Former Army Chief General VN Sharma passes away at the age of 96

Former Army Chief General Vishwa Nath Sharma, who played a pivotal role during the 1987 military stand-off with China, passed away of natural causes in New Delhi in the early hours of Friday at the age of 96. Commissioned into the 16th Light Cavalry in 1950, General Sharma became the first officer commissioned after Independence to rise to the position of Army Chief. He served as the 14th Chief of Army Staff from May 1, 1988, to June 30, 1990.His career was marked by distinguished service across multiple theatres. As a Major, he fought in the 1965 war in the Lahore sector. He later commanded the 66 Armoured Regiment and served as an instructor at the Defence Services Staff College in Wellington. During the 1971 war, he served as Colonel General Staff (Operations) of an Armoured Division.