chief of the Indian Army post-independence.

Military career

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Air Marshal Cariappa graduated from the National Defence Academy, Pune was commissioned as a fighter pilot in the Indian Air Force on 29 May 1957. As a young pilot, he qualified as a flying instructor.[1] He did 1000 hours of operational flying before undergoing the Flying Instructors' course in 1963. He stood first in merit in flying at Flying Instructors' School. At the flying training school where he was posted during 1963-65, he flew over 1000 hours and proved himself as an outstanding instructor.[2] He was a squadron leader with No. 20 Squadron during the Indo-Pakistan War of 1965.[3] He was shot down while carrying out air attacks during the war and was taken prisoner. President Ayub Khan, a former colleague of General Cariappa before the 1947 Partition, offered to release his son.[4][5] But the general's terse reply was "The POWs are all my sons, look after them well."[6]

After repatriation K C Cariappa went on to helicopters for a short while, commanding No.111 Helicopter Unit at Hasimara during the 1971 War. He would later command No.8 Squadron in the mid 1970s at Pune.[3] He was Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the South Western Air Command from June 1994 to January 1996. He wrote a biography on his father, Field Marshal K. M. Cariappa in 2007.[6][7][8] He presently lives in his deceased father's house Roshanara in Madikeri.[9] He takes an active part in forest and wildlife conservation measures.[10][11]

Bibliography

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  • Field Marshal KM Cariappa, a biography[7]

References

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  1. ^ chengappa, sachitha (30 October 2018). "Air Marshal Kodandera Nanda Cariappa". Kodagu Heritage. Retrieved 24 September 2024.
  2. ^ "Service Record for Air Marshal Kodendera Cariappa Cariappa 5376 GD(P) at Bharat Rakshak.com". Bharat Rakshak. Retrieved 24 September 2024.
  3. ^ a b "My Reminiscences As A Prisoner Of War". Bharat Rakshak. Indian Army. Archived from the original on 23 February 2014. Retrieved 29 August 2014.
  4. ^ Dixit, J. N. (2 September 2003). India-Pakistan in War and Peace. Routledge. ISBN 9781134407583. Retrieved 29 August 2014.
  5. ^ Dutt, Sanjay (1 January 2000). War and Peace in Kargil Sector. APH Publishing. p. 199. ISBN 9788176481519. Retrieved 29 August 2014.
  6. ^ a b Mehta, Prof. K. C. (14 June 2012). "Trust our Generals, they are patriots". The Hindu. The Hindu. Retrieved 29 August 2014.
  7. ^ a b Cariappa, K. C. (2007). Field Marshal K M Cariappa. Niyogi Books. ISBN 978-8189738266.
  8. ^ Cariappa, K C (2007). Field Marshal K M Cariappa. New Delhi: Niyogi books. ISBN 9788189738266. Retrieved 29 August 2014.
  9. ^ Rajendra, G. "Preserving a home full of memories". Times of India. TNN. Retrieved 29 August 2014.
  10. ^ Tony. "CEC ASKS SUPREME COURT FOR STERN ACTION AGAINST BOPAIAH, APPACHU, MEDAPPA & OTHERS". Coorg.com. Retrieved 29 August 2014.
  11. ^ "Forest Dept to Lokayukta: We have "lost" Sudarshan's Rap Sheet". Coorg.com. Coorg.com. Retrieved 29 August 2014.