Retired Lt Gen Ramesh Halgali, a native of Bagalkot, was honoured with the Param Vishisht Seva Medal in the presence of President Pranab Mukherjee at Rashtrapathi Bhavan in New Delhi on Saturday.

The first from Karnataka to be feted with the nation’s highest distinguished military award, he was also the first officer from the State to be the Deputy Chief of Army Staff.

Halgali was instrumental in bringing peace and stability to strife-torn Kashmir during the peak of the insurgency. His reappraisal of strategic response on the Himalayas brought about modernisation, infrastructure development and a new doctrine for application of military power along the northern front. He also reformulated an operational integrated theatre battle plan along the western front.

Halgali has to his credit the President’s Sena Medal for gallantry in the face of the enemy in 1992. He was also awarded the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in 2011. In addition to enhancing diplomatic and military programmes with countries overseas, he brought more focus on strategic affairs and the United Nations peace-keeping missions the world over.

Background

Born in Bagalkot district in 1952, Ramesh Halgali studied at a Sainik school in Bijapur. He later graduated from the Indian Military Academy.

He was commissioned in the First Battalion of the Sikh Light Infantry in December 1972. During his illustrious career, he has also been an instructor at the Indian Military Academy and the Infantry School. 

He went on to become the Chief of Staff of HQ Southern Command.