(The Sangai Express)
Imphal, February 11 2014: Major General Konsam Himalay Singh of Manipur has become the first Army officer from the North-East to become a Lieutenant General.
Major General Himalay, who hails from Charangpat in Thoubal district, Manipur is an alumni of Sainik School, Goalpara (As
sam) and the National Defence Academy.
He was commissioned into the Second Battalion of The Rajput Regiment (KALI CHINDI) in June 1978 and later commanded 27 RAJPUT, informed Defence Spokesperson, Ministry of Defence Col SD Goswami.
The General Officer is a graduate of the Defence Services Staff College, College of Defence Management and the prestigious National Defence College.
He has held varied Commands, Staff and Instructional appointments during his career so far.
Conveying that the State native has vast operational experience in counter insurgency (CI) operations in Jammu and Kashmir, where he served five tenures in the last 35 years and four tenures in North East which included CI operations in LC (Line of Control), LAC (Line of Actual Control) and HAA (High Altitude Area) environments, Col Goswami said that the Major General also commanded 27 Rajput in Siachen Glacier from 1998 to 2000 .
Honoured with 'Yudh Seva Medal' in 2000 for command of a unit during 'Op Vijay' against Pakistan's unsuccessful move to occupy Indian territory, the General Officer later commanded an Infantry Brigade in Delhi.
He was General Officer Commanding (GOC) of 25 Infantry Division in J&K and was awarded with 'Ati Vishisht Sewa Medal' in 2013 .
Himalay is also said to have been awarded the Chief of Army Staff Commendation Card thrice and also the GOC-in-C Eastern Command Commendation Card.
Moreover, Maj Gen Himalay has held a number of prestigious staff appointments which included Assistant Military Secretary 1D, Colonel Administrator of a Mountain Division in Gangtok, Director PS-2, Deputy MS Eastern Command and Deputy MS (B) in the Military Secretary's Branch at IHQ of MoD (Army).
He has also been Battalion Commander and Senior Instructor at the National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla.
A keen sportsman, the General has excelled in all troops games being brought up in a Sainik School environment.
He is an avid golfer, mountaineer and skydiver.
He also participated in Rajput Regiment expedition to Kedarnath Dome in 1980 and Kanchenjunga Expedition in 1987 .
Sainik School Goalpara, Assam, in which Maj Gen Himalay studied, was founded on November 12, 1964 .
He joined the school in the year 1968.It is a residential school for boys, providing Public School Education with an aim to prepare them to join the defence services.
Sainik School, Goalpara, which would be celebrating its golden jubilee this year, has excelled in its primary role as a feeder institution to the Armed Forces and has over 200 ex-Sainik School Goalpara students (SSGians) to its credit as officers in the Armed Forces.
A good number of ex-students are IAS, IPS officers, doctors, engineers.
The school serving is not only in Assam and the North East but also all over the country and abroad.
The school is a member of the IPSC (Indian Public School Conference) .
Maj Gen Himalay Singh is married to Dr (Mrs) Mangala Devi, an accomplished doctor and they have two daughters.
He is currently posted as Chief of Staff of a Strike Corps, detailed Col Goswami.
The Railways is now on course to convert the strategically important 510 km long Rangiya - Murkongselek Metre Gauge line into Broad Gauge within this financial year.
