Dewan Prem Chand

From Bharatpedia, an open encyclopedia
Information red.svg
Scan the QR code to donate via UPI
Dear reader, We need your support to keep the flame of knowledge burning bright! Our hosting server bill is due on June 1st, and without your help, Bharatpedia faces the risk of shutdown. We've come a long way together in exploring and celebrating our rich heritage. Now, let's unite to ensure Bharatpedia continues to be a beacon of knowledge for generations to come. Every contribution, big or small, makes a difference. Together, let's preserve and share the essence of Bharat.

Thank you for being part of the Bharatpedia family!
Please scan the QR code on the right to donate.

0%

   

transparency: ₹0 raised out of ₹100,000 (0 supporter)


Dewan Prem Chand
1989 Medal presentation 1ASC.JPG
Lieutenant General Chand presenting medals to members of the Australian Service Contingent of UNTAG in Suiderhof, Windhoek, in 1989.
Born(1916-06-14)14 June 1916
Muzaffargarh, Punjab Province, British India (now Pakistan)
Died3 November 2003(2003-11-03) (aged 87)
New Delhi, India
AllegianceIndia
Service/branchBritish Indian Army (1934–47)
Indian Army (1947–90)
Years of service1934–1976
1989–1990
RankLieutenant General
Commands heldUnited Nations Transition Assistance Group (1989–90)
United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (1969–76)
Battles/warsSecond World War
AwardsParam Vishisht Seva Medal

Lieutenant General Dewan Prem Chand, PVSM (14 June 1916 – 3 November 2003) was an Indian Army officer. He served as Force Commander of United Nations peacekeeping missions in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Cyprus, Namibia and Zimbabwe.

Early life[edit]

Dewan Prem Chand was born on 14 June 1916 in Muzaffargarh, British India,[1] to Dewan Khem Chand and his wife,[2] members of a wealthy Punjabi dewan family. After an initial education at the Bishop Cotton School in Shimla, he studied at the Government College University in Lahore. In late 1934 Chand enrolled in the Indian Military Academy in Dehradun, where he performed well academically.[3] While on holiday in Srinagar, Chand and some of his fellow cadets attempted to go swimming in one of the local lakes, which was marked with signs reading "No Indians Allowed" and "Europeans Only", only to be turned away by white boatmen. The following day they rode shikaras into the lake. When the boatmen attempted to stop them, the cadets boarded their craft and threw them into the water. Other boaters converged and fought with the cadets until an elderly man intervened. Chand and his comrades left after removing the segregationist signs and extracting an assurance that they could swim in the lake.[4]

Chand was commissioned into the British Indian Army in 1937.[2] He was attached to the 1st Battalion, Dorset Regiment on 24 February 1938. He was accepted for the Indian Army and posted to the 5th Battalion, 10th Baluch Regiment on 24 February 1939. His seniority as second lieutenant was antedated to 31 January 1937 and he was promoted lieutenant 30 April 1939. He served during the Second World War.

Service with the United Nations[edit]

Chand commanded United Nations forces during two of their most sensitive peacekeeping operations, and also what is widely acknowledged as the United Nations most successful mission in Namibia.

Katanga in the Congo (1962)[edit]

Chand commanded troops in the United Nations Operation in the Congo in the breakaway Republic of the Congo (Léopoldville) province of Katanga in 1962 during the Congo Crisis. He was awarded the Param Vishisht Seva Medal for distinguished service during this operation.[5]

Cyprus (1970–76)[edit]

"In this sad time Prem showed just why
We all have praised him to the sky.
Courageous, wise and serene and good,
Night and day he did all he could.
Without him and his splendid Force
The Shambles would have been far worse
War victims knew a helping hand
Was always certain from Prem Chand."

Extract from Urquhart's poem, December 1976[6]

Chand commanded United Nations forces on the divided island of Cyprus from 1970 to 1976. He was responsible for organising the escape of Makarios III from Cyprus during the 1974 coup that overthrew him. The same year, he protected Nicosia International Airport from the Turkish invasion of Cyprus. The UN remained in control of the airport.[7] In December 1976 UN Under-Secretary-General Brian Urquhart wrote a poem in his farewell message to Chand to commemorate his service with UN peacekeeping.[8]

Rhodesia (1977)[edit]

In 1977, Chand ended retirement to act as the UN secretary general's personal observer in Rhodesia, when discussions began to end Ian Smith's unilateral declaration of independence.[5]

Namibia (1989–1990)[edit]

In 1989 the UN created the United Nations Transition Assistance Group to oversee the withdrawal of South African forces from Namibia and ensure free elections. At the behest of the members funding most of the mission, the original 7,500 troops envisaged in the initial deployment was cut down to 4,650.[9] Prem Chand was appointed commander of the operation, but expressed concerns that the reduced force would be unable to fulfill its duties. Nevertheless, the cost-cutting measures prevailed. Chand arrived in Windhoek in late February with an advance group of peacekeepers.[10]

Death and legacy[edit]

Chand died in New Delhi on 3 November 2003 at the age of 87.[citation needed]

Dates of rank[edit]

Insignia Rank Component Date of rank
British Army (1920-1953) OF-1a.svg Second Lieutenant British Indian Army 1 February 1938 (seniority from 31 January 1937)[11]
British Army (1920-1953) OF-1b.svg Lieutenant British Indian Army 24 February 1939[11]
British Army (1920-1953) OF-2.svg Captain British Indian Army 24 November 1941 (acting)[11]
24 January 1942 (temporary)[11]
30 November 1942 (war-substantive)[11]
31 January 1945 (substantive)[11]
British Army (1920-1953) OF-3.svg Major British Indian Army 31 August 1942 (acting)[11]
30 November 1942 (temporary)[11]
British Army (1920-1953) OF-2.svg Captain Indian Army 15 August 1947[note 1][12]
Major of the Indian Army.svg Major Indian Army 26 January 1950 (recommissioning and change in insignia)[12]
Lieutenant Colonel of the Indian Army.svg Lieutenant Colonel Indian Army 31 January 1951 (substantive)[13]
Colonel of the Indian Army.svg Colonel Indian Army 31 January 1955 (substantive)[14]
Brigadier of the Indian Army.svg Brigadier Indian Army 3 October 1952 (acting)[15]
31 January 1960 (substantive)[16]
Major General of the Indian Army.svg Major General Indian Army 10 March 1962 (substantive)[17]
Lieutenant General of the Indian Army.svg Lieutenant General Indian Army 1970

Notes[edit]

  1. ↑ 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."

Citations[edit]

  1. ↑ "Lieutenant-General Prem Chand". The Telegraph. 20 December 2003. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 International Who's Who 2003, p. 1353.
  3. ↑ Khanduri 2005.
  4. ↑ Singh 2005, p. 229.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Condell, Diana (10 November 2003). "Obituary: Lieut Gen Dewan Prem Chand, General at the sharp end of UN peacekeeping operations". The Guardian.
  6. ↑ Army Training Command 1997, p. 40.
  7. ↑ Doyle, Sambanis, 2006, Making War and Building Peace, p. 273
  8. ↑ Army Training Command 1997, pp. 39–40.
  9. ↑ MacQueen 2014, p. 114.
  10. ↑ MacQueen 2014, p. 115.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 11.4 11.5 11.6 11.7 Indian Army List, August 1947 (Special ed.). Government of India Press. 1947. p. 231.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 "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.
  13. ↑ "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)". The Gazette of India. 9 June 1951. p. 109.
  14. ↑ "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)". The Gazette of India. 23 April 1955. p. 84.
  15. ↑ "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)". The Gazette of India. 8 November 1952. p. 247.
  16. ↑ "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)". The Gazette of India. 1 October 1960. p. 255.
  17. ↑ "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)". The Gazette of India. 12 January 1963. p. 11.

References[edit]

Stub icon

This Indian military-related biographical article is a stub. You can help Bharatpedia by expanding it.

Retrieved from "https://en.bharatpedia.org/index.php?title=Dewan_Prem_Chand&oldid=372349"