Vishwa Nath Sharma

General Vishwa Nath Sharma, PVSM, AVSM, ADC (born 4 June 1930) was the 14th Chief of the Army Staff of the Indian Army, serving between 1988 and 1990.^[2] He was the first Indian COAS to have begun his career in the post-Independence Indian Army.^[3]

General Vishwa Nath Sharma PVSM, AVSM, ADC
Official portrait
16th Chief of the Army Staff
In office 1 June 1988 – 30 June 1990
President	R. Venkataraman
Prime Minister	Rajiv Gandhi Vishwanath Pratap Singh
Preceded by	Gen Krishnaswamy Sundarji
Succeeded by	Gen Sunith Francis Rodrigues
19th General Officer Commanding-in-Chief Eastern Command
In office June 1987 – April 1988
President	Giani Zail Singh R. Venkataraman
Prime Minister	Rajiv Gandhi
Preceded by	Lt Gen JK Puri
Succeeded by	Lt Gen Raj Mohan Vohra
Chief of Army Staff	Gen Krishnaswamy Sundarji
Personal details
Born	(1930-06-04) 4 June 1930 (age 95) London, England
Relations	Maj Gen Amar Nath Sharma (father) Maj Somnath Sharma (brother) Lt Gen Surindra Nath Sharma (brother)
Awards	Param Vishisht Seva Medal Ati Vishisht Seva Medal
Nickname(s)	Tich Sunny
Military service
Allegiance	India
Branch/service	Indian Army
Years of service	1950–1990
Rank	General
Unit	16th Light Cavalry 66th Armoured Regiment
Commands	Eastern Army 66th Armoured Regiment
Battles/wars	Nagaland Insurgency of 1956 Indo-Pakistani War of 1965 Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 Mizoram Insurgency of 1973 IPKF Operation of 1987
Service number	IC-4769[1]

Early life

His father, Major General Amar Nath Sharma, was also a military officer. He is the younger brother of the late Major Som Nath Sharma, recipient of Independent India's first posthumous Param Vir Chakra, and also Lieutenant General Surindra Nath Sharma, formerly Engineer in Chief of the Indian Army.^[4] The family hailed from Kangra district, in present-day Himachal Pradesh.^[5] Both brothers were educated at the Prince of Wales' Royal Indian Military College, Dehradun. All three brothers did their schooling at Sherwood College, Nainital. ^[6]

Military career

Sharma went on to join the fifth Regular Course at the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun and he was commissioned on 4 June 1950 into the 16th Light Cavalry. He fought in the 1965 War against Pakistan in the Lahore Sector. He commanded the 66th Armoured Regiment and later a Mountain Brigade in an insurgency affected area. Awarded the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal for distinguished service, General Sharma took over as GOC-in-C of the Eastern Command, on 1 June 1987 and was appointed Honorary Army ADC to the President on 25 July 1987. He took over as the Chief of Army Staff on 1 May 1988.^[7]

Honours and awards

Param Vishisht Seva Medal	Ati Vishist Seva Medal	Samar Seva Star	Paschimi Star
Raksha Medal	Sangram Medal	Sainya Seva Medal	High Altitude Service Medal
25th Anniversary of Independence Medal	30 Years Long Service Medal	20 Years Long Service Medal	9 Years Long Service Medal

Dates of rank

Insignia	Rank	Component	Date of rank
	Second Lieutenant	Indian Army	4 June 1950[8]
	Lieutenant	Indian Army	4 June 1952[9]
	Captain	Indian Army	4 June 1956[10]
	Major	Indian Army	4 June 1963[11]
	Lieutenant-Colonel	Indian Army	14 June 1968[1]
	Colonel	Indian Army	3 April 1974[12]
	Brigadier	Indian Army	2 February 1975[13]
	Major General	Indian Army	1 July 1980[14]
	Lieutenant-General	Indian Army	1984[2]
	General (COAS)	Indian Army	1 May 1988

After career

• Board of directors, Local Advisory Board of India, ABN AMRO, 1991–97
• Board of directors, Diamond & Gem Development Corporation, 1993–97
• Board of directors, Hawkins Cookers Limited, 2001–present
• Member, Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses, 1990–present
• Member, United Services Institute of India, 1955–present
• Member, National Security Advisory Board, 2006–09
• Free Tuberculosis & Medical Center, Dadh, Himachal Pradesh, 1992–present