Nehru Chided Cariappa for Political Praise

A long time ago, India's first Army chief, General Cariappa, praised the government and the prime minister, Nehru, in public.

Nehru wrote a letter to Cariappa saying that military officers should not make political statements.

Nehru thought it was important for the Army to stay out of politics.

He even mentioned another general, Montgomery, who had trouble with the British government for speaking too much in public.

Later, Cariappa and Nehru had more disagreements, like about a man who had served in a different army being appointed as a governor.

Nehru defended the man, saying he did what he thought was right at the time.