YvetteJasso5372 at 18:58, 23 February 2026

2026-02-23T18:58:47Z

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{{Short description|Retired Indian Army officer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=October 2018}}
{{Infobox military person
| honorific_prefix = [[Major general (India)|Major General]]
| name = G. D. Bakshi
| honorific_suffix = {{Post-nominals|country=IND|SM|VSM}}
| image = GD Bakshi during a National Seminar at Bhopal January 2018 (1).jpg
| alt =
| caption =
| native_name =
| native_name_lang =
| birth_name = Gagan Deep Bakshi
| birth_date = {{Birth year and age|1950}}
| birth_place = [[Jabalpur]], [[Madhya Pradesh]], India
| relations =
| website = 
| allegiance = {{flag|India}}
| unit = [[Jammu and Kashmir Rifles|6 Jammu and Kashmir Rifles]]
| branch = {{army|India}}
| branch_label = 
| serviceyears = 1971–2008
| rank = [[File:Major General of the Indian Army.svg|20px]][[Major General]]
| servicenumber =
| commands = [[File:Rashtriya Rifles Logo.svg|20px]] [[Rashtriya Rifles|Romeo Force]] <br>[[Jammu and Kashmir Rifles|6 Jammu and Kashmir Rifles]]
| battles = [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1971]] and [[Kargil War]]<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.catchnews.com/bollywood-news/murder-2-actor-prashant-narayana-to-play-this-important-role-in-pm-narendra-modi-biopic-149752.html |title=Major Gen GD Bakshi wants India to prep for another Mahabharata |website=Catchnews |access-date=19 February 2019 |archive-date=20 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190220002831/http://www.catchnews.com/bollywood-news/murder-2-actor-prashant-narayana-to-play-this-important-role-in-pm-narendra-modi-biopic-149752.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
| battles_label =
| awards = See {{section link||Awards and decorations}}
| memorials =
}}

[[Major general (India)|Major General]] '''Gagan Deep Bakshi''' {{post-nominals|country=IND|SM|VSM}} (born 1950) is a retired officer of the [[Indian Army]].

==Early life and education==

G. D. Bakshi was born in [[Jabalpur]], [[Madhya Pradesh]] into a [[Mohyal Brahmin]] family,<ref>Soldiers in the Sun and Snow: A History of the J&K Rifles, The J&K Rifles Regimental Centre Jabalpur, Kishtwar cauldron: The Struggle Against Ethnic Cleansing in Kishtwar, Pentagon Press, New Delhi 2010</ref><ref>G.D. Bakshi, ''Guardians of the Gate: A Military History of the Mohyal Fighting Brahmins'', KW Publishers Private Limited, 1 January 2018.</ref> to S. P. Bakshi, who was the Chief Education Officer of the Jammu & Kashmir State Forces.<ref name="abplive">{{Cite web |url=https://www.abplive.in/blog/you-have-seen-him-on-tv-but-who-is-gen-gd-bakshi-435502 |title=You have seen him on TV, but who is Gen GD Bakshi? |website=ABP Live |access-date=19 February 2019 |archive-date=17 March 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180317023923/http://www.abplive.in/blog/you-have-seen-him-on-tv-but-who-is-gen-gd-bakshi-435502 |url-status=dead }}</ref> He studied at [[St. Aloysius Senior Secondary School]], [[Jabalpur]].<ref name="abplive"/> After his schooling, he went to the [[National Defence Academy (India)|National Defence Academy]] at Khadakwasla, [[Pune]].<ref name="abplive"/>

==Career==
Bakshi was commissioned into [[Jammu and Kashmir Rifles|6 Jammu and Kashmir Rifles]] in November 1971 and was sent to the eastern theatre (Bangladesh front) at the outbreak of hostilities. He first served on the “China front” and then with Mukti Bahini forces supporting the liberation of Bangladesh.<ref>{{cite web | url= https://news.abplive.com/blog/you-have-seen-him-on-tv-but-who-is-gen-gd-bakshi-435502 | title= You have seen him on TV, but who is Gen GD Bakshi? | date= 23 October 2016 }}</ref> He later went on to command that unit.
He was posted in Punjab during the height of Sikh militancy. As a commanding officer (then Lt Col), he led his Sikh troops against [[Khalistan movement|khalisthani]] militants and worked to maintain unit cohesion and local support.<ref>{{cite web | url= https://news.abplive.com/blog/you-have-seen-him-on-tv-but-who-is-gen-gd-bakshi-435502#:~:text=years%20later%2C%20during%20a%20posting,1987%29%20and%20they%20were | title=You have seen him on TV, but who is Gen GD Bakshi? | date=23 October 2016 }}</ref>

Bakshi was awarded the [[Vishisht Seva Medal]] for commanding a battalion in Kaksar, that falls in Drass, Kargil sector during 1987 border skirmishes.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://sociostory.org/impact-stories/journey-of-maj-gen-g-d-bakshi-in-the-indian-armed-forces | title=Journey of Maj Gen G D Bakshi in the Indian Armed Forces }}</ref> Later, he was awarded the [[Sena Medal]] for distinguished service in commanding a battalion during counter-insurgency drives.

Bakshi subsequently commanded the [[Rashtriya Rifles|Romeo Force]] (Part of Rashtriya Rifles) during intensive counter-insurgency operations in the [[Rajouri district|Rajouri]] and [[Poonch district, India|Poonch]] districts of Jammu and Kashmir and succeeded in suppressing the armed militancy in this area.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.thehindu.com/2005/09/25/stories/2005092500151100.htm | title=Pir Panjal vulnerable despite people's might | date=25 September 2005 | first=Luv | last=Puri | newspaper=[[The Hindu]] | accessdate=18 February 2019 }}{{dead link|date=April 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>
He organized village defence committees and employed aggressive tactics to suppress insurgents. His efforts brought an end to major civilian killings and allowed displaced villagers to return.<ref>https://news.abplive.com/blog/you-have-seen-him-on-tv-but-who-is-gen-gd-bakshi 435502#:~:text=he%20received%20the%20Chief%E2%80%99s%20Commendation,to%20study%20at%20the%20National</ref>
Bakshi served two tenures at the Directorate General of Military Operations and was the first BGS (IW) at the [[Northern Command (India)|Northern Command]], where he dealt with Information Warfare and Psychological Operations.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://idsa.in/jds/4_4_2010_PromotionSystemintheArmyDealingwithPeacetimeAtrophy_gdbakshi |title=Promotion System in the Army: Dealing with Peacetime Atrophy |last=Bakshi |first=G. D |website=Institute of Defence Studies and Analyses |access-date=19 February 2019 |archive-date=19 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190219184954/https://idsa.in/jds/4_4_2010_PromotionSystemintheArmyDealingwithPeacetimeAtrophy_gdbakshi |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://salute.co.in/indias-responses-to-pakistan-armys-terror-overdrive-2/|title=India's responses to Pakistan Army's braveness overdrive|website=salute.co.in|date=2 August 2014 |access-date=19 February 2019|archive-date=19 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180719235015/https://salute.co.in/indias-responses-to-pakistan-armys-terror-overdrive-2/|url-status=live}}</ref> He retired in 2008.

==Awards and decorations==
{{BLP unreferenced section|date=May 2023}}
{| style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;"
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Sena Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Vishisht Seva Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=IND Special Service Medal Ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=IND Sangram Medal Ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=IND Operation Vijay medal.svg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=IND Sainya Seva Medal Ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=IND High Altitude Medal Ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=IND 50th Anniversary Independence medal.svg|width=106}}
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=IND 25th Anniversary Independence medal.svg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=IND 30 Years Long Service Ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=IND 20YearsServiceMedalRibbon.svg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=IND 9YearsServiceMedalRibbon.svg|width=106}}
|-
|}
{| class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;"
|-
|[[Sena Medal]]
|[[Vishisht Seva Medal]]
|[[Special Service Medal (India)|Special Service Medal]]
|[[Sangram Medal]]
|-
|[[Indian military decorations#Service and campaign medals|Operation Vijay Medal]]
|[[Indian military decorations#Service and campaign medals|Sainya Seva Medal]]
|[[Indian military decorations#Service and campaign medals|High Altitude Service Medal]]
|[[Indian military decorations#Service and campaign medals|50th Anniversary of Independence Medal]]
|-
|[[Indian military decorations#Service and campaign medals|25th Anniversary of Independence Medal]]
|[[Indian military decorations#Long service awards|30 Years Long Service Medal]]
|[[Indian military decorations#Long service awards|20 Years Long Service Medal]]
|[[Indian military decorations#Long service awards|9 Years Long Service Medal]]
|-
|}

==Bibliography==
{{refbegin|}}
*{{cite book | last=Bakshi | first=G. D. | title=Bose Or Gandhi: Who Got India Her Freedom? | publisher=KW Publishers Pvt Limited | date=2019 | isbn=978-93-87324-67-1 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qHUuwAEACAAJ | access-date= | page=}}
*{{cite book | last=Bakshi | first=G. D. | title=Guardians of the Gate: A Military History of the Mohyal Fighting Brahmins | publisher=KW Publishers Pvt Limited | date=2018 | isbn=978-93-86288-77-6 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hgt9swEACAAJ | access-date= | page=}}
*{{cite book | last=Bakshi | first=G. D. | title=Bose Or Gandhi: Who Got India Her Freedom? | publisher=KW Publishers Pvt Limited | date=2019 | isbn=978-93-87324-67-1 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qHUuwAEACAAJ | access-date= | page=}}
*{{cite book | title=China's Military Power: A Net Assessment: A Net Assessment | publisher=KW Publishers Pvt Ltd | date=2015-01-15 | isbn=978-93-85714-01-6 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EUC6DQAAQBAJ | access-date= | page=}}
*{{cite book | last=Bakshi | first=G. D. | title=Kishtwar Cauldron: The Struggle Against the ISI's Ethnic Cleansing | publisher=Pentagon Press | date=2013 | isbn=978-81-8274-736-4 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Zx7GoAEACAAJ | access-date= | page=}}
*{{cite book | last=Bakshi | first=G. D. | title=Limited Wars in South Asia: Need for an Indian Doctrine | publisher=Centre for Land Warfare Studies | date=2010 | isbn=978-93-80502-45-8 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oLemcQAACAAJ | access-date= | page=}}
*{{cite book | title=The Rise of Indian Military Power: Evolution of an Indian Strategic Culture: Evolution of an Indian Strategic Culture | publisher=KW Publishers Pvt Ltd | date=2015-07-15 | isbn=978-93-85714-07-8 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FEG6DQAAQBAJ | access-date= | page=}}
*{{cite book | last=Bakshi | first=G. D. | title=Footprints in the Snow: On the Trail of Zorawar Singh | publisher=Lancer Publishers | date=2002 | isbn=978-81-7062-292-5 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4S99oXkx_-cC | access-date= | page=}}
*{{cite book | last=Bakshi | first=G. D. | title=Afghanistan: The First Faultline War | publisher=Lancer Publishers | date=2002 | isbn=978-81-7062-220-8 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OyMIEVm0SakC | access-date= | page=}}
*{{cite book | last=Bakshi | first=G. D. | title=Mahabharata, a Military Analysis | publisher=Lancer International | date=1990 | isbn=978-81-7062-094-5 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SncpAAAAYAAJ | access-date= | page=}}
{{refend|}}

==Controversies==

According to Nandita Singh of [[ThePrint]], Bakshi has promoted fake news and misinformation on multiple occasions.<ref name=altn>{{cite web | title=General G D Bakshi makes false claim about Mehbooba Mufti and 2014 Budgam firing| last=Bakshi | first=Major General G D | website=Alt News | date=2019-02-18 | url=https://www.altnews.in/general-g-d-bakshi-makes-false-claim-about-mehbooba-mufti-and-2014-budgam-firing/}}</ref><ref name=print>{{cite web | last=Singh | first=Nandita | title=Maj. Gen. GD Bakshi, shrillest warmonger in the media, hits new low with gaali on Republic TV | website=ThePrint | date=2020-07-04 | url=https://theprint.in/india/maj-gen-gd-bakshi-shrillest-warmonger-in-the-media-hits-new-low-with-gaali-on-republic-tv/454582/}}</ref> In 2019, he wrongly claimed that a soldier was jailed in Tihar following a 2014 incident involving the death of a civilian in Budgam, and [[Mehbooba Mufti]] as CM had ordered no checking of vehicles. Fact checkers found these claims to be false because Mufti was not a CM at that time and there is no evidence of such an order that prevented checking of vehicles. Lt Gen [[Deependra Singh Hooda]] rejected the claim that a soldier was jailed after the Budgam incident.<ref name=altn/>

Bakshi has claimed that more than [[Quit India Movement]], it was [[Indian National Army]] (INA) who was responsible in bringing independence to India. Bakshi depends on flawed arguments not supported by academic literature while making these claims.<ref>{{cite web | title='Flawed' argument: Gandhi had minimal role, naval mutinies alone led to Independence | website=Counterview | date=2022-09-11 | url=https://www.counterview.net/2022/09/flawed-argument-gandhi-had-minimal-role.html}}</ref> ''[[The Print]]'' cites his position as a trustee in Netaji Bose INA Trust as one of the reason to downplay Quit India Movement.<ref name=print/>

In 2021, Bakshi shared images to claim that Pakistani soldiers were killed in [[Republican insurgency in Afghanistan|Panjshir conflict]]. This claim was debunked by fact checkers who found the images falsely claimed Pakistani actors working in a military-themed film to be actual soldiers.<ref>{{cite web | title=Ex-Indian army officer shares picture from movie set as 'truth' about Pakistan Army's presence in Panjshir | website=[[Dawn.com|Dawn]] | date=2021-09-12 | url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1645991}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | last=Misra | first=Shubhangi | title=Ex-Indian Army general mocked for sharing image of Pakistani actors as 'soldiers killed' in Panjshir | website=ThePrint | date=2021-09-14 | url=https://theprint.in/world/ex-indian-army-officer-mocked-for-sharing-image-of-pakistani-actors-as-soldiers-killed-in-panjshir/733461/}}</ref>
[[File:GD Bakshi during a National Seminar at Bhopal January 2018 (5).jpg|thumb|GD Bakshi during a National Seminar]]
He is sometimes called on news channels for his views on politics and he often appears on Republic TV, where he frequently defends narrative of [[Arnab Goswami]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Nandita Singh|date=2020-07-04|title=Maj. Gen. GD Bakshi, shrillest warmonger in the media, hits new low with gaali on Republic TV|url=https://theprint.in/india/maj-gen-gd-bakshi-shrillest-warmonger-in-the-media-hits-new-low-with-gaali-on-republic-tv/454582/|access-date=2021-08-31|website=ThePrint|language=en-US|archive-date=23 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230123211845/https://theprint.in/india/maj-gen-gd-bakshi-shrillest-warmonger-in-the-media-hits-new-low-with-gaali-on-republic-tv/454582/|url-status=live}}</ref> His analysis is often criticized by other journalists for having a strong bias favouring the ruling government's agenda.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Journalism as News Laundering and Bhakti|url=https://thewire.in/media/journalism-as-news-laundering-and-bhakti|access-date=2021-08-31|website=The Wire|archive-date=23 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230123211840/https://thewire.in/media/journalism-as-news-laundering-and-bhakti|url-status=live}}</ref> In one debate at [[Republic TV]] he was criticized for using profane language.<ref>{{Cite web|title='M*******!!': Twitter in shock as Major Gen GD Bakshi curses on a live show|url=https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/m-twitter-in-shock-as-major-gen-gd-bakshi-curses-on-a-live-show|access-date=2021-08-31|website=Free Press Journal|language=en|archive-date=23 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230123211844/https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/m-twitter-in-shock-as-major-gen-gd-bakshi-curses-on-a-live-show|url-status=live}}</ref>

Another video was surfaced, where he used foul word of Randi Khana (Brothel), Bakshi was heavily criticized for using this foul word.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Singh |first1=Nandita |last2=ThePrint |date=2020-07-04 |title=Maj. Gen. GD Bakshi, shrillest warmonger in the media, hits new low with gaali on Republic TV |url=https://theprint.in/india/maj-gen-gd-bakshi-shrillest-warmonger-in-the-media-hits-new-low-with-gaali-on-republic-tv/454582/ |access-date=2024-08-05 |website=ThePrint |language=en-US}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bakshi, G. D.}}
[[Category:1950 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Jabalpur]]
[[Category:Indian Hindus]]
[[Category:Indian generals]]
[[Category:University of Madras alumni]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Sena Medal]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Vishisht Seva Medal]]
[[Category:Indian Army officers]]
[[Category:National Defence Academy (India) alumni]]
[[Category:Academic staff of the National Defence College, India]]
[[Category:National Defence College, India alumni]]

G. D. Bakshi - Revision history

YvetteJasso5372 at 18:58, 23 February 2026