Former Western Army Commander passes away
Lt Gen S Pattabhiraman, former General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Command and later Vice Chief of the Army Staff, passed away at the age of 78.
A sapper officer, he was also the Colonel Commandant of the Bombay Sappers, and had hung up his boots in December 2006 after a career spanning 40 years.
His appointments included Defence Attache to Ankara, Turkey and the first Director General of Information Systems of the Indian Army.
As the vice chief he had been instrumental in ensuring a high state of operational preparedness at all times, besides conceptualising the Army’s vision for the decade ahead.
In association with Management Development Institute, Gurgaon, he provided impetus to senior officers joining the corporate world as independent directors by steering a week long course on the subject.
He also steered the affairs of the Bombay Engineering Group and Centre, Pune, for a period of three years as the Colonel Commandant.
After retirement he also had a stint as an administrative member of the Armed Forces Tribunal.
Officers who worked with him remember him as a thorough professional and a humble warm-hearted person who was down to the earth, amiable and approachable in all matters.
