Indian Army commemorates late General SF Rodrigues with inaugural Memorial Lecture

In a tribute to the late General Sunith Francis Rodrigues, former Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) and Governor of Punjab, the Indian Army organized the inaugural 'General SF Rodrigues Memorial Lecture' at the Manekshaw Centre. The event, marking what would have been General Rodrigues' 90th birthday, was attended by General Manoj Pande, the current Chief of the Army Staff, along with senior serving and veteran officers of the Indian Army.

General Rodrigues, born in Mumbai in 1933, had a distinguished military career that began when he joined the first course at the Joint Services Wing in 1949. Commissioned into the Regiment of Artillery in 1952, he served in various Field and Self-Propelled Artillery units. Notably, he became an Artillery Aviation Pilot in 1960, actively participating in the 1962 and 1965 wars. He held several key appointments, including Vice Chief of the Army Staff and General Officer Commanding in Chief of Central and Western Commands, before becoming the COAS, serving from 1990 to 1993. 

A legacy of change and modernisation 

During the lecture, General Pande highlighted General Rodrigues' significant contributions to the Indian Army. Notably, he initiated the induction of Women Officers into streams other than the Medical Corps in 1992, a milestone that led to over 1700 Women Officers in the Indian Army today, with many granted Permanent Commission and command assignments. Additionally, the COAS mentioned that under General Rodrigues' leadership, Indian Army personnel's involvement in United Nations missions surged from eight personnel in 1991 to 6300 in 1993, demonstrating India's growing international peacekeeping role. 

General Rodrigues was known for his exemplary leadership, commitment to military ethics, ethos, and values. He played a pivotal role in accelerating the modernization plan of the Indian Army. The memorial lecture served as a fitting tribute to honor his remarkable contributions to both the Indian Army and the nation.