Om Prakash Malhotra
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Born on August 6, 1922 in Srinagar (city), Kashmir, General Om Prakash Malhotra was the 11th Chief of Army Staff of the Indian Army. Commissioned in the Regiment of Artillery in November 1941, he fought against the Japanese in the Second World War in Burma. He commanded artillery regiments across India between November 1950 and July 1961. He later served as an instructor at the Defense Services Staff College, Wellington, and was the Military and Naval Attaché at the Embassy of India in Moscow from 1962-1965. From August 1965 to January 1966, General Malhotra commanded an Artillery Brigade and then a Mountain Brigade in north-east India. He was promoted to Major General in September 1967 and commanded 36 Infantry Division in Saugor for two years. From September 1969 till May 1972 he was GOC, 4 Corps, in the Eastern Sector. Subsequently, he commanded 11 Corps in Jullunder for two years and was later the GOC-in-C Southern Command located at Pune. In 1976, General Malhotra was awarded the Param Vishist Seva Medal for "service of the most exceptional order". He was Vice Chief of Army Staff before taking over as Chief of Army Staff of the Indian Army on 31 May 1978 and serving in that post for three years.
After retiring from the Indian Army on 31 May 1981 after 40 years of distinguished military service, General Malhotra served as the Ambassador of India to Indonesia from 1981-1984.
During 1990-1991 General Malhotra was appointed the Governor of the Indian State of Punjab when militancy in that state was at its height.
A keen sportsman, General Malhotra was for many years the President of the Equestrian Federation of India and the Founder President of the Asian Equestrian Federation. He has also been the President of the Delhi Golf Club, New Delhi.
General Malhotra is a Trustee of the Nehru Trust for the Indian Collections at the Victoria & Albert Museum.
General Malhotra has served as the President of India's largest NGO, the "National Association for the Blind" in New Delhi. He is an active member of Kiwanis International in India.
General Malhotra is presently the Chairman of two charitable organizations Shiksha, and Chikitsa.
