ITANAGAR, Sep 6: The Galo Welfare Society (GWS) on behalf of the state’s Galo community has congratulated Major General Jarken Gamlin, AVSM, SM, VSM (Retd) on his superannuation on September 1, 2020 after 37 years of meritorious service to the Indian Army.

He is the first person from the Galo community in particular and the state in general to serve the coveted post of a Major General in Indian Army and has been an inspiration and role model for many Arunachalees to pursue their career in Indian Armed Forces. A true gentleman with an excellent service record throughout his career, the Major General is an alumnus of R.K. Mission School, Aalo (1966 batch) and later joined the Rashtriya Indian Military College, Dehradun in 1974 from where he passed out in 1979 and won the President's Gold Medal for being the Best All Round Cadet. He got commissioned into 2/8 Gorkha Rifles in June 1983 after completing training at National Defence Academy, Pune (1979-82) and Indian Military Academy, Dehradun (1982-83), he served as an Instructor at NDA, Pune for three years (1989-91) and later served in a Brigade HQ in counter insurgency areas as a Major. 

As a Lieutenant Colonel, he had the distinction of raising the first Task Force of the Indian Army to handle the security and movement of the nation’s nuclear assets in 2001. He took over command of 5/8 Gorkha Rifles on the Indo-Pak border at the height of 'Operation Parakram' in 2002 and moved to North Cachar Hills and later to Manipur to conduct counter-terrorist operations. The unit won laurels under his command and eliminated more than 30 militants in a span of two years. He was also awarded the Sena Medal for his distinguished command of the unit. 

After completing the Higher Defence Management course at Hyderabad he was appointed as the Director Budget, Master General Ordnance Branch in Army HQ where he won a Vishisht Seva Medal for his outstanding contributions towards budgetary management of the Army. On promotion as a Brigadier in 2010 he commanded a Brigade in Kameng Sector and subsequently was selected to attend the coveted Advance Professional Programme in Public Administration at Indian Institute of Public Administration (IIPA), New Delhi in 2014 from where he qualified with a 'Distinction'. 

Gamlin was handpicked to conduct the critical rescue and relief operations in the aftermath of the Nepal earthquake on April 25, 2015 wherein he established the first relief centre at the Barpak epicentre within 24 hours and remained stationed at Pokhara for 40 days and won the goodwill of the Nepalese people and laurels for the nation as the first and largest responder to the calamity.

On being promoted to the post of a Major General, Gamlin commanded the Counter Insurgency Force Kilo (2016-17) which is arguably the most operationally active counter-insurgency sector in the country. He acquainted himself in an exemplary manner especially at a time when the Kashmir Valley was in turmoil after the Uri incident and later after the killing of Burhan Wani. It needs mentioning that the famed surgical strike was undertaken during this period. He was awarded the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM) for his outstanding contributions towards counter-insurgency operations.

Besides the above achievements, the Major General headed the Land Vector at the tri-services Strategic Forces Command (SFC) New Delhi (2017-19) which handles strategic assets of the country. He was also a part of the team to raise the Nuclear Missile Brigade (Agni). Prior to hanging his boots, he commanded the 51 Sub Area in Guwahati which is one of the largest logistics nodes in the country catering to the entire Army in the Northeast.

GWS has termed the Major General as “one of the proud and real sons of the soil who has made entire Arunachal proud” and has hoped he will continue to serve the nation and the state in various capacities from the rich experiences and wisdom gathered during his long service to the Indian Army. GWS PR