“General, state-of-the-art equipment adds to the might of the Army and the process of modernisation must keep pace with time. What lends a cutting edge to the weapon, however, is the man behind the machine,” was the response by Capt Praveen Bakshi to a question by the GOC Armoured Division on the impact of newly introduced T-72 tanks in a future war.

It was in 1986. Capt Bakshi, who is now a lieutenant general and was recently superseded by a fellow general for the post of Chief of Army Staff (CoAS), was one of the first officers nominated to go to a friendly foreign country to get acquainted with this battle-winning weapon. As a nodal expert, he would thus be the fulcrum of conversion process of the army to this high-technology machine. While travelling back to the headquarters, the GOC, impressed by Capt Bakshi’s professionalism, remarked to his ADC (self), “This Captain will go places.” We, the younger lot, were not surprised by the GOC’s pronouncement. In the words of one of his batchmates Commander Rohit Kaushik (retd) of the Indian Navy, “We had a premonition that he would achieve heights. Doughty, competent, fair, affable and cool, he was just different. Indian Defence is blessed to have him at the helm.” Lt Gen Bakshi, blessed with savoir faire, has an uncanny ability to always remain a step ahead of the fast-evolving environment. Computers were making a debut in the army during the early 90s. I remember Maj Bakshi, our downstairs neighbour at a military station, would sit on his computer for hours to get grip of the newly introduced gizmo. It was fun and challenge playing squash with him. A fitness freak, his “funda” was, “Only a healthy body can withstand the pressures that make the grey matter flourish.” Now, Lt Gen Bakshi, a Cavalier is likely to be the first CDS (Chief of the Defence Staff) of the Indian Defence Forces. The CDS will be the single-point advisor to the government of the day on all matters of defence. The armed forces, in recent times, are increasingly being subjected to a variety of challenges.The incessant efforts by the powers that be, to undermine and short shrift the armed forces in matters of pay, perks, status and credibility need an effective stance.

Thankfully, here we have a thoroughbred officer, who in the words of city-based Maj Gen SS Grewal , a veteran skinner’s horseman, “Praveen’s soldierly but amicable demeanour, coupled with an exceptional equipoise and professional brilliance will see him tackle all issues like hot knife in butter.” On having missed the boat to be the next COAS, I messaged my emotions to him to which he replied in his characteristic demeanour,” Thx Avnish… We take this in our stride..Looking forward to the future with positivity… for better things to come.” A soldierly poise indeed.