BJP TODAY

June 1--15, 2003 - Vol. 12, No. 11

Lt. Gen. Candeth No More
By Our Special Correspondent

Lt. Gen. K.P. Candeth, senior BJP Leader and hero of the 1961 Goa Liberation War, breathed his last at his New Delhi residence on May 19. He was 87.

Deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani and party president Venkaiah Naidu visited the residence of Gen. Candeth and paid homage to him.

Gen. Candeth, who, after retirement chose to join the BJP, was also the GOC-in-Chief of the Western command during the 1971 war.

This reporter had interviewed Gen. Candeth for BJP TODAY in early 2000. He had granted the interview on condition that whatever he said must be printed in full in the magrine. We had kept our word.

Gen. Candeth was very proud of his ancestry. "I am a Nair from Kerala. I am a Kshatriya", he had told this reporter at the time of the interview.

Here are the milestones in the life of the beloved soldier:

Lt. Gen. (Retired) Padma Shree Kunhiraman Palat Candeth PVSM S/o Late M.A. Candeth.
Born - 23/10/1916 at Ottapalam Kerala.

Commissioned in Indian Army on 30 Aug. 1936 in 28 Field Brigade of the Royal Artillery.

Had a chequered career in the Indian Army of over 38 years in many high profile appointments.

He participated in J&K war against Pakistan. Liberated Goa from Portugese in Dec. 1961. Was Dy. Chief of Army Staff in 1965 and commanded with distinction the western Army during Indo-Pak war of 1971.

A great soldier and strategist; was well known in the Indian Army as a noble, humane, gentleman soldier.

A bachelor; is survived by his younger sister Kalyani.

Quite hale and hearty; the end came in sleep on the morning of 19 May, 2003.

He was an active member of the BJP National Executive.