Maj Gen Kuldip Singh Bajwa (Retd), born 07 December 1924, hails from a family of Punjab chiefs with its roots going back six hundred years in Punjab, and before that another four centuries in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan. The clan Bajwa, and its family seat at Kalaswala, District Sialkot now in Pakistan was founded by a Bhati Rajput from the ruling family of Jaisalmer. The Bajwa family has been prominent as soldiers and statesmen in the turbulent history of Punjab. Gen Bajwa joined the Indian Military Academy Dehra Doon on 2 May 1945.
General Kuldip Bajwa, with a heritage rooted in nine centuries of military traditions, was commissioned into the Indian Army on 22 December 1946, from the First Post War Regular Course, IMA, Dehra Doon into the Bengal Sappers and within six months transferred to Bombay Sappers. In the course of his service, he acquired the rare distinction of having served in three of the premier fighting arms of the army, the engineers, the infantry (3 Jat), and the artillery. He graduated from the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, in 1960, and in February 1972 he was selected to command infantry formations.
During his service of nearly thirty-five years, he had held a variety of command and staff appointments. He took part in operations in Jammu and Kashmir 1947-48; raised his own regiment and fought it at Kargil 1965; commanded an artillery brigade in the Shakargarh Sector in the India-Pakistan War 1971; commanded an infantry brigade and an infantry division; and was chief of staff 4 Corps as well as 11 Corps before leaving the army on 31 October 1979. Having shed his spurs, he now directs his energies to promote peace and friendship between India and Pakistan
Wrote for service journals while in the Army. After leaving the Army started writing a weekly column first in the Tribune (Chandigarh) and then the Indian Express, followed by a fortnightly column in the Tribune. Except for a short break during the middle years wrote the column regularly till November 1999. Also wrote editorials and special supplements dealing with national security in national papers. His three books, ‘The Falcon in my Name-A Soldiers Diary’; ‘Jammu and Kashmir War 1947-48, Political and Military Perspective’, and ‘Dynamics of Soldiering’ have been well received.
Now writing a trilogy on India’s National Security- ‘India’s National Security-Challenges and Responses’ dealing with the period 1947-66 released already; ‘India’s national Security-Military Triumph and Political Failure’ covering 1966-2008 by the end of 2008; ‘India Emerging as a Global Power’ by middle of 2009.
Permanent home address :-
618 Sector 33B,160 020.
Phones 0172- 6542618, 4646618; 09216571224
Email ID. generalbajwa@gmail.com
genbajwa@yahoo.com
