Sunith Francis Rodrigues: Difference between revisions

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| honorific_suffix = [[Param Vishisht Seva Medal|PVSM]], [[Vishisht Seva Medal|VSM]]
| honorific_suffix = [[Param Vishisht Seva Medal|PVSM]], [[Vishisht Seva Medal|VSM]]
| image        = General Sunith Francis Rodrigues.jpg
| image        = General Sunith Francis Rodrigues.jpg
| image_upright = 0.9
| alt          =  
| alt          =  
| caption      =  
| caption      =  
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| nickname      =  
| nickname      =  
| birth_date    = {{birth date|df=yes|1933|9|19}}
| birth_date    = {{birth date|df=yes|1933|9|19}}
| birth_place  = Bombay, [[Bombay Presidency]], [[British Raj]]<br />(now [[Mumbai]], [[Maharashtra]], India)
| birth_place  = [[Bombay]], [[British India]]
| death_date    = {{Death date and age|df=yes|2022|3|4|1933|9|19}}
| death_date    = {{Death date and age|df=yes|2022|3|4|1933|9|19}}
| death_place  = [[Panaji]], [[Goa]], India
| death_place  = [[Panaji, Goa]], India
| placeofburial =  
| placeofburial =  
| placeofburial_label =  
| placeofburial_label =  
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| term_start    = 16 November 2004
| term_start    = 16 November 2004
| term_end      = 22 January 2010
| term_end      = 22 January 2010
| appointer    = [[President of India]] {{small|(then, [[A. P. J. Abdul Kalam]])}}
| appointer    = [[President of India]]<br/>{{small|(then, [[A. P. J. Abdul Kalam]])}}
| 1blankname    = Chief Minister
| 1blankname    = Chief Minister
| 1namedata    = [[Parkash Singh Badal]]
| 1namedata    = [[Parkash Singh Badal]]
| predecessor  = [[Akhlaqur Rahman Kidwai]] {{small|''(Additional Charge)''}} <br /> [[O. P. Verma|Om Prakash Verma]]
| predecessor  = [[Akhlaqur Rahman Kidwai]] {{small|''(additional charge)''}}<br />[[O. P. Verma|Om Prakash Verma]]
| successor    = [[Shivraj Patil]]
| successor    = [[Shivraj Patil]]
| office1      = 32nd [[Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee]]
| office1      = 32nd [[Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee]]
| term_start1  = 1 August 1991
| term_start1  = 1 August 1991
| term_end1    = 30 June 1993
| term_end1    = 30 June 1993
| president1    = [[Ramaswamy Venkataraman|R. Venkataraman]] <br /> [[Shankar Dayal Sharma]]
| president1    = [[Ramaswamy Venkataraman|R. Venkataraman]]<br />[[Shankar Dayal Sharma]]
| primeminister1 = [[P. V. Narasimha Rao]]
| primeminister1 = [[P. V. Narasimha Rao]]
| predecessor1  = [[Surinder Mehra]]
| predecessor1  = [[Surinder Mehra]]
| successor1    = [[Laxminarayan Ramdas]]
| successor1    = [[Laxminarayan Ramdas]]
| office2      = 15th [[Chief of the Army Staff (India)]]
| office2      = 15th [[Chief of the Army Staff (India)|Chief of the Army Staff]]
| term_start2  = 1 July 1990
| term_start2  = 1 July 1990
| term_end2    = 30 June 1993
| term_end2    = 30 June 1993
| president2    = [[Ramaswamy Venkataraman|R. Venkataraman]] <br /> [[Shankar Dayal Sharma]]
| president2    = [[Ramaswamy Venkataraman|R. Venkataraman]]<br />[[Shankar Dayal Sharma]]
| primeminister2 = [[Vishwanath Pratap Singh|V. P. Singh]] <br /> [[Chandra Shekhar]] <br /> [[P. V. Narasimha Rao]]
| primeminister2 = [[Vishwanath Pratap Singh|V. P. Singh]]<br />[[Chandra Shekhar]]<br />[[P. V. Narasimha Rao]]
| predecessor2  = [[Vishwa Nath Sharma]]
| predecessor2  = [[Vishwa Nath Sharma]]
| successor2    = [[Bipin Chandra Joshi]]
| successor2    = [[Bipin Chandra Joshi]]
| allegiance    = {{flag|India}}
| branch        = {{army|India}}
| serviceyears  = 1952–1993
| rank          = [[File:General of the Indian Army.svg|15px]] [[General (India)|General]]
| military_blank1 = [[Service number]]
| military_data1 = IC-6119<ref name="commission"/>
| unit          = [[File:Regiment of Artillery Insignia (India).svg|20px]] [[Regiment of Artillery (India)|Regiment of Artillery]]
| commands      = [[File:IA_Western_Command.svg|20px]] [[Western Command (India)|Western Army]]<br />[[File:IA_Central_Command.jpg|20px]] [[Central Command (India)|Central Army]]<br />Director General Military Training (DGMT)
| battles      = [[Sino-Indian War|Sino-Indian War of 1962]] <br /> [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1965]] <br /> [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1971]]
| battles_label =
| military_blank2 = Awards
| military_data2 = {{plainlist|
* [[File:Param Vishisht Seva Medal ribbon.svg|25px]] [[Param Vishisht Seva Medal]]
* [[File:Vishisht Seva Medal ribbon.svg|25px]] [[Vishisht Seva Medal]]
}}
| military_blank3 = Later work(s)
| military_data3 = {{plainlist|
* [[National Security Council (India)|National Security Advisory Board]]
* Director of International Centre, [[Goa]]
}}
| memorials    =
| spouse        = <!-- Add spouse if reliably sourced -->
| spouse        = <!-- Add spouse if reliably sourced -->
| relations    =  
| relations    =  
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| signature_size =  
| signature_size =  
| signature_alt =  
| signature_alt =  
| website       = <!-- {{URL|example.com}} -->
| module = {{infobox military person | embed = yes
| module        =  
| allegiance        = {{flag|India}}
| branch            = {{army|India}}
| branch_label      = Branch
| serviceyears       = 1952–1993
| serviceyears_label = Service&nbsp;years{{0|00}}
| rank              = [[File:General of the Indian Army.svg|15px]] [[General (India)|General]]
| service_number    = IC-6119<ref name="commission"/>
| unit              = [[File:Regiment of Artillery Insignia (India).svg|20px]] [[Regiment of Artillery (India)|Regiment of Artillery]]
| commands          = [[File:IA_Western_Command.svg|20px]] [[Western Command (India)|Western Army]]<br />[[File:IA_Central_Command.jpg|20px]] [[Central Command (India)|Central Army]]
| battles            = [[Sino-Indian War|Sino-Indian War of 1962]]<br />[[Indo-Pakistani war of 1965]]<br />[[Indo-Pakistani war of 1971]]
| battles_label      = Conflicts
| awards            = {{plainlist|
* {{nobr|[[Param Vishisht Seva Medal]]}}
* [[Vishisht Seva Medal]]
}}
| laterwork          = {{ubil|[[National Security Council (India)|NSAB]]|Director of International Centre, [[Goa]]}}
| memorials          =  
}}
}}
}}


[[General (India)|General]] '''Sunith Francis Rodrigues''', [[Param Vishisht Seva Medal|PVSM]], [[Vishisht Seva Medal|VSM]] (19 September 1933 – 4 March 2022) was an Indian army officer who was [[Chief of the Army Staff (India)|Chief of the Army Staff]] of the [[Indian Army]]<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?262249| title = Ice Station Taurus {{!}} Outlook India Magazine}} </ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.openthemagazine.com/article/nation/the-colonel-who-got-us-siachen|title = The Colonel Who Got Us Siachen|date = 8 July 2010}}</ref> from 1990 to 1993 and [[List of governors of Punjab (India)|Governor of Punjab]] from 2004 to 2010.
[[General (India)|General]] '''Sunith Francis Rodrigues''', [[Param Vishisht Seva Medal|PVSM]], [[Vishisht Seva Medal|VSM]] (19 September 1933 – 4 March 2022) was an Indian army officer who was [[Chief of the Army Staff (India)|Chief of the Army Staff]] of the [[Indian Army]]<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?262249| title = Ice Station Taurus {{!}} Outlook India Magazine}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.openthemagazine.com/article/nation/the-colonel-who-got-us-siachen|title = The Colonel Who Got Us Siachen|date = 8 July 2010}}</ref> from 1990 to 1993 and [[List of governors of Punjab (India)|Governor of Punjab]] from 2004 to 2010.


==Early life and education==
==Early life and education==
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==Military service==
==Military service==
Rodrigues joined the [[Joint Services Wing]] of the [[Indian Military Academy]] in 1949 and was commissioned on 28 December 1952 into the [[Regiment of Artillery (India)|Regiment of Artillery]].<ref name="commission"/> After serving in several field and self-propelled artillery units he applied for pilot training in the [[Air Observation Post]] of the Artillery in 1964 and qualified as an artillery aviation pilot. Between 1964 and 1969, he logged more than 158 flying hours on observation aircraft and helicopters, including 65 hours of combat flying during the 1965 war in which his unit logged on more than 56 precision artillery fire to effect on enemy formations.
Rodrigues joined the [[Joint Services Wing]] of the [[Indian Military Academy]] in 1949 and was commissioned on 28 December 1952 into the [[Regiment of Artillery (India)|Regiment of Artillery]].<ref name="commission"/> After serving in several field and self-propelled artillery units he applied for pilot training in the [[air observation post]] of the Artillery in 1964 and qualified as an artillery aviation pilot. Between 1964 and 1969, he logged more than 158 flying hours on observation aircraft and helicopters, including 65 hours of combat flying during the 1965 war in which his unit logged on more than 56 precision artillery fire to effect on enemy formations.


He attended the [[Defence Services Staff College]] and took over as GSO II operations in [[XXXIII Corps (India)|XXXIII Corps]] HQ in 1971. In 1972, after the war with [[Pakistan]], he was awarded the [[Vishisht Seva Medal|VSM]] for distinguished service.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/1972/O-1321-1972-0036-58849.pdf.|title=Lt. Col. Sunith Francis Rodrigues (IC 6119), Artillery- VSM Citation in 'The Gazette of India No 36' Page 982| date=2 September 1972|accessdate=17 October 2020}}</ref> He later served as a GSO I operations of a division from 1973 to 1975.
He attended the [[Defence Services Staff College]] and took over as GSO II operations in [[XXXIII Corps (India)|XXXIII Corps]] HQ in 1971. In 1972, after the war with [[Pakistan]], he was awarded the [[Vishisht Seva Medal|VSM]] for distinguished service.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/1972/O-1321-1972-0036-58849.pdf.|title=Lt. Col. Sunith Francis Rodrigues (IC 6119), Artillery − VSM Citation in 'The Gazette of India No 36' Page 982| date=2 September 1972|access-date=17 October 2020}}</ref> He later served as a GSO I operations of a division from 1973 to 1975.


As a [[Brigadier]], he commanded a mountain infantry brigade in a high altitude sector from 1975 to 1977. Post this, Rodrigues attended the 1978 course at [[Royal College of Defence Studies]] in the United Kingdom. He was Chief Instructor at Defence Services Staff College from 1979 to November 1981.  
As a [[Brigadier]], he commanded a mountain infantry brigade in a high altitude sector from 1975 to 1977. Post this, Rodrigues attended the 1978 course at [[Royal College of Defence Studies]] in the United Kingdom. He was Chief Instructor at Defence Services Staff College from 1979 to November 1981.


===General officer===
===General officer===
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Rodrigues was appointed Governor of [[Punjab, India|Punjab]] and Administrator of the [[Union Territory]] of [[Chandigarh]] on 8 November 2004, and he was sworn into office on 16 November 2004.
Rodrigues was appointed Governor of [[Punjab, India|Punjab]] and Administrator of the [[Union Territory]] of [[Chandigarh]] on 8 November 2004, and he was sworn into office on 16 November 2004.


He was succeeded by [[Shivraj Patil]] on 22 January 2010.<ref>{{cite news |title=Shiv Raj Patil is 33rd Governor of Punjab |newspaper=Punjab Newsline Network |date=22 January 2010 |url=http://www.punjabnewsline.com/content/shiv-raj-patil-33rd-governor-punjab }}</ref>
He was succeeded by [[Shivraj Patil]] on 22 January 2010.<ref>{{cite news |title=Shiv Raj Patil is 33rd Governor of Punjab |newspaper=Punjab Newsline Network |date=22 January 2010 |url=http://www.punjabnewsline.com/content/shiv-raj-patil-33rd-governor-punjab}}</ref>


==Death==
==Death==
Rodrigues died at the Manipal Hospital in Dona Paula on 4 March 2022, at the age of 88.<ref>{{Cite news |others=Special Correspondent |date=2022-03-04 |title=Former Army Chief Gen Rodrigues passes away |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/former-army-chief-gen-rodrigues-passes-away/article65190281.ece |access-date=2022-03-04 |issn=0971-751X}}</ref>
Rodrigues died at the Manipal Hospital in Dona Paula on 4 March 2022, at the age of 88.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2022-03-04 |title=Former Army Chief Gen Rodrigues passes away |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/former-army-chief-gen-rodrigues-passes-away/article65190281.ece |access-date=2022-03-04 |issn=0971-751X}}</ref>


==Military awards and decorations==
==Military awards and decorations==
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|[[File:IND 20YearsServiceMedalRibbon.svg|105px]]
|[[File:IND 20YearsServiceMedalRibbon.svg|105px]]
|[[File:IND 9YearsServiceMedalRibbon.svg|105px]]
|[[File:IND 9YearsServiceMedalRibbon.svg|105px]]
|-
|}
|}


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|[[Indian military decorations#Long service awards|20 Years Long Service Medal]]
|[[Indian military decorations#Long service awards|20 Years Long Service Medal]]
|[[Indian military decorations#Long service awards|9 Years Long Service Medal]]
|[[Indian military decorations#Long service awards|9 Years Long Service Medal]]
|-
|}
|}


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! Insignia !! Rank !! Component !! Date of rank
! Insignia !! Rank !! Component !! Date of rank
|-
|-
|align="center" |[[File:Second Lieutenant of the Indian Army.svg|35px]] || [[Second Lieutenant]] || [[Indian Army]] || 28 December 1952<ref name="commission">{{cite news |title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch) |page=154 |date=11 July 1953 |publisher=The Gazette of India}}</ref>
|align="center" |[[File:Second Lieutenant of the Indian Army.svg|35px]] || [[Second Lieutenant]] || [[Indian Army]] || 28 December 1952<ref name="commission">{{cite news |title=Part I − Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch) |page=154 |date=11 July 1953 |publisher=The Gazette of India}}</ref>
|-
|-
|align="center" |[[File:Lieutenant_of_the_Indian_Army.svg|35px]] || [[Lieutenant]] || Indian Army || 28 December 1954<ref>{{cite news |title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch) |page=45 |date=26 February 1955 |publisher=The Gazette of India}}</ref>
|align="center" |[[File:Lieutenant_of_the_Indian_Army.svg|35px]] || [[Lieutenant]] || Indian Army || 28 December 1954<ref>{{cite news |title=Part I − Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch) |page=45 |date=26 February 1955 |publisher=The Gazette of India}}</ref>
|-
|-
|align="center" |[[File:Captain_of_the_Indian_Army.svg|35px]] || [[Captain (armed forces)|Captain]] || Indian Army || 28 December 1958<ref>{{cite news |title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch) |page=109 |date=9 May 1959 |publisher=The Gazette of India}}</ref>
|align="center" |[[File:Captain_of_the_Indian_Army.svg|35px]] || [[Captain (armed forces)|Captain]] || Indian Army || 28 December 1958<ref>{{cite news |title=Part I − Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch) |page=109 |date=9 May 1959 |publisher=The Gazette of India}}</ref>
|-
|-
|align="center" |[[File:Major_of_the_Indian_Army.svg|35px]] || [[Major]] || Indian Army || 28 December 1965<ref>{{cite news |title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch) |page=175 |date=19 March 1966 |publisher=The Gazette of India}}</ref>
|align="center" |[[File:Major_of_the_Indian_Army.svg|35px]] || [[Major (rank)|Major]] || Indian Army || 28 December 1965<ref>{{cite news |title=Part I − Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch) |page=175 |date=19 March 1966 |publisher=The Gazette of India}}</ref>
|-
|-
|align="center" |[[File:Lieutenant_Colonel_of_the_Indian_Army.svg|35px]] || [[Lieutenant-Colonel]] || Indian Army || 17 June 1973<ref>{{cite news |title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch) |page=905 |date=10 August 1974 |publisher=The Gazette of India}}</ref>
|align="center" |[[File:Lieutenant_Colonel_of_the_Indian_Army.svg|35px]] || [[Lieutenant-Colonel]] || Indian Army || 17 June 1973<ref>{{cite news |title=Part I − Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch) |page=905 |date=10 August 1974 |publisher=The Gazette of India}}</ref>
|-
|-
|align="center" |[[File:Colonel_of_the_Indian_Army.svg|35px]] || [[Colonel]] || Indian Army || 1975
|align="center" |[[File:Colonel_of_the_Indian_Army.svg|35px]] || [[Colonel]] || Indian Army || 1975
|-
|-
|align="center" |[[File:Brigadier_of_the_Indian_Army.svg|35px]] || [[Brigadier]] || Indian Army || 2 September 1976<ref>{{cite news |title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch) |page=295 |date=1 April 1978 |publisher=The Gazette of India}}</ref>
|align="center" |[[File:Brigadier_of_the_Indian_Army.svg|35px]] || [[Brigadier]] || Indian Army || 2 September 1976<ref>{{cite news |title=Part I − Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch) |page=295 |date=1 April 1978 |publisher=The Gazette of India}}</ref>
|-
|-
|align="center" |[[File:Major_General_of_the_Indian_Army.svg|35px]] || [[Major general#India|Major General]] || Indian Army || 8 April 1983<ref>{{cite news |title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch) |page=1144 |date=14 July 1984 |publisher=The Gazette of India}}</ref>
|align="center" |[[File:Major_General_of_the_Indian_Army.svg|35px]] || [[Major general#India|Major General]] || Indian Army || 8 April 1983<ref>{{cite news |title=Part I − Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch) |page=1144 |date=14 July 1984 |publisher=The Gazette of India}}</ref>
|-
|-
|align="center" |[[File:Lieutenant_General_of_the_Indian_Army.svg|35px]] || [[Lieutenant-General]] || Indian Army || 20 September 1985<ref>{{cite news |title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch) |page=363 |date=22 March 1986 |publisher=The Gazette of India}}</ref>
|align="center" |[[File:Lieutenant_General_of_the_Indian_Army.svg|35px]] || [[Lieutenant-General]] || Indian Army || 20 September 1985<ref>{{cite news |title=Part I − Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch) |page=363 |date=22 March 1986 |publisher=The Gazette of India}}</ref>
|-
|-
|align="center" |[[File:General_of_the_Indian_Army.svg|35px]] || [[General]]<br />(COAS) || Indian Army || 30 June 1990
|align="center" |[[File:General_of_the_Indian_Army.svg|35px]] || [[General]]<br />(COAS) || Indian Army || 30 June 1990
|-
|}
|}


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{{s-ttl
{{s-ttl
|title = [[Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee]]
|title = [[Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee]]
|years = 1 August 1991 - 30 June 1993}}
|years = 1 August 1991 – 30 June 1993}}
{{s-aft  
{{s-aft  
| after =[[Laxminarayan Ramdas]]
| after =[[Laxminarayan Ramdas]]
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{{Succession box
{{Succession box
| title = [[Vice Chief of Army Staff (India)|Vice Chief of Army Staff]]
| title = [[Vice Chief of Army Staff (India)|Vice Chief of Army Staff]]
| years = 1 November 1987 - 20 April 1989
| years = 1 November 1987 – 20 April 1989
| before = J K Puri
| before = J K Puri
| after = V K Sood
| after = V K Sood
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{{Succession box
{{Succession box
| title = [[General officer commanding#Usage in the Indian Army|General Officer Commanding-in-Chief]] [[Western Command (India)|Western Command]]
| title = [[General officer commanding#Usage in the Indian Army|General Officer Commanding-in-Chief]] [[Western Command (India)|Western Command]]
| years = 1 November 1989 - 30 June 1990
| years = 1 November 1989 – 30 June 1990
| before = V K Nayak
| before = V K Nayak
| after = G S Grewal
| after = G S Grewal
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{{Succession box
{{Succession box
| title = [[General officer commanding#Usage in the Indian Army|General Officer Commanding-in-Chief]] [[Central Command (India)|Central Command]]
| title = [[General officer commanding#Usage in the Indian Army|General Officer Commanding-in-Chief]] [[Central Command (India)|Central Command]]
| years = 1 April 1989 - 30 October 1989
| years = 1 April 1989 – 30 October 1989
| before = [[Sami Khan (general)|Sami Khan]]
| before = [[Sami Khan (general)|Sami Khan]]
| after = [[F. N. Billimoria]]
| after = [[F. N. Billimoria]]
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| after = [[Shivraj Patil]]}}
| after = [[Shivraj Patil]]}}
{{s-end}}
{{s-end}}
{{Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee}}
{{Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee}}
{{Chief of the Army Staff India}}
{{Chief of the Army Staff India}}
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[[Category:2022 deaths]]
[[Category:2022 deaths]]
[[Category:Chiefs of Army Staff (India)]]
[[Category:Chiefs of Army Staff (India)]]
[[Category:Vice Chiefs of Army Staff (India)]]
[[Category:Vice chiefs of Army Staff (India)]]
[[Category:Goan Catholics]]
[[Category:Goan Catholics]]
[[Category:Military personnel from Mumbai]]
[[Category:Military personnel from Mumbai]]
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[[Category:Recipients of the Param Vishisht Seva Medal]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Param Vishisht Seva Medal]]
[[Category:Indian Roman Catholics]]
[[Category:Indian Roman Catholics]]
[[Category:Indian generals]]
[[Category:Graduates of the Royal College of Defence Studies]]
[[Category:Alumni of the Royal College of Defence Studies]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Vishisht Seva Medal]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Vishisht Seva Medal]]
[[Category:Academic staff of the Defence Services Staff College]]
[[Category:Defence Services Staff College alumni]]

Latest revision as of 00:48, 26 December 2025


General
Sunith Francis Rodrigues
PVSM, VSM
26th Governor of Punjab and 13th Administrator of Chandigarh
In office
16 November 2004 – 22 January 2010
Appointed byPresident of India
(then, A. P. J. Abdul Kalam)
Chief MinisterParkash Singh Badal
Preceded byAkhlaqur Rahman Kidwai (additional charge)
Om Prakash Verma
Succeeded byShivraj Patil
32nd Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee
In office
1 August 1991 – 30 June 1993
PresidentR. Venkataraman
Shankar Dayal Sharma
Prime MinisterP. V. Narasimha Rao
Preceded bySurinder Mehra
Succeeded byLaxminarayan Ramdas
15th Chief of the Army Staff
In office
1 July 1990 – 30 June 1993
PresidentR. Venkataraman
Shankar Dayal Sharma
Prime MinisterV. P. Singh
Chandra Shekhar
P. V. Narasimha Rao
Preceded byVishwa Nath Sharma
Succeeded byBipin Chandra Joshi
Personal details
Born(1933-09-19)19 September 1933
Bombay, British India
Died4 March 2022(2022-03-04) (aged 88)
Panaji, Goa, India
Military career
Allegiance India
Branch Indian Army
Service years001952–1993
Rank General
Unit Regiment of Artillery
Commands held Western Army
Central Army
ConflictsSino-Indian War of 1962
Indo-Pakistani war of 1965
Indo-Pakistani war of 1971
Awards
Other workTemplate:Ubil

General Sunith Francis Rodrigues, PVSM, VSM (19 September 1933 – 4 March 2022) was an Indian army officer who was Chief of the Army Staff of the Indian Army[2][3] from 1990 to 1993 and Governor of Punjab from 2004 to 2010.

Early life and education[edit | edit source]

Rodrigues was born in Bombay in 1933. He was educated at St. Xavier's High School, Fort in Bombay.

Military service[edit | edit source]

Rodrigues joined the Joint Services Wing of the Indian Military Academy in 1949 and was commissioned on 28 December 1952 into the Regiment of Artillery.[1] After serving in several field and self-propelled artillery units he applied for pilot training in the air observation post of the Artillery in 1964 and qualified as an artillery aviation pilot. Between 1964 and 1969, he logged more than 158 flying hours on observation aircraft and helicopters, including 65 hours of combat flying during the 1965 war in which his unit logged on more than 56 precision artillery fire to effect on enemy formations.

He attended the Defence Services Staff College and took over as GSO II operations in XXXIII Corps HQ in 1971. In 1972, after the war with Pakistan, he was awarded the VSM for distinguished service.[4] He later served as a GSO I operations of a division from 1973 to 1975.

As a Brigadier, he commanded a mountain infantry brigade in a high altitude sector from 1975 to 1977. Post this, Rodrigues attended the 1978 course at Royal College of Defence Studies in the United Kingdom. He was Chief Instructor at Defence Services Staff College from 1979 to November 1981.

General officer[edit | edit source]

Rodrigues was then promoted to the rank of Major General and then took over the command of a division in a high altitude area. In 1982, he was awarded the master's degree in Defence Studies. He then served as the Chief of Staff of a Corps from 1983 to September 1985 after which he took over as Director General Military Training (DGMT).

After promotion to the rank of Lieutenant General, Rodrigues took command of a corps in the Northern Sector in 1986.

He was Vice Chief of Army Staff from November 1987 to April 1989 and then General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Central Command from April 1989 to October 1989. He then took over Western Command from 1 November 1989 to 30 June 1990 and was the Chief of Army Staff from 1990 to 1993. He retired on 30 June 1993 after nearly 41 years of service.

Public service[edit | edit source]

After his retirement Rodrigues was Director of the International Centre, Goa for nearly six years. He served two terms on the National Security Advisory Board. Since his retirement, he has been engaged in social and literary pursuits and has also delivered talks on strategic issues. He takes a keen interest in education and empowering children to achieve their potential. He was on the Executive Council of Goa University for seven years and on the Managing Committee of the Goa Chamber of Commerce. He is also a long-standing Member of the Goa Planning Board and on the Board of Governors of the Goa Institute of Management.

Governor of Punjab[edit | edit source]

Rodrigues was appointed Governor of Punjab and Administrator of the Union Territory of Chandigarh on 8 November 2004, and he was sworn into office on 16 November 2004.

He was succeeded by Shivraj Patil on 22 January 2010.[5]

Death[edit | edit source]

Rodrigues died at the Manipal Hospital in Dona Paula on 4 March 2022, at the age of 88.[6]

Military awards and decorations[edit | edit source]

Param Vishisht Seva Medal Vishisht Seva Medal
General Service Medal 1947 Samar Seva Star Poorvi Star Paschimi Star
Raksha Medal Sangram Medal Sainya Seva Medal High Altitude Service Medal
25th Anniversary of Independence Medal 30 Years Long Service Medal 20 Years Long Service Medal 9 Years Long Service Medal

Dates of rank[edit | edit source]

Insignia Rank Component Date of rank
Second Lieutenant Indian Army 28 December 1952[1]
Lieutenant Indian Army 28 December 1954[7]
Captain Indian Army 28 December 1958[8]
Major Indian Army 28 December 1965[9]
Lieutenant-Colonel Indian Army 17 June 1973[10]
Colonel Indian Army 1975
Brigadier Indian Army 2 September 1976[11]
Major General Indian Army 8 April 1983[12]
Lieutenant-General Indian Army 20 September 1985[13]
General
(COAS)		 Indian Army 30 June 1990

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Part I − Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)". The Gazette of India. 11 July 1953. p. 154.
  2. ↑ "Ice Station Taurus | Outlook India Magazine".
  3. ↑ "The Colonel Who Got Us Siachen". 8 July 2010.
  4. ↑ "Lt. Col. Sunith Francis Rodrigues (IC 6119), Artillery − VSM Citation in 'The Gazette of India No 36' Page 982". 2 September 1972. Retrieved 17 October 2020.
  5. ↑ "Shiv Raj Patil is 33rd Governor of Punjab". Punjab Newsline Network. 22 January 2010.
  6. ↑ "Former Army Chief Gen Rodrigues passes away". The Hindu. 4 March 2022. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
  7. ↑ "Part I − Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)". The Gazette of India. 26 February 1955. p. 45.
  8. ↑ "Part I − Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)". The Gazette of India. 9 May 1959. p. 109.
  9. ↑ "Part I − Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)". The Gazette of India. 19 March 1966. p. 175.
  10. ↑ "Part I − Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)". The Gazette of India. 10 August 1974. p. 905.
  11. ↑ "Part I − Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)". The Gazette of India. 1 April 1978. p. 295.
  12. ↑ "Part I − Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)". The Gazette of India. 14 July 1984. p. 1144.
  13. ↑ "Part I − Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)". The Gazette of India. 22 March 1986. p. 363.
Military offices
Preceded by
Surinder Mehra 		Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee
1 August 1991 – 30 June 1993 		Succeeded by
Laxminarayan Ramdas
Preceded by
Vishwa Nath Sharma 		Chief of Army Staff
1990–1993 		Succeeded by
Bipin Chandra Joshi
Preceded by
J K Puri 		Vice Chief of Army Staff
1 November 1987 – 20 April 1989 		Succeeded by
V K Sood
Preceded by
V K Nayak 		General Officer Commanding-in-Chief Western Command
1 November 1989 – 30 June 1990 		Succeeded by
G S Grewal
Preceded by
Sami Khan 		General Officer Commanding-in-Chief Central Command
1 April 1989 – 30 October 1989 		Succeeded by
F. N. Billimoria
Government offices
Preceded by
Akhlaqur Rahman Kidwai 		Governor of Punjab
2004–2010 		Succeeded by
Shivraj Patil

Template:Chief of the Army Staff India Template:PunjabGovernors

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