Lt.Gen. R.D.Hira. PVSM, MVC.Lt. Gen. R. D. Hira, PVSM, MVC, was born on 27th Aug 1923 in Sind (now in Pakistan). He was educated at Karachi and was commissioned into the Army in May 1942.

During World War II, he served in the Baluch Regiment and the Corps of Engineers in various assignments overseas(Middle East, Burma, Malaysia, Sumatra, etc.). After Independence, he was transferred to 9 Gorkha Rifles. From Aug 1948 to Nov. 1949 he took part in Kashmir Operations as a Senior Staff Officer of an Infantry Brigade in Jammu & Kashmir. Thereafter he was transferred to 11 Gorkha Rifles in Feb.1951.

In Dec. 1955, he took over the command of 11 Gorkha Rifles Regimental Centre. Subsequently, he commanded 3/11 Gorkha Rifles till Dec. 1959.In Dec. 1959, he was assigned to a diplomatic appointment and was posted to Cairo (Egypt) as Military, Naval and Air attaché in the Indian Embassy in United Arab Republic and he returned to India in Jul. 1962.On return from Cairo, he a gain commanded a battalion and took part in the Indo- China conflict. For a short spell of nine months, he was posted to Army Headquarters as General Staff Officer-1 Military Intelligence, Directorate from March 1963 to Dec. 1963.

On promotion to Colonel he was again posted as Commandant 11 Gorkha Rifles Regimental Centre.On promotion to the rank of Brigadier, he over command of a Mountain Brigade in Dec. 1964. He commanded the Brigade during the 1965 Indo- Pak conflict in the Sialkot sector. For his conspicuous acts of gallantry in Operations against Pakistan and in Operations against infiltrators in Rajori and Poonch sectors, he was awarded the Mahavir Chakra (MVC) by the President of India.

In Nov.1966 he was posted to Corps Headquarters as Brigadier General Staff. On promotion to the rank of Maj. Gen. in May 1969, he took over the command of a Mountain Division in Assam. During the 1971 conflict, he commanded the Division in Operations in Bangladesh. The Division under his command largely contributed to the final victory in Bangladesh. In recognition of his distinguished service of the most exceptional order during the Operations, the President of India awarded him the Param Vishisht Seva Medal. Subsequently, he commanded an Infantry Division in Punjab from May 1972 to Jan. 1974. He was Chief of Staff of a Corps from Jan. 1974 to Feb. 1975.

On promotion to rank of Lt. Gen. He was appointed as Adjutant General of the Indian Army in Mar. 1975. In Mar. 1977, he was appointed as General Officer Commanding of a Corps.In Apr. 1979 he was promoted and appointed GOC-in-Chief Central Command at Lucknow. Later in Jun. 1980 he took over as GOC-in-Chief, Southern Command Pune.

Appointed as Honorary Army ADC to the President of India, since Sept. 1974, he was a Colonel of 11 Gorkha Rifles. He retired on 31st Aug. 1981.

Married in Dec. 1951, he has one daughter. His hobbies include Hunting and Angling. He is fond of Golf and Tennis. He occasionally plays Bridge. He is also writing a book on his life in Army. It is a memoir including his experiences of various wars he took part in, in a directional level. He is fond of reading about Military History & other non-fictional books, including Vedas, Granth Sahib, Ramayana & Mahabharata.

After retirement he has been appointed as a Nominee Director of various companies representing IDBI. He was also the Chairman of the Managing Committee of the Jaihind College in Pimpri.