In a historic first for the Indian military, two alumni of Sainik School Rewa in Madhya Pradesh will simultaneously lead the Indian Army and Navy.

Lieutenant General Upendra Dwivedi, the newly appointed Army Chief, and Admiral Dinesh Tripathi, the incoming Navy Chief, were classmates in the 1970s, studying together in Class 5A.

The two officers, who had roll numbers 931 and 938 respectively, will now hold the highest positions in their respective branches of the armed forces.

This unique coincidence has garnered widespread attention and admiration, highlighting the shared journey and camaraderie that often bind individuals who share a common educational background.

“For the first time in Indian Military history, Chiefs of Navy and Army hail from the same school,” stated A Bharat Bhushan Babu, the official spokesperson of the Defence Minister, in a post on X.

“This rare honour of nurturing two prodigious students, who would go on to lead their respective Services 50 years later, goes to Sainik School, Rewa in Madhya Pradesh.”