Amidst the appointment of the new Chief of the Army Staff and Chief of the Naval Staff by the Army and Navy respectively, Madhya Pradesh and Sainik School, Rewa stand in dual pride with the elevation of two of its own, Lt Gen Upendra Dwivedi and Vice Admiral Dinesh Kumar Tripathi, to these esteemed positions.

In April, the Central Government designated Vice Admiral Dinesh Kumar Tripathi, PVSM, AVSM, NM, currently serving as the Vice Chief of the Naval Staff, as the forthcoming Chief of the Naval Staff effective from April 30, 2024, afternoon. Simultaneously, Lt Gen Upendra Dwivedi, PVSM, AVSM, presently serving as Vice Chief of the Army Staff, was appointed as the next Chief of the Army Staff, effective from June 30, 2024, afternoon.

These newly appointed chiefs share a profound bond with Madhya Pradesh. As natives of the region, Tripathi and Dwivedi were classmates at Sainik School, Rewa, where their journey commenced.

While Dwivedi originates from Rewa district, Tripathi’s roots trace back to Satna district of Madhya Pradesh.

Dwivedi’s sons fulfill their father’s aspirations

Dr. PC Dwivedi, elder sibling of the newly appointed Army Chief Lt Gen Upendra Dwivedi, lauds his younger brother’s achievement as a moment of great pride for Rewa and the family. Dwivedi reminisces that Lt Gen Dwivedi received his early education in Ambikapur and later at Sainik School Rewa. Subsequently, he cleared the NDA examination and commenced his military journey in 1984. Dwivedi elaborates on Lt Gen Upendra Dwivedi’s significant postings in the North-east, Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh, along with numerous peacekeeping missions abroad. He expresses confidence in Lt Gen Dwivedi’s ability to set new benchmarks in the Army following his promotion to the top echelon.

Residing in Mudila village in the Garh area of Rewa district, Upendra Dwivedi’s father, Shri Krishna Dwivedi, held the distinction of being the state’s inaugural mining officer. Dwivedi recounts his father’s aspiration that one of his three sons would become a doctor, the second an engineer, and the third an officer in the army. This dream found fulfillment as Krishna’s elder son, Dr. PC Dwivedi, retired as the Dean of Rewa Medical College, while the second son, PS Dwivedi, retired as Chief Engineer in the Irrigation Department in Bhopal. The youngest son, Upendra Dwivedi, currently serves as a Lieutenant in the Indian Army. Additionally, Krishna Dwivedi’s daughter, Dr. Pushpa Pandey, serves as a gynecologist at the District Hospital in Jabalpur.

Avinash Rawal, Colonel at Sainik School Rewa, reflects on the pride felt by the institution as two of its alumni ascend to the apex of their respective military branches. Rawal notes the historic significance of both chiefs hailing from the same school and batch. He extends congratulations to them and anticipates their accomplishments to serve as a guiding light for current and future students at Sainik School Rewa.