FIELD MARSHAL K M CARIAPPA. OBE. FIRST Indian COMMANDER IN CHIEF ,FREE INDIAFM Cariappa hailed from madikere kodugu in the stare of karnataka. He was commissioned on. 1 dec 1919 and after shuttling between some units he settled in 1/7 Rajputs. he rose in service and during ww ii served in Iraq, Iran. Syria and burmah. While serving in 10 inf div he earned mention in dispatches. in 1942,he commanded 7 rajput bn and became first Indian officer to command a bn. he was awarded OBE while working as AQMG in burmah in 26 inf div ... for his devoted service. Back in India , he became a brigadier in waziristan and was successful in controlling the violent tribes. cariappa was instrumental in improving living conditions of INA soldiers and many officers and men of INA were released based on his, recommendations. He was promoted as lt gen and posted as Army cdr of eastern command. But soon was called back to delhi due to grim situation in Kashmir. he took over as GOC in c of delhi and east punjab command. after taking command ,he renamed it as western command.He played significant part in the 1948 indo pak war and saved Kashmir from the invaders. At times ,he even rejected directives of Army HQ and launched attacks in certain sectors that saved kashmir. India could HAVE taken over POK easily. However Pm Nehru refered the matter to UN and till date ,the issue has not been settled and it was a greatest blunder of jawaharlal Nehru which is bleeding India.He was appointed as commander in chief in 1949 succeeding Lt gen sir Roy butcher. he refused to take INA soldiers into army and thus he kept army free of politics. he however accepted the slogan jai hind into army.He also refused reservations in army to the Sc and ST categories that were introduced in govt services. gen Cariappa retired on 14 jan 1953 after four years of service as C IN C . He served as High commissioner of Australia and New Zealand from 1953 to 1956.He was made a field marshal on 28 April 1986.. he passed away on 15 may 1993.