Syed Mahdi Hasnain

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Major General

Syed Mahdi Hasnain

PVSM
Allegiance
Service/branch
RankMajor General
Unit1 Garhwal Rifles
Commands held
AwardsParam Vishisht Seva Medal
RelationsLieutenant General Syed Ata Hasnain (Son)

Major General Syed Mahdi Hasnain, PVSM was a former General officer of the Indian Army. He was the raising commanding officer of the 4th Battalion, The Garhwal Rifles.[1] He was commissioned in the British Indian Army in the 1st Royal Garhwal Rifles in 1943.

Early life and education[edit | edit source]

He obtained his Master of Arts (MA) and LLB from the University of Lucknow.[1] 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[edit | edit source]

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[edit | edit source]

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[edit | edit source]

Insignia Rank Component Date of rank
Viceroy's Commissioned Officer British Indian Army 26 February 1941[2]
British Army OF-1a.svg Second Lieutenant British Indian Army 28 February 1943 (emergency)[2]
British Army OF-1b.svg Lieutenant British Indian Army 28 August 1943 (war-substantive)[2]
28 February 1944 (substantive)
British Army OF-1b.svg Lieutenant Indian Army 15 August 1947[note 1][3]
British Army OF-2.svg Captain Indian Army 28 February 1949 (substantive)[note 1][4]
Captain of the Indian Army.svg Captain Indian Army 26 January 1950 (recommissioning and change in insignia)[3][5]
Major of the Indian Army.svg Major Indian Army 28 February 1956[6]
Lieutenant Colonel of the Indian Army.svg Lieutenant-Colonel Indian Army
Colonel of the Indian Army.svg Colonel Indian Army 22 December 1965[7]
Brigadier of the Indian Army.svg Brigadier Indian Army 5 October 1967 (substantive)[8]
Major General of the Indian Army.svg Major General Indian Army 3 June 1969 (acting)[9]
2 February 1970 (substantive)[10]

Notes[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 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."

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 http://purpleberet.com/details/onceupon_detail.aspx?id=13
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Indian Army List (Special Edition) 1947. Government of India Press. 1947. p. 754.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "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.
  4. ↑ "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)". The Gazette of India. 2 July 1949. p. 917.
  5. ↑ "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)". The Gazette of India. 11 February 1950. p. 227.
  6. ↑ "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)". The Gazette of India. 23 June 1956. p. 127.
  7. ↑ "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)". The Gazette of India. 22 July 1967. p. 558.
  8. ↑ "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)". The Gazette of India. 10 February 1968. p. 98.
  9. ↑ "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)". The Gazette of India. 2 August 1969. p. 739.
  10. ↑ "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)". The Gazette of India. 18 April 1970. p. 509.
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