Mohammad Ahmed Zaki

Lieutenant-General Mohammad Ahmed Zaki PVSM, AVSM, VrC
Zaki in 2017
Born	(1935-01-20) 20 January 1935 Hyderabad, Hyderabad State, British Raj (present-day Telangana, India)
Allegiance	India
Service / branch	Indian Army
Years of service	1955–1993
Rank	Lieutenant-General
Unit	19 Maratha Light Infantry
Commands	Commandant, Indian Military Academy XV Corps Director-General, Infantry 19th Infantry Division Telangana Area Mizoram Range, Assam Rifles 86th Infantry Brigade 2nd Battalion, Maratha Light Infantry
Awards	Param Vishisht Seva Medal Ati Vishisht Seva Medal

Lieutenant General Mohammad Ahmed Zaki PVSM, AVSM, VrC (born 20 January 1935, Hyderabad, Telangana) is a retired army general. He was born in a Hyderabadi family with a long history of service in the Nizam's Army. His father was a retired Colonel in the Nizam's Cavalry forces.

Biography

Zaki was educated at the Rashtriya Indian Military College, Dehra Dun from 1947 to 1951. He was selected for the National Defence Academy in 1952 and on getting commissioned in the Indian Army, he joined 19 Maratha Light Infantry in 1955.

In the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965, Zaki was wounded in the battle of Thatti Jaimal Singh and was awarded "Vir Chakra" for a conspicuous display of gallantry in the face of the enemy. During the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, he was in command of 2 Maratha LI (Kali Panchvin) in the Shakargarh area. He has held many important appointments such as Instructor at the Infantry School, Mhow, Brigade Major in Ladakh and Instructor at the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington.

In March 1976, he raised 18 Maratha LI. He was promoted to the rank of Brigadier and took over the command of 86 Infantry Brigade in Punjab. In 1984-85, he became DIG Mizoram Range (Assam Rifles). He was awarded the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal and promoted to the rank of Major General. In August 1985, he assumed the command of the Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala and Goa area. Later, he was posted as General Officer Commanding, 19 Infantry Division in Jammu and Kashmir from 1986-87.

Further elevated to the rank of Lieutenant General in 1988, he took over as Director General Infantry. He was corps commander of the Srinagar corps when there was an outbreak of insurgency in Kashmir. General Zaki was awarded the Param Vishisht Seva Medal in 1991. He took over as Commandant of the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun in June 1991. After that, he was appointed an Advisor to the Governor of Jammu and Kashmir. He retired from the Indian Army in 1993. He had a second stint as Advisor to the Governor, Jammu and Kashmir from 1993 to 1995. General Zaki was awarded the Padma Shri by the Government of India in 2001 for his services to the nation.

Honours and decorations

Param Vishisht Seva Medal
Ati Vishisht Seva Medal	Samanya Seva Medal	Paschimi Star	Special Service Medal
Raksha Medal	Sangram Medal	Sainya Seva Medal	Videsh Seva Medal
25th Anniversary of Independence Medal	30 Years Long Service Medal	20 Years Long Service Medal	9 Years Long Service Medal

See also

• Hyderabadi Muslims
• Golkonda
• Hyderabad State
• India
• Muslim culture of Hyderabad
• History of Hyderabad for a history of the city of Hyderabad.
• Hyderabad (India) for the city.

References

• Jamia Millia Islamia (Central University)