Vishwa Nath Sharma
General Vishwa Nath Sharma, PVSM, AVSM, ADC (born 4 June 1930) was the 14th Chief of the Army Staff of the Indian Army, serving between 1988–1990. He was the first Indian COAS to have begun his career in the post-Independence Indian Army.
Early life
His father, Major General Amar Nath Sharma, was also a military officer. He is the younger brother of the late Major Som Nath Sharma, recipient of Independent India's first posthumous Param Vir Chakra, and also Lieutenant General Surendra Nath Sharma, formerly Engineer in Chief of the Indian Army. Both brothers were educated at the Prince of Wales' Royal Indian Military College, Dehradun.
Military career
Sharma went on to join the fifth Regular Course at the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun and he was commissioned on 4 June 1950 into the 16th Light Cavalry. He fought in the 1965 War against Pakistan in the Lahore Sector. He commanded the 66th Armoured Regiment and later a Mountain Brigade in an insurgency affected area. Awarded the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal for distinguished service, General Sharma took over as GOC-in-C of the Eastern Command, on 1 June 1987 and was appointed Honorary Army ADC to the President on 25 July 1987. He took over as the Chief of Army Staff on 1 May 1988. He retired on 30 June 1990.
Honours and awards
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Dates of rank
| Insignia | Rank | Component | Date of rank |
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Second Lieutenant | Indian Army | 4 June 1950 |
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Lieutenant | Indian Army | 4 June 1952 |
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Captain | Indian Army | 4 June 1956 |
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Major | Indian Army | 4 June 1963 |
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Lieutenant-Colonel | Indian Army | 14 June 1968 |
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Colonel | Indian Army | 3 April 1974 |
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Brigadier | Indian Army | 2 February 1975 |
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Major General | Indian Army | 1 July 1980 |
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Lieutenant-General | Indian Army | 1984 |
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General (COAS) |
Indian Army | 1 May 1988 |
After career
- Board of directors, Local Advisory Board of India, ABN AMRO, 1991-97
- Board of directors, Diamond & Gem Development Corporation, 1993-97
- Board of directors, Hawkins Cookers Limited, 2001-present
- Member, Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses, 1990-present
- Member, United Services Institute of India, 1955-present
- Member, National Security Advisory Board, 2006-09
- Free Tuberculosis & Medical Center, Dadh, Himachal Pradesh, 1992-present