Joginder Singh Dhillon | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Birth name | Joginder Singh Dhillon |
| Born | (1914-11-19)19 November 1914 |
| Died | 20 November 2003(2003-11-20) (aged 89) |
| Allegiance |  British India India |
| Branch |  British Indian Army Indian Army |
| Years of service | 1936–1970 |
| Rank |  Lieutenant-General |
| Service number | IC-177 |
| Unit | |
| Awards | Padma Bhushan |
Lieutenant GeneralJoginder Singh Dhillon (19 November 1914 – 20 November 2003) was an Indianmilitary officer and the first recipient from the military to be awarded India's third highest civilian award, thePadma Bhushan, for his role in theIndo-Pakistani War of 1965, where he was the general officer commanding the XI corps.
Dhillon served overseas in the British Indian Army after his 1939 graduation with honours fromThomason Engineering College inRoorkee. His active service during World War II occurred in Burma, Iran and Iraq, following which he spent some time at theStaff College inQuetta. He served as commander of a field company in Malaya during 1945–1946 and then briefly of another inSurabaya.[1]
From 1946 to 1947, Dhillon served as a staff officer in the Engineer-in-Chief's Office and then returned to Quetta as a garrison engineer. He was promoted to lieutenant-colonel in late 1947, becoming GSO1 in the Engineer-in-Chief Branch from October 1947 to February 1948, before being put in charge of the regimental centre of theBengal Sappers in Roorkee. This centre was soon to become a part of thenewly-created Pakistan and thus there were significant administrative preparations during his time there. Among his significant changes, other than those related to the forthcoming split with Pakistan, were measures to endcaste-ist practices and to encourage joint celebration by Sikhs and Hindus of their respective significant religious days.[1]
Jawaharlal Nehru visited the Roorkee centre in 1949 and was so impressed that he asked for Dhillon to command the firstRepublic Day Parade held inDelhi in 1950.[1] On 6 December 1949, by then a major (temporary lieutenant-colonel and acting colonel) Dhillon was promoted to acting brigadier and given command of a brigade.[2]
Dhillon then commanded two infantry brigades and also served as director of technical development and director of weapons and equipment at army headquarters before being promoted to major general in 1957. As major general, he was selected to attend a course atImperial Defence College in the United Kingdom, and returned to a posting at theNational Defence College. In August 1960, he was given command of a division, and then he became Deputy Chief of General Staff at Army headquarters when he was promoted to GOC, XI corps in Punjab.[1] He was promoted to substantive lieutenant-general on 17 January 1964.[3]
Dhillon, as commander of XI Corps, was responsible for the Punjab sector during the 1965 India-Pakistan War. He is credited in producing and conducting the battle plan that destroyed or captured over 100 superior Pakistani battle tanks, turning a potentially dangerous defeat into victory, as the Pakistani tanks were poised to head for theBeas Bridge and then on to Delhi.[1]
Frank Moraes, the editor-in-chief of theIndian Express, who spent time on the frontlines, wrote:
I was fortunate to spend some time with Lt General J.S. Dhillon, the corps commander in this sector, and to note and understand how greatly the spirit of all, from jawans to divisional commanders, depends on the calibre of the corps commander. Jogi Dhillon is an enthusiastic, intelligent soldier with a physical vigour, drive and combativeness which enable him to be extraordinarily mobile over his wide command and an inspiring presence and example to his officers and men.[1]
Dhillon was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 1966[1] for his role in the 1965 Indo Pak war won decisively by India, becoming the first Army officer to receive the award.[4] The citation given for the award was as follows:
In this Sector, the enemy launched repeated counter-attacks and the conduct of day to day operations called for great tenacity, strong determination and robust mind. Lieutenant General Dhillon displayed all these qualities in abundance and the success achieved by his Corps was to a great extent due to the personality of the General officer.[5]
Following the war, Dhillon was promoted to Army Commander of the Central Command, from where he retired on 4 August 1970.[1]
Dhillon was married for 62 years to his wife Minnie, who survived him after his death, aged 89, on 20 November 2003. They had three daughters.[1]
| Insignia | Rank | Component | Date of rank |
|---|---|---|---|
_OF-1a.svg) | Second Lieutenant | British Indian Army | 1 February 1936[6] |
_OF-1b.svg) | Lieutenant | British Indian Army | 15 April 1938[6] |
_OF-2.svg) | Captain | British Indian Army | 1940 (acting) 1 December 1940 (temporary)[6] 23 August 1942 (war-substantive)[6] 3 February 1943 (substantive)[6] |
_OF-3.svg) | Major | British Indian Army | 1 December 1940 (acting)[6] 23 August 1942 (temporary)[6] |
 | Captain | Indian Army | 15 August 1947[note 1][7] |
_OF-4.svg) | Lieutenant-Colonel | Indian Army | September 1947 (temporary)[note 1] |
| Major | Indian Army | 1948 (substantive)[note 1] |
_OF-5.svg) | Colonel | Indian Army | 1949 (acting)[note 1][2] |
_OF-6.svg) | Brigadier | Indian Army | 6 December 1949 (acting)[note 1][2] |
 | Major | Indian Army | 26 January 1950 (recommissioning and change in insignia)[7] |
 | Lieutenant-Colonel | Indian Army | 3 February 1953[8] |
 | Colonel | Indian Army | 3 February 1957[9] |
 | Brigadier | Indian Army | 1953 (acting)[8] 3 February 1958 (substantive)[10] |
 | Major General | Indian Army | 15 January 1958 (acting)[11] 1 June 1960 (substantive)[12] |
| Lieutenant-General | Indian Army | 23 November 1963 (acting)[13] 17 January 1964 (substantive)[3] |
| Military offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | General Officer CommandingXI Corps 1963–1966 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | General Officer Commanding-in-Chief Central Command 1966–1970 | |