How independent India’s first army chief KM Cariappa got the name ‘Kipper’, an anecdote related to the wife of a British officer

ARMY DAY: Today is Indian Army Day. The big reason behind celebrating it was Field Marshal KM Cariappa. On January 15, 1949, for the first time after nearly 200 years of British rule, an Indian was given the reins of the army. Cariappa was the first commander-in-chief of independent India. However, the post is now held by the President of the country. Apart from Cariappa, field marshal Sam Manekshaw also held the post. Commander-in-Chief is called the chief of the three armies. Cariappa is also known as ‘Kipper’. Behind this is the story related to the wife of a British officer. He gave this name to Cariappa.

Field Marshal is the highest post of five-star rank in the Indian Army, who is the chief of the three armies of the country. It is also called commander-in-chief. There have been only two officers who got such a post. First km cariappa and second field marshal Sam Manekshaw.

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Born on January 28, 1900 in Karnataka, KM Cariappa is also the first Indian officer to get the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He received this position in 1942. Cariappa underwent military training during the First World War (1914 to 1918). In 1944, he was promoted to the rank of Brigadier. His first posting as brigadier was as commander of the Bannu Frontier Brigade.

How did the name Kipper come about?

KM Cariappa is also known as ‘Kipper’. It is believed that this name was given to him by the wife of a British officer. It was under British rule when Cariappa was posted in Fatehgarh. The wife of that British officer had a lot of difficulty in taking his name. So he started calling Cariappa ‘Kipper’. Then the name was associated with them.