Brigadier

Ravi Datt Mehta
Died(2008-07-07)7 July 2008
Kabul, Afghanistan
Allegiance India
Service/branchIndian Army
Years of service1976–2008

Brigadier Ravi Datt Mehta (1955 – 7 July 2008) was a brigadier in the Indian army. He died in the suicide bombing of the Indian Embassy in Kabul while serving as India's Defence Attaché to Afghanistan on 7 July 2008.[1]

Early life and military career

Indian Express states that he was a math wizard in his younger days.[2] He joined the Indian Army in 1976 and went on to become a highly rated officer.[3] His selection as Defence Attaché in Kabul is said to have followed an intensive screening process that shortlists the candidate pool to unofficially the "top three"[4] officers of the Indian Army, prior to making the final selection for the job . He had proficiency in many languages[5] including Pashto, Mandarin and Tibetan. His work as defence attache in Kabul was praised in both Indian media and Pakistani media.[6] In the words of a columnist of the Dawn newspaper, he was:

"an affable defence attaché who was popular with Indian expatriates and local Afghans alike"[7]

It is speculated that he was targeted, allegedly by the Taliban and the ISI, due to his significant role in training the Afghan army and his close monitoring of the re-established links between Pakistan's Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) and the Taliban.[8] He was said to have a "good relationship" with Afghan defence minister Abdul Rahim Wardak. Brig. Mehta had earlier also served as the head of the Indian Army's Intelligence Corps in the state of Jammu and Kashmir.

Legacy and honours

A road in his hometown Simla near his childhood home is now named after him.[9] He is also slated to be posthumously awarded the Kirti Chakra,[10] India's second-highest peacetime gallantry award. His funeral was attended by Chief of Army Staff General Deepak Kapoor, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Suresh Mehta and Chief of the Air Staff Fali Homi Major.[11]

Brigadier Mehta's wife was also working in Afghanistan for empowerment of women during his stay there. Brigadier Mehta has a son who is also serving in the Indian Air Force as a fighter pilot.[12]

References


  1. ↑ Pandit, Rajat (8 July 2008). "Brigadier targeted for role in training Afghan army". TNN. Retrieved 8 July 2008.
  2. ↑ The Indian Express, 9 July 2008 Archived 13 July 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  3. ↑ The Asian Age, 7 July 2008 Archived 15 October 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  4. ↑ Times of India, 9 July 2008 Last farewell to Brig. Mehta
  5. ↑ The Tribune, 8 July 2008, Simla Link
  6. ↑ Defence Attaches remember Brigadier Mehta in Kabul
  7. ↑ The Dawn, 14 July 2008, Karachi
  8. ↑ The Times of India, 8 July 2008 Briagdier targeted for role in training Afghan army
  9. ↑ Department of Information & Public Relations, Himachal Pradesh, Communique 11 July 2008
  10. ↑ Kirti Chakra recommended for Kabul blast victims. Archived 25 February 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  11. ↑ India News Calling Archived 13 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  12. ↑ The Telegraph, Kolkata Families weep, refuse to crumble
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