Lt Gen Depinder Singh, former General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (GOC-in-C), Southern Command, and overall force commander of the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) during Operation Pawan in Sri Lanka, passed away in Panchkula on Tuesday at the age of 96.Commissioned into the 8 Gorkha Rifles in December 1950, he served as the Military Assistant to the then Chief of Army Staff, Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw, making him a witness to high-level decision-making and key events that shaped the course of history, especially the 1971 Bangladeshi liberation campaign. He remained on Field Marshal Manekshaw’s office staff from 1969 to 1973.He also participated in the 1965 India-Pakistan war, where he was the Brigade Major of 41 Mountain Brigade that stopped the Pakistani advance towards Akhnoor. He also commanded a Gorkha Rifles battalion in the counter-insurgency environment.In 1975, during Sikkim’s merger into India, he was closely involved in the sensitive operation to disarm the then ruler, Chogyal’s personal bodyguard, the Sikkim Guards.After being promoted to the Brigadier rank, he commanded a brigade in Sikkim. Following a stint as the commander of the Indian Military Training Team in Bhutan, he also commanded the 36th Infantry Division as a Major General, and thereafter on promotion to Lieutenant General, he commanded 33 Corps in the North-East.As the GOC-in-C, Southern Command, he was appointed as the overall force commander of the IPKF when the India-Sri Lanka accord was signed in 1987 to disarm Tamil militant groups like the LTTE.Although the operation in Sri Lanka, which saw intense and bitter battles, was largely considered a tactical military success, there were heavy Indian casualties and it threw up several hard lessons.“Lt Gen Depinder Singh’s illustrious career was marked by courage, integrity and unwavering dedication to the nation. A proud and fine embodiment of the Gorkha spirit and values of bravery, loyalty and selfless service, he led with quiet strength, dignity and inspired all,” said Lt Gen Bhopinder Singh (retd), former Military Secretary to the President and Governor of Puducherry.“He was among the tallest figures of the Gorkha Brigade. He was gentle and kind-hearted, and his demise is a big loss to the Gorkha community as well as the service fraternity at large,” said Lily Bawa, his neighbour whose husband, Lt Col IS Bawa was decorated posthumously with the Maha Vir Chakra for showing exemplary courage during Operation Pawan in Sri Lanka.After retiring in February 1988, Lt Gen Depinder Singh authored several books, including one on the legacy of Field Marshal Manekshaw, Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw Soldiering with Dignity, and others on his Sri Lankan experiences. He also spoke at various seminars and wrote on military affairs.