A. Arun

Lieutenant General Ananthanarayan Arun, PVSM, YSM, SM, VSM is a retired general officer of the Indian Army. He last served as the Chief of Staff of the South Western Command, Jaipur. He earlier served as the General Officer Commanding Dakshin Bharat Area and as the officiating Commandant of the Officers Training Academy, Chennai.

Early life and education Arun was born in Dindigul, Madurai in Tamil Nadu on 17th Dec 1964. He secured an All India Rank of 13 in the Joint Entrance Examination for entry into the Indian Institute of Technology. Even after getting such an impressive rank he decided to leave IIT Madras and chose to join the National Defence Academy, as part of the 67th course. He then was part of the 77th course of the Indian Military Academy.

Military career Arun was commissioned into the 8th battalion, The Grenadiers (8 GDRS) in December 1985. He attended the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington. In the rank of Colonel, he raised the 55th battalion, The Rashtriya Rifles (The Grenadiers). The battalion was deployed in a counter-insurgency role in Pulwama. For his command of 55 RR, he was awarded the Sena Medal for gallantry on 15 August 2005. In 2007, while still in command of 55 RR, he was awarded the Chief of the Army Staff's Commendation. He subsequently attended the Centre for Defence and Strategic Studies, Canberra. He was then selected to attend the National Defence College in New Delhi, as part of the 55th course.

As part of the United Nations, Arun has served in the United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia and in the International Task Force as part of the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone. He also served at the Headquarters of the United Nations working on the forecasting and structuring of large coalitions including significant civilian components. Arun also attended the United Nations Senior Mission Leaders Course conducted in Geneva, Switzerland.

On 2 January 2021, Arun was appointed the General Officer Commanding Dakshin Bharat Area. Earlier called the Andhra, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Kerala Area (ATNK&K Area), the Dakshin Bharat area is a static formation that provides administrative, logistical, and infrastructure support to formations and establishments in these states as well as the union territories of Puducherry and Lakshadweep. In February 2022, he took over as the Colonel of the Grenadiers from Lieutenant General Rajeev Sirohi. In April 2023, he was appointed Chief of Staff of South Western Command in Jaipur. On 26 January 2024, he was awarded the Param Vishisht Seva Medal. He retired on 30 June 2024 after 39 years of glorious service in the Indian army.

Personal life Arun is married to Roopa Arun, an educationist and founder principal of The Cambridge International School, Bangalore. The couple has a daughter Zephyr.

Awards and decorations Arun was awarded the Sena Medal in 2005, the Yudh Seva Medal in 2014, and the Vishisht Seva Medal in 2015. He has also been awarded the Chief of the Army Staff's Commendation 4 times.

Param Vishisht Seva Medal Yudh Seva Medal Sena Medal Vishisht Seva Medal Wound Medal Special Service Medal Operation Vijay Medal Operation Parakram Medal Sainya Seva Medal High Altitude Medal Videsh Seva Medal 75th Independence Anniversary Medal 50th Independence Anniversary Medal 30 Years Long Service Medal 20 Years Long Service Medal 9 Years Long Service Medal UNAMSIL Medal UNTAC Medal UNHQ medal