In a ceremonial event held at Rastrapati Bhawan, Sheetal Niwas, Nepal’s President Ramchandra Paudel conferred the Honorary Rank of General of the Nepal Army upon Indian Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi. This significant occasion took place on Thursday afternoon and is a continuation of a tradition that has been upheld since 1950, wherein the army chiefs of Nepal and India honor each other with this title, reflecting the longstanding cooperative relationship between the two nations’ armed forces.
General Dwivedi arrived in Nepal on Wednesday as part of a five-member delegation for a five-day official visit, having been invited by his Nepalese counterpart, General Ashok Sigdel. The two generals met earlier on the same day at the Nepal Army Headquarters in Kathmandu, where they engaged in discussions regarding military collaboration and avenues to further enhance bilateral relations between Nepal and India.
As a symbol of their enduring friendship, General Dwivedi participated in a poignant ceremony by planting a Rudraksha sapling on the grounds of the Nepal Army Headquarters. This act was noted by the Indian Embassy as a gesture signifying the deep-rooted ties between the two armies.
Earlier on Thursday, General Dwivedi honored the memory of those who sacrificed their lives for the nation by laying a wreath at the Martyr’s Memorial located in the Army Pavilion, Tundikhel. Following this, he received a ceremonial Guard of Honour at the Army Headquarters, marking a respectful acknowledgment of his visit.
During his stay, General Dwivedi is scheduled to visit the Army Staff College in Shivapuri, situated on the outskirts of Kathmandu, and is also expected to partake in a mountain flight, offering a unique perspective of the region. The visit underscores the longstanding tradition of high-level exchanges between the military brass of Nepal and India, which is reinforced through mutual recognition and respect.
Notably, Nepal shares a significant border of over 1,850 kilometers with five Indian states—Sikkim, West Bengal, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand—creating numerous opportunities for cooperation between the two neighboring countries.
General Dwivedi is accompanied on this visit by his wife, Sunita Dwivedi, who is the chairperson of the Army Wives Welfare Association of the Indian Army. Their visit is anticipated to foster closer ties and collaboration, reinforcing a commitment to shared security interests and military cooperation in the region.
