Mohammed Zaman Kiani

Major-General Mohammad Zaman Kiani (1 October 1910 - 4 June 1981) was an officer of the British Indian Army who joined the Indian National Army and went on to be appointed its Chief of General Staff.

A keen hockey player in his youth, Kiani joined the British Indian Army in 1931 at the Indian Military Academy at Dehra Dun, sitting for the entrance exam in preference over a trial for the Olympic Hockey trials at Calcutta.[1] He won Sword of Honour & Gold Medal for the most outstanding Cadet in 1935 from Indian Military Academy, and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant on the Special List 15 July 1935 and attached to the 2nd battalion, Highland Light Infantry as of 10 August 1935.[2] He joined the 1st Battalion 14th Punjab Regiment as a Second Lieutenant 24 January 1936, and was promoted Lieutenant 4 May 1936.[3]

In March 1941 the 1st Battalion 14th Punjab Regiment was sent to Malaya and he fought in the Malayan theatre during World War II and was taken prisoner of war. He later joined the Indian National Army (INA) when it was formed in 1942 and was put in charge of the INA at the time of its revival in February 1943. After the proclamation of Azad Hind under Subhas Chandra Bose, Kiani was appointed the commander of the first division, and later went on to be appointed the Chief of General staff.[4] which had been earlier held by Lt. Col J.K. Bhonsle.[5] At the time of the fall of Rangoon, Kiani led the personnel of the Indian National Army and the Azad Hind Government who, along with Subhas Chandra Bose, marched overland to Bangkok.[4]

Kiani surrendered to the British 5th Division at Singapore on 25 August 1945 as the commander of the INA, along with the rest of his troops.[6] He was repatriated to India and interned till 1946 before being cashiered and discharged from the army.[7]

Following the Partition of India, Kiani migrated to Rawalpindi after the independence of Pakistan in 1947, and was later appointed the Political agent of the Government of Pakistan at Gilgit.[7] He wrote his memoirs in retirement in Rawalpindi, Punjab, Pakistan. They were published after his death.

References

  1. ↑ Bose 2006, p. 142
  2. ↑ April 1936 Indian Army List
  3. ↑ October 1939 Indian Army List
  4. 1 2 & Bose 2006, p. 141
  5. ↑ & Mercado 2002, p. 78
  6. ↑ Bose 2006, p. 143
  7. 1 2 Bose 2006, p. 144

Sources

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