Office Bearers

Lt Gen Asit Mistry, PVSM, AVSM, SM, VSM

President

Lt Gen Asit Mistry, PVSM, AVSM, SM, VSM is an infantry officer who was commissioned in the Maratha Light Infantry Regiment. He superannuated on 01 Nov 2021. His last assignment in service was as the Commandant, National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla. Prior to that, he was GOC Delhi Area. He has also been the Colonel of the Maratha LI. The General has served in the most difficult assignments in the army, including in Siachen and in counter-insurgency operations. He has also served with distinction in UN assignments abroad.

Gen Mistry commanded an infantry battalion in Siachen Glacier, a Mountain Brigade in Upper Assam, and Rashtriya Rifles Force in Kashmir. He has now joined the Rashtriya Raksha University, Gandhi Nagar as Director of the School of Internal Security, Defence, and Strategic Studies.

Maj General Hardev Singh, KC, AVSM

Vice – President

Maj Gen Hardev Singh KC, AVSM is a Mechanised Infantry Officer. Despite getting severely wounded in a military operation, as a young captain, and becoming permanently disabled, he chose to ‘soldier on’ and continue in service. During his 37 years of service, he had held important appointments, including command of an Infantry Division. He had also attended the prestigious Command & General Staff Course in USA, and Higher Command and NDC Courses in India. He has also been research scholar at IDSA, New Delhi.

After retirement, he started assisting the underprivileged and now runs a non-profit trust named ‘Foundation Freedom’ to promote spiritual wisdom, health and guiding underprivileged on various aspects of life. He continues to carry out social work as member of Cheshire Home for the disabled and also the Rotary Club, Chandigarh Midtown. He has also attended a two years course in Alternative Medicine.

Brig P K Sanyal

Director East

Commissioned in 4 Maratha Light Infantry in 1975, Brig P K Sanyal commanded 12 Maratha Light Infantry in North Kashmir in the thick of militancy with distinction. For outstanding performance under his command, his battalion was awarded a Unit Citation for exemplary performance in conduct of counter-insurgency operations. He had successfully commanded an Infantry Brigade in Delhi and finally retired as Deputy GOC of Bengal Area. As the Deputy GOC he was the primary interface between West Bengal Government and the Army.

Executive Director

Col Amitabh Amit

An Officer from the Maratha Light Infantry Regiment, Col Amitabh Amit successfully command 4 Maratha Light Infantry in Uri (J&K), deployed on the Line of Control (LC). He took premature retirement from Army Service in 2008. After a brief exposure with the corporate world, Col Amitabh Amit started his own business and got actively involved in social work and he has been associated with organisations working for the underprivileged. During COVID-19 in 2020, he headed a campaign named “WE CARE” to provided relief to migrant laborers and daily wagers. “WE CARE” subsequently was established as an NGO with Col Amitabh Amit as its Founder President. He continues to work for the cause of the underprivileged.

Brig C Sandeep, VSM

Reginal Director, South

Brigadier C Sandeepkumar,VSM, was commissioned into the MARATHA LIGHT INFANTRY in 1980. He is an alumnus of Defence Services Staff College. He has rich experience in CI and anti Militant operations. He took part in OP VIJAY (1999-2000) and was injured while in command of an Infantry Battalion on the Line of Control.

Later on, he commanded the 1 MARATHA LIGHT INFANTRY in the insurgency affected area of North East and was awarded Vishisht Seva Medal. He had also attended a joint training capsule with UK Army. After Command of an Infantry Brigade in Western Theatre bordering Pakistan was holding a key appointment as Chief Staff Officer (Logistics, Administration & Personnel), in the joint Services Command at Port Blair. Prior to retirement he was the Deputy Director General, National Cadet Corps Directorate (Kerala & Lakshadweep), Trivandrum.

After retirement he is involved in social service and providing support in Lake Rejuvenation, scientific Waste disposal initiatives, Education, infrastructure development and Health care support to RWAs and local population.in Whitefield in Bangalore.

He is also a founder member of Indus International Research Foundation a think tank with a global network of scholars, professionals and veterans based in India and abroad. The Foundation focuses primarily on international relations, Indian heritage.

He is Regional Director for South India of War Wounded Foundation and works for upliftment of War wounded Vetarans who require help and support.

Brig Harcharan Singh, VSM

Regional Director, North

Four generations of family of Brig Harcharan Singh have served in Armed Forces. He was commissioned to 3rd Battalion The Madras Regiment in June 1981. He held various appointments including Instructor Cl C and B tenure at Indian Military Academy, Dehradun. He has experience of various military operations at places like Siachen,
Andaman, Manipur, Nagaland and J&K. During Army service,he was decorated with awards of VSM and COAS Commendation Card. In 1994, he was declared winner of Gold Medal of prestigious USI Eassay Competetion.

Lt Col PS Kataria

Director Pay and Allowance

Lt Col PS Kataria joined The Maratha Light Infantry as a soldier on 30 January 1980 and was commissioned on 27 April 1996. During his distinguished military career, he served in 7, 11 and 17 Maratha Light Infantry, as well as Records The Maratha Light Infantry, where he made significant contributions to personnel for career management ,pay and allowances and pension related issues for sevring soldier, veterans and widows of Maratha’s family. Lt Col PS Kataria commanded Records Army Postal Service where composition of 75% deputationists from department of Posts and 25% from Regular Army.

While serving at AG’s Branch at Army Headquarters, he played a pivotal role in recovering crores of rupees of Defense Budget misused by the Department of Posts through Reserve Bank of India. After his retirement on 01 April 2018, he did LLB degree and continues to serve the military fraternity by resolving pension and ECHS etc related issues for veterans and widows. He actively participating in social welfare initiatives, including support for orphanages. He is Director pay and allowance of War Wounded Foundation and works for upliftment of War wounded soldiers who need aid and support .