17-gun salute for Chief of Defence Staff Gen Bipin Rawat

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, December 10

India’s first Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat and his wife Madhulika Rawat were cremated with full military honours and a 17-gun salute at the Brar Square crematorium here on Friday evening. They were killed along with 11 armed forces’ personnel in a helicopter crash near Coonoor in Tamil Nadu on Wednesday.

As millions watched on television and hundreds packed into Brar Square, the couple’s last rites were performed by their daughters Tarini and Kritika. General Rawat and his wife were cremated on a single pyre. Only three of the 13 bodies have been identified so far. Earlier in the morning, Brigadier LS Lidder, who was also on the Mi-17V5 chopper and was defence assistant to the CDS, was cremated with honours at Brar Square.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju, Ambassador of France to India Emmanuel Lenain and British High Commissioner to India Alex Ellis were among those who paid tributes to General Rawat and his wife at the crematorium.

Defence officials of several countries, including Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Nepal and Bangladesh, also paid tributes. Earlier, the mortal remains of the General were kept at his official residence to allow people to pay their last respects. Union Home Minister Amit Shah, National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and a host of other dignitaries laid wreaths.

The body of General Rawat was taken in a decorated Army vehicle to the crematorium where the buglers played the ‘Last Post’, a traditional sombre military tune. Six officers — two each from the Army, Navy and the Air Force — of the rank of Lieutenant General or equivalent turned pallbearers and 800 service personnel were deployed for the cremations. A ceremonial battery of 2233 Field Regiment provided the gun carriage.

As the first CDS, General Rawat was tasked with bringing in theatre command and jointness among the three services. He had been pushing towards his goal with a tough approach and specific timelines over the last two years. The Lidder family also spoke briefly of their grief. Geetika Lidder, wife of Brigadier Lidder (52), who belonged to Nawanshahr, told reporters after the cremation that she felt more pain than any pride. “Life is too long to spend but if this is the wish of God, we will live with it. This is not the way we wanted him back… It is a big loss,” she added.

Was my best friend

I am happy he did not have to suffer. It is a national loss. My father was a hero, my motivator. He was my best friend. Aashna, Brig LS Lidder’s daughter

Her daughter Aashna Lidder said she was 17 and would keep all the good memories of the 17 years she spent with her father. The lone survivor in the crash was Group Captain Varun Singh, who is undergoing treatment in Bengaluru.

Among those killed were Lt Col Harjinder Singh, Wing Commander PS Chauhan, Sqn Ldr K Singh, Naiks Gursewak Singh, Jitender Kumar, L/Nks Vivek, BS Teja, Havildar Satpal, JWOs Das and Pradeep.

Daughters perform general’s last rites

• General Rawat’s daughters Tarini and Kritika conducted the last rites
• 800 service personnel in attendance for military funeral
• Ceremonial battery of 2233 Field Regiment provided gun carriage