PENGUIN SET TO PUBLISH
An exhaustive and inspirational account of an extraordinary soldier who would become one of India’s greatest generals,the memoir of former Chief of Army Staff, General SM Shrinagesh
As India’s Chief of Army Staff in a newly independent India, General Satyawant Mallana Shrinagesh truly believed that no services or association in India provides a greater measure of unity or a finer example of nationalism than the armed forces. Witnessing the transition of the Indian Army from a colonial to a national one, he was steadfast in his belief that a free India needed a strong army to defend it.
General Shrinagesh was instrumental in modernizing the Indian Army as we know it today, and broke the myth that Indians were incapable of strong military leadership. As Corps Commander of Jammu & Kashmir during the 1947-48 War with Pakistan, he was the first to introduce tanks at Zoji La to overcome well-entrenched Pakistani defences at such heights. From missions abroad and senior appointments in the Army to becoming Chief of Army Staff, and later, the first ever military officer to be appointed as governor of a state, Assam, Andhra Pradesh and Mysore (now Karnataka), the book the book recounts in vivid detail the life of a man who led a distinguished career of service to the nation.
ADVANCE PRAISE FOR THE BOOK
‘A fascinating account of the life and times of General S.M. Shrinagesh that captures the heady post-Independence spirit of nationalism and the role of the Indian Army in securing our hard-won freedom. The smooth transition of the army from one that was almost exclusively commanded by British officers to being wholly led by Indian officers bears testimony to the highest professional standards that prevailed, forged through lessons learnt from the barren mountains of the North-West Frontier Province to the sweltering battlefields of Burma. It is providential that this manuscript has seen the light of day, else this slice of history would have been lost forever. I wish I had read this book while in service and been able to draw from this wealth of experience.’
—Gen. (Dr) M.M. Naravane (Retd), PVSM, AVSM, SM, VSM, PhD
‘General Shrinagesh’s contribution to modernizing the post-Independence Indian Army and bringing about significant stability in military organizations, structures and dastoors is immense. The book, in addition to being a historical account, is an inspiring read on one of India’s greatest military leaders.’
—Lt Gen. K.J.S. Dhillon (Retd), author of Kitne Ghazi Aaye, Kitne Ghazi Gaye
‘Reading Commanded by Destiny was like sitting across from General Shrinagesh himself, listening to a life lived with uncommon purpose. One moment that stayed with me long after I put the book down was his chilling account of the Devon aircraft fire—his calmness even as the plane plunged, his quiet humour even in the face of near-certain death [is remarkable]. It’s emblematic of the man he was: steady, self-effacing and deeply human. This is not just a memoir; it’s a blueprint for leadership, integrity and courage in the service of a young and uncertain nation. A compelling and necessary addition to the canon of Indian military history.’
—Shiv Aroor, journalist and co-author of India’s Most Fearless
About General SM Shrinagesh
Graduating from Cambridge and Sandhurst, when just a few Indians were permitted to dream of command, General Shrinagesh went on to:
Lead troops in Burma under the British Indian Army.
Fight for Kashmir’s defense in 1947–48.
Indianize and modernize the newly independent Army as its former Chief of Staff.
Govern Assam, Andhra Pradesh, and Mysore with fairness and foresight.
History isn’t written in treaties or headlines—it is written in quiet acts of courage. It is written by leaders like General Shrinagesh.
