This incident dates back to mid eighties in Bangalore where I served as a Colonel commanding the Garrison Repair Organization .
Then Retired General K M Cariappa , the first C in C of the Independent Indian Army was elevated to the rank of Field Marshal – a belated recognition by the Indian Government . The State Government arranged a felicitation for the Field Marshal in the Central hall of the Vidhana Soudha . Chief Minister Ramakrishna Hegde and other dignitaries praised the Central Government for recognizing a son of Karnataka and a warrior from Coorg . We could see Field Marshal Cariappa looking rather uncomfortable with the proceedings which was taking a regional pitch .
In reply to the felicitation , the Field Marshal got up and asked every one present including the Chief Minister to say loudly along with him ” Jai Hind ” three times . Thereafter in his inimitable style Field marshal Cariappa gave a dressing down to all the speakers for being so parochial in their thoughts . He said he might have been born in Coorg which now happens to be part of Karnataka State , but He is an Indian first and will remain ever an Indian till his death . The honor bestowed on him by the Central Government is for his service to the nation and he is proud of it !!
A great lesson for all the politicians even today who promote regionalism at the cost of nation building !!