Who was Madhulika Rawat, wife of Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat?

Madhulika Rawat,
wife of India’s Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat, was on board
along with the senior official when the IAF helicopter carrying them crashed in
Tamil Nadu Wednesday. General Bipin Rawat, 63, his wife Madhulika and 11 others were killed in the accident.

Also Read | Gen Bipin Rawat’s helicopter crashes in Tamil Nadu: What we know so far

Madhulika Rawat
was accompanying General Bipin Rawat in a flight from Delhi to Sulur Wednesday
morning, according to an NDTV report. The couple, along with General Rawat’s
Defence Assistant and security commandos, were in an IAF Mi17-V5 helicopter
which crashed near Coonoor in Tamil Nadu, shortly after take-off.

Also Read | List of Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat’s honours and awards

The crash took place
as Bipin and Madhulika Rawat were going to the Defence Services Staff College
in Wellington, Tamil Nadu. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is reported to have visited General
Rawat’s home and is expected to brief the Parliament regarding the goings on.

Also Read | Chopper with Chief of Defence Staff Gen Bipin Rawat on board crashes in Tamil Nadu

While General
Rawat has been a monumental figure of India’s defence establishment for a long
time, the Mrs. Rawat has focussed her energy on improving the lives of Army
wives. Wives of Indian soldiers often join them in their postings.

Many of these
women hail from India’s vast rural ramparts and often do not have a great deal
of formal education. In her several years accompanying General Rawat, Madhulika
Rawat has worked towards empowering wives of Indian soldiers. She has organised
tailoring, knitting, bag-making and beautician courses for them. She has also
spearheaded health awareness and wellbeing of army wives.

Also Read | Mi-17V5: All about IAF helicopter carrying General Bipin Rawat that crashed

Madhulika Rawat did
much of her education in Delhi and graduated in psychology from Delhi
University. Apart from working with wives of Indian soldiers, she is also
invested in working with victims of cancer. Bipin and Madhulika Rawat have two
children.