Sir — This refers to the article, “Two new Army chiefs. One new ray of hopeIJ” (December 21) by Ashok K Mehta. The appointment of lieutenant General Bipin Rawat is welcome. lt General Rawat has the maximum operational experience in high-altitude warfare and counter-insurgency operations. He has also commanded an Infantry battalion along the line of Actual Control; a Rashtriya Rifles sector and an Infantry Division in Kashmir Valley.
lt General Rawat’s considerable experience in surgical strikes has given him the edge in decision stakes. He is a decorated officer and so are the others, but he probably is in tandem with the Government of India.
The appointment goes against the long-held tradition of appointing the senior-most eligible officer to the post, but when the country is facing many challenges from Pakistan, China, and also terrorists, India needs an Army chief who can effectively deal with these challenges. In this respect, the country needs more skills in this field than seniority, with appropriate experience.