Lionel Protip Sen

{{Short description|Indian Army general}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}} {{Use Indian English|date=October 2019}} {{Infobox military person | honorific_prefix = Lieutenant-General | name = Lionel Protip Sen | honorific_suffix = DSO | image = | alt = | caption = | birth_date = {{Birth date|df=yes|1910|10|20}}<ref name="Indian_Army_List_45"/> | death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|1981|09|17|1910|10|20}} | birth_place = Calcutta, Bengal Presidency, British India (now Kolkata, West Bengal, India)<ref name="DSO_cite"/> | death_place = | burial_place = | burial_label = | nickname = Bogey | allegiance = {{flag|British India}} (1931–1947) {{flag|India}} (1947–1965) | branch = {{army|British India}} {{army|India}} | service_years = 1931–1965 | rank = 22px Lieutenant-General | service_number = AI-77 | unit = 16/10 Baluch Regiment 8th Gorkha Rifles | commands = GOC-in-C, Southern Command GOC-in-C, Eastern Command 161st Indian Infantry Brigade | battles = {{tree list}} * World War II ** Burma campaign *** Battle of Hill 170 * Indo-Pakistan War of 1947 * Sino-Indian War {{tree list/end}} | awards = Distinguished Service Order Mentioned in dispatches | spouse = {{marriage|Kalyani Gupta|1939|1953|end=div}} | relations = Mala Sen (daughter) | other_work = authored ''Slender was the Thread'' | signature = }}

Lieutenant-General '''Lionel Protip "Bogey" Sen,''' DSO (20 October 1910 – 17 September 1981) was a decorated Indian Army general. He served as the Chief of the General Staff during 1959–1961 and commanded the Eastern Command during 1961–1963. He was the general responsible for countering the Chinese invasion of NEFA during the Sino-Indian War of 1962. Sen is also the author of ''Slender was the Thread'', a military history of the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947–1948.

==Career== ===Early career=== A King's Commissioned Indian Officer (KCIO), Sen attended the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and was commissioned a second lieutenant in the British Indian Army on 27 August 1931.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=33748|supp=|page=5624|date=28 August 1931}}</ref> As was customary, he was attached to a battalion of a regular British Army regiment, the 1st battalion of the Cheshire Regiment, for a period of one year prior to his official appointment to the Indian Army.<ref>{{Cite book |date=1932 |title=Indian Army List: October 1932 |location=New Delhi |publisher=Government of India |url=https://archive.org/details/indian-army-list-1932-oct/page/n285/mode/2up }}</ref> He was formally appointed to the Indian Army as an officer with the 10th Baluch Regiment on 26 October 1932 (seniority from 29 January 1931).<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=33924|supp=|page=2043|date=24 March 1933}}</ref> He was promoted lieutenant on 29 April 1933,<ref name="lt_gazette"/> and to captain on 29 January 1939.<ref name="capt_gazette"/>

===Second world war=== During the Second World War, Sen fought in the Burma Campaign with the 16th Battalion of 10 Baluch. In early 1945, his battalion took a prominent role in the Battle of Hill 170, during which he was awarded the Distinguished Service Order (DSO).<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=37349|supp=y|page=5574|date=13 November 1945}}</ref> The citation recommending Sen for the DSO (which was not published) noted:<ref name="DSO_cite">{{cite web |url=https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D7370259|title=Recommendation for Award for Sen, Lionel Protip. Rank: Sub Captain, Temporary Major, Acting Lieutenant Colonel |website=The National Archives (UK)|publisher=UK Government |access-date=20 October 2019}}</ref>

<blockquote> ...In spite of the greatest difficulties Lt-Col Sen held firmly on to his precarious positions, and the final success of the whole operation was in no small measure due to his dashing assault and tenacious defence. Throughout, he has proved himself a gallant leader of a gallant Battalion and an inspiration to every officer and man under his command. </blockquote>

===Post-Independence=== As the Baluch Regiment, Sen's parent regiment, was among those regiments allotted to Pakistan following Indian independence, Sen transferred to the 8th Gorkha Rifles.

During the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947–1948, he was promoted to acting brigadier and commanded the 161st Indian Infantry Brigade, and ordered to take over the defence of Srinagar and the Kashmir Valley, for which he received a mention in dispatches.<ref name="The Print">{{cite news |last= |first= |date=11 August 2019|title=In 1947, Gandhi told Lt Gen Sen that wars were inhuman, but to fight for Kashmir with all means|url=https://theprint.in/pageturner/excerpt/in-1947-gandhi-told-lt-gen-sen-that-wars-were-inhuman-but-to-fight-for-kashmir-by-all-means/273779/|newspaper=The Print}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=The Gazette of India: Part I-Section 1 |page=18 |date=17 February 1951|url=https://egazette.gov.in/WriteReadData/1951/O-2306-1951-0007-107698.pdf |publisher=Department of Publications, Government of India}}</ref>

On 23 December 1949, he became Colonel of the 1st Gorkha Rifles (The Malaun Regiment).<ref name="Colonel, 1 GR">{{cite web |title=The Gazette of India |url=https://egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/1950/O-2343-1950-0000-108637.pdf |website=egazette.nic.in |access-date=3 March 2023}}</ref>

On 16 March 1955, Sen was promoted acting major-general and appointed Director of Military Training (DMT).<ref name="maj_gen_actg"/> He was appointed Master-General of the Ordnance (MGO) on 8 May 1957,<ref>{{cite news |title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch) |page=129 |date=25 May 1957|url=https://egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/1957/O-2125-1957-0021-96387.pdf |publisher=The Gazette of India}}</ref> and was further appointed Colonel-Commandant of the Army Physical Training Corps on 26 September.<ref>{{cite news |title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch) |page=280 |date=9 November 1957|url=https://egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/1957/O-2123-1957-0045-96297.pdf |publisher=The Gazette of India}}</ref>

Sen was promoted to acting lieutenant-general on 1 August 1958,<ref name="lt_gen_actg"/> and to the substantive rank on 29 January 1959.<ref name="lt_gen_subs"/> On 8 May 1961, he was appointed GOC-in-C, Eastern Command,<ref>{{cite news |title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch) |page=128 |date=20 May 1961|url=https://egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/1961/O-1909-1961-0020-85838.pdf |publisher=The Gazette of India}}</ref> in which capacity he served during the Sino-Indian War the following year. After the conflict, Sen was appointed GOC-in-C, Southern Command, on 10 May 1963.<ref>{{cite news |title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch) |page=209 |date=22 June 1963|url=https://egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/1963/O-1839-1963-0025-83448.pdf |publisher=The Gazette of India}}</ref> He retired from this posting on 8 May 1965, after nearly 34 years of service.<ref>{{cite news |title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch) |page=306 |date=12 June 1965 |url=https://egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/1965/O-1726-1965-0024-78897.pdf|publisher=The Gazette of India}}</ref>

==Personal life== In 1939, he married Kalyani Gupta.<ref name="C&MG.Nov1939">{{cite news |date=2 November 1939 |title=Allied army chiefs in France |page=9 |work=Civil & Military Gazette |location=Lahore |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003221/19391102/148/0009 |url-access=subscription |via=British Newspaper Archive}}</ref> Their first daughter, Radha, was born in 1941,<ref name=Pass1949>{{cite news |title=Inwards Passenger Lists.; Class |work= UK and Ireland, Incoming Passenger Lists, 1878-1960 |date=1949|url=https://www.ancestry.co.uk/discoveryui-content/view/28697775:1518?tid=&pid=&queryId=5f69ca6e5dd9c645a4c29c57aeb4281b&_phsrc=cYQ3&_phstart=successSource|via=ancestry.co.uk|url-access=subscription}}</ref> and Mala in 1947.<ref name=Roy2011/><ref name=EEWM/> The marriage ended in divorce in 1953.<ref name=Roy2011>{{cite news |last1=Roy |first1=Amit |title=The woman who tamed a bandit |url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/entertainment/the-woman-who-tamed-a-bandit/cid/391084 |access-date=18 November 2022 |work=www.telegraphindia.com |date=27 May 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221119072237/https://www.telegraphindia.com/entertainment/the-woman-who-tamed-a-bandit/cid/391084|archive-date=19 November 2022}}</ref><ref name=EEWM>{{cite web |title=Mala Sen: Writer and race equality activist |url=https://eastendwomensmuseum.org/blog/mala-sen-writer-and-race-equality-activist |website=East End Women's Museum |date=18 July 2016 |access-date=18 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221119071950/https://eastendwomensmuseum.org/blog/mala-sen-writer-and-race-equality-activist|archive-date=19 November 2022}}</ref>

Sen died in 1981.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.indianarmy.nic.in/writereaddata/documents/pensioner/Family_Pensioners%20AI%20EC%20RC%20TC.xls|title=Indian Army - List of Family Pensioners (AI, EC, RC, TC) |website=Indian Army |access-date=20 October 2019 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120226132633/https://www.indianarmy.nic.in/writereaddata/documents/pensioner/Family_Pensioners%20AI%20EC%20RC%20TC.xls| archive-date =26 February 2012| url-status = dead}}</ref>

==Awards and decorations==

{| style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;" | |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=India_General_Service_Medal_1947.svg|width=106}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Indian_Independence_medal_1947.svg|width=106}} |- |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award‐star|ribbon=Dso-ribbon.png|width=106}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Ribbon_-_1939-45_Star.png|width=106}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Ribbon_-_Burma_Star.png|width=106}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Ribbon_-_War_Medal.png|width=106}} |} {| class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;" |- |colspan="2"|General Service Medal 1947 |Indian Independence Medal |- |Distinguished Service Order |1939–1945 Star |Burma Star |War Medal 1939–1945 |}

==Dates of rank== {|class="wikitable" style="background:white" ! Insignia !! Rank !! Component !! Date of rank |- |align="center" |35px || Second Lieutenant || British Indian Army || 27 August 1931 (seniority from 29 January 1931) |- |align="center" |35px || Lieutenant || British Indian Army || 29 April 1933<ref name="lt_gazette">{{London Gazette|issue=33948|supp=|page=3877|date=9 June 1933}}</ref> |- |align="center" |35px || Captain || British Indian Army || 29 January 1939<ref name="capt_gazette">{{London Gazette|issue=34610|supp=|page=2013|date=24 March 1939}}</ref> |- |align="center" |35px || Major ||British Indian Army || 25 August 1940 (acting)<ref name="Indian_Army_List_45"/> 25 November 1940 (temporary)<ref name="Indian_Army_List_45"/> 1 July 1946 (substantive)<ref name="maj_gazette">{{London Gazette|issue=38069|supp=|page=4286|date=12 September 1947}}</ref> |- |align="center" |35px || Lieutenant-Colonel ||British Indian Army || 22 November 1944 (acting)<ref name="Indian_Army_List_45">{{cite book|pages=167–168|title=Indian Army List for October 1945 (Part I)|publisher=Government of India Press|year=1945}}</ref> |- |align="center" |35px || Major || Indian Army || 15 August 1947<ref name="insignia" group="note">Upon independence in 1947, India became a Dominion within the British Commonwealth of Nations. As a result, the rank insignia of the British Army, incorporating the Tudor Crown and four-pointed Bath Star ("pip"), was retained, as George VI remained Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Armed Forces. After 26 January 1950, when India became a republic, the President of India became Commander-in-Chief, and the Ashoka Lion replaced the crown, with a five-pointed star being substituted for the "pip."</ref><ref name="insignia_designs"/> |- |align="center" |35px || Lieutenant-Colonel ||Indian Army || 1947 (temporary)<ref name="insignia" group="note"/><ref name="1950_promotions"/> |- |align="center" |35px || Brigadier ||Indian Army || 1947 (acting)<ref name="insignia" group="note"/><ref name="1950_promotions"/> |- |align="center" |35px || Colonel ||Indian Army || 1947 (temporary) 1 January 1950 (substantive, with seniority from 29 January 1949)<ref name="insignia" group="note"/><ref name="1950_promotions">{{cite news |title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch) |page=70 |date=24 June 1950|url=https://egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/1950/O-2343-1950-0013-108724.pdf |publisher=The Gazette of India}}</ref> |- |align="center" |35px || Colonel || Indian Army || 26 January 1950 (recommissioning and change in insignia)<ref name="insignia_designs">{{cite web|title=New Designs of Crests and Badges in the Services|url=http://pib.nic.in/archive/docs/DVD_38/ACC%20NO%20807-BR/HOM-1950-01-06_484.pdf|website=Press Information Bureau of India - Archive|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170808193914/http://pib.nic.in/archive/docs/DVD_38/ACC%20NO%20807-BR/HOM-1950-01-06_484.pdf|archive-date=8 August 2017|df=dmy-all}}</ref> |- |align="center" |35px || Brigadier || Indian Army || 29 January 1952 (substantive) |- |align="center" |35px || Major General || Indian Army || 16 March 1955 (acting)<ref name="maj_gen_actg">{{cite news |title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch) |page=86 |date=30 April 1955|url=https://egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/1955/O-2198-1955-0018-100716.pdf |publisher=The Gazette of India}}</ref> 29 January 1956 (substantive)<ref name="maj_gen">{{cite news |title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch) |page=36 |date=25 February 1956|url=https://egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/1956/O-2163-1956-0008-98634.pdf |publisher=The Gazette of India}}</ref> |- |align="center" |35px || Lieutenant-General || Indian Army || 1 August 1958 (acting)<ref name="lt_gen_actg">{{cite news |title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch) |page=278 |date=13 December 1958|url=https://egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/1958/O-2065-1958-0050-93403.pdf |publisher=The Gazette of India}}</ref> 29 January 1959 (substantive)<ref name="lt_gen_subs">{{cite news |title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch) |page=115 |date=16 May 1959|url=https://egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/1959/O-1985-1959-0020-89538.pdf |publisher=The Gazette of India}}</ref> |- |}

==Notes== {{reflist|group=note}}

==References== {{reflist}}

{{S-start}} {{s-mil}} {{Succession box | before = Joyanto Nath Chaudhuri | title = General Officer Commanding-in-Chief Southern Command | years = 1963–1965 | after = Moti Sagar }} {{succession box |before = S. P. P. Thorat |title = General Officer Commanding-in-Chief Eastern Command |years = 1961–1963 |after =Paramasiva Prabhakar Kumaramangalam }} {{succession box |before = S. D. Verma |title = Chief of the General Staff |years = February 1959–8 May 1961 |after =Brij Mohan Kaul }} {{S-end}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sen, Lionel Protip}} Category:1910 births Category:1981 deaths Category:British Indian Army officers Category:Companions of the Distinguished Service Order Category:Indian Army personnel of World War II Category:People of the India–Pakistan war of 1947–1948 Category:People of the Sino-Indian War Category:Indian generals Category:Indian Army personnel Category:Graduates of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst Category:Indian Companions of the Distinguished Service Order Category:10th Baluch Regiment officers