Former Governor of Assam and Jammu & Kashmir Lt Gen (retd) Srinivas Kumar Sinha passed away in New Delhi on November 17 after a brief illness. He is survived by his wife, three daughters, and son YK Sinha, an IFS officer who at present is Indian Ambassador to Sri Lanka.
Statesman Soldier Lt Gen Sinha is best remembered in Assam as the author of the sensational report on illegal migration from Bangladesh, which was quoted extensively by the Supreme Court in its judgement on IMDT Act case. He was the Governor of Assam from 1997 to 2003. Born in 1926, he graduated with Honours from Patna University in 1942 at the age of 17. He joined the Army soon after, passing out as the Best Cadet from the Officers Training School, Belgaum. He saw combat during the World War II in Burma and Indonesia and after Independence in Kashmir. He commanded battalion of 5 Gorkha Rifles in Ladakh, a brigade in Manipur, a Mountain Division in Assam, Infantry Division in Jammu, a Corps and a field Army in the Western Theatre. He also had the distinction of serving as Adjutant General and Vice Chief of Army Staff.
In 1949, he was appointed as Secretary of the Indian delegation for delineation of the ceasefire line in Kashmir. In recognition of his service, he was awarded Param Vishisht Sewa Medal in 1973. He was appointed Indian Ambassador to Nepal in 1990. A prolific writer, he authored five books, including one on J&K operation of 1947-48 and his autobiography, A Soldier Recalls.
He served as J&K Governor from 2003 to 2008. President Pranab Mukherjee, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, J&K Governor NN Vohra, J&K Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, former Chief Ministers Dr Farooq Abdullah and Omar Abdullah besides Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad, Chief of the Army Staff Gen Dalbir Singh and Assam Governor Banwarilal Purohit condoled the demise.
