REMBERING “THE TIMMY OF INDIA” –

GENERAL KODANDERA SUBAYYA THIMAYYA, PB, DSO

      General Kodandera Subayya Thimayya, also known as ‘Timmy of India’ to his admirers, was a leader of mankind, an architect of History and dispenser of human destiny the world over.  Thimayya was the only Indian to command an Infantry brigade in battle during the Second World War and he is regarded as the most distinguished combat officer the Indian Army has produced. India will long remember him as a soldier who saved Kashmir. He was the Chief of Army Staff of Indian Army from 1957 to 1961.

Anecdotes which bring out certain sterling virtues of the General as revealed from various sources are described in succeeding paragraphs.

Family background and upbringing

Thimayya was born in Medikeri, the district town of Kodagu (Coorg), Karnataka on 31 Mar 1906 to Subayya and Sitamma. His father was a prosperous coffee planter and belonged to the Kodendera clan. Sitamma belonged to Cheppudera clan and both clans among the most respected in Coorg. His mother was highly educated, a social worker and recipient of Kaisar-e-Hind Medal. They were six children – three boys and three girls and Thimayya was second boy. They lived in a sprawling mansion named ‘Sunny Side’. The family was a joint family and the influence of the grandfather the head of the family is said to have been tremendous on Thimayya.

Thimayya’s early education was at St Joseph’s School, Coonoor and Bishop Cottons at Bangalore, before being sent to Prince of Wales Royal Indian Military College (RIMC), Dehradun in 1922, one of the first batches of 32 Indians to join RIMC. While at RIMC Thimayya was selected for pre-commission training at Sandhurst, UK.

RMC Dec 1925

Professional Career

Thimayya had a most chequered and colourful military career and exposures which none of his contemporaries could ever aspire for.

(a)              Thimayya came out with flying colours as 2^nd Lieutenant of Royal Indian Army in 1926 and posted to the High Land Infantry- a Scottish Unit. After a year of attachment with Highland Infantry, he joined 4/19 Hyderabad Regiment (Now 4 Kumaon) and served in Iran and North West Frontier Province (NWFP).

(b)             On 19 Mar 1944, Thimayya was appointed as Commanding Officer of 8/9 Hyderabad Regiment in Arakan – the first Indian officer to be privileged to lead a British Regiment in war. His exploits in Maungdaw, Buthidaung and Mangaw against Japanese elicited the highest appreciation from top-echelons of South East Asia Command, including Lord Mount Batten, Gen Stillwell and Field Marshal Slim.

(c)              On 01 Apr 1945, Thimayya was given command of 36 Indian Infantry Brigade in Burma. He was the First Indian officer to lead a brigade in action in Second World War He was awarded the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) for outstanding leadership by HM King George IV- The Emperor of India. As a representative of the Indian Army, Thimayya was present at the formal surrender of Japanese to Supreme Allied Commander, South East Asia at Singapore in 1945.

(d)             In 1946, Thimayya commanded 268 Indian Brigade in Japan and during his stay represented Indian Army at Independence Day Celebrations of Philippines in July 1946 at Manila. After this he did a stint with Armed Forces Nationalisation Committee at New Delhi. Again in 1947 he assumed the command of 5 Infantry Brigade. He was a member of Armed Forces Reconstruction Committee and joined Punjab Boundary Force at the time of partition.

(e)             In the wake of partition in May 1948, Thimayya took command of 19 Indian Division from Maj Gen TW Rees. Thimayya took timely and appropriate action to restore law and order in East Punjab to ensure safe and dignified movement of millions of refugees. As GOC of 19 Infantry Division in Jammu and Kashmir, Thimayya became a legend in Military History. Here he created an unique record in the annals of military strategy / tactics by deploying Stuart tanks over the snow bound 12000 feet high Zozila Pass and broke through strongly held Pakistani positions in the winter of 1948. The enemy was thrown out and Indian troops reached Kargil. He, as the GOC, displayed personal bravery by flying in to Ley in a dakota on 24 May 1948 to evacuate plane loads of the wounded and refugees. Thimayya combined tactical flexibility, firmness of command and the 1948 operations proved him to be a bold field commander, who could outwit the enemy. He was proclaimed to have liberated most of occupied Kashmir – only if an ill-timed ceasefire had not been agreed to.

(f)               1950-51 Thimayya commanded Indian Military Academy,which was forged out of best values and traditions of Sandhurst (UK) and West Point (USA). IMA could not have bargained for more inspiring model than Thimayya to emulate.

(g)              He was appointed as Quarter Master General at Army Headquarters during which tenure, he streamlined the working of the Canteen Stores Department (CSD) India- doing away with contract system.

(h)             On 15 Jan 1953, Thimayya took over charge as General Officer Commanding in Chief (GOC-in-C ) Western Command with the overall command of troops in Punjab, Rajasthan and J&K.

(i)                In Sep 1953, Gen Thimayya was assigned as Chairman of the Neutral Nations Repatriation Commission (NNRC) in Korea. The Commission was made up of delegates from Switzerland, Sweden, Poland, Czechoslovakia and India. He gained international fame at Korea winning many friends and admirers, by his impartiality, justice, and fairplay , sense of humour, curtsey and charm. For his deft handling of this complex and sensitive assignment, he was awarded Padma bhushan. He was even acclaimed 'Mc Arthur of India'.

(j)                On 08 May 1957, Thimayya was promoted to rank of full General and took over as Chief of Army Staff, the post which he held with dignity and honour till 07 May 1961, when he retired.

(k)              Recalling 08 May 1957, when Thimayya took over as COAS, he stated “It was the climax of my thirty one years of service and of course a proud moment for me. I remembered the other moment in Burma, when I had taken command of the Battalion. This moment was similar, but the burden seemed lighter than before. I think this was simply because I now had many more men to help me carry it”.

Courage of conviction

As Chief of Army Staff he proved to be a class by himself – a cut above the rest. He addressed himself to operational preparedness which was uppermost in his mind and not ‘digging wells in Rayalaseema’ as suggested by politicians as an occupation for the Army in peace time. Administrative improvements and welfare of officers, men, defence civilians and their families were closest to his heart. He was every time called ‘soldiers’ General’. Gen Thimayya was not for power or personal aggrandizements, but stood firmly by his values – whether he was dealing / deliberating with Pandit Nehru and VK Krishna Menon. He was a self made ‘tower of strength’ reinforced by what others saw in him – a beacon of the future of India.

Gen Thimayya kept on pointing out to the Government the frightful imbalance that existed between political theory and power equation. The Government’s failure to respond to his strategic assessment eventually led to devastating humiliation later in 1962. 

Courage in face of danger

Ø    Thimayya took over command of an Infantry Battalion while in operations in Burma. Japanese were strongly dug into the tunnels in Buthidaung and were in absolute control of the spine of Mayu Ranges all the way to the North. Thus between 25 and 26 Divisions , Japs could move up secretly along the ridges and attack at any point that they chose, thus cutting of the Line of Communication of the Allies from Chittagong. Japs could also watch every move of the Allied troops from atop the Mayu Ranges. Thus these Japanese positions earned tactical importance, which had to be eliminated. Many attacks failed and ultimately the task of reducing the Jap positions fell on Thimayya and his Battalion. Gen Thimayya decided to put in an unorthodox last light attack against the accepted norms of first light. The ‘Kumaonis’ under the personal leadership of Thimayya crept up the slopes through thick jungles during day light and caught the japs napping in the former’s last-light attack. The mission was a complete success. Gen Thimayya later reminisced of the action “If I failed I was sure to be court-martialed. Even if I took the hill but with heavy causalities, I would be finished.’ Gen Davies the GOC after congratulating Gen Thimayya stated “You are one of the lucky ones”.

Ø    Along with Sheikh Abdullah and the PRO (Col CL Proudfoot), Gen Thimayya was on a visit to an Infantry Brigade at Uri, which had been the first Brigade to operate in the Valley from 1947. The road to Uri runs eastwards along the escarpments of a range of hills with River Jhellum running alongside in a deep gorge down below. En route an officer was waiting to inform the General’s party that an enemy MMG was ranging the road ahead and suggested that they halt at Mahura Power House for ‘All Clear’. General and Sheikh had few words and he turned to other occupants of his jeep and said ‘Hang-on’, and let in the clutch. The MMG had not yet zeroed in on the road and they raced through the arching stream of tracers with a thrill.

Ø    Gen Thimayya’s youngest brother Somayya (Freddie) was second-in-command of a battalion in Uri. He died in a mine blast one early morning and the news was passed to the General immediately. The General took it coolly and told the Brigade Commander not to make a fuss of it, but to cremate as any soldier killed in battlefield and the normal work including patrolling would go on. He did not even inform his old father at Medikeri, as he wanted the news to reach his father in the normal manner through Adjutant General’s Branch, Army Headquarters.

Sporting Character

General Thimayya had a formidable sense of humour. He considered it necessary like luck for soldier to survive and prosper. His sense of humour was to not only provide relief under tension but had an intellectual structure and emotional dynamism. He was essentially a sportive and humanist character. As the ceasefire came in to force between India and Pakistan on 01 Jan 1949, he met and embraced the Principal adversary in Flag Meeting. When amazement was expressed by the United Nation’s Observer present there, he said “we are enemies during war, but we are old friends too”!!!

Compassion

       Magnanimity was a great quality of General Thimayya. He regarded it an essential quality for higher command. He understood the fallibility of man. He would often quote Dr Johnson’s “A fallible being will fall somewhere.!!”, and forgave people.

Incidents of Unusual Interest

Ø    General Thimayya liked nicer things of life and was often seen enjoying himself in Five Star Hotels and restaurants in the metropolis of Delhi. One morning the Prime Minister Mr. Jawahar Lal Nehru sent for General Thimayya in his office and obviously tutored by his intelligence staff, suggested that he should not be seen at public places late at night, as it created a bad impression. To this General humorously replied “Panditji isn’t that better than planning a coup in the middle of the night?”. (Lt Gen Harbaksh Singh, PVSM, Vrc)

Ø    Lt Gen Harbaksh Singh writes’ “Panditji as everyone knows , was at one time very fond of Gen Thimayya. General was immensely loyal to Panditji as a person and would have given his right arm for him. So, when the General submitted his resignation over a difference of opinion with the Defence Minister and later withdrew it on Panditji’s intercession, it was on the part of General a gesture of great deference and regard for the Prime Minister. No wonder that the subsequent castigation of General Thimayya by Panditji on the floor of the House came as a great shock to the General and he terribly felt let down. And those who had to work with him closely noticed a sea change in his attitude towards life. To those of us who had the welfare of the General and the country at heart, this internecine squabble at the highest level of national polity seemed to represent a denial to the country of the valuable services of a rare personality which is born only once in an age.”

Ø    General Thimayya was against senior ranks to club together at the exclusion of juniors. Lt Col Grant, Commandant of CMP Centre & School recalls an incident in a party hosted in honour of the General in his mess when he was a young officer. “On a request from the Second-in-Command of the Battalion to pass a message to his wife, my wife joined the Generals group and finding an empty chair next to the Second-in-Command’s wife parked herself on it so that she could discreetly pass the message to Mrs Second in Command. Awaiting for an opportune moment to withdraw unnoticed, my wife was suddenly taken aback, when Mrs Second in Command told her to leave the group as it was meant only for senior officers. Apparently this little side talk did not go unnoticed by General and his wife and there was some whispering between them. When dinner was announced, the General singled out my wife who had left the group by then and requested the honour of escorting her to dinner, while offering his arm, the General remarked loud enough for all to hear, “Young lady, in the mess we all share the same meal irrespective of rank- obviously a rejoinder to what he had noticed earlier transpiring between senior and junior wives. “

Ø    During Second World War, Thimayya was commanding the Brigade which was first to enter Rangoon. The men were amazed to find that the city was held by Indians of the INA. In the enemy retreat, the Japanese were abandoning the INA. After Japs left Rangoon, the local Chinese population began looting. The INA men stepped in to restore order. But they were anxious to turnover authority to the Allies. By twist of fate, Thimayya’s eldest brother Colonel Ponnappa (Ponnu) was the AQ (Asst Quartermaster General) to the INA (Indian National Army) Forces in Rangoon, and was captured by Thimaya’s Brigade. His brother demanded of the British officer who arrested him that he be taken to Brig Thimayya. The Englishman told him that, “Thimayya was not there”, and added ,”even if your brother were here, he would have you thrown in to the clink straightaway”.  “You are wrong’, Thimayya’s brother replied. “He would give me a cold beer, a hot curry, and then he would have me thrown in to the clink “. “My brother knew me alright”, Timmy said ”That’s precisely what I would have done”.

Ø    In 1935 Thimayya got married to Nina Cariappa , who had returned to India after her education in France. In May 1935 Thimayya was attending Staff College at Quetta (present-day Pakistan) which suffered a devastating earthquake and Nina helped in comforting the homeless refugees of the earthquake. She was awarded the KAISER-I-HIND medal for her social work at the tender age of nineteen, the youngest to do so. 

The Family

•           Thimayya and Nina had one child – a daughter - Mireille and they led an enviable and emulative family life. Timmy was an ideal husband and a wonderful father and they were a close-knit family. Though Timmy has had extensive western exposures he was not enslaved to western culture and values. And this virtue reflected in bringing up of his family. Though he served in the British Army and rose in ranks and status, Timmy was essentially a ‘son of the soil’ and more Indian and a nationalist than any Indian could be. The impression of Timmy as a father, an officer and a Gentleman has been  amply brought out by his daughter Mireille Chengappa in her frank depositions with Coorg Times, an English Daily. The feature which appeared on 30 Mar 2017, authored by APA Ganapathy, on the occasion of the 111^th birth Anniversary of Timmy brings out various sterling character qualities of the General  ( The link is given as a Post Script to this narration.)

Post Retirement Career

Ø    It was Timmy’s outstanding qualities of leadership, maturity, justice and understanding of global affairs that attracted the attention of the Secretary General United Nations (UNO), who offered him the post of ‘Commander of United Nations Forces in Cyprus’ (UNFICYP) in July 1964. Cyprus at that point in time had been torn by the bitter conflict between the Greeks and Turkish Cypriots, which could easily have spun off into another crusade. With six thousand multi-national UN forces under his command, Gen. Thimayya tactfully handled the delicate situation that was ridden with ideological differences as well as bad faith and mutual distrust. His courageous diplomacy became an example for forces all over the world, and provoked the Turkish Foreign Minister to describe Gen. Thimayya’s role as “A superhuman effort to keep peace going”. The Greeks adored his grit, pragmatism and sense of justice as well as his intellect. In this capacity he endeared himself to the rival camps who developed implicit trust in his fairness and judgment.

Ø    . Unfortunately on Dec 18 1965, General Thimayya succumbed to a heart attack at the age of 59. Cyprus cried and the world mourned the loss of an eminent leader of mankind departed before a mission completed.

Ø    The Government of Cyprus in his honour named the main road through Larnaca - Cyprus (East to West) as Gen Thimayya Road. In India , the street perpendicular to East Street (a road parallel to MG road in Pune) and Richmond Road in Bangalore, were also renamed as Gen Thimayya Road in his memory.

Ø    The Republic of Cyprus, also honored him by issuing a commemorative stamp in his memory in 1966.

Commemorative issue Stamp

General Kodandera Subayya Thimayya was born in Madikeri, the district town of Kodagu (also known as Coorg), Karnataka, India. He was a graduate of the Royal Indian Military College in Dehra Dun. He served in the Indian Army from many posts. He became Chief of Army Staff of the Indian Army in 1957. He was also awarded the Distinguised Service Order. After the Korean War, he headed an United Nations unit dealing with the repatriation of prisoners of war. After his retirement from the Indian Army, he was appointed as the Commander of UN Forces in Cyprus (UNFICYP) in July 1964. While in Cyprus, he died of a heart attack, in 1965. The Republic of Cyprus, in addition to this stamp issue, honored him by renaming an avenue of the city of Larnaca after him.

Ø     The General K.S. Thimayya Memorial Trust, a Trust instituted by some Old Boys of Bishop Cotton Boys' School, annually hold the General K S Thimayya Memorial Lecture Series in his memory. 

Ø    Thirty-two years after his death, on December 18, 1997 the body of Gen. Thimayya was exhumed from his grave in Wilson Garden Bangalore and shifted to Army Services Corps (ASC) Centre, Bangalore where he was reburied with full military honours.

Ø    On 31 Mar 2018, in Madikeri, the renovated ‘Sunny Side,’ the residence of General Thimayya was dedicated to the nation on the occasion of his 112th birth anniversary. The Memorial features an exhibition of General’s achievements and a war Museum that has Tanks, replicas and photos of fighter jets  and other war collections. It also boasts of a park and an Amar Jawan War Memorial.

Ø    General Thimayya enjoys an unmatched legacy in the Indian Army.

Tributes to General

v    Prof VK Gokak Vice Chancellor of Bangalore University and winner of Gyana Peetha Award wrote about Gen Thimayya- “He rose to be the hero of a Nation new born- he served mankind – as a true Indian, upholding peace and helping the forlorn. Bless the soil that gave his birth”.

v    Times of India, Bangalore 19 Dec 1965 writes- “The death of Thimayya has shocked Mysore State, where he grew up as a young boy and later returned to live in retirement. Coorg district from where he hailed is in mourning. ‘Hutri’ Celebrations , a popular festival has been cancelled as a mark of respect to the former Army Chief.”

v    Indian Express New Delhi, 20 Dec 1965- quoting ex COAS Gen JN Choudhry on  Gen Thimayya – “A fine soldier, a gay companion and a man who loved his country”, writes “ In the first early formative years of our independence, the efforts of our soldiers have mattered as much, if not more than the effort of our politicians. ‘Timmy’ like all the good soldiers had no politics in his mind, though it saddens one to think that his brilliant career was cut somewhat abruptly by a confrontation with politicians. India will long remember him as a soldier who saved Kashmir. He lived as he fought and died with chivalry and gallantry. May the sea, earth and sky rest gently on him.”  

v    Field Marshal SHFJ Manekshaw, MC, was asked who, in his opinion, had been the best General of the Indian Army. “Timmy, of course,” he replied and expanded his remark further, “General Thimayya was not only a brilliant tactician and strategist but one whose vision went beyond everyone else’s. The challenges he faced and his response to them were simply incomparable.”

v    Of all the eulogies for him, the late Lieutenant General Premindra Singh Bhagat, VC, PVSM, ADC (Retd.) summed it up best, "A General Thimayya is not born in every generation. It was fortunate for us who still serve, to be of the generation and the Nation of Gen Thimayya. The likes of him there will seldom be, Soldier General, a man's man; the Army was his soul; his soul the Army.”

The likes of General Thimayya are epoch makers, men of destiny,Who leave their footprints on the sands of time- For others to follow.  

                                                 

                        -Col Ravi Nair -  

PS:- Certain articles which throw light on the Character qualities of the General 
1. A Book Review by R Prasannan titled 'Humiliation of a General'  in The Week Magazine dated 24th Jan 2016 on the Book -'1962 War That Wasn't' authored by Shiv Kunal Verma-

 https://www.theweek.in/theweek/leisure/the-war-that-wasnt-by-shiv-kunal-verma-gives-a-total-picture-of-the-1962-war.html     

2.  An article by Abhishek Bannerjee in Op India dated 15 January 2018, which high lights the exemplary virtues of courage of conviction by upholding his commander's actions to safe guard the honour of woman.-

https://www.opindia.com/2018/01/on-army-day-how-general-thimayya-stood-up-to-nehrus-chief-minister-for-the-honour-of-a-woman/        

3.   A feature in Coorg Times ' A Daughter's Tribute to Gen KS Thimayya' on His Birth Anniversary' dated 30 Mar 2017. 

- http://www.coorgnews.in/featuresnewsmakers/daughters-tribute-gen-k-s-thimayyas-birth-anniversary/                                 

( Curtsey to ‘'Thimayya of India: A Soldier’s Life’ by Humphrey Evans, The Star of Mysore, The Coorg Times, Brig MM Ashok Cariappa (Retd), Col KC Subbayya VSM (Retd), President,' Fd Marshal Cariappa Gen Thimayya Forum', Kodugu, , the Google and other relevant publications  )