Ian Cardozo is a Major General (retd.) in the Indian Army, best known for playing a key role in the 1971 Indo-Pak war. He was amputated during the war and was the first war-disabled officer in the Indian Army. He commanded a battalion and a brigade.
Wiki/Biography
Ian Cardozo was born on Saturday, August 7, 1937, in Rashtrapati Bhavan, Bombay (now Mumbai), British India (age 84; as of 2021). His zodiac sign is Leo. Ian completed his schooling from St. Xavier’s High School, Mumbai and then attended St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai. His father encouraged him to read stories about military wars and become more active in sports. After completing his studies, Ian entered the National Defense Academy (NDA) and then the Indian Military Academy (IMA) and joined the Indian Army as a member of the 1/5 GR (5 Gurkha Rifles) Regiment.
appearance
Height (approximately): 5′7″
Eye color: black
Hair color: gray (semi-bald)
family
Parents and siblings
Ian’s father’s name is Vincent Cardozo and his mother’s name is Diana Cardozo.
wife and children
In 1966, at the age of 29, Ian Cardozo married Priscilla. They have three sons – Arun, Sunis and Vikram Cardozo.
Ian Cardozo with his wife and children
Profession
Ian Cardozo enlisted in the Gurkha Rifles when he was 20 years old. When he was 22, their battalion was sent to Ziro (near the Chinese border) in Arunachal Pradesh due to rising tensions with the Chinese army. In 1962, at the age of 25, he fought against the Chinese army. He was 34 when his battalion was moved from Jammu and Kashmir to Nagaland as tensions between Pakistan and Bangladesh began to escalate. Due to the sudden movement, his battalion had no artillery support and decided to advance further and attack the Pakistani soldiers with machetes at night. They succeeded in killing 32 soldiers of a Pakistani company. During the war, reporters were allowed to report on the latest developments in the war. A BBC reporter sent out news that about 3,000 Gurkha Regiment troops had arrived at the border to support the Indian army. After hearing the news, some Pakistani officers decided to surrender to the Indian Army. The Indian Army commander responded that they could not accept surrender without official orders and they would continue to fight against each other. During the war, when they further attacked Pakistani soldiers, Ian Cardozo accidentally stepped on a landmine laid by the Pakistani army and was seriously injured in the leg. Initially, he requested morphine or pethidine for pain relief, but a lack of medical staff prevented him from getting the drugs he needed and his leg could not be amputated. He noticed that things would get worse from here, so he picked up his kukri and decided to amputate the leg. After the amputation, Ian was asked to switch to desk work but handed the matter over to the then Chief of Army Staff, General Tapishwar Narain Raina. General Rayner took Ian to Ladakh where he conducted some physical fitness tests and observed his performance before he gave formal orders for Ian to command a battalion and he in turn commanded a brigade.
Ian Cardozo drinks tea at an Indian Army post
medal
- Ati Vishsht Seva Medal
- Senna Medal
- Wounded Medal
- general service medal
- Samar Seva Medal
- purvi star
- Rakshasa Medal
- Sangram Medal
- Senyasewa Medal
- 25th Independence Anniversary Medal
- 9 years long service medal
- 20 years long service medal
- 30 years long service medal
Facts/Trivia
- Ian Cardozo’s service designation is IC-10407, and he served in the Army from 1954 to 1993.
Ian Cardozo during his tenure in Jammu and Kashmir
- Ian Cardozo became the first NDA cadet to win a silver medal for first place and a gold medal for best overall performance through the academy.
- When Ian Cardozo experienced the agony of losing his legs, he refused to undergo surgery by a prisoner of war Pakistani surgeon. He refused, saying he had witnessed torture by the Pakistani army and he did not want to lose his good leg. He asked the Commander-in-Chief to accompany him during the operation to ensure his safety. Later, in an interview, Ian Cardozo thanked and praised the surgeon for his work and help.
- In 2005, Ian Cardozo became Chairman of the Rehabilitation Council of India and held that position until 2011.
- Ian Cardozo retired from the Indian Army at the age of 56 as Chief of Staff of a regiment in Assam. In his early 60s, Ian began his journey as a published author with his first book, 1971: A Story of Courage and Glory from the Indo-Pak War. He has also authored several other war-related books like Param Vir: Our Fighting Heroes, Shaitan Singh: The Incredible Efforts of a Small Group of Men Against the Huge Chinese Army in the 1962 Battle of Resangla “Heroism”, “The Sinking of INS”, “Kukri: A Survivor’s Story” and many more.
Cover of The Sinking of INS Khukri – Stories of the Survivors, by Ian Cardozo
- As he navigates his Army career and his new life as a published author, Ian Cardozo has always made fitness a priority. Since 2006, Ian has participated in the Mumbai Marathon along with 16 other war-disabled servicemen.
Ian Cardozo (circled) runs Mumbai Marathon
- Ian Cardozo sets a great example for people with disabilities and even shared the motto he lives by, which was given to him by Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw. The motto is——
Do what you love, love what you do, never be afraid, and never give up. “
- After losing his leg in a landmine accident, the Indian Army offered Ian Cardozo a desk job, but he turned it down, saying he joined the Army to fight in the field, not work in an office. After spending seven years convincing his seniors, Ian was finally allowed to take the physical fitness test, which he passed with flying colors. After this incident, the Indian Army relaxed its rules and regulations to allow war casualties to serve and be promoted in the army.
- In an interview, Ian recalled an incident during a practice session before they raided a Pakistani post. The regiment was throwing grenades at the wall when a grenade struck the wall and bounced back. He knew the grenade only had four seconds before it exploded, so he grabbed the grenade and threw it toward the soldiers to avoid causing casualties. The grenade exploded in the air and everyone was stunned at his bravery.
- On October 15, 2021, Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar and film producer Aanand L Rai announced their third film together, Gur Gorkha news. The film is a biopic based on the life of the famous Major General Ian Cardozo, telling how his sacrifice and dedication helped the Indian Army win the 1971 Indo-Pak War. After learning the news, Ian Cardozo said——
I am honored to tell this story on the 50th anniversary of the 1971 War. It commemorates the courage and sacrifice of the Indian Armed Forces. I look forward to working with Anand and Akshay as they make this a reality. This story reflects the values and ethos of every officer of the Indian Army. “
Movie “Gorkha” premiere poster
Categories: Biography
Source: HIS Education