Baggavalli Somashekar Raju is a serving Lieutenant General of the Indian Army. He became the 44th Vice Chief of Staff of the Army on May 1, 2022. BS Raju is also known to have enhanced communication between the Indian Army and Kashmir Awam. He was also praised for his humanitarian approach in dealing with terrorists in Kashmir. He also made significant changes and improvements in the 15 Corps of the Indian Army; making it more effective.
Wiki/Biography
Baggavalli Somashekar Raju was born on Saturday, October 19, 1963, in Baggavalli village, Ajjampura, Chikmagalur district, Karnataka state, India (age 58; as of 2021). He wanted to join the Indian Army since his childhood. After passing the All India Level Entrance Examination; BS Raju joined the prestigious Sainik School in Bijapur, Karnataka. After completing his studies in 1979, he took the entrance examination for the National Defense Academy. He joined NDA in December 1980. After completing his training at NDA; in 1983, he joined Indian Military Academy where he underwent one year of training. On December 15, 1984, he was drafted into the Indian Army.
appearance
Height (approximately): 5′ 9″
Hair color: gray
Eye color: light brown
family
Baggavalli Somashekar Raju belongs to a Kannada family.
parents
His father’s name is Somashekarappa Raju and he is a lecturer by profession. His mother’s name is Vimala Raju.
wife and children
His wife’s name was Shakuntala Raju. He has a son working as a computer engineer in the United States. He graduated from the National University of Singapore. He also has a daughter who is also an engineer.
Profession
Started a brilliant career in Jat Corps
BS Raju serves in the 11th Battalion, Jat Regiment. While serving in the army, he held several important battalion-level positions, such as company commander, adjutant and second-in-command. While serving in the Jat Regiment, BS Raju qualified as a helicopter pilot and after completing the training, he became a qualified helicopter pilot. He also served with the United Nations Mission in Somalia, conducting numerous aerial reconnaissance and patrol missions. In Somalia, BS Raju served with the Indian Army Aviation Corps. After being promoted to Major, BS Raju was appointed as Brigade Major, which is a very important position. BS Raju also participated in Operation Palakram from 2001 to 2002. In 2006, he was promoted to the rank of Colonel and went on to command the 15th Battalion, Jat Regiment.
Holding important positions in the Indian Army
After completing command of 15 Jat, BS Raju was appointed as Instructor at Defense Staff College. He was also posted as an instructor at the Army War College, Mohau, Madhya Pradesh. BS Raju was posted as Military Secretary (Law) at Army Headquarters, Delhi when he was serving as Colonel.
Climbing the Promotional Ladder
BS Raju was promoted to the rank of Brigadier General on June 13, 2011. After promotion, BS Raju was posted as Brigade Commander, Uri Brigade. In 2014, after completing his tenure as Brigade Commander, he was appointed as Brigadier General (BGS), White Knights Corps, Indian Army, Kashmir. BS Raju was promoted to the rank of Major General on March 27, 2017. After promotion, BS Raju was posted as Deputy Director General Military Operations (DDGMO). Later, he was posted to Army Headquarters, Delhi as Chief of General Staff (DGSD). Subsequently, he was sent to Bhutan as the Commander of the Indian Military Training Team to guide the training of Royal Bhutan Army (RBA) and Royal Bhutan Bodyguard (RBG) soldiers. BS Raju performed his duties so well that he was appointed as the Force Commander of Victor Force, the elite counter-insurgency force of the Indian Army.
BS Raju as Victor Force Commander
In 2019, BS Raju was promoted to Lieutenant General and took over the 15th Corps of the Indian Army as the Corps Commander. He served as Corps Commander from March 1, 2020 to May 17, 2021.
BS Raju takes over command of 15 Corps from Lieutenant General KJS Dhillon
BS Raju for great work in Kashmir Valley.
Burhan Wani, the poster boy of the banned terrorist organization Hizbul Mujahideen, was killed by the Victor Force of the Indian Army when BS Raju was the commander of the Victor Force. He also personally oversaw the bringing to justice of the killers of Kashmiri Army officer Lieutenant Omar Faiyaz. It was through the efforts of BS Raju that Majid Khan, a young and talented footballer from Kashmir, was rescued from the hands of militants who forced him to become a militant.
After being appointed as the Commander of 15 Corps, BS Raju emphasized on cultivating closer human relations between the Indian Army and the locals of Kashmir. He also focused more on upholding human values. BS Raju said in an interview,
The military is every civilian’s friend, a message aptly conveyed by my predecessor. Every attempt I make is to continue this practice. “
As a corps commander, BS Raju changed the traditional method of locating and killing militants on the spot. He adopted a more humanitarian attitude towards militants. Before a gun battle broke out with the militants, he ordered the field commander to give the trapped militants a chance to surrender. He also wants more rehabilitation and resettlement facilities for surrendered militants. BS Raju said in an interview,
The armed forces do not want to kill militants and every militant is given a chance to surrender. As I said, every loss of life is tragic. We don’t even want to kill the militants, we just give them a chance to surrender. Militants launch attacks in densely populated areas seeking to cause civilian casualties because it will attract attention. Civilian deaths provide fodder for the propaganda machine. Security forces showed restraint. Even for militants, we always offer the option of surrender. ”
His new humanitarian approach yielded great results. The total number of locals joining banned terror groups has dropped sharply, while the number of militants surrendering has increased significantly. BS Raju believes in directly reaching out and addressing the youth of Kashmir. BS Raju calls the youth an “angry generation”. He said in an interview,
My main message to young people is – you can come back and we will take care of you. In the past six months, seventeen lost people have returned and we will take care of them. My appeal to young people who have lost their way is to come back. They can return at any time, including during operations. They can call anyone, their parents, our helpline and we will organize their return. “
To enhance accountability of the Indian Army, BS Raju has established a feedback and grievance hotline number through which the local Kashmiri Awam can directly contact the 15 Corps Commander. He also started a program, “A Day with the Company Commander.” In this program, military personnel can meet locals and build rapport. The move is aimed at increasing the level of trust between the armed forces and the local people in Kashmir. The 15 Corps of the Indian Army under the command of BS Raju launched another program called “Khairiyat Patrol”. Under the scheme, the Indian Army will visit locals living in remote areas and assist them in any work that requires help. This has received even more emphasis during the COVID-19 pandemic. The 15 Corps also organized several sports and cultural events in Kashmir. These projects are organized to improve relations between local people in different areas. The Indian Army, under the auspices of Operation Sadbhavna, has opened a series of schools called Army Goodwill Schools. When BS Raju took over as Corps Commander, he introduced digital format of learning. He also emphasized the need to transform and improve teaching methods. Due to BS Raju’s innovative suggestions; the performance of students has improved in many aspects, especially those of classes 10 and 12.
Lieutenant General BS Raju with students of Kashmir School
Serves as Director of Military Operations (DGMO) and is appointed as Deputy Chief of Army Staff
BS Raju was appointed as Director of Military Operations in 2021. He was responsible for maintaining the operational readiness of the Indian Army along the Line of Actual Control; during the military standoff between China and India. During his tenure as DGMO, both India and Pakistan agreed to abide by the norms outlined in the 2003 ceasefire agreement. BS Raju said in an interview,
Observing the ceasefire is in the best interests of both India and Pakistan and is the need of the hour, and I hope the ceasefire will work. Locals living along the border will have the opportunity to live a normal life, which has been hampered in the past by numerous ceasefire violations. “
On May 1, 2022, Lieutenant General BS Raju took over as the Vice Chief of Army Staff, thereby becoming the second senior officer of the Indian Army. He took over the command from General Manoj Pande, who took over as the new Chief of Army Staff (COAS). He was relieved of his duties by Lieutenant General Suchindra Kumar on March 1, 2023.
General Naravane #COAS & all levels #IndianArmy Congratulations to Lieutenant General BS Raju on his appointment as Vice Chief of Army Staff #VCOAS of #IndianArmy. Lieutenant General BS Raju will take over #VCOAS May 1, 2022.#IndianArmy#InStrideWithTheFuture pic.twitter.com/kM6q6n3g67
— ADG PI – Indian Army (@adgpi) April 29, 2022
On March 1, 2023, BS Raju succeeded Lieutenant General Amardeep Singh Bhinder as the Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army’s South-West Command headquartered in Jaipur.
Awards, Honors, Achievements
- On November 22, 2022, the President of India awarded Lieutenant General BS Raju the Uttam Yudh Seva Medal.
President of India awards Uttam Yuddh Seva Medal to Lieutenant General BS Raju
Facts/Trivia
- BS Raju was very focused on education. In his hometown, he supports students who attend public schools and do well. Chairman of Baggavalli Gram Panchayat said in an interview:
After he took office, the village was filled with a festive atmosphere. Every year, Lt Gen Raju recognizes and supports the outstanding students of the village and provides them with uniforms, shoes and other academic requirements. We are very pleased with his promotion. “
- BS Raju’s stance on Pakistan has always been tough and clear. He said in an interview,
We are always ready to give them a befitting reply and we will always foil their (Pakistan’s) dangerous and evil plots. “
- During his tenure as Corps Commander, European representatives visited Jammu and Kashmir in accordance with the United Nations Charter.
European representatives pose with Lieutenant General BS Raju, Commander of 15 Corps in Kashmir
- On April 8, 2022, BS Raju launched a book titled Tiger of Drass, which is based on the brave story of Captain Anuj Nayyar Mahavir Chakra.
Lieutenant General BS Raju at the launch of the book “Tiger of Grass”
- In the coming months, BS Raju will be appointed Army Commander as he has 19 months left to serve. He will become the second Deputy Chief of Army Staff in the history of the Indian Army and will be promoted to Army Commander after serving as Deputy Chief of Staff.
- Lieutenant General BS Raju was deployed to the Kashmir Valley more than five times during his military service.
- The projects launched by BS Raju have been a huge success in Kashmir. Accordingly, the various divisions and corps of the Indian Army deployed in Kashmir have also adapted to these policies and plans.
Categories: Biography
Source: HIS Education