President honours Lt Gen Rana Pratap Kalita with Uttam Yudh Sewa Medal

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MANGALDAI: Lieutenant General Rana Pratap Kalita - the first Assamese officer to be appointed as the General Officer Commanding (GOC) in a Corps of Indian Army has been awarded the highly prestigious Uttam Yudh Sewa Medal (UYSM). He is also the first in Assam to be honoured with UYSM. President Ram Nath Kovind in an auspicious function in Rashtrapati Bhavan on Monday has conferred the medal on this worthy son of Assam. The award has been conferred on him in recognition for his outstanding service to the country with dedication and devotion during his tenure as the General Officer Commanding of III Corps (Spear Corps) at Rangapahar, Dimapur in Nagaland from January 11 of 2020 to February 10 of 2021.

Lieutenant General Rana Pratap Kalita presently has been rendering his service as the Director General (Manpower Planning and Personnel Services) in the Army headquarters.

Earlier, he was honoured with Seva Medal (SM) and Vishisht Seva Medal (VSM) for his outstanding service. He was also honoured with the prestigious 'Ati Vishisht Seva Medal' (AVSM) for his outstanding performance and service to the country during his tenure as the General Officer Commanding of XIX Infantry Division at Baramullah in the aftermath of the 'Fedayeen attack' in Uri sector in Kashmir valley.

Lieutenant General Kalita, an alumnus of Sainik School Goalpara (SSG) in Assam and National Defence Academy got commissioned in 9 Kumaon Regiment in 1984 and was appointed in several coveted posts in XV Corps at Srinagar, Rashtriya Rifles, 71 Infantry Brigade at Lucknow, Officer Training Academy, Additional Director General (Ceremonial and Welfare) in Army Headquarters, Chief of Staff, Eastern Command at Fort William, Kolkata, besides his deputation to United Nations. He is the son of an ideal teacher of high repute Jogendra Kalita and Renu Kalita of Rangia in Kamrup (Rural) district. His son Captain Nishanta carrying forth the legacy to the second generation has also got commissioned in the 9 Kumaon Regiment.

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