On Army Day, Watch This Interview Of Field Marshal K M Cariappa From Doordarshan Archives

Field Marshal K M Cariappa was the first Indian commander-in-chief of the Indian Army. He served in that critical role from 15 January 1949 until 14 January 1953.

He played a key role in the transition of the Indian military from colonial to independent rule, and his legacy continues to be celebrated and honoured on Army Day each year.

During the India-Pakistan War of 1947, Cariappa led the Indian Army in Kashmir. He was often asked why the Army did not evict the Pakistanis from Kashmir.

He used to reiterate that the government-dictated policy, and the Army, was quite confident of clearing Kashmir, but the orders were to "cease fire midnight 31 December/1 January 1948-49."

In 1951, when Chinese troops were caught with maps showing parts of the North-East Frontier Agency as part of China, Cariappa cautioned Jawaharlal Nehru of China's intentions, but the then prime minister ridiculed him: "It is not for the Army to decide who the nation's enemies would be."

Despite the lack of recognition at the time, Cariappa's warnings about China's ambitions proved prescient in the long run.

On Army Day, as Indian soldiers stand steadfast along the Line of Actual Control, locked in a tense standoff with China, watch this interview of Field Marshal Cariappa from the Doordarshan Archives.