Among the many legendary characters of the Indian epic Mahabharata, Bhishma Pitamah stands out as a symbol of duty, sacrifice, and wisdom. During the epic battle of Mahabharata, as the commander-in-chief of the Kaurava army for the first ten days, he caused great destruction on the battlefield. However, his inner conflict was evident, as he never wished to fight against the Pandavas, whom he loved dearly. Being a patriarch, a father figure with unwavering commitment to dharma, he looked after everyone’s interest. He was a sort of Colonel of the Regiment (COR) in the modern-day Indian Army’s ethos, customs, and traditions.
After independence, we inherited the British military doctrines, institutions, organizational structure, and customs and traditions in our armed forces, and so is the position of the COR in the Indian Army, as have other armies of the Commonwealth. The post of COR is an elected post. All officers including and above the rank of colonel vote, as do all the battalions’ commanding officers (CO). The vote of the COs represents the vote of their jawans. The COR is a senior officer of the regiment, usually the senior-most, who is a father figure to the regiment and looks after the interests of the regiment. Thus, they are usually general officers or brigadiers. In the olden days on ceremonial occasions, like visiting a battalion on their raising/regimental/battle honor days, the COR wore the rank badges of a colonel rather than their actual rank. As a matter of tradition, each armored regiment has its own ‘Colonel of the Regiment,’ an honorary post for a senior officer who oversees the regimental issues concerning the regiment. Likewise, the other arms and services have their Colonel Commandants (CCs). Both the CORs and CCs have similar functions in their respective arms, supportive arms, and services.
The first recorded COR of the Regiment who served the longest tenure was Maj Gen SB Pope, DSO, CB (28 August 1931 to 31 May 1949), followed by some illustrious names like Gen KS Thimayya, Padma Bhushan, DSO (1 June 1949 to 8 May 1961); Lt Gen Kanwar Bahadur Singh, MBE (16 May 1961 to 15 May 1971); and Gen TN Raina, Padma Bhushan, MVC (16 May 1971 to 31 May 1978), and so on to the present incumbent, Lt Gen RC Tiwari, PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, SM, retiring shortly.
To clarify the role of the COR, I will just narrate an instance that happened with me during my command tenure. One young captain’s one-year-old child was sadly diagnosed with leukemia (blood cancer), and treatment was then only available in the Command Hospital, Pune. Fortunately, Lt. Gen. PN Kathpalia, then our COR, was visiting our battalion in Gandhinagar, and I appraised him of this problem. The officer was posted out to Pune within the next 48 hours, ensuring there was no delay in the child’s treatment.
Having retired 30 years back, though we are cared for by our battalions and the regiment, we are quite rightly out of touch with the day-to-day events. We all look for the emails and WhatsApp messages from our units and especially the COR secretariat regarding honors and awards, including awards of COAS Citation to Battalions or selection of a particular Battalion for the UN Peace Missions, selection/nomination of officers for staff college or courses like higher command, approval of officers for command and staff appointments, and news about periodical regimental get-togethers. From one of such emails from the distinguished soldier and general Lt Gen RC Tiwari, PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, SM, our present COR of the KUMAON & NAGA Regiments and KUMAON SCOUTS, we all veterans also learned that three months were left for his superannuation and it was time that the regiment started looking for the next COR. He has requested the Commandant, the Kumaon Regimental Centre (Comdt, KRC), Ranikhet, to initiate the selection/election process. He followed up, stating that we as a regiment are blessed with the problem of plenty, with each of our senior regimental officers professionally competent and regimented in his own way. The Comdt, KRC, wrote to the five senior-most regimental officers, seeking their candidature for the election process. While three of them have withdrawn from the contest in favor of the senior-most serving regimental officer, two of our stalwarts are Lt. Gen. VPS Kaushik, UYSM, YSM, SM, presently serving as Adjutant General and superannuating on 31 Jul 2027. He has extensive operational experience in Northeast India and served as the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the Trishakti Corps and Lt Gen Rajiv Ghai, SYSM, UYSM, AVSM, SM*** is presently serving as Deputy Chief of Army Staff (Strat) and superannuating on 30 Nov 2027. He previously served as the Director General Military Operations (DGMO) and successfully conducted ‘Operation Sindoor.’ Both general officers serving in the Army Headquarters have agreed to take part in the COR election as candidates. Both the general officers are professionally excellent and perfect gentlemen with the right military demeanor. Unlike politicians doing massive canvassing and spending huge amounts on their election, the military contestants ethically do not involve themselves in any sort of canvassing, have faith in the secret postal voting, and accept the poll results with dignity, grace, and commitment to the newly elected COR, service, and the Regiment.
Meanwhile, the Comdt, KRC has dispatched the ballot papers on 31 Dec 2025 to all the affected officers eligible for voting to exercise their option and return; requesting the eligible voters to accord it due priority spread all over the country in field, peace or overseas locations on UN/diplomatic appointments with a certain time frame. The election result will be out well before the present incumbent hangs his uniform and boots. Needless to say, whatever the result, I feel both the officers are well above the other. The COR, besides his professional responsibilities, looks after the morale, motivation, recruitment and training at the regimental center and the welfare of the veterans, widows and Veer Naris. All ranks of our Regiment take a pledge and train to honor our regimental motto, ‘Prakramo Vijayate / प्रक्रमो विजयीते,’ which translates to ‘Valour Triumphs,’ reflecting the Regiment’s ethos of commitment to bravery and excellence in service ever protecting and honoring the values of NAM, NAMAK and NISHAN protecting our Motherland and values with a missionary zeal.
More than rank, the commitment of the COR towards alleviating problems of serving all ranks, veterans, Veer Naris and widows and resolving regimental issues flows from his respect, standing in the army and missionary zeal. His intellect and reach in uniform in resolving their problems is his foremost duty. Soon we will have a new COR but with the same old beliefs. For any COR, the inner motivation to do well for the regiment is the inner mantra.
The COR is honorary, ceremonial elected figure head position for a senior regimental officer who serves as mentor for upkeep of regimental traditions and welfare distinct from command or staff assignment(s).
Col Bhatia’s article is very interesting & timely as our Kumaon & Naga Regiments elect a new Colonel of the Regiment ( COR).
The author introduced first COR -Maj Gen Pope & also other notable CORs without naming the Regiment though later he mentioned as “our regt”. The aspect of COR visiting all units at least once during his Colonelcy could be included and hosting of Biennial Confrences & Reunions at the Regimental Centre.
Col Prakash Bhatt, Veteran of the Kumaon Regiment.