Nirbhay Sharma

Early life and career

Most of his assignments have dealt with Jammu & Kashmir and the North Eastern States; the last assignment being a Corps Commander and Security Advisor to the Government of J&K. During the period, his landmark contribution in fighting the ongoing proxy war in Kashmir, including the successful conduct of Parliamentary and Assembly Elections are well known. Apart from brilliantly directing anti-terrorist operations of over one lakh elements of the security force, his accomplishments include the construction of an anti-infiltration obstacle system along the Line of Control, opening the Uri-Muzaffarabad Road and the construction of the ‘Aman Setu’. He had earlier raised a Division during the ‘Kargil War’ (in record time).

The concurrent conduct of disaster relief operations during the ‘Snow Tsunami’ and Earthquake also drew praise and recognition. His slogan of “Jawan aur Awaam, Aman hai Muqaam” and its manifestation on ground brought in a new approach and momentum to the ongoing peace process in Kashmir.

As a young captain, he fought in the 1971 War and was part of the Airborne Assault Group, the first Indian Army Unit to enter Dacca. Apart from commanding a battalion on the China border, he was part of the Sino-Indian Working Group and coordinated counter-insurgency operations in the North East with civil agencies and inter-ministerial delegations. The peace process with Naga rebels commenced during this period. Close interaction with the representatives of the armies and governments of Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar and Bangladesh for effective border management and formulation of joint strategies to combat militancy, anti-national / criminal / hijacking activities and disaster management were also part of his charter.

As Director General (Perspective Planning) in the Army HQ, Gen. Sharma worked on the Restructuring of the Army HQ and assisted in drafting ‘Army Vision 2020’. As Master General of Ordnance, his stamp of dynamism is distinctly seen in the field of material management of the 1.2 million-strong Indian Army with varied and complex inventory worth over Rs.50,000 Crores and an Annual Revenue Budget of Rs.6,000 Crores.

After 40 years of distinguished service in the Army, General Sharma was appointed Member of the Union Public Service Commission of India. As a Constitutional Authority, he presided over Interview Boards and Departmental Promotion Committees to select officers for the Civil Services. He also examined the framing and amendment of Recruitment and Service Rules and commented on disciplinary cases. He offered specific advice on examination reforms and other matters related to the development of the Indian Civil Service.

With an M.Sc and an M.Phil in Defence Studies from Madras University, he is a widely recognised strategic thinker and defence analyst. General Sharma has been a Distinguished Fellow at the Observer Research Foundation, New Delhi (an independent Strategic and Public Policy think tank and research initiative) and several other similar institutions like the USI (United Service Institution of India), IDSA (Institute of Defence Studies & Analysis) and CPR (Centre for Policy & Research) etc. His articles and perspective have been published in many journals and newspapers and he has also participated in numerable seminars and discussions with leading global think tanks within the country and abroad.

On 4 May 2016, at a Special Convocation held in Mumbai, General Sharma was awarded Doctor of Letters (D.Litt) Degree (Honoris Causa) by Shri Jagdishprasad Jhabarmal Tibrewala University, “in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the service of our motherland, exemplary patriotism, inspirational leadership and peacemaking initiatives.”

The General was appointed as Governor of the State of Arunachal Pradesh in May 2013 by His Excellency the President of India and was sworn in on 29 May 2013 as the eighteenth Governor. Arunachal Pradesh is strategically located in the North East of India, and has common borders with Bhutan, China and Myanmar.

After serving the state of Arunachal Pradesh for two years, he took the Oath of Office of the Governor of Mizoram, another North Eastern State sharing an international border of 722 km with Myanmar and Bangladesh, on 26 May 2015.

He is married to Jyotsna Sharma (an educationist) and they have a daughter, Nupur Sharma (a writer) and a son, Abhay Sharma (an international taxation and fund formation lawyer).