User:Robin Singh 26/sandbox

Early life and education

Born in a royal family of Muafidars(Jagirdars) of Saklana Tehri Garhwal, Dhiren Dutt Saklani was the second son of Muafidar(Jagirdar) Gajendra Dutt Saklani. Lt General DD Saklani went to St Edwards School Shimla. He obtained MSc degree in Nuclear Science and Nuclear Warfare from Madras University.

Military career

As a young Lieut/Captain, he took an active part in contesting insurgency in Nagaland for four years (1957-61). He had the honour to command 8 Kumaon (1971-73) of Kangan Battle (Burma) fame under Gen (then Lt Col) K S Thimayya, DSO. He was on the faculties of Defence Services Staff College (1973-75) and Higher Command Wing, College of Combat (1982-83). As Major General he was Additional Director-General Defence Planning Staff (1989- 90), Ministry of Defence.

Chushul battle and War in Sialkot Sector

His first exposure to J&K was in Baramullah in 1961. Later in the wake of the Chinese aggression he moved to Ladakh (1962-63) where his battalion took an active part in the Chushul battle. Posted as GSO 3 (Ops) in HQ 26 Infantry Division (1963-66), he was closely associated with the 1965 war in the Sialkot sector. Lt Gen Saklani was the Colonel of the Kumaon and Naga Regiments and Kumaon Scouts. Role In Kashmir

As Brigadier in Military Operations Directorate in Army Headquarters (1983-85) he was closely associated with operations in J&K. As Major General he was posted as GOC 3 Infantry Division in Ladakh(1985-87) directly responsible for operations on two fronts-in the west, with Pakistan in the Siachen and in the east, with China at a time when the “forward posture” was being planned and implemented.

His two significant appointments in HQ Northern Command-as Major General Operations-1987-89 and in 1990-91 as Chief of Staff as Lieut General, gave him wider exposure to J &K and its manifold and complex problems.

Advisor to Government on Kashmir His last assignment in J &K was in a civilian capacity as Adviser to the Governor, which culminated in the successful conduct of Parliamentary and Assembly elections in the state in 1996.