W. A. G. Pinto
Awards | Param Vishisht Seva Medal |
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Early life and education
WAG Pinto was born on 1 July 1924, at
Pinto was schooled in
Military career
After clearing the Preliminary and Final Selection Boards held at Jabalpur and Lucknow respectively, he joined the Pre-Cadet Course at Datta College, Lahore in January 1943. In March 1943, he joined the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun for a six months emergency commission training course.[5] Pinto was commissioned into the 13th Frontier Force Rifles, one of only four cadets who earned a commission in the infantry among the two hundred or so cadets being commissioned.[6]
World War II
In Burma, Pinto commanded the
Post-Independence
After the
In 1951, The battalion moved to the North-East where there were reports of Chinese infiltration across the
After the war, Pinto was posted as directing staff at the Defence Services Staff College. After the tenure at Staff College, he was posted to the Cabinet Secretariat (Military Wing) as staff officer grade 1 (Army). The Military wing comprised the three staff officers of lieutenant colonel or equivalent from the three services.
In 1967, Pinto was promoted to the rank of brigadier and posted as commander, 66 Mountain Brigade in Binnaguri, West Bengal.[14] After a tenure of 2 years, Brig. Pinto was posted back to Defence Services Staff College as the chief instructor (Army). He served at the Staff College for two more years.
As war clouds loomed large, Pinto was promoted to major general and took over as the 3rd general officer commanding 54 Infantry Division at Secunderabad in April 1971.[15][16]
Indo-Pakistani War of 1971
The 54 Infantry Division was a part of I Corps, then the only Strike Corps of the Indian Army.[17] Pinto took the division from its peacetime location in Secunderabad to its operational location in the Punjab within three weeks.
After Pakistan's pre-emptive strikes on 3 December, Pinto's division was to advance between Degh Nadi and Kirar river with a view of capturing line Laisarkalan - Bari - Darman, then Supwal and Barwal, and to be prepared to capture Deoli and Mirzapur.[18] 54 Infantry Division under Pinto, crossed the border as planned at 2000 hrs on 6 December and captured the border outposts at Chamnakhurd, Danadout, Galar Tanda, Chak Jangu, Dhandhar, Mukhwal and Buru Chakby 0230 hrs 7 December.[19]
Battle of Basantar
The Battle of Basantar was among the most vital battles in the war. It was one of the greatest tank battles fought by the
At 2000 hrs that night, the ceasefire was honoured by both sides and became effective. The guns were silent and an eerie calm pervaded over the bitterly cold night. It was a strange feeling, the sudden peace and quiet after the unending din and noise of the past fourteen days. Most of us were taken aback and felt lost. But, we couldn't waste time on this. We still had our hands full and soon got busy in dominating and securing every inch of the 388 square kilometers, which we had captured and over which the National Flag as well as the Divisional Flag proudly flew.
In what is an Indian Army record, Pinto's 54 Infantry Division won as many as 196 gallantry medals in just 14 days of fierce fighting. These include 2 Param Vir Chakras and 9 Mahavir Chakras.[23]
Post-war career
After the war, Pinto was awarded the Param Vishisht Seva Medal which he felt was a sore disappointment as the award is generally a non-gallantry peacetime award.[24] The division remained in Pakistan until the
In 1973, Pinto became the Colonel of the Rajput Regiment. 4 Guards, which he had commanded known earlier as 1 Rajput and was part of the Rajput regimental family.[26] Later that year, Pinto was appointed Director, Military Training (now Army Training Command) where he wore many hats - Chairman - Joint Training Committee, President - Services Sports Control Board, President - Army Mountaineering Federation, President - Army Rifle Association and later was Vice President - Indian Hockey Federation and Vice President - Indian Olympic Association.[27]
After a three-year tenure, Pinto was promoted to
In July 1980, Pinto was appointed Army Commander and took over the Central Command in Lucknow. He was the 8th General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Central Command. After a 2-year tenure, Pinto retired on 30 June 1982 after nearly 4 decades in uniform.[29]
Later life and death
After retirement, the Pintos settled down in Pune. [30] Pinto died on 25 March 2021, aged 96.[31]
References
- ^ "Bash On Regardless: A General Reminisces (IANS Book Review)". Firstpost.
- ^ Pinto 2013, p. 1.
- ^ Pinto 2013, p. 4.
- ^ Pinto 2013.
- ^ Pinto 2013, p. 6.
- ^ Pinto 2013, pp. 7–8.
- ^ Pinto 2013, p. 9.
- ^ Pinto 2013, p. 13.
- ^ Pinto 2013, p. 22.
- ^ Pinto 2013, p. 23.
- ^ "PRESS NOTE" (PDF). pibarchive.nic.in. 15 May 1954.
- ^ Pinto 2013, p. 40.
- ^ Pinto 2013, p. 47.
- ^ Pinto 2013, p. 68.
- ^ Pinto 2013, p. 72.
- ^ "Curtain Raiser". Issuu.
- ^ Pinto 2013, p. 74.
- ^ Rao 1991, p. 227.
- ^ Rao 1991, p. 228.
- ^ Pinto 2013, p. 103.
- ^ Pinto 2013, p. 92.
- ^ Pinto 2013, p. 102.
- ^ "Meet the Victor of Basantar- Lt General WAG Pinto". www.dnaindia.com.
- ^ Pinto 2013, p. 105.
- ^ "War hero recalls the story behind tank on Tank Bund". timesofindia.indiatimes.com. TOI.
- ^ Pinto 2013, pp. 112–113.
- ^ Pinto 2013, p. 119.
- ^ Singh 2012, p. 234.
- ^ "GENERAL H.C. DUTTA APPOINTED NEW GOC-IN-C CENTRAL COMMAND" (PDF). archive.pib.gov.in. 30 June 1982.
- ^ "Meet the Victor of Basantar- Lt General WAG Pinto". www.dnaindia.com.
- ^ "'Victor of Basantar' Lt Gen Pinto passes away at 96". Hindustan Times. 26 March 2021.
Bibliography
- Pinto, W.A.G. (2013), Bash on Regardless : A record of a life in war and peace, Natraj Publishers, ISBN 978-8181581983
- Rao, K.V. Krishna (1991), Prepare or perish : a study of national security, Lancer Publ., ISBN 978-8172120016
- Singh, J. J. (2012), A Soldier's General-An Autobiography, HarperCollins, ISBN 978-9350291337