Syed Mahdi Hasnain
Major General Syed Mahdi Hasnain, PVSM was the raising commanding officer of the 4th Battalion the Garhwal Rifles of the Indian Army.[1] He was commissioned in the British Indian Army in the 1st Royal Garhwal Rifles in 1943.
Syed Mahdi Hasnain | |
---|---|
Personal details | |
Relations | Lt. Gen. Syed Ata Hasnain (Son) |
Alma mater | University of Lucknow (MA, LLB) Indian Military Academy, Dehradun Royal College of Defence Studies, London |
Awards | Param Vishisht Seva Medal |
Military service | |
Allegiance | British India India |
Branch/service | British Indian Army Indian Army |
Rank | Major-General |
Commands | 20 Mountain Division 19 Infantry Division |
Early life and education
He obtained his Master of Arts (MA) and LLB from the University of Lucknow.[2] He chose to remain in the Indian Army instead of joining the Pakistan Army citing his Indian culture and heritage after the partition of British India in 1947.
Military career
He attended the British Imperial Defense College, London in 1965 on being nominated to the institution by the Indian Army. He has commanded the Indian Army's 20 Mountain Division and also the 19 Infantry Division.
Children
His son Syed Ata Hasnain was also a general officer in the Indian Army. His other son, Raza, was an officer of the Indian Administrative Service, who retired early, and is working in the corporate sector.
Dates of rank
Insignia | Rank | Component | Date of rank |
---|---|---|---|
Viceroy's Commissioned Officer | British Indian Army | 26 February 1941[3] | |
Second Lieutenant | British Indian Army | 28 February 1943 (emergency)[3] | |
Lieutenant | British Indian Army | 28 August 1943 (war-substantive)[3] 28 February 1944 (substantive) | |
Lieutenant | Indian Army | 15 August 1947[note 1][4] | |
Captain | Indian Army | 28 February 1949 (substantive)[note 1][5] | |
Captain | Indian Army | 26 January 1950 (recommissioning and change in insignia)[4][6] | |
Major | Indian Army | 28 February 1956[7] | |
Lieutenant-Colonel | Indian Army | ||
Colonel | Indian Army | 22 December 1965[8] | |
Brigadier | Indian Army | 5 October 1967 (substantive)[9] | |
Major General | Indian Army | 3 June 1969 (acting)[10] 2 February 1970 (substantive)[11] | |
Notes
- Upon independence in 1947, India became a Dominion within the British Commonwealth of Nations. As a result, the rank insignia of the British Army, incorporating the Tudor Crown and four-pointed Bath Star ("pip"), was retained, as George VI remained Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Armed Forces. After 26 January 1950, when India became a republic, the President of India became Commander-in-Chief, and the Ashoka Lion replaced the crown, with a five-pointed star being substituted for the "pip."
References
- http://purpleberet.com/details/onceupon_detail.aspx?id=13
- http://purpleberet.com/details/onceupon_detail.aspx?id=13
- Indian Army List (Special Edition) 1947. Government of India Press. 1947. p. 754.
- "New Designs of Crests and Badges in the Services" (PDF). Press Information Bureau of India - Archive. Archived (PDF) from the original on 8 August 2017.
- "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)". The Gazette of India. 2 July 1949. p. 917.
- "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)". The Gazette of India. 11 February 1950. p. 227.
- "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)". The Gazette of India. 23 June 1956. p. 127.
- "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)". The Gazette of India. 22 July 1967. p. 558.
- "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)". The Gazette of India. 10 February 1968. p. 98.
- "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)". The Gazette of India. 2 August 1969. p. 739.
- "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)". The Gazette of India. 18 April 1970. p. 509.