President Ram Nath Kovinde, who inaugurated the General Thimaya Memorial Museum at Madikeri in Kodagu district on Saturday, said he remembers the services and bravery of one of India's greatest soldiers.
General K.S. Thimaya served as Chief of Army Staff from 1957 to 1961, and his ancestral home, Sunny Side, has been renovated and turned into a museum. The museum features memorabilia, including weapons and military uniforms, and at the entrance is a fighter jet, a MiG-21, as well as a battle tank, both of which were used in the 1971 war.
The president, who visited the museum to observe war memorabilia in the exhibition, later wrote in a visitor's book: "The General Thimaya Museum preserves the special aspects of the extraordinary character and contribution of one of the best soldiers in our military history."
“The memorable, once General Thimaya residence at Sunny Side, illuminates the sterling facilities of our brave forces. District Kodagu has the honor of enriching our armed forces with stalwarts such as General Thimaya and Field Marshal Kariappa. I am confident that the museum will inspire our youth to carry forward the legacy of General Thimaya, ”the President remarked. Mr. Kovinde also paid homage at the War Memorial on campus.
Arriving at Madikeri by IAF helicopter, the President was received by Forest, Kannada and Culture Minister Arvind Limbawali, Defense Personnel General Bipin Rawat, and senior ex-servicemen from Kodagu.
Earlier, the President and his wife Savita Kovinde visited Talakaveri, the birthplace of Kaveri and offered prayers.
Bharat Ratna asked
MLC Veena Achaiya called on the President posthumously Field Marshal K.M. Kariappa and General K.S. Thimaya. In a memorandum, he recalled that General Thimay was the only Indian to command an infantry brigade during World War II and in the post-Korean War. The unit led action on the practice of taking back prisoners of war.
He said Field Marshal Kariappa belonged to a family of farmers and was one of the two Indian Army officers with the highest and five star rank of Field Marshal and he wanted the Bharat Ratna to be awarded to both for their outstanding services.
