In a first in India’s military history, the Army and Navy chiefs are from the same state, school and batch. In fact, they used to share the same bench in the classroom.
Chief of Army Staff Gen Upendra Dwivedi, who took charge on Sunday, and Admiral Dinesh Kumar Tripathi are alumni of Sainik School Rewa (1973 batch) in MP. Their story is like one of brothers beyond blood. They have been friends since Class 5 and went through the gruelling regimen at National Defence Academy together.
Sainik School Rewa has produced more than 700 military officers, including at least 25 of General rank, two of whom are now four-star Service chiefs. “It is a very proud moment for us, our school and our state. It’s for the first time that chiefs of two wings of armed forces are classmates and schoolmates and from the same state,” said Dr RS Pandey, senior master at Sainik School Rewa.
The school principal was invited to the ceremony where Gen Dwivedi took charge of India’s 1.3 million-strong Army. Several of his classmates were there, too.
“Our batch is a closeknit family. Even today, 18 of us are here as our batchmate and friend Gen Dwivedi takes charge as Chief of Army Staff,” Prof Amit Tiwari, a classmate, said.
“Both of them were very disciplined, extremely focused and stayed away from controversies. They were never a part of any groupism, which is normal during school days,” said Tiwari, a former dean of School of Life Sciences at APS University, Rewa, and currently with TRS College, Rewa.
School records of Gen Dwivedi say he was an above average student. Mischievous as a boy and aggressive as a young infantry officer in J&K Rifles, he held very key appointments in his illustrious military career, commanding a battalion in Op Rakshak and a sector in Op Rhino before being made Director General-Infantry.
Batchmates remember the two Service chiefs as being very modest and punctual, who never said a thing loudly but made themselves heard. Also, both of them have stayed connected with their alma mater. The school has been celebrating ever since Admiral Tripathi took over as Navy chief in May. Gen Dwivedi’s elevation has doubled the joy.
