Joginder Singh Bakshi

2021-02-14T23:06:48Z

2601:204:C900:E720:935:B6C4:5320:A6FA:

{{short description|Indian general}}
{{refimprove|date=July 2020}}

{{Infobox military person
| honorific_prefix= [[Lieutenant General (India)|Lieutenant General]]
| name=Joginder Singh Bakshi
| honorific_suffix= [[Maha Vir Chakra|MVC]], [[Vishisht Seva Medal|VSM]]
| image=
| caption=
| birth_place=[[Lahore]], [[British India|Undivided British India]]
| birth_date={{Birth date|df=yes|1928|03|10}}
| death_date={{Death date and age|df=yes|2014|08|19|1928|07|06}}
| death_place= [[New Delhi]], [[India]]
| nickname=
| allegiance={{flag|India}}
| branch={{army|India}}
| serviceyears= 1950-1986
| servicenumber=
| rank = [[File:Lieutenant General of the Indian Army.svg|20px]] [[Lieutenant General (India)|Lieutenant General]]
| unit=[[Jat Regiment]]
| commands = 340 (I) Infantry Brigade<br>[[Counter-Insurgency and Jungle Warfare School (India)|Counter-Insurgency and Jungle Warfare School]]<br>[[Jat Regiment|16 JAT]]
| battles=
[[Indo-Pakistani War of 1971]]<br>
[[Bangladesh Liberation War]]
| awards={{plainlist|
*[[File:Maha Vir Chakra ribbon.svg|35px]] [[Maha Vir Chakra]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://gallantryawards.gov.in/Awardee/joginder-singh-bakshi|title=BRIG JOGINDER SINGH BAKSHI MAHA VIR CHAKRA|publisher=Indian Army, Govt of India official website}}</ref>
*[[File:Vishisht Seva Medal ribbon.svg|35px]] [[Vishisht Seva Medal]]
}}
| spouse=
}}

[[Lieutenant General (India)|Lieutenant General]] '''Joginder Singh Bakshi''' [[Maha Vir Chakra|MVC]], [[Vishisht Seva Medal|VSM]] (10 March 1928 – 19 August 2014) was a [[General Officer]] in the [[Indian Army]]. He was decorated with the [[Maha Vir Chakra]] for his role in the [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1971]].

== Early life ==
Lieutenant General Joginder Singh Bakshi was born in [[Lahore]], [[British India|Undivided British India]], on 10 March 1928, in a military family. He was the fifth generation of his family to join the Army.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://oneindiaonepeople.com/lt-gen-joginder-singh-bakshi-mvc-vsm/|title=LT. GEN. JOGINDER SINGH BAKSHI MVC, VSM|publisher=One India One People}}</ref>

== Military career ==
Lieutenant General Joginder Singh Bakshi was commissioned into the Indian Army in the 5 JAT regiment, in June 1950.

His unit was deployed in Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram from 1963 to 1971 in [[Counter-insurgency]] operations, during which time he developed expertise in counter-insurgency and [[Jungle warfare]]. For outstanding work in Mizoram in counter-insurgency he was awarded the [[Vishisht Seva Medal]] in January 1971.

While posted in the Eastern Command, he was also tasked to train the [[Mukti Bahini]] in overt and covert operations in East Pakistan (now Bangladesh).

Thereafter, he raised and commanded the [[Counter-Insurgency and Jungle Warfare School (India)|Counter-Insurgency and Jungle Warfare School (CIJWS)]] at Vairingte, Mizoram. CIJWS is considered one of the premier counter-insurgency training institutions in the world and attracts trainees from friendly countries around the world.<ref>{{cite news |last= Kalbag|first= Chaitanya|date=9 September 2014|title=CIJWS attains tremendous importance in Indian Army's operations in North-east|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/special-report/story/19821115-cijws-attains-tremendous-importance-in-indian-armys-operations-in-north-east-772388-2013-08-27|newspaper=India Today}}</ref>

When the [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1971]] started, he held the rank of Brigadier and was commanding the 340 (I) Infantry Brigade in the Eastern sector.
His brigade launched a number of attacks on well defended Pakistani positions, resulting in the capture of the city of [[Bogra]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.indiandefencereview.com/spotlights/1971-making-bangladesh-a-reality-ii/2/|title=197: Making Bangladesh a Reality|publisher=Indian Defence Review}}</ref> His offensive tactics enabled the capture of a large number of Pakistani troops, arms and equipment, including the commander of the 205 Brigade of the Pakistan Army.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.indiandefencereview.com/news/1971-war-attack-by-infiltration-and-annihilation-of-32-baluch/|title=1971 War: Attack By Infiltration and Annihilation of 32 Baluch|publisher=Indian Defence Review}}</ref> For his leadership and aggressive battle planning resulting in large military gains, he was awarded the [[Maha Vir Chakra]].<br>
After the war, he was deputed to [[Iraq]], to help that country setup their War College.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://twdi.in/node/1314|title=Lt Gen Joginder Singh Bakshi, MVC|publisher=The War Decorated India & Trust}}</ref>

He commanded the 25th Div as a Major General/

Upon his promotion to Lt. General he set up the 3rd Corp in the Eastern sector.

== Post-retirement ==
Upon retirement on 31 March 1986, he chose to live in [[New Delhi]], dedicating his life to help aspiring officers for staff college examinations without charging any fees. He passed away on 19th July 2014.

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bakshi, Joginder Singh}}
[[Category:Indian generals]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Maha Vir Chakra]]
[[Category:1928 births]]
[[Category:2014 deaths]]
[[Category:Indian Sikhs]]
[[Category:Indian military personnel of the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971]]

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Joginder Singh Bakshi