Major General G. D. Bakshi is a distinguished retired Indian Army officer with a remarkable career spanning decades. His contributions to the Indian military and his outspoken views have made him a prominent figure, both celebrated and controversial.

Wiki/Biography

Born in 1950 in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, India, G. D. Bakshi harbored an early ambition to serve in the Indian Army. This aspiration was deeply influenced by his brother, Captain Raman Bakshi, who became a martyr in the 1965 Indo-Pak war at the age of 23. In his brother’s honor, a street in Jabalpur is named ‘Raman Bakshi Marg’. Bakshi received his early education at St. Aloysius Senior Secondary School in Jabalpur before attending the National Defence Academy and the Indian Military Academy, where he completed his graduation.

Family

Details about G. D. Bakshi’s immediate family remain largely private. The only publicly known information pertains to his brother, Raman Bakshi, whose sacrifice significantly shaped his life and career.

Military Career

Commissioned into the Indian Army in 1971, Bakshi played a significant role in the 1971 Indo-Pak War. His contributions extended to counter-terrorism operations in Punjab in 1984. During the Kargil War of 1999, he commanded a battalion, successfully leading operations against Pakistan. He also led the Romeo Force in counter-terrorism activities in the Rajouri-Poonch districts of Jammu and Kashmir, successfully restoring peace to the region. His leadership roles included two terms as Directorate General of Military Operations and the inaugural position of BGS (IW) at HQ Northern Command (India), where he focused on Information Warfare and Psychological Operations.

Controversies

Bakshi’s career has not been without controversy. In 2016, a student at IIT Madras criticized his lecture on national security as hate-mongering. Further controversy arose from his use of profane language during a live television debate in 2020.

His outspoken views, particularly those critical of Mahatma Gandhi and other freedom fighters, have also drawn considerable criticism.

Awards/Honours

His distinguished service has been recognized through several awards:

• Vishisht Seva Medal for his battalion command in the Kargil War
• Sena Medal for counter-terror operations in Kishtwar

Facts

Beyond his military career, Bakshi is a prolific writer with approximately 24 books and over 100 published articles on military affairs. He has also held teaching positions at prestigious institutions such as the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun; Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, Tamil Nadu; and the National Defence College, Delhi.

His hobbies include reading, working out, and yoga. His book, *Bose: An Indian Samurai*, published in 2016, has received attention among military history enthusiasts.

Awards and Decorations

“`