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{{Short description|Highest Military rank of Indian Army}} | |||
{{good article}} | {{good article}} | ||
{{Use dmy dates|date=June | {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2022}} | ||
{{Use Indian English|date=June | {{Use Indian English|date=June 2022}} | ||
{{Infobox military rank | {{Infobox military rank | ||
| name = Field Marshal | | name = Field Marshal | ||
| native_name = | | native_name = | ||
| image = | | image = Flag of Field marshal (India).png | ||
| image_size = | | image_size = 100 | ||
| caption = | | caption = Flag of the Field Marshal | ||
| image2 = Field Marshal of the Indian Army.svg | | image2 = Field Marshal of the Indian Army.svg | ||
| image_size2 = | | image_size2 = 50 | ||
| caption2 = | | caption2 = Shoulder insignia | ||
| image3 = Star insignia of Field Marshal (India).jpg | | image3 = Star insignia of Field Marshal (India).jpg | ||
| image_size3 = | | image_size3 = 100 | ||
| caption3 = Star insignia of Field | | caption3 = Star insignia of Field Marshal | ||
| country = {{flag|India}} | | country = {{flag|India}} | ||
| service branch = {{army|India}} | | service branch = {{army|India}} | ||
| abbreviation = FM | | abbreviation = FM | ||
| rank = [[Five-star rank|Five star]] | | rank = [[Five-star rank|Five star]] | ||
| NATO rank = | | NATO rank = | ||
| Non-NATO rank = | | Non-NATO rank = | ||
| formation = 26 January 1950 | | formation = 26 January 1950 | ||
| Line 25: | Line 26: | ||
| lower rank = [[General (India)|General]] | | lower rank = [[General (India)|General]] | ||
| equivalents = {{plainlist| | | equivalents = {{plainlist| | ||
* [[Admiral of the | * [[Admiral of the fleet]] ([[Indian Navy|IN]]) | ||
* [[Marshal of the Indian Air Force]] ([[Indian Air Force|IAF]])}} | * [[Marshal of the Indian Air Force]] ([[Indian Air Force|IAF]])}} | ||
| history = | | history = | ||
}} | }} | ||
{{Equivalent ranks of Indian military}} | {{Equivalent ranks of Indian military}} | ||
'''Field Marshal''' (or '''field marshal''', abbreviated as '''FM''') is a [[Five-star rank|five–star]] [[general officer]] rank and the highest attainable rank in the [[Indian Army]]. Field Marshal is ranked immediately above [[general]], but not exercised in the regular army structure. It is a largely ceremonial or wartime rank, having been awarded only twice. A | '''Field Marshal''' (or '''field marshal''', abbreviated as '''FM''') is a [[Five-star rank|five–star]] [[general officer]] rank and the highest attainable rank in the [[Indian Army]]. Field Marshal is ranked immediately above [[general]], but not exercised in the regular army structure. It is a largely ceremonial or wartime rank, having been awarded only twice. A Field Marshal’s insignia consists of the [[Emblem of India|national emblem]] over a crossed baton and sabre in a lotus blossom wreath. | ||
[[Sam Manekshaw]] was the first | [[Sam Manekshaw]] was the first Field Marshal of India, and was conferred the rank on 1 January 1973. The second was [[Kodandera M. Cariappa]], who was conferred the rank on 15 January 1986. | ||
Field | Field Marshal is equivalent to an [[admiral of the fleet]] in the [[Indian Navy]] and a [[Marshal of the Indian Air Force]] in the [[Indian Air Force]]. In the Navy, Admiral of the Fleet has never been awarded, but from the Air Force, [[Arjan Singh]] was promoted to the rank of Marshal of the Indian Air Force. | ||
==History== | ==History== | ||
To date, only two Indian Army officers have been conferred the rank. It was first conferred to [[Sam Manekshaw]] in 1973, in recognition of his service and leadership in the [[1971 Indo-Pakistani War]]. In 1971, after the war, [[Prime Minister of India|Prime Minister]] [[Indira Gandhi]] decided to promote Manekshaw to | To date, only two Indian Army officers have been conferred the rank. It was first conferred to [[Sam Manekshaw]] in 1973, in recognition of his service and leadership in the [[1971 Indo-Pakistani War]]. In 1971, after the war, [[Prime Minister of India|Prime Minister]] [[Indira Gandhi]] decided to promote Manekshaw to Field Marshal and subsequently to appoint him as the Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS). This appointment was dropped after several objections from the bureaucracy and the commanders of the Navy and the Air Force. On 3 January 1973, after his term as the [[Chief of the Army Staff (India)|Chief of the Army Staff]] (COAS) Manekshaw was conferred with the rank of Field Marshal at a ceremony held at [[Rashtrapati Bhavan]].{{Sfn|Singh|2005|p=215}}{{Sfn|Sharma|2007|pp=59–61}} As it was the first appointment, several entitlements of the rank, including the badges and ribbons, were yet to be worked out. A few weeks before Manekshaw's appointment, the Field Marshal's badges of rank were made at the Army workshop in [[Delhi Cantonment]]. They were inspired by the [[Field Marshal (United Kingdom)|British Field Marshal]] insignia.<ref name="The Making of a Field Marshal">{{cite web|author1=Lt Gen Sk Sinha|author-link1=Srinivas_Kumar_Sinha|title=The Making of a Field Marshal|url=http://www.indiandefencereview.com/spotlights/the-making-of-a-field-marshall/|website=Indian Defence Review|access-date=4 September 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161202121509/http://www.indiandefencereview.com/spotlights/the-making-of-a-field-marshall/|archive-date=2 December 2016|df=dmy-all}}</ref> | ||
The second individual to be conferred the rank was [[Kodandera M. Cariappa]], the first Indian to serve as the | The second individual to be conferred the rank was [[Kodandera M. Cariappa]], the first Indian to serve as the Commander–in–Chief of the Indian Army. Unlike Manekshaw, who was conferred the rank just before his retirement,{{efn|Manekshaw was conferred the rank of field marshal just a few days before his term as COAS ended.{{Sfn|Sharma|2007|pp=59–61}}}} Cariappa was already retired in 1953, and since a field marshal never retires, therefore retired officers cannot be given the rank. But as a token of gratitude for the exemplary service rendered by him to the nation, the Government of India overruled the pre-established criteria, and conferred the rank of field marshal on him on 15 January 1986 at a special investiture ceremony held at [[Rashtrapati Bhavan]].{{Sfn|Singh|2005|p=49}}{{Sfn|Sharma|2007|pp=43–45}}<ref>{{cite web |title=Cariappa made Field Marshal |url=http://pibarchive.nic.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/1986-JAN-JULY-MIN-OF-DEFENCE/PDF/DEF-1986-01-14_020.pdf}}</ref> | ||
==Overview== | ==Overview== | ||
Field | Field Marshal is the five-star rank and highest attainable rank in the Indian Army. Though the rank is placed above general, it is not observed in the regular structure. It is a largely ceremonial or wartime rank, having been awarded only twice.<ref name="Did You Know That Only 3 People Have Been Given The Highest Ranks In The Indian Armed Forces?"/> | ||
A | A Field Marshal receives the full pay of a [[Four-star rank|four–star]] General, and is considered a serving officer until their death. They wear a full uniform on all ceremonial occasions. In addition to this, they also run an office in the Army Headquarters with a secretariat.<ref name="Did You Know That Only 3 People Have Been Given The Highest Ranks In The Indian Armed Forces?">{{cite web|title=Did You Know That Only 3 People Have Been Given The Highest Ranks In The Indian Armed Forces?|url=https://www.scoopwhoop.com/Highest-ranks-in-Indian-Armed-Forces/#.53j2ve5ta|website=Scoop Whoop|access-date=4 September 2016|language=En|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170104090735/https://www.scoopwhoop.com/Highest-ranks-in-Indian-Armed-Forces#.53j2ve5ta|archive-date=4 January 2017|df=dmy-all}}</ref> | ||
Field | Field Marshal is equivalent to an [[Admiral of the Fleet]] in the [[Indian Navy]] or a [[Marshal of the Air Force]] in the [[Indian Air Force]]. While [[Arjan Singh]] is the only holder of the Marshal of the Air Force to date, no officer has ever been promoted to Admiral of the Fleet.<ref name="Did You Know That Only 3 People Have Been Given The Highest Ranks In The Indian Armed Forces?"/> | ||
===Insignia=== | ===Insignia=== | ||
A | A Field Marshal's insignia consists of the [[Emblem of India|national emblem]] over a crossed baton and sabre in a lotus blossom wreath. On appointment, Field Marshals are awarded a gold-tipped [[Baton (symbol)|baton]] which they may carry on formal occasions. The star insignia, which comprises five golden stars over a red strip, is used on car pennants, rank flags and as [[gorget patches]].<ref name="Did You Know That Only 3 People Have Been Given The Highest Ranks In The Indian Armed Forces?"/> | ||
==Rank holders== | ==Rank holders== | ||
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'''Sam Manekshaw''', [[Military Cross|MC]] (1914–2008),{{Sfn|Singh|2005|p=183}}{{Sfn|Sharma|2007|pp=59–61}} also known as "Sam Bahadur" ("Sam the Brave"), was the first Indian Army officer to be promoted to the rank of field marshal.<ref name="Did You Know That Only 3 People Have Been Given The Highest Ranks In The Indian Armed Forces?" /> Commissioned into the [[British Indian Army]] on 1 February 1935 with seniority [[Antedated contract|antedated]] to 4 February 1934,{{Sfn|Singh|2005|pp=188–189}} Manekshaw's distinguished military career spanned four decades and five wars, beginning with service in [[World War II]]. He was first attached to the 2nd Battalion of [[Royal Scots]], and later posted to the 4th Battalion of [[12th Frontier Force Regiment]], commonly known as the [[54th Sikhs]]. Following partition, he was reassigned to the [[16th Punjab Regiment]].{{Sfn|Singh|2002|pp=237–259}}<ref name="Obituary Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw">{{cite web|author1=Vinod Saighal|title=Obituary Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2008/jun/30/india|website=The Guardian|access-date=4 September 2016|date=29 June 2008|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160923150853/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2008/jun/30/india|archive-date=23 September 2016|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref name="Saluting Sam Bahadur">{{cite web|author1=Tarun Vijay|title=Saluting Sam Bahadur|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tarun-vijay/the-right-view/Saluting-Sam-Bahadur/articleshow/3179920.cms?|website=Times of India|access-date=4 September 2016|date=30 June 2008|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220200623/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tarun-vijay/the-right-view/Saluting-Sam-Bahadur/articleshow/3179920.cms|archive-date=20 December 2016|df=dmy-all}}</ref> | '''Sam Manekshaw''', [[Military Cross|MC]] (1914–2008),{{Sfn|Singh|2005|p=183}}{{Sfn|Sharma|2007|pp=59–61}} also known as "Sam Bahadur" ("Sam the Brave"), was the first Indian Army officer to be promoted to the rank of field marshal.<ref name="Did You Know That Only 3 People Have Been Given The Highest Ranks In The Indian Armed Forces?" /> Commissioned into the [[British Indian Army]] on 1 February 1935 with seniority [[Antedated contract|antedated]] to 4 February 1934,{{Sfn|Singh|2005|pp=188–189}} Manekshaw's distinguished military career spanned four decades and five wars, beginning with service in [[World War II]]. He was first attached to the 2nd Battalion of [[Royal Scots]], and later posted to the 4th Battalion of [[12th Frontier Force Regiment]], commonly known as the [[54th Sikhs]]. Following partition, he was reassigned to the [[16th Punjab Regiment]].{{Sfn|Singh|2002|pp=237–259}}<ref name="Obituary Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw">{{cite web|author1=Vinod Saighal|title=Obituary Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2008/jun/30/india|website=The Guardian|access-date=4 September 2016|date=29 June 2008|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160923150853/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2008/jun/30/india|archive-date=23 September 2016|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref name="Saluting Sam Bahadur">{{cite web|author1=Tarun Vijay|title=Saluting Sam Bahadur|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tarun-vijay/the-right-view/Saluting-Sam-Bahadur/articleshow/3179920.cms?|website=Times of India|access-date=4 September 2016|date=30 June 2008|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220200623/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tarun-vijay/the-right-view/Saluting-Sam-Bahadur/articleshow/3179920.cms|archive-date=20 December 2016|df=dmy-all}}</ref> | ||
Manekshaw rose to be the 8th COAS of the Indian Army in 1969,{{Sfn|Singh|2005|p=213}} and under his command Indian forces conducted successful campaigns against [[Pakistan]] in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 that led to the [[Bangladesh Liberation War|Liberation of Bangladesh]] in December 1971.The war lasted for 12 days from 3 December to 16 December, one among the Shortest wars of the History. On 16 December 1971, Lt. Gen [[A. A. K. Niazi]] of the Pakistan Army signed the Instrument of Surrender at Dhaka in the presence of Lt. Gen. [[Jagjit Singh Aurora]], Lt. Gen. [[J. F. R. Jacob]] and other Senior Officers of the Indian Army. More than 93000 Pakistani Soldiers surrendered to the Indian Army, which was recorded as one among the largest surrender in the History. | Manekshaw rose to be the 8th COAS of the Indian Army in 1969,{{Sfn|Singh|2005|p=213}} and under his command Indian forces conducted successful campaigns against [[Pakistan]] in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 that led to the [[Bangladesh Liberation War|Liberation of Bangladesh]] in December 1971.The war lasted for 12 days from 3 December to 16 December, one among the Shortest wars of the History. On 16 December 1971, Lt. Gen [[A. A. K. Niazi]] of the Pakistan Army signed the Instrument of Surrender at Dhaka in the presence of Lt. Gen. [[Jagjit Singh Aurora]], Lt. Gen. [[J. F. R. Jacob]] and other Senior Officers of the Indian Army. More than 93000 Pakistani Soldiers surrendered to the Indian Army, which was recorded as one among the largest surrender in the History. The decisive results achieved by the Indian Army during this war, under the able military leadership of Manekshaw, gave the nation a new sense of confidence,{{Sfn|Singh|2005|pp=210–211}} and in recognition of his services, in January 1973 the [[President of India]] conferred the rank of field marshal on him.{{Sfn|Singh|2005|p=215}} He was also awarded the [[Padma Vibhushan]] and the [[Padma Bhushan]], the second and third highest Indian civilian awards respectively, for his services to the Indian nation.<ref name="Obituary Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw"/><ref name="Play It Again, Sam">{{cite web|title=Play It Again, Sam|url=http://www.outlookindia.com/magazine/story/play-it-again-sam/218683|website=Outlook India|access-date=4 September 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161207032200/http://www.outlookindia.com/magazine/story/play-it-again-sam/218683|archive-date=7 December 2016|df=dmy-all}}</ref> | ||
====Controversies==== | ====Controversies==== | ||
Though Sam Manekshaw was conferred the rank of field marshal in 1973, it was reported that he was never given the complete allowances he was entitled to as a field marshal. It was not until President [[A.P.J. Abdul Kalam]] took the initiative when he met Manekshaw in Wellington, and made sure that the field marshal was presented with a cheque for ₹1.3 | Though Sam Manekshaw was conferred the rank of field marshal in 1973, it was reported that he was never given the complete allowances he was entitled to as a field marshal. It was not until President [[A.P.J. Abdul Kalam]] took the initiative when he met Manekshaw in [[Wellington, Tamil Nadu|Wellington]], and made sure that the field marshal was presented with a cheque for ₹1.3 [[Crore|crores]]–his arrears of pay for over 30 years. Even more surprisingly, Manekshaw's funeral was not attended by the top brass from civil, military, or political leadership, because non parsis are not allowed to enter parsi funeral .<ref name="The Making of a Field Marshal" /><ref name="Remembering Sam Manekshaw, India's greatest general, on his birth centenary">{{cite web|author1=Nitin Gokhale|title=Remembering Sam Manekshaw, India's greatest general, on his birth centenary|url=http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/remembering-sam-manekshaw-indias-greatest-general-on-his-birth-centenary-556023|website=NDTV|access-date=4 September 2016|date=3 April 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160914084348/http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/remembering-sam-manekshaw-indias-greatest-general-on-his-birth-centenary-556023|archive-date=14 September 2016|df=dmy-all}}</ref> | ||
===Kodandera Madappa Cariappa=== | ===Kodandera Madappa Cariappa=== | ||
{{main article|Kodandera M. Cariappa}} | {{main article|Kodandera M. Cariappa}} | ||
''' | '''Kodandera Madappa Cariappa''', [[Order of the British Empire|OBE]] (1899–1993),{{Sfn|Singh|2005|p=21}} was the first Indian to be appointed as commander-in-chief (C-in-C) of the Indian Army. His distinguished military career spanned almost three decades. Cariappa joined the British Indian Army on 1 December 1920, and was commissioned as temporary [[second lieutenant]] in the [[88th Carnatic Infantry|2/88 Carnatic Infantry]].{{Sfn|Singh|2005|p=21}} He was later transferred to [[125th Napier's Rifles|2/125 Napier Rifles]], then to the 7th Prince of Wales Own Dogra Regiment in June 1922, and finally to the [[7th Rajput Regiment|1/7 Rajput]], which became his parent regiment.{{Sfn|Sharma|2007|pp=43–45}}{{Sfn|Singh|2005|p=23}}<ref name="Viewing Page 7663 of Issue 32878">{{cite web|title=Viewing Page 7663 of Issue 32878|url=https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/32878/page/7663|website=[[The London Gazette]]|access-date=4 September 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161125055546/https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/32878/page/7663|archive-date=25 November 2016|df=dmy-all}}</ref> | ||
He was the first Indian officer to attend the course at Staff College, Quetta, the first Indian to command a battalion{{efn|A battalion comprises four rifle companies. A rifle company comprises four platoons. A platoon consists of a section which has 10 men.<ref name="STRUCTURE of Indian Army">{{cite web|title=Structure|url=http://indianarmy.nic.in/Site/FormTemplete/frmTempSimple.aspx?MnId=1KRe3PlAUEofJY1khsmQiw==&ParentID=3MNO2EnY8feZhYb+f0sRuw==|website=Indian Army|access-date=12 August 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161224153537/http://indianarmy.nic.in/Site/FormTemplete/frmTempSimple.aspx?MnId=1KRe3PlAUEofJY1khsmQiw%3D%3D&ParentID=3MNO2EnY8feZhYb%2Bf0sRuw%3D%3D|archive-date=24 December 2016|df=dmy-all}}</ref>}} in the Indian Army,{{Sfn|Singh|2005|p=29}} and also was one of the first two Indians selected to undergo a training course at the [[Imperial Defence College]],{{Sfn|Singh|2005|p=33}} [[Camberly]], [[United Kingdom|UK]]. He served in various staff capacities at various unit and command headquarters (HQ) and also at the General HQ, New Delhi.{{Sfn|Sharma|2007|pp=43–45}} | He was the first Indian officer to attend the course at Staff College, Quetta, the first Indian to command a battalion{{efn|A battalion comprises four rifle companies. A rifle company comprises four platoons. A platoon consists of a section which has 10 men.<ref name="STRUCTURE of Indian Army">{{cite web|title=Structure|url=http://indianarmy.nic.in/Site/FormTemplete/frmTempSimple.aspx?MnId=1KRe3PlAUEofJY1khsmQiw==&ParentID=3MNO2EnY8feZhYb+f0sRuw==|website=Indian Army|access-date=12 August 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161224153537/http://indianarmy.nic.in/Site/FormTemplete/frmTempSimple.aspx?MnId=1KRe3PlAUEofJY1khsmQiw%3D%3D&ParentID=3MNO2EnY8feZhYb%2Bf0sRuw%3D%3D|archive-date=24 December 2016|df=dmy-all}}</ref>}} in the Indian Army,{{Sfn|Singh|2005|p=29}} and also was one of the first two Indians selected to undergo a training course at the [[Imperial Defence College]],{{Sfn|Singh|2005|p=33}} [[Camberly]], [[United Kingdom|UK]]. He served in various staff capacities at various unit and command headquarters (HQ) and also at the General HQ, New Delhi.{{Sfn|Sharma|2007|pp=43–45}} | ||
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==Further reading== | ==Further reading== | ||
* {{citation|first1=Depinder|last1=Singh|title=Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw, M.C.: Soldiering with Dignity|year=2002|isbn=978-81-85019-02-4|publisher=Natraj}} | * {{citation|first1=Depinder|last1=Singh|title=Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw, M.C.: Soldiering with Dignity|year=2002|isbn=978-81-85019-02-4|publisher=Natraj}} | ||
* {{cite book|author1=K. C. Cariappa|author-link1=K. C. Cariappa|editor1-last=Chaudhuri|editor1-first=Dipa|title=Field Marshal K.M. Cariappa|date=2007|publisher=Niyogi Books|location=New Delhi|isbn=978-81-89738-26-6|edition=2nd}} | * {{cite book|author1=K. C. Cariappa|author-link1=K. C. Cariappa|editor1-last=Chaudhuri|editor1-first=Dipa|title=Field Marshal K.M. Cariappa|date=2007|publisher=[[Niyogi Books]]|location=New Delhi|isbn=978-81-89738-26-6|edition=2nd}} | ||
* {{cite book|author1=Edel Weis|title=Field Marshal Cariappa: The Man who Touched the Sky|date=2002|publisher=Roopa & Co|location=New Delhi|isbn=978-81-7167-944-7}} | * {{cite book|author1=Edel Weis|title=Field Marshal Cariappa: The Man who Touched the Sky|date=2002|publisher=Roopa & Co|location=New Delhi|isbn=978-81-7167-944-7}} | ||
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[[Category:Indian Army]] | [[Category:Indian Army]] | ||
[[Category:Military ranks of the Indian Army]] | [[Category:Military ranks of the Indian Army]] | ||
[[Category:Five-star officers]] | |||