General Manoj Pande, the head of the Indian Army, was given the honorary rank of general of the Nepali Army on September 5 in Kathmandu by Nepal President Bidya Devi Bhandari.
In honour of General Pande’s ongoing visit to the Himalayan country, a special ceremony was held at the President’s official house, “Shital Niwas,” in the capital city of Nepal.
“The Chief of Army Staff of Indian Army General Manoj Pande was conferred the title of Honorary General of the Nepali Army by Rt Hon. Smt. Bidya Devi Bhandari, President of Nepal, on 5 September 2022. He was honoured at a special ceremony at the President’s official residence ‘Shital Niwas’ in Kathmandu. He was also presented a sword and scroll during the function,” the Indian embassy said in a statement.
The custom carries on a seven-decade-old tradition of bestowing the honorary title on the army leaders of each other’s nations.
Commanders who received the title previously
The first commander-in-chief of the Indian Army to get the title was General KM Cariappa in 1950. At a ceremony in New Delhi in November 2021, President Ram Nath Kovind also named General Prabhu Ram Sharma, the Chief of the Nepali Army, the Honorary General of the Indian Army.
Following the ceremony, General Manoj Pande met with Nepal President Bidya Devi Bhandari. General Manoj Pande expressed his gratitude for the honour bestowed upon him during the call on.
Earlier in the day, General Manoj Pande laid a wreath and paid tribute at Bir Smarak (Martyr’s Memorial) at Army Pavilion in Tundikhel, Kathmandu, in a solemn ceremony. Following that, he paid a visit to the
Nepali Army headquarters, where he was accorded a ceremonial Guard of Honour.
Following that, he met with his counterpart, General Prabhu Ram Sharma, during which both delegations discussed ways to strengthen long-standing army-army relations. Senior officers from the Nepali Army also briefed him thoroughly.
General Manoj Pande presented training equipment to the Nepali Army on behalf of the Indian government, as well as Light Vehicles that would enhance the capabilities of Nepali Army personnel.
On the invitation of General Prabhu Ram Sharma, Chief of Army Staff, Nepali Army, General Manoj Pande arrived in Kathmandu on September 4 for a five-day official visit.
