Respected in the Army

Maj Gen (Retd) Rustom Faramji Khambatta, PVSM (Param Vishist Seva Medal), of Ahmedabad passed away at the age of 80 years on August 29, 2003 after a long illness. According to his life profile furnished by Maj Gen (Retd) Hector Thacker, he was commissioned in the Indian Army in 1942. He joined the Regiment of Artillery and immediately saw action on the Burma front during the second World War when he was seriously wounded in action. After recovering from his wounds he became a paratrooper and rose steadily in rank, holding prestigious appointments in the Indian Army. He was a brigade major, regimental commander, brigade commander (artillery and infantry) and general officer commanding a division in the 1971 War with Pakistan. In this War he was decorated with the PVSM for his brilliant victory against Pakistan in the Battle of Longewalla.

He was highly respected in the army for his honesty and tough and forthright manner. He retired as general officer commanding, Maharashtra and Gujarat area. He has two sons in the army, Navroze, who is a colonel in the Gurkhas, and Darius (also a paratrooper like his father), is a captain, who has joined his father’s regiment in the artillery. Rustom was married to Phiroza (née Suntook), a most charming lady, who passed away at an early age. They had four children, two sons and two daughters. He later married Indira and had two sons by her.

RASHID S. MEDORA

Ahmedabad