New Delhi [India]: Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Upendra Dwivedi fondly recalled his long-standing camaraderie with Air Chief Marshal A P Singh and Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, reminiscing about their school and NDA days.
In an exclusive interview with ANI, General Dwivedi shared personal anecdotes about his coursemates, highlighting their strong bonds beyond their professional roles.
“AP Singh Should Have Been in the Infantry”
Speaking about Air Chief Marshal A P Singh, General Dwivedi said,
“From NDA days, he has been a gold torch. He is a natural leader, someone who can bring people together. He takes ownership in a crowd and has a strong team spirit. In a lighter moment, I say he should have been in the infantry!”
Recalling his experience flying the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas with Air Marshal A P Singh at Aero India 2025, General Dwivedi said,
“He took me around, gave me the joystick, and let me control the aircraft. He even made me do a barrel roll! If AP allows me today, maybe flying is still a good option for me.”
Friendship with Naval Chief Dinesh K Tripathi
Talking about his schoolmate, Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, the Army Chief reminisced about their early days at Sainik School and their shared love for mathematics.
“From Class 5 onwards, we were together. We didn’t think of becoming officers at that time. Dinesh has always been better at everything—he’s taller, and we both were good at maths. He took over first, so now he is senior to me,” he said with a smile.
Despite their high-ranking positions, General Dwivedi emphasized that their bond remains the same.
“In front of the media, we maintain our professional demeanor, but when we are together, we go back to being schoolmates—just talking and holding on to old memories.”
The Army Chief’s reflections offer a rare glimpse into the deep camaraderie that exists between India’s top military leaders, shaped by years of shared experiences and friendships.