By Mayukh Goswami
Mangaldai : In a very encouraging news for the people of Assam , a senior Assamese army officer Major General Rana Pratap Kalita- presently serving as the Additional Director General (Ceremonial and Welfare) in the Army Headquarters, New Delhi has been promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General in the Indian Army – information an received here from people of his close circle. He is the second army official from Assam to be promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General after the first Assamese Lieutenant General Pranab Bharali.
Lieutenant General Kalita – an alumnus of Sainik School, Goalpara (SSG) in Assam and of National Defence Academy (NDA) was earlier awarded ‘Sena Medal’ and ‘Vishisht Seva Medal’. He was also conferred with the prestigious ‘Ati Vishisht Seva Medal’ for his outstanding performance and service to the nation during his tenure as the General Officer Commanding of XIX Infantry Division at Baramulla in the aftermath of the ‘fedayeen attack’ in Uri in Kashmir valley.
A worthy son of an ideal teacher of high repute Jogendra Kalita of Rangiya in Kamrup (Rural) district, Lieutenant General Kalita got commissioned in 9 Kumaon Regiment on June of 1984. It is significant to note that all the three senior army officials from Assam including Major General Ananta Bhuyan and Major General Bhaskar Kalita were commissioned in Kumaon Regiment. His son Capatain Nishanta carrying forth the tradition to the second generation has also got commissioned in the 9 Kumaon Regiment, which once was commanded by Lieutenant General Kalita. He was also entrusted to coordinate the funeral of late former Prime Minister AB Bajpayee which was conducted by the Indian Army in the most professional and flawless manner where he proved his skill and management ability. He was appointed in several coveted posts in XV Corps at Srinagar, Rashtriya Rifles and the 71Infantry Brigade at Lucknow and in Officer Training Academy (OTA) besides his deputation to United Nations.
Lieutenant General Kalita is married to Nisha Kalita and he is the father of a girl child.
