Former COAS General VN Sharma cremated with full military honours
New Delhi, August 1
The Indian Army paid its final tribute to General Vishwa Nath Sharma, a former Chief of the Army Staff.
His last rites were conducted with full military honours today at Brar Square Crematorium, New Delhi. General Sharma passed away yesterday morning in New Delhi at the age of 97.
General Dhiraj Seth, Chief of the Army Staff, on behalf of all ranks of the Indian Army, laid a wreath and offered his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family. General VK Singh (Retired), Governor of Mizoram and former Chief of the Army Staff, also laid a wreath and attended the funeral.
The solemn ceremony was attended by the former Chief of Defence Staff, former Chiefs of the Army Staff, the Chief of the Air Staff, the Chief of the Naval Staff, serving and retired senior military officers, veterans and family members, who gathered to pay their final respects to the distinguished soldier. General Sharma was born in London, United Kingdom, on June 4, 1930.
He was the younger brother of Major Somnath Sharma, recipient of India's first Param Vir Chakra, and of Lt Gen Surendra Nath Sharma, former Engineer-in-Chief of the Indian Army. He joined the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun, as part of the 5th Regular Course and was commissioned into 16 Light Cavalry on June 4, 1950.
He joined 66 Armoured Regiment as Second-in-Command at the time of its raising on September 1, 1966 and assumed command of the Regiment in June 1968 as its second Commandant, relinquishing command in February 1970. Through his career, General Sharma held various staff appointments including Colonel General Staff of an Armoured Division, Brigadier General Staff of a Corps, Director General of Military Operations at Army Headquarters and Commandant of the College of Combat (now Army War College), Mhow.
He commanded a Mountain Brigade in Mizoram, an Armoured Brigade in Jaipur, a Mountain Division in Sikkim, a Corps in Mizoram and Eastern Command in Kolkata, prior to taking over as Chief of the Army Staff from April 30, 1988 to June 30, 1990.
General Sharma was the recipient of numerous distinguished awards during his professional career. Post his retirement, continuing the philanthropic legacy of both his father and father-in-law, General Sharma dedicated four decades to serving underprivileged communities through a free tuberculosis clinic in Himachal Pradesh.
Travelling by ambulance to remote villages and often trekking to high-altitude settlements alongside his medical team, he brought essential healthcare to people with limited access to medical services. His unwavering commitment to compassionate service inspired future generations of the family, with his son and other relatives carrying forward this tradition of public service. General Sharma's life of distinguished service, courage and dedication to the Nation will continue to inspire generations of soldiers.
— ANI
Reader Comments
It's remarkable that his brother was awarded the first Param Vir Chakra, and he also rose to become the COAS. An entire family dedicated to the nation's defense. Rest in peace, General Sharma. Bharat Mata ki Jai 🇮🇳
Full military honours - deeply deserved. The fact that he took an ambulance to remote villages shows his humility despite having held the highest office in the Indian Army. A lesson in service for all of us.
His story is a great reminder that true service doesn't end with retirement. He chose to spend his golden years serving the sick, and that says a lot about his character. My deepest condolences to his family. This also makes me think - so many of our veterans are doing such noble work, but we rarely hear about them. We should do more to celebrate their contributions beyond the battlefield.
Salute to the General sahab. From the armoured regiment to leading the entire army - he did it all with distinction. And then to quietly serve in Himachal for 40 years, away from limelight - that's the Indian Army ethos at its best. Jai Hind 🇮🇳
His legacy reminds me of the values that hold our nation together - duty, honour, and selfless service. May his soul rest in peace, and may his family find strength in knowing that he served India in the most meaningful way possible. A true inspiration for the young officers of today.
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