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As a soldier, he had a stellar career which, ironically, ended in controversy that wasn’t of his own doing. But Lieutenant General SK Sinha, the first person to be superseded for the post of Army Chief in 1983, left an indelible mark in public life as well, first as the Governor of Assam and then in J&K during turbulent phases.
Commissioned in 1944, he was actively involved in some events in the immediate wake of the Partition. During the first armed conflict between India and newly formed Pakistan over Kashmir, he played a role in the airlift to Srinagar in October 1947. And later wrote a book on it called Operation Rescue, the first detailed account of the events by an Indian.
In a military career spanning nearly four decades, Lt Gen Sinha donned several roles, including that of Adjutant General. That was a period that led to the birth of the Army Welfare Housing Organization. He also successfully argued the armed forces’ case before the third pay commission, which shaped the financial benefits and service conditions of the forces.
Speaking to Bharat Shakti Editor-in-Chief Nitin A. Gokhale, Gen Sinha’s son and former diplomat Yash Sinha went down the memory lane. “He was kind, considerate but a strict disciplinarian as well. For instance, he would want us to be ready for breakfast at 8.00 in the morning. He was a family man, the eldest in his generation in the extended Sinha family, and was deeply loved and respected.”
As the Vice-Chief, it was widely anticipated that Lt Gen Sinha would succeed Gen KV Krishna Rao as the Army Chief in 1983. But he was passed up for the promotion, as then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi chose AS Vaidya. That came as a shock to many in the Army. Later, Lt Gen Sinha opted for premature retirement. That was the end of his military innings. Years later, he would become the Governor of Assam and then J&K during turbulent times. Even in public life, the ex-serviceman excelled.
An extremely well-read person, he had an eye for detail, was a good listener and would go beyond the call of duty in public life, not restricting himself to the cosy confines of the Raj Bhawan. He would have turned 100 on January 7, 2026.
