Field Marshal K. M. Cariappa or Kodandera “Kipper” Madappa Cariappa OBE (28 January 1899 – 15 May 1993) was the first Indian commander-in-chief (C-in-C) of the Indian Army. He led Indian forces on the Western Front during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947. He is one of only two Indian Army officers to hold the five-star rank of field marshal; the other being Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw.He was appointed commander-in-chief of the Indian Army in 1949.
His distinguished military career spanned almost three decades. Born on 28 January 1899, in Madikeri, Kodagu, Cariappa joined the British Indian Army shortly after the end of World War I, and was commissioned as temporary second lieutenant into the 2/88 Carnatic Infantry. He was transferred between multiple regiments early in his career before settling on 1/7 Rajputs, which became his permanent regiment.
He was the first Indian officer to attend the course at Staff College, Quetta, the first Indian to command a battalion, and was also one of the first two Indians selected to undergo training at the Imperial Defence College, Camberley, UK. He served in various staff capacities at various unit and command headquarters (HQ) and also at the General HQ, New Delhi. Before taking over as the C-in-C of the Indian Army, Cariappa served as the commander of the Indian Army’s Eastern and Western Commands.
Cariappa was born on 28 January 1900, in Madikeri, Kodagu (Coorg), to a family of farmers belonging to the Kondandera clan. His father, Madappa, worked with the revenue department. Cariappa was the second child in a family of four sons and two daughters.
He was known as “Chimma” to his relatives. After completing his formal education in the Central High School at Madikeri in 1917, he attended Presidency College, Chennai to pursue his education further.During college, he learned that Indians were being recruited into the army, also they were to be trained in India. As he wished to serve as a soldier he applied for the training.Of the 70 applicants, Cariappa was one of 42 who were finally granted admission into the Daly Cadet College, Indore. He scored well in all the aspects of his training and graduated seventh in his class.
(Ref : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kodandera_M._Cariappa)