Rajendra Chhetri

General Rajendra Chhetri
महारथी श्री राजेन्द्र क्षत्री
Chief of Army Staff of Nepal Army
In office 10 September 2015 – 9 September 2018
President	Bidhya Devi Bhandari
Deputy	Purna Chandra Thapa as Chief of General Staff
Preceded by	Gaurav Shumsher JB Rana
Succeeded by	Purna Chandra Thapa
Personal details
Born	Rajendra Khatri Chhetri राजेन्द्र खत्री क्षत्री (1960-11-15) November 15, 1960 Chok Chisapani, Tanahun District
Awards	Prasiddha Prawal Jana Sewa Shree, Sukirtimaya Rashtrdeep, Trishakti Patta, Gorkha Dakshin Bahu, Legion of Merits ( Commanders' Degree, USA), Nissa-E-Imtiaz (Pakistan), and various UN Medals.
Military service
Allegiance	Nepal
Branch/service	Artillery Nepal Army
Years of service	1978–2018
Rank	General
Commands	Rajdal Battalion, Jagadal Battalion, No. 7th Brigade, No. 3 Brigade, Mid Division
Battles/wars	Counter Insurgency and Various Peace Support Operations

General Rajendra Chhetri (Nepali: राजेन्द्र क्षत्री; IAST:rājendra kṣatrī) born 15 November 1960) is a Nepali military officer and former Chief of Army Staff of the Nepalese Army, who assumed office on 11 August 2015, following the retirement of General Gaurav Shumsher JB Rana. He was conferred Honorary General of the Indian Army. He was commissioned into Rajdal Battalion of Nepal Army in 1978 from Kharipati.

Biography

General Chhetri comes from a family that has a long tradition of serving the nation by joining Nepali Army. His forefathers Pandit Jayamangal sapkota and Birbhadra Sapkota served in Gorkha Palace during the reign of King Prithvi Narayan Shah. Birbhadra Sapkota was one of the several commanders, who led the Nepali side to repel the British-India aggression in Sindhuli Gadhi. In the preceding years, Lieutenant Colonel Upendra Sapkota and Lieutenant Colonel Pashupati Sapkota are two other notable personalities, who served the nation from General Chhetri's ancestor. His great-great-grandfather Biru Singh Khatri was Sebedar and great grandfather Nahar Singh Khatri was Jemdar in Nepali Army. General Chhetri's grandfather Balindra Bahadur Khatri retired as Major, who was "Aath Pahariya" of General Babar Shumsher J.B. Rana and who was later appointed as "Badahakim" of Dhading and Nuwakot districts. General Chhetri's father was Colonel and served as ADC to the King Mahendra and Queen Mother Ratna. General Chhetri's elder brother Ramindra Chhetri retired as Hon Major General and given "Special Class" status by the Government of Nepal. His younger brother Ratindra Khatri was also in Nepali Army and retired at the rank of Colonel.

A qualified paratrooper, General Chhetri has undertaken a number of courses from various Nepalese Army Training Schools with distinguished merits, namely, the Counter Insurgency and Jungle Warfare, Junior Staff, Company Commander and Battalion Commander Courses. Additionally, he has also received various level Field Artillery and Air Defense Artillery trainings in the early years of his service from India, Pakistan and China. He is a graduate of the Command and General Staff College, Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas, USA(1992). He subsequently undertook the Unit Commanders' Course from the School of Army Air Defense, Pakistan. He is a qualified Psychological Testing Officer from the Defense Institute of Psychological Research, New Delhi, India.

Education

General Chhetri is a graduate of the United States Army War College, Carlisle, Pennsylvania (2010). He has attended various professional seminars and workshops at the international level, including the Executive Seminar in the Near East South Asia Center at the National Defense University, Washington DC and the Seminar on Defense Decision Making in the Naval Post Graduate School, Monterey, California, USA. He has also attended the international level Defense Seminar in Sri Lanka and Shiangshan Forum in China. General Chhetri has attended several Chiefs of Defense and Chiefs Army seminars in Philippines, Canada, USA (Hawaii and Washington DC) and at the United Nations HQ.

General Chhetri got Bachelors' Degree in History and Economics from Tribhuwan University and holds two Masters' Degrees – Masters in History from Tribhuwan University, Nepal and Masters in Strategic Studies from the US Army War College, Carlisle, Pennsylvania. General Chhetri has almost 40 years of military experience, with service during both peace and conflict, at home and abroad. He has commanded No.4 Air Defense Battery, Jagadal (Air Defense) Battalion, No. 7 (Infantry) Brigade, No.3 (Infantry) Brigade and Mid Division as General Officer Commanding (GOC). During his command tenure, the Mid Division was declared the Champion Division and won the coveted COAS Trophy. He was Chief of the Army Staff of the Nepali Army from 2015 to 2018.

Military History

General Chhetri's vast international peacekeeping experiences include service as a Platoon Commander in the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon in 1985 ; in Afghanistan and Pakistan from 1988 to 1989 in the United Nations Good Offices Mission as a Military Observer; and in the UN mandated Multi National Forces, Haiti and subsequent United Nations Mission in Haiti in 1995 as Zone II Operations Officer. He also served as a Strategic Planning Officer of the Military Division of Department of Peacekeeping Operations at the United Nations HQ, New York from 2002 to 2005.

Chhetri has also held key staff billets at all levels, including as Brigade Major of No. 1 Brigade. He held Assistant Chief of Staff (Operations) of Mid Division HQ during counter insurgency operations. At Army HQ, he has served in the Research and Development Directorate, Inspector General Department, Operations Branch, Military Secretary Branch, as Director of Recruiting and Selections and as Military Assistant to Chief of the Army Staff. He has also served in the National Security Council Secretariat as an analyst. He has successfully completed tenures as Quarter Master General, Director General of Military Training, Chief of Staff and Chief of General Staff at Army HQ.

General Chhetri focused his command directives to enhance conceptual, physical and moral aspects by laying down 10 very important objectives. He primarily focused on moderniztion, self sufficiency, operational readiness, military diplomacy and welfare of all ranks. During his command tenure, significant progress were made in the areas of air and ground mobility capabilities, uplift of weapons and equipment, defense production, reconstruction of earthquake damaged properties, welfare and wellbeing of all ranks, particularly health services, quality of life and education. "Mission first and people Always", "Back to the Basic", "Go Green campaign", "Expansion and Decentralization of Welfare Schemes", "Military Diplomacy", Enhancement of Operational Readiness and qualitative and quantitative participation in the United Nations Peacekeeping Operations are some of the areas that General Chhetri gave emphasis and achieved desired success. The Nepali Army was considered most trusted, credible and reliable institution at home and in international arena.

During his command tenure, the Nepali Army played key roles in stabilizing uprising in Surkhet, Jumla, Tharuhat movement in Tikapur and in Terai-Madhesh during the constitution promulgation process without single drops of bloodshed. Local formations and units played significant roles in maintaining secure and stable situation to uphold democracy.

The Nepali Army played a crucial role during three levels of elections after the promulgation of New Constitution. Massive mobilizations were made for "election support mission", due to which, the three levels of election were conducted in free, fair and secured environment.

General Chhetri took up the command immediately after the "Gorkha Earthquakes 2015". He assisted his predecessor in Nepali Army's massive mobilization for search, rescue and relief operations. During his tenure, the Nepali Army assisted government in relief and reconstruction works. The Nepali Army also assisted the Non-Residential Nepali Association to rebuild around 600 houses in Laprak, Gorkha. Nepali Army reconstructed/maintained around 700 infrastructures including Army HQ, Military Hospital, Laxmi Niwas and COAS Residence within the Nepali Army during his tenure. The Nepali Army was also involved in opening of most difficult and rugged "Beni-Aarughat- Larke Pass" track construction in Gorkha and construction of Terai-Madhesh Express Way during his tenure. Two districts of Nepal (Dolpa and Humla), which was not connected by road, were connected by Nepali army during his tenure.

Allegations of Corruption

In February 2020 an investigation was launched amidst allegations that Chhetri had been involved in corruption during his tenure. He has been accused of amassing huge amounts of wealth illegally, by taking money from the Nepal Army headquarter and fast track construction projects.

In June 2020 further allegations arose against Chhetri, alleging that he had tampered with the Army seniority list. Complainants claim that he had tampered with the list of officials prepared on the basis of seniority as he wanted to ensure that his favourites would get to the top post in next few years. Military diplomacy is another notable area that General Chhetri tactfully exercised in his tenure to maintain cordial and balanced relations with friendly and neighbouring countries. His direct role to lift the "undeclared blockade" in 2018 was widely praised. Conduct of Military Exercises (Sagarmatha Friendship), with Chinese Army, continuation and extension of bilateral exercise with Indian Army, small scale bilateral military exercises with Pakistan and Sri Lanka, participation in the prestigious "Cambrian Patrol" and "Edinburgh Military Tattoo" in the United Kingdom, continuity of military engagement with United States Army in various bilateral military activities, conduct of Multi-National Peace Operations Exercise and HADR exercise, Indo-Pacific Intelligence Chief conference, membership of Nepali Army in International Military Sports Council (CISM), renewal of Special Forces engagements with the United Kingdom and Israel are some of the events and achievements during his tenure that are worth highlighting. Bilateral military to military engagements has been expanded and Chiefs of Pakistan, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Maldives and Zambia paid official visits to Nepal for the first time in history.

Achievements

General Chhetri has been decorated with the Prashiddha Prawal Janasewa Shree, Sukirtimaya Rashtradeep, Bikhyat Trishakti Patta and the Prabal Gorkha Dakshin Bahu. He has also awarded with the highest decorations from friendly nations - "Legion of Merits (Commanders Degree)" from the United States Government and "Nissan E Imtiaz" from Pakistan Government. He has been conferred with the COAS Commendation Badge and several other national medals. He has also been awarded two US Army Achievement Medals, four different UN Medals for service in various UN Missions and 'Noble Peace Prize Commemoration medal". General Chhetri was also conferred with the "Honorary General" of Indian Army by Government of India.

General Chhetri is the inductees of Halls of Fame of Nepali Military Academy, Kharipati, United States Command and General Staff College, Ft. Leavenworth, and United States Army War College, Carlisle. He was also inducted in Wall of Fame of College of Army Air Defense, Malir Cantt., Pakistan and Rajdal Battalion.

He is one of the founding members of Air Defense System in Nepali Army and was the Colonel Commandant of Jagadal Battalion (2010-2020).

Family

He was born as second son of Colonel Gopal Bahadur Khatri Kshatri and Pramila Kshatri in Dudhekuna village, Chok Chisapani VDC of Tanahun District. General Chhetri is married to Rita Chhetri and has two sons Abhishek and Abhushan.

External links

• Nepal Army
• The Himalayan Times
• The Kathmandu Post
• Republica