Malik Sharma

Education & Career
Having gone through the National Defence Academy, Pune and Indian Military Academy Dehradun, Lt General Sharma was commissioned into the Infantry arm of the Indian Army (DOGRA Regiment on) 11 June 1961. He has done his graduation in English literature and Political Science from the University of Kashmir and post graduation in Defence Studies from the University of Madras.
 
Lt. Gen. Sharma is a graduate of Defence Services Staff College Wellington, a prestigious institution that attracts students form 19 foreign countries including USA, UK, Australia, New Zealand and important countries from other regions. He also has attended a one year long Defence Management Course (compressed MBA) at the College of Defence Management, Secundrabad.

Lt. Gen. Sharma has also attended a course at the Royal College of Defence Studies in London also lasting one year in 1988.

As a Lieutenant General, he has held the appointments of: -

  Chief of Staff at Headquarters Southern Command Pune. This job involved planning, coordinating and controlling of staff support to a Field Army comprising 3,00,000 personnel.
  Military Secretary at Army Headquarters responsible for total management of 40,000 Officers of Indian Army to include, officer cadre planning, induction, career management, training, promotions, postings, honours and awards and retirement, with attendant HRD functions.
  Deputy Chief of Army Staff (Training and coordination). The job entailed training and equipment policy of all combat arms of Indian Army for their battle worthiness and complete administration of Army Headquarters at Delhi. He had 7 Lieutenant Generals reporting to him.
 During Lt. Gen. Sharma's service senior ranks, he interacted with many Chief Ministers and cabinet Ministers of the Central Government and His Majesty the King of Bhutan on matter of national and international security. He also coordinated rescue and relief operations after the earthquake in Gujarat on 26 January 2001 as Chief of Staff of Southern Army.

Awards
Lt. Gen. Sharma was awarded Vishisht Seva Medal for his distinguished service in 1992. He was also awarded the Param Vishisht Seva Medal, the highest honour in Indian Army, on 26 January 2000 by the President of India.

Books
Lt. Gen. Sharma has authored a book titled Towards Personal Excellence outlining vital human skills based on his experiential learning.