Yogesh Kumar Joshi

Lieutenant General Yogesh Kumar Joshi, PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, VrC, SM, ADC (born 5 January 1962) is a retired General Officer of the Indian Army. He was the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief Northern Command, assuming office from Lt Gen Ranbir Singh on 1 February 2020.[2][3] He last served as the Chief of staff of the Northern Command, assuming the office from Lt Gen SK Sharma.[4] Previously, he was the commander of Leh based Fire & Fury Corps. As Army Commander he is credited with spearheading the Indian response to PLA's attempt to alter the status quo on Line of Actual Control (LAC) by use of force. He is the only war decorated Army Commander who has to his credit successes against both Indian adversaries China and Pakistan.[5]

For other people with the same name, see Yogesh Joshi.

Lieutenant General
Y. K. Joshi
PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, VrC, SM, ADC
24th General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Northern Command
In office
1 February 2020 – 31 January 2022
Preceded byRanbir Singh
Succeeded byUpendra Dwivedi
Personal details
Born (1962-01-05) January 5, 1962[1]
Awards
NicknameJoe
Military service
Allegiance India
Branch/service Indian Army
Years of service12 June 1982- 31 January 2022
Rank Lieutenant General
Unit13 JAK Rif
Commands Northern Command
XIV Corps
13 JAK Rif
Battles/wars

Early life and education

Gen Joshi hails from Faridabad, Haryana but has done his schooling from Jhansi and Faridabad, thus giving him a pan India exposure as a child and teenager and is the son of R P Joshi.[6] He is a graduate of the 60th course and was allotted Kilo "K" squadron at the National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla, Pune, Maharashtra.[7] Then he attended Indian Military Academy, Dehradun.

Career

He was commissioned into 13 Jammu and Kashmir Rifles.[8][9][10] His instructional tenure was at Infantry School Mhow where he was responsible to impart training on Anti Tank Weapon Systems. Being an epitome of a 'scholar warrior' he attended Defense Services Staff College, Wellington and was posted to Military Operations Directorate for the first time, since then he has served in Military Operations directorate thrice in various capacities which have enriched his professional competencies in the operational paradigm to include both putative adversaries of India, namely China and Pakistan. He had the distinction to command his Brigade in Eastern Ladakh and also the Division in the same area, thus giving him first hand ground knowledge which held him in good stead during Operation SNOW LEOPARD. He has also served as the ADG of Military Operations Branch in the Army HQ during the critical period of Surgical Strikes against Pakistan in 2016 and was responsible for the planning of the operations at the Military Operations Branch. Prior to his appointment as GOC of XIV Corp he was DG Infantry and spearheaded the modernization drive of the infantry with missionary zeal and a large number of weapon systems and equipment like the Sig Saur Rifle were procured under his tutelage. He is the colonel of the regiment of Jammu and Kashmir Rifles & the Ladakh Scouts and has been deeply involved with welfare and development of people of the remote region of Ladakh. He was the 17th Commander, XIV Corps of the Indian Army and assumed the post on 31 August 2018, This was General Joshi's fourth tenure dealing with Chinese troops.[11] He assumed the post from Lt General Santosh Kumar Upadhya.[12][8]

Kargil War

He was a Lt colonel during Kargil War. He led 13th Battalion of the JAK Rif in Dras. His battalion launched four attacks, most successful of which was on Pt 4875 which is now called Batra Top after Capt. Vikram Batra who was martyred in action and was awarded the Param Vir Chakra. The Battalion was also conferred with the title of the 'Bravest Of the Brave'[11] His battalion was awarded a total more than twenty five Gallantry medals during Kargil War including two Param Vir Chakras, eight Vir Chakras (including him) and fourteen Sena Medals. He was the commanding officer of Param Vir Chakra awardees Captain Vikram Batra and Rifleman Sanjay Kumar.[13][12] His role during the Kargil War was essayed by Sanjay Datt in the movie LOC Kargil directed by JP Datta. As an officer and a gentleman his gesture of giving an honourable burial to troops of Pakistan Army who had perished on the icy heights of Kargil[14] fetched him praise and also a sobriquet of a 'humane warrior'. His professional acumen and personal bravery was a beacon of inspiration for the soldiers of his unit who displayed bravery and courage beyond the call of duty to achieve victory under most trying circumstances. His CODE WORD during the battle was 'CHANAKYA' and instilled fear amongst the Pakistani soldiers who were fighting in Kargil.

An expert on China

The uniqueness that Gen Joshi brings to his office is not only his knowledge of the Chinese language but also the fact that he has served thrice before in the eastern Ladakh sector and has commanded a Brigade and a Division before taking over as commander of Fire & Fury Corps. He also served as a Defence Attache to China (2005-2008) and negotiated the technicalities of the first India-China joint exercise “Hand-in-Hand” in Kunming in 2007 and led Army talks with China.[15][12][16][11] The PLA holds him in great esteem and are in awe of his capacities as a soldier and diplomat. During the various meetings held after the Galwan incident the Chinese generals had displayed great reverence and were always cognizant of his presence as the Theatre Commander.[17] His valuable insights on China, PLA and their capacities were banked upon by the highest decision-making body in military matters in India.

Vir Chakra Citation

The citation for the Vir Chakra reads as follows[18]

Gazette Notification: 18 Pres/2000,15-8-99

Operation: - Date of Award: 15 Aug 1999

CITATION

LIEUTENANT COLONEL YOGESH KUMAR JOSHI

13 JAMMU AND KASHMIR RIFLES

Lieutenant Colonel Yogesh Kumar Joshi, 13 Jammu & Kashmir Rifles, was tasked to capture the strategically vital Point 5140 in Drass Sector during "Operation Vijay". Lieutenant Colonel Joshi conceived a brilliant plan catering for coordinated action to achieve total surprise and psychological dominance over the tactically better positioned enemy. He also personally supervised all preliminary actions before the attack. During the attack on 20 June 1999, Lieutenant Colonel Joshi kept motivating his company commanders and kept staging himself forward with utter disregard to his personal safety. Displaying exceptional presence of mind, he responded to changing battle situations in a most competent manner, his leading from the front and being well forward in battle acted as a morale booster to the attacking troops. Drawing inspiration from him, the attacking companies surmounted the heavy odds, rugged in-hospitable terrain and enemy fire to close in and capture the objective, important peak of Point 5140.

Lieutenant Colonel Yogesh Kumar Joshi displayed exemplary leadership, outstanding command and control and valour beyond the call of duty, leading to killing of six enemy intruders and recapturing of the strategically vital Point 5140 in Drass Sector.

Awards and decorations

During his career, he has been awarded with Param Vishisht Seva Medal in January 2022,[19] Uttam Yudh Seva Medal for commanding the Fire & Fury Corps (Republic Day 2020), Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (Republic Day 2016), the Vir Chakra (Independence Day 1999) for his part in the Operation Vijay and the Sena Medal.[20][18][21][22]

Param Vishisht Seva Medal Uttam Yudh Seva Medal Ati Vishisht Seva Medal
Vir Chakra Sena Medal Samanya Seva Medal Special Service Medal
Operation Vijay Star Siachen Glacier Medal Operation Vijay Medal Operation Parakram Medal
Sainya Seva Medal High Altitude Service Medal Videsh Seva Medal 50th Anniversary of Independence Medal
30 Years Long Service Medal 20 Years Long Service Medal 9 Years Long Service Medal UNAVEM III Medal

Dates of rank
InsigniaRankComponentDate of rank
Second LieutenantIndian Army12 June 1982[23]
LieutenantIndian Army12 June 1984[24]
CaptainIndian Army12 June 1987
MajorIndian Army12 June 1993[25]
Lieutenant-ColonelIndian Army25May 1999[26]
ColonelIndian Army1 March 2006[27]
BrigadierIndian Army1 February 2010 (substantive, with seniority from 17 January 2009)[28]
Major GeneralIndian Army1 April 2015 (substantive, with seniority from 8 June 2012)[29]
Lieutenant-GeneralIndian Army20 May 2017[30]

Gen Joshi has been portrayed twice in films, first by actor Sanjay Dutt in LOC: Kargil (2003) and second by actor Shataf Figar in Shershaah (2021).[31]

See also

References
  1. "Lt Col Yogesh kumar Joshi, VrC". THE WAR DECORATED INDIA. Retrieved 20 November 2014.
  2. PRO Udhampur, Ministry of Defence [@proudhampur] (31 January 2020). "Lt Gen YK Joshi, UYSM, AVSM, VrC, SM will assume the appointment of #ArmyCdrNC on 01 Feb 2020. The General officer caught the attention of the nation during Kargil war with his outstanding leadership under the nickname 'Joe' & led his unit 13 JAK RIF to unprecedented success. t.co/Lr54A5JapD" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 27 August 2021. Retrieved 16 December 2021 – via Twitter.
  3. Negi, Manjeet Singh (24 January 2020). "Kargil fame Lt Gen YK Joshi appointed Northern Army Commander". India Today. London. Retrieved 25 January 2020.
  4. PRO Udhampur, Ministry of Defence [@proudhampur] (25 October 2019). "Lt Gen YK Joshi assumed the appointment of Chief of Staff, Northern Commandat Udhampur today. He relieves Lt Gen SK Sharma. In a solemn ceremony Lt Gen SK Sharma and the incoming Chief of Staff paid tributes to the martyrs at Dhruva Shahid Samarak, Udhampur. t.co/iXRaI0ayRS" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 25 October 2019. Retrieved 16 December 2021 – via Twitter.
  5. Lt Gen YK Joshi Speaks On The Pangong Tso Pullback | Exclusive Interview | CNN News18. CNN-News18. 17 February 2021. Archived from the original on 7 December 2021. Retrieved 16 December 2021 – via YouTube.
  6. "YOGESH KUMAR JOSHI | Gallantry Awards". gallantryawards.gov.in. Retrieved 9 October 2018.
  7. "Vir Chakra". nda.nic.in.
  8. "Kargil war hero Lieutenant General YK Joshi takes charge of Ladakh's defence". CatchNews.com. Retrieved 9 October 2018.
  9. "Back in the barracks, I'm Sanju Baba". Mid-Day Infomedia Ltd. 15 July 2009. Retrieved 20 November 2014.
  10. KRISHNAN, ANANTH (11 May 2013). "Boundary tensions challenge Li Keqiang's visit". The Hindu. Retrieved 20 November 2014.
  11. "Kargil War hero Lieutenant General YK Joshi takes charge of Ladakh's defence". zeenews.india.com.
  12. "Kargil hero Lt-Gen Joshi takes charge of 14 corps - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 9 October 2018.
  13. "Legendary tale of 'Captain Vikram Batra': The 'Sher Shah' of Indian Army". India TV Buzz. 11 September 2014. Retrieved 20 November 2014.
  14. Aroor, Shiv [@ShivAroor] (4 August 2019). "20 years ago after the Kargil War, the Indian Army's 13 JAK RIF buried Pakistani soldiers with all rituals because the Pakistan Army wouldn't take them back. That's Pakistan. 'No man left behind' means nothing to them. A military that can never be moral rules that country. t.co/m21IyvUhye" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 7 December 2021. Retrieved 16 December 2021 – via Twitter.
  15. KRISHNAN, ANANTH (27 April 2013). "Amid Ladakh tensions, India, China discuss joint military exercises". The Hindu. Retrieved 20 November 2014.
  16. "Why Modi govt & Army picked this general to protect borders with China & Pakistan". theprint.in. 3 September 2018.
  17. Gokhale, Nitin [@nitingokhale] (17 February 2021). "Most detailed insight straight from the man who led Op Snow Leopard against China in Eastern Ladakh in the past 10 months. t.co/w0waRzLqgU" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 6 December 2021. Retrieved 16 December 2021 – via Twitter.
  18. "Vir Chakra (VrC) Awardee: Lt Col Yogesh kumar Joshi, VrC". THE WAR DECORATED INDIA. Retrieved 20 November 2014.
  19. "HONOURS AND AWARDS : REPUBLIC DAY 2022" (PDF). PIB.
  20. "President approves 409 Gallantry and other defence decorations to Armed Forces personnel on Republic Day (2020)". PIB India.
  21. "Press Information Bureau". pib.nic.in. Retrieved 25 January 2016.
  22. "Press Information Bureau Government of India Republic Day Gallantry". Press Information Bureau. Press Information Bureau. 25 January 2014. Retrieved 25 January 2016.
  23. "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)" (PDF). The Gazette of India. 29 September 1984. p. 1667.
  24. "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)" (PDF). The Gazette of India. 8 June 1985. p. 780.
  25. "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)" (PDF). The Gazette of India. 10 September 1994. p. 1685.
  26. "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)" (PDF). The Gazette of India. 15 October 2005. p. 1894.
  27. "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)" (PDF). The Gazette of India. 21 April 2007. p. 635.
  28. "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)" (PDF). The Gazette of India. 16 February 2013. p. 273.
  29. "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)" (PDF). The Gazette of India. 21 May 2016. p. 1309.
  30. "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)" (PDF). The Gazette of India. 9 February 2019. p. 393.
  31. Service, Tribune News. "Kargil War hero Lt Gen YK Joshi hangs his uniform after 40 years of distinguished career". Tribuneindia News Service.
  • Video about Captain Vikram Batra showing a reenactment of his final battle during Kargil War, narrated by his then-commanding officer, Yogesh Kumar Joshi.
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