K. V. Krishna Rao (Kotikalapudi Venkata Krishna Rao) was born in Andhra Pradesh on July 16, 1923.
He was commissioned into the Army on August 9, 1942. As a young officer, he had served in Burma, North West Frontier and Baluchistan during the Second World War.
During extensive Punjab disturbances in the run up to the partition in 1947, he served both in East and West Punjab. He also participated in the 1947-48 war against Pakistan in Jammu and Kashmir. He was a founder Instructor of the National Defence Academy during 1949-51.
General Rao had commanded a brigade in the forward area of Ladakh during 1965-66, an infantry division in Jammu Region during 1969-70 and a Mountain Division engaged in counter insurgency operations in Nagaland and Manipur during 1970-72.
During this period, his Division also participated in the 1971 India-Pakistan War in Eastern Theatre and was instrumental in the capture of Sylhet area and liberation of North-East Bangladesh, an Army statement said.
He was awarded the Param Vishist Seva Medal for displaying outstanding leadership, courage, determination and drive during this war.
He was a visionary who led ably, inspired a generation of soldiers and initiated modernisation of the Indian Army in the early 1980s.
General Rao’s contribution in the 1971 War and maintaining the unity and integrity of the country shall always be remembered.
During 1975-76, he was also the Chairman of the Expert Committee constituted by the government on re-organisation and modernisation for the future defence of the country. He served as Deputy Chief of Army Staff at Army Headquarters during 1978-79. Subsequently, he was promoted and served as General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Western Command during 1979-81.
As Army chief, Rao is credited with instituting a forward policy against China, and drafting the first formal directive, which was issued by the defence minister, to the armed forces.
General Rao was appointed as Chief of Army Staff on June 1, 1981 and served in that capacity till July 1983. He was also the Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee, the highest appointment in the Services, during March 1982 to July 1983.
From June 1984 to July 1989, General Rao was the Governor of the North Eastern States of Nagaland, Manipur and Tripura. He was also the Governor of Mizoram in June 1988, and March to July 1989.
General Rao was appointed as the the Governor of Jammu and Kashmir during 1989-90.When a proxy war developed in Jammu and Kashmir and reached its peak, he was reappointed as Governor and served there from March 1993 to May 1998. In this capacity, he was instrumental in restoring peace and democracy in the insurgency-riven state. Rao had a major role to play in subduing militancy in his second stint as governor . He governed the state under Governor’s Rule and ensured successful parliamentary and assembly elections in the state in 1996.
His autobiography ‘In the Service of the Nation: Reminiscences’ is a much notable one.
