Vijay Kumar Datta

Maj Gen. Vijay Kumar Datta
Maj Gen. Vijay Kumar Datta
Born	1950
Allegiance	India
Service / branch	Indian Army
Years of service	15 March 1970 – 1 May 2008
Rank	Major General
Unit	1 Gorkha Rifles (The Malaun Regiment)
Commands	Additional Director General (TA) ; Offg Corps Commander (21 Corps); Chief of Staff (21 Corps); Division Commander (25 Inf Div); DDG MO (Special Ops); Brigade Commander (181 Mtn Bde); Col Q Ops (Northern Command); Group Commander (51 SAG)
Awards	Ati Vishisht Seva Medal; Vishisht Seva Medal; Bar to Vishisht Seva Medal; Sena Medal (Gallantry); Bar to Sena Medal (Gallantry); President's Police Medal for Gallantry; Chief of Army Staff Commendation Card

Major General Vijay Kumar Datta AVSM, SM**, VSM**, PPMG was the additional director general of the Territorial Army of the Indian Army and the most decorated [1] Indian Army [2] officer.

Biography

Major General Datta started his career in uniform when he was commissioned in the 2nd Battalion of the 1st Gorkha Rifles in March 1970. He volunteered and served in the first counter-terrorist and counter-hijack unit of the country. A black belt in karate, he introduced this art in the army.

One of Datta's major accomplishments was the designing and introduction of the bullet-proof patka for the army and para-military forces. He also designed and conceptualised the bullet-proof jacket (kavach) which is being produced by DRDO.{clarify|What is DRDO?|date=September 2019}} The credit of designing the arms laser designator goes to him too. He was involved in the raising of the Special Protection Group and the National Security Guard.

He has commanded a mountain brigade in counterinsurgency operations under the Operation Rhino in Assam and an infantry division on the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir in Operation Rakshak. He was also posted as the chief of staff of 21 Corps (offensive formation of the Indian Army). He also became additional director general of the Territorial Army before he retired the army on 1 May 2008.

References