JP Dutta: Hearing about CDS (late) Bipin Rawat’s Padma Vibhushan makes me happy and sad at the same time

On January 25, the list of

Padma Awardees

was officially unveiled for the press. The list included CDS (late) Bipin Rawat’s name under the

Padma Vibhushan

category. The late Chief of Defence Staff passed away a few weeks ago following a chopper crash.

Filmmaker JP Dutta

, who became the first civilian to receive the Armed Forces’ Remembrance Flower, had a long-standing equation with Rawat - they had been friends for several years. Incidentally, Rawat had bestowed the honour on Dutta at a formal function in Delhi in October last year - which was also the last time they met.

Talking about CDS (late) Bipin Rawat’s Padma Vibhushan, JP Dutta says, “It’s a great honour but it’s posthumous. It goes for him and for all the people who passed away with him in that unfortunate accident. It’s a double whammy. Hearing about the Padma Vibhushan for me makes me feel happy and sad at the same time. The man himself was such a receptive and warm person who cared for people. He was not one with a chip on his shoulder despite being the CDS. He was down to earth and humble and yet so firm on his take on his professional callings and his duty. He was a complete man, a complete soldier who was compassionate and authoritative. He commanded respect for what he did. I am emotional and overwhelmed with this. It’s rare that you find people like him in high echelons of the society and the country; people who are so humble and giving and all there for the forces and the country. He had nation written all over him.”