General K. S. Thimayya

General Kodandera Subbayya Thimayya(General K. S. Thimayya), Padma Bhushan, DSO, was the sixth Chief of the Army Staff of the Indian Army from 1957 to 1961. He had an impeccable combat record and is considered one of the most distinguished soldiers of the Indian Army. He was born in Madikeri, Coorg in Karnataka on 31 March 1906.

General Thimayya was commissioned into the Indian Army on 04 February 1926, and posted to the 4th Battalion of the 19th Hyderabad Regiment (later 4 KUMAON). He commanded the 8th Battalion of the 19th Hyderabad Regiment during the Second World War in Burma. Under his outstanding leadership, the Battalion achieved notable success in the Battle of KANGAW. He was awarded the coveted Distinguished Service Order (DSO) and a Mention-in-Dispatches. He represented the country during the surrender of the Japanese in Singapore and the Philippines.

He took over the command of the 19 Infantry Division in Jammu & Kashmir where he played a pivotal role in driving the raiders and the Pakistan Army out of the Kashmir Valley. Personally leading the surprise attack on Zoji La on 1 November 1948 by a Brigade with Stuart Light Tanks of the 7th Light Cavalry, he succeeded in driving out the entrenched raiders and Pakistan Army regulars, resulting in the eventual capture of Dras, Kargil, and Leh.

Subsequently, General Thimayya served as the Commandant of the prestigious Indian Military Academy, Dehradun and on 1 October 1951, was appointed the Quartermaster General. He was specially selected by the United Nations to head the Neutral Nations Repatriation Commission in Korea, where his role was widely acknowledged by the international community. In 1954, he was awarded the Padma Bhushan for his distinguished services.

General K. S. Thimayya, DSO assumed charge of the Indian Army, as the sixth Chief of the Army Staff, on 07 May 1957, and retired on 07 May 1961. After retirement, based on his stellar and notable performance in Korea, he was appointed as the Commander of UN Forces in Cyprus (UNFICYP) in July 1964. He died during his tenure at UNFICYP on 07 December 1965.

General Thimayya’s accomplishments in all domains, be it military career, diplomatic assignment, international cooperation, or civil administration, make him one of the most distinguished personalities of India. General K. S. Thimayya, DSO was and remains the source of inspiration to generations of Indians.

The Department of Posts is pleased to issue a Commemorative Postage Stamp on General K. S. Thimayya, DSO and salutes his immense contribution to the country and to the pride of every Indian.